Observation start time: 09:00:00
Observation end time: 17:00:00
Total observation time: 8 hours
Official Counter: Emma Riley
Observers: Clay Gibson, Gary Rossmiller, Karen Fernandez,
Marirosa Donisi
Visitors:
Thank you to all the volunteers that came out today to help spot birds and
practice patience. We had a visitor from Texas today, Nancy, come spend a
few hours with us and she was able to get some great looks at the local GE.
We had another visitor this morning stay for a few hours and bird and I
didn’t catch her name, so my apologies! In the afternoon a local hiker
Tim hung out with us for a few hours and marveled over the diversity in
species we see. All in all we had a total of 14 visitors today, a slow day
on the ridge.
Weather:
Winds were variable all day in both direction and speed. Cloud cover was
consistent today which made spotting high birds relatively easy. All in all
it was a beautiful day on the ridge!
Raptor Observations:
This mornings migration was slower than I had hoped but picked up in the
afternoon, a pattern that seems to be occurring this year more than it has
in the last few years. It was a slow migration day but we had an incredible
amount of diversity with 7 species of migrants.
Local raptor activity was high today with the local GE stealing the show.
Three GE of all various ages (adult, immature, and SA) were seen
consistently all morning. We also saw local RT, CH, AK, and PG today.
Non-raptor Observations:
Passerine activity seemed low today but we still heard and/or saw the usual
suspects including SPTO, ROWR, WOSJ, BBMA, and CORA. We also saw a
centipede on the ridge today, which is the first time I’ve seen one up
here!
Predictions:
Snow/rain is predicted tonight into tomorrow morning. This may slow birds
down in the morning but I’m hopeful that the afternoon push will be nice
with a predicted east wind. I’d bring an extra layer, temperatures will
be much lower than they have been the last few days.
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Report submitted by Official Counter (<j.f.peters58...>)
Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists information may be found at:
http://www.dfobirds.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,
American White Pelican, and Dusky Grouse. Birders of any skill level are
always welcome. The hawk watch at Dinosaur Ridge is staffed by a Hawk
Counter and volunteers from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM from March 1st to May 10th,
weather permitting.
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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