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 12 visitors today including 2 international groups! One group from Germany visiting friends, and one group from the UK visiting for basketball.
Thank you to Clay Gibson, Karolyn Chan, Amy Walsh, and Mike Serruto for their time spent volunteering today. Your help spotting distant migrants was crucial in today's count!
Weather: Today was a beautiful day to monitor the migration with cloud cover present for most of the day. Temperatures were in the mid to high 60s F depending on cloud cover. Winds were consistently from the NE all day. Wind speeds picked up a bit in the afternoon but died back down by the end of the day. Some darker cloud cover/possible precipitation could be seen to the W of us at the end of the day.
Raptor Observations: It was a fun day of migration today with birds most active in the late morning and end of the day. Birds in the morning commonly took a western flight line over Mt Morrison, often being spotted high and N of us, making some IDs challenging. Accipitrines dominated the count this morning with both Cooper's Hawks and Sharp-shinned Hawks moving. In the afternoon we had a great American Kestrel flight. At one point we had six AK overhead moving N with a small group of Turkey Vultures. The majority of our Kestrels came within 30-50 m of the hawk watch, putting on a great show. These late afternoon falcon flights continue to be a highlight of this site.
Local raptors spotted today included a pair of Golden Eagles, a handful of Red-tailed Hawks, and of course our local Turkey Vultures.
Non-raptor Observations: White-throated Swift 5, Broad-tailed Hummingbird 1, Double-crested Cormorant 6, Woodhouse's Scrub Jay 1, Black-billed Magpie 1, American Crow 3, Common Raven 2, swalow sp. 3, American Bushtit 7, Rock Wren 1, House Finch 3, Spotted Towhee 1, Western Meadowlark 2
Predictions: Tomorrow's conditions are expected to be similar to today with E winds for a good chunk of the day and moderately warm temperatures. There is a slight chance for precipitation in the afternoon, so a rain coat is recommended. ======================================================================== 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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