Visitors:
We always appreciate having the help in spotting birds from our volunteers.
Thank you to Marirosa Donisi, Cayce & Chris Gulbransen, and Sammy Korengut
for your help today!
Weather:
It was a beautiful day up at the ridge today with much nicer winds than the
last few days. Clouds were present all day to a varying degree of coverage
and darkness. Verga could be seen at time, and we had a light drizzle on us
a few times for no more than 1 minute max at a time. Winds came from the NE
for most of the day.
Raptor Observations:
It was a great day at Dino again today with an outstanding American Kestrel
flight of 113 birds on the day! The real prime time kicked off at 1400 MST,
with 32 Kestrels on the hour. They continued to come 1-4 at a time- coming
low overhead or low over the west ridges. This is the biggest AK count here
in a day since 1997! American Kestrelw have been increasing in seasonal
counts here over the last few years, with this year already turning out to
be a banner year. We counted bird # 2000 this morning, and fittingly it was
an AK.
Other highlights on the day include a juvenile Ferruginous Hawk that came
overhead in the evening. This bird was a complete surprise to see this late
in the season! We got some of our best ever looks at the 'windows' in the
juveniles wings, which were noticeably rounder and closer to the tip of the
wing in comparison to the Red-tailed Hawk's.
Northern Harriers are also having a stellar year and continue to come low
by the site, like one of today's male birds.
We continue to enjoy the Broad-winged and Swainson's Hawks most days, and
look forward to some bigger SW days.
Non-raptor Observations:
Non-raptors also blew us away today with the sites first ever record of
Evening Grosbeaks! Two stopped by a snag just south of us for a minute
before continuing SW. Photos can be found on eBird.
Other notable sightings include late season Sandhill Cranes (6), two groups
of south bound American White Pelicans (12), Pine Siskin (2), and an
American Pipit heard calling on the hike in!
White-throated Swift 207, Broad-tailed Hummingbird 1, Eurasian
Collared-Dove
2, Sandhill Crane 6, large gull sp. 1, Double-crested Cormorant 1, American
White Pelican 12, Northern Flicker 5, Woodhouse's Scrub Jay 3, Black-billed
Magpie 2, Common Raven 1, Tree Swallow 16, Violet-green Swallow 14, Barn
Swallow 2, swalow sp. 55, Rock Wren 1, Pygmy Nuthatch 1, Mountain Bluebird
1, Townsend's Solitaire 5, American Robin 1, EVENING GROSBEAK 2, House
Finch 1, Pine Siskin 2, Spotted Towhee 1, Western Meadowlark 1
Predictions:
Precipitation is expected tomorrow in the late afternoon, but the winds
have the potential for another great day of migration. The sun should be
out for periods of time, but bring a layer and some rain protection!
========================================================================
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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