Observation start time: 08:45:00
Observation end time: 17:00:00
Total observation time: 8.25 hours
Official Counter: Emma Riley
Observers: Beth Davis, Laura Farnsworth, Pam Moore, Tim Meehan
Visitors:
Thank you to Laura Farnsworth, our Sunday Official Observer, Beth Davies,
and Pam Moore for your help spotting raptors on Easter Sunday! A second
thank you goes out to Tim Meehan for bringing a group of Boulder Forest
Service raptor nest-watch volunteers to the site this morning to witness
migration for a few hours.
We had a total of 49 visitors at the Hawk Watch today including the Boulder
group. Matthew-Winters was closed due to mud, bringing us a few extra
visitors that weren't originally planning on stopping by the Hawk Watch.
One visitor spent about an hour with us looking for migrants and talking
birds.
Weather:
Today was mostly a very pleasant day, with only the last hour being pretty
chilly with a stronger wind. Winds were from the WNW/NW all day, from
almost still speeds to about 30 km/h gusts in the last hour. Clouds were
scattered all day making for nice viewing conditions.
Raptor Observations:
Migration was again much slower today than it was before the cold front
came through. We had a small push in the morning and again in the late
afternoon. A small mixed kettle of Turkey Vultures, Red-tailed Hawks,, and
Broad-winged Hawks were seen just S of Mt Morrison early in the day. A few
birds materialized near the Cabrini Shrine, despite pretty constant
scanning by a number of people at the ridge. A close Broad-winged Hawk was
a highlight of the day, as well as two back to back Merlin that came
directly overhead in the late afternoon, and a Peregrine Falcon early in
the day.
Non-migratory activity was very high today, with an oddly high number of
birds seen moving S that we do not normally see do that. One Broad-winged
Hawk was spotted W of us, soared for a second, and flew directly south
until it was out of sight. An Osprey did something similar as well. We saw
one local Peregrine Falcon a few times today, including once as it chased
off a migratory PG. Other non-migratory species seen today include a
Swainson's Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, Turkey Vultures, an American Kestrel, and
Red-tailed Hawks.
Non-raptor Observations:
Wild Turkey 1, White-throated Swift 86, Eurasian Collared-Dove 1, Northern
Flicker 1, Steller's Jay 1, Woodhouse's Scrub Jay 2, Black-billed Magpie 2,
Common Raven 1, Black-capped Chickadee 1, Tree Swallow 8, Pygmy Nuthatch 1,
American Robin 1, Dark-eyed Junco 1, Spotted Towhee 2, Western Meadowlark 2
Predictions:
Tomorrow looks to be warmer than today with less cloud cover. Winds
continue from the general W direction tomorrow, with gusts up to 35 km/h.
========================================================================
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,
American White Pelican, and Dusky Grouse. 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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