Observation start time: 09:00:00 Observation end time: 17:00:00 Total observation time: 8 hours
Official Counter: Soren Zappia
Observers:
Visitors: 3 Visitors. The Jeffco trail maintenance crew stopped and asked about our sightings. We are thankful for all the hard work they do to maintain the trails!
We also thank Leslie Dixon and Lauren Friesen for volunteering with us today! Your kestrel spotting was very appreciated.
Weather: Wind was the theme at the ridge today - winds were to the W and NW at 20-30 mph sustained, with gusts at times reaching nearly 40 mph. Winds were most intense in the morning and early afternoon, calming to 10-15 mph for a brief period in midday, and again in the final hour of the count.
Temperatures were moderate in the mid to high 40s F, and skies were sunny until dense cloud cover moved into the west half of the sky at the end of the day.
Raptor Observations: Despite the high west winds, we had a good amount of migration today, especially American Kestrels. A few RTs and TVs went distant on the west side, but the vast majority of the birds were low close to the ridge and visible to the unaided eye. Accipitrines were largely absent today, with the only migrant being an adult Cooper's Hawk overhead in the morning.
AKs were the most numerous migrant, coming past near eye level. Despite their size, these tiny falcons navigated the strong winds well and gave us fantastic views throughout the day! We also had a Peregrine Falcon fly fast overhead - our first juvenile of the year.
Turkey Vultures made a strong showing as well, with both migrants and locals teetering about. In the early afternoon, we had a group of ten start low over Green Mountain before gaining height behind us and streaming north as a group.
There was also a good presence of White-throated Swifts at the ridge today!
Non-raptor Observations: White-throated Swift 22, Woodhouse's Scrub Jay 1, Black-billed Magpie 2, American Crow 1, Common Raven 4, Black-capped Chickadee 2, American Bushtit 3
Predictions: Tomorrow, expect full sun and moderate temperatures (50-60 F), with winds starting light and variable in the morning, but shifting southeast in the afternoon. Bring sunscreen! ======================================================================== 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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