Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 18:00:00
Total observation time: 10 hours
Official Counter: Dustin Kohler
Observers: Audrey Anderson, Isaac Leb, Lily Douglas, Marirosa Donisi,
Natalie Uschner-Arroyo, Pam Moore
Visitors:
We had 45 visitors to the ridge today. We had a visitor from Miami running
along the trails. We also had a visitor from Sacramento, California named
Lily Douglas who helped us spot for a few hours as she was waiting for her
evening flight.
Weather:
Today started off cloudy and remained partly cloudy for the rest of the
day. The wind shifted direction constantly until about 4:30 MST, then it
was a northwestern wind with 20+ mph gusts.
Raptor Observations:
Migrants started pretty low and close and got higher/ further away as the
day went on. After the wind picked up the migrants got lower and struggled
to move up the headwind.
The Ferruginous hawk was a dark morph. At first glance I thought it was a
Golden Eagle, based on size, but after looking at her (most likely) again
the tail was a uniform white color and the tucked bicolored wings lacked
the darker trailing edge of the Golden Eagles wings.
Our migrant who was an actual Golden Eagle was being chased north by 2
red-tails and a couple of Ravens. One of the Red-tails was an immature
missing 3 primaries. The other particularly aggressive Red-tailed chased
this Eagle far to the south and then turned around and chased the Eagle
back to the North and out of sight.
At about 9:30 MST a Sharp-shinned Hawk flew by and dove into a juniper
tree. We heard a surprised squawk from a Chipping Sparrow as the
Sharp-shinned flew off empty-taloned into a nearby tree to pout before
flying off to the south.
There was also a male and female pair of local Cooper's Hawks. 2 Golden
Eagles, and a different local Sharpshin. I'm not sure that the accipiters
were local, or if the wind prevented them from moving on.
Non-raptor Observations:
Today we saw a lucky Chipping Sparrow, Rock Wren, Western Meadowlark,
Spotted Towhee, American Crow, Western Bluebird, Blue-gray gnatcatcher,
Black-capped Chickadee, Violet-Green Swallow, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow,
White-throated Swift, Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay, Double Crested Cormorant, and
Eurasian Collared Dove.
The Swifts were having trouble flying in the wind at the end of the day.
Predictions:
Tomorrow should be another warm, partly cloudy day. I expect a dryer trail
and similar migrant numbers to today.
========================================================================
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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