Observation start time: 09:00:00 Observation end time: 17:15:00 Total observation time: 8.25 hours
Official Counter: Soren Zappia
Observers: Marina Prado-Echeagaray
Visitors: 9 visitors. We had a few birders come by to visit and enjoyed all the morning excitement together.
Thanks to our wonderful team today: Kristen McCarthy, Ric Olson, Ajit and Liza Antony, Caroline Fegley, Chris and Cayce Gulbransen, and Steve Price. Days like these are made so much easier with all your great spotting and diligent observation of high soaring birds!
Weather: It was another beautiful spring day with light E winds, a times shifting NE or SE. Cloud cover was minimal, with a few low clouds in the west in the afternoon. Temperatures were moderate to slightly warm. Many paragliders were out soaring on the abundant thermals to the west.
Raptor Observations: Raptors were out early with local birds already active at the start of the count. We had good movement of accipitrines today with mostly Cooper's Hawks but also a few Sharp-shinned Hawks. An Osprey passed high over the ridge in the first hour. A few Red-tailed Hawks migrated as well, gaining good height and often soaring to the limits of our binoculars. In the afternoon, we had a number of American Kestrels and one Prairie Falcon speed past. Some AKs came directly past the ridge close, but many were distant to the west.
The local Golden Eagles were active today as well, and Turkey Vultures continued to roam around, with only a few going north. Non-raptor sightings include 10 American White Pelicans and a singing Canyon Wren. We had an unusually high count of seven balloons today.
Non-raptor Observations: White-throated Swift 27, Feral Pigeon 3, American White Pelican 10, American Crow 5, Common Raven 4, American Bushtit 1, Canyon Wren 1, House Finch 1, Pine Siskin 2, Spotted Towhee 1, Western Meadowlark 1
Predictions: Tomorrow looks to be another day of pleasant weather! Light E and NE winds are predicted with cloud cover starting partial but increasing in late afternoon. Temperatures are expected to be in the mid 50s F to high 60s F. ======================================================================== 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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