Observation start time: 09:00:00 Observation end time: 17:00:00 Total observation time: 4 hours
Official Counter: Soren Zappia, Soren Zappia
Observers:
Visitors: 3 visitors. We had a family of birders from Kentucky visit the ridge in the afternoon - they appreciated a Black-billed Magpie that had landed close by.
Weather: The snow hadn't started when the count began, but it was visible to the north and east. Skies were overcast and winds were light to moderate from the east. Snow began around 9:20 MST. Visibility at first was good but dropped to near 2 km by the end of the hour, and both the west ridges and green mountain disappeared into the snow. The wind intensified a bit, and visibility continued to drop to less than 0.5 km until the count was suspended due to low visibility.
The count resumed at 15:00 MST, and soon after a very light snow fell for around 30 minutes. Fog in the east and south limited view of the west ridge, and Mt Morrison disappeared into the fog, but Green Mountain was clear. The sky was mostly cloudy with a few holes in the cloud cover to the north and east developing in the final hour. Winds remained light from the east.
Raptor Observations: Despite the snowy day, we had a few migrants in the first hour. As the snow was starting, a Northern Harrier flew low on the west just above the ridgeline, and an American Kestrel passed by close on the east. At the end of the first hour when snow was intensifying, a pair of AKs flew by low in the valley. No migrants were seen in the following hour before the count was suspended.
In the afternoon, no migrants were observed, although we spotted a local Swainson's Hawk and young Bald Eagle.
Mountain Bluebirds flew south past the ridge soon after the snow began, and flocks of American Robins and Mountain Bluebirds were flitting about the ridge in the morning. A Townsend's Solitaire was observed in the afternoon.
Non-raptor Observations: Broad-tailed Hummingbird 1, Mourning Dove 1, Double-crested Cormorant 1, Northern Flicker 1, Black-billed Magpie 2, American Crow 1, Common Raven 1, Mountain Bluebird 21, Townsend's Solitaire 1, American Robin 18, Spotted Towhee 1, Western Meadowlark 1
Predictions: Tomorrow is our Raptorthon celebration, and our team will be attempting to find as many species as possible on the ridge and close nearby. We hope you can join us!
It should be a nice and cool day with temperatures in the mid 30s to low 50s F. Sunny skies are predicted with moderate to light WNW winds shifting to light NE in the afternoon. Expect muddy trails from today's snow. ======================================================================== 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)
-- -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to <cobirds...> For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds * All posts should be signed with the poster's full name and city. Include bird species and location in the subject line when appropriate. * Join Colorado Field Ornithologists https://cobirds.org/membership/ --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to cobirds+<unsubscribe...> To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/<0101019d9e8bc4bd-2f249f06-4e4d-4c58-8a36-eea99eb1f7c4-000000...>
