Observation start time: 10:15:00 Observation end time: 17:00:00 Total observation time: 6.75 hours
Official Counter: Emma Riley
Observers:
Visitors: We had three visitors at the ridge today, all coming to enjoy migration.
Thank you to Clay Gibson and Mike Serruto for your company and help on yet another Monday on the ridge.
Weather: Today was a cold day with heavy fog present at the beginning of the count. The count was delayed an hour and 15 minutes due to the fog. It slowly lifted throughout the day with even a moment of sun shining before disappearing again. Light snow was present on and off for a few hours. Temperatures were low all day.
Raptor Observations: Today was an outstanding day, after many hours of cold snowy conditions. Before 1400 MST we had a total of four migrants that had come at or below eye level.
At about 1415 MST the fun began. We spotted a few birds at once and it turned out to be three Osprey, one Swainson's Hawk, and a fourth Osprey just behind. Shortly after this we had another four birds- 3 Northern Harriers and a juvenile American Goshawk! What followed was 2-6 birds at a time coming within 30 meters directly overhead. A number of dark-morph Swainson's Hawks came over, with up to three in the air at a time. Sharp-shinned Hawks also came 2+ at a time. The species diversity seen in the next two hours, paired with how close these birds were, made for two of the most exciting hours our lead counter Emma Riley has ever seen at this site. We ended with 89 raptors coming in less than two hours.
Non-raptor Observations: Broad-tailed Hummingbird 1, Double-crested Cormorant 1, Woodhouse's Scrub Jay 1, Black-billed Magpie 1, Common Raven 3, Black-capped Chickadee 2, American Bushtit 3, Rock Wren 1, Chipping Sparrow 4, Spotted Towhee 2, Western Meadowlark 1, Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's) 1
Predictions: Tomorrow is predicted to see less precipitation and fog tomorrow with continued lower temperatures. Bring warm layers and a rain coat. ======================================================================== 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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