Observation start time: 09:00:00
Observation end time: 17:00:00
Total observation time: 8 hours
Official Counter: Emma Riley
Observers:
Visitors:
We had 6 visitors to the ridge today, including Bill Hancock and his wife
Lindsay from Maine.
We also had a small homeschool group from Denver Audubon come up in the
morning to learn about the hawk watch and raptor migration. While we didn�t
have too many birds flying, they did get to see a close Red-tailed Hawk a
few times, and learned a lot!
Thanks to Bill Young and Chip Dawes for volunteering their time today to
help spot birds.
Weather:
Temperatures were much lower today than yesterday. Clouds were heavy and
covered the sky all day. For a few moments the sun managed to poke out
giving us some warmth. Winds switched directions starting from the E,
moving NNW, and ending back out of the E at the end of the day.
Raptor Observations:
Raptor activity was minimal in the morning as it has been on some of our
slower days recently. A couple of birds moved along the western ridge
before the afternoon. In the afternoon birds picked up a bit, with many of
them coming low overhead. American Kestrels have had a great presence
already this year and made up just about half of our count for the day
today. The highlight of the day was in the last hour when an Osprey came
overhead no more than 20 m above us. A second Osprey was seen taking a low
line over the Morrison ridge not 10 minutes later.
Non-raptor activity was also low today with some of our local birds only
singing a few times throughout the day. We did have 4 Double-crested
Cormorants move N along Green Mountain.
Non-raptor Observations:
Broad-tailed Hummingbird 1, Double-crested Cormorant 4, Northern Flicker 2,
American Crow 1, Common Raven 2, Black-capped Chickadee 1, American Bushtit
3, Townsend's Solitaire 1, American Robin 1, Spotted Towhee 1, Western
Meadowlark 2
Predictions:
Thunderstorms (so early!) are predicted for tomorrow afternoon. We are
hoping to get some birds counted before that happens!
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Report submitted by Official Counter of the day shown above (<dinoridgehw...>)
Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists information may be found at:
www.dinosaurridgehawkwatch.org
Site Description:
Dinosaur Ridge is the only regularly staffed hawk watch in Colorado and is
the best place in the world to see migrating Ferruginous Hawks. Hawk
watchers may see 17 species of migrating raptors; and it is an excellent
site to see rare dark morph buteos including Broad-winged hawk, Swainson's
hawk, Ferruginous hawk, Rough-legged hawk and Red-tailed Hawk. Other
raptors we see include Golden and Bald Eagles, Northern harrier, Osprey,
Peregrine Falcons, Prairie Falcons, Cooper's and Sharp-shinned Hawks,
American Kestrels, Merlin, and Turkey Vultures. American Goshawk is
uncommon but also counted each season. Non-raptor species include Rock
Wren, Bushtit, Western Bluebird, Sandhill Crane, White-throated Swift, and
American White Pelican. Birders of any skill level are always welcome. The
hawk watch at Dinosaur Ridge is staffed by Hawk Counter(s) and volunteers
from March through early May.
Directions to site:
From exit 259 on I-70 towards Morrison, drive south under freeway and take
left into first parking lot, the Stegosaurus lot. Follow hawk watch signs
from the southwest end of the parking lot to the hawk watch site. The hike
starts heading east on an old two-track and quickly turns south onto a
trail on the west side of the ridge. When the trail nears the top of the
ridge, turn left, and walk to the flat area at the crest of the ridge.
(Distance: 0.56 miles, Elevation gain: 259 feet)
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