Observation start time: 12:00:00
Observation end time: 14:00:00
Total observation time: 1.5 hours
Official Counter: Audrey Anderson
Observers:
Visitors:
Thank you to all of our volunteers for your flexibility with the count
cancellations.We look forward to see you all again under better raptor
spotting conditions.
There was 1 gentleman and his dog I chatted to about the Hawkwatch on the
way up.
Weather:
The ridge was completely socked in with fog throughout the day, so the
count was canceled. A constant drizzle was also present in the morning.
Foggy conditions worsened in the afternoon, completely engulfing the valley
by Mathew’s Winters.
Raptor Observations:
The count was called for the day due to extreme low visibility. Around
12:30 MST I came up to see if there was a gap in the fog at the top of the
ridge, there was not. Viability only reached the dead trees just south of
the platform along the trail. The 2 migrating kestrels were seen on the
hike up just before the fog intensified. Most birds were seen on the hike
up, others heard or seen moving through the fog from the Hawkwatch
platform. Interestingly, the fog spurred somewhat of a shorebird movement.
A LONG-BILLED CURLEW made an appearance, moving just slightly below the fog
at the start of the W slope, just above Mathew’s Winters. Such a
distinctive bird, so insanely cool and unexpected to have from the
Hawkwatch!! The other shorebird of note was a Killdeer calling away through
the fog moving N bound, also out to the W of the platform. Overall the lack
of visibility was too intense and there was no hope for spotting raptors,
the conditions worsened once I began my decent.
Non-raptor Observations:
Killdeer 1, Long-billed Curlew 1, Northern Flicker 1, Black-billed Magpie
1, American Robin 3, House Finch 7, Chipping Sparrow 1, Dark-eyed Junco 2,
Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon) 1, Song Sparrow 1, Spotted Towhee 3
Predictions:
Tomorrow conditions are expected to improve drastically from today. Expect
muddy trails and fog in the morning, but the fog is predicted to clear out
by late morning. Mixed cloud cover and sunshine for the rest of the day
with temps reaching 20C. Winds up to 10mph out of the east.
========================================================================
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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