Observation start time: 06:00:00
Observation end time: 18:45:00
Total observation time: 12.75 hours
Official Counter: Audrey Anderson, Emma Riley, Audrey Anderson
Observers: Amanda Baker, Emma Riley, George Mamalis, Janet Peters,
Leslie Mamalis, Noah Sanford, Ryan Gannon
Visitors:
Thank you to all of our volunteer observers today for your help spotting
birds! It is one thing to experience this migration as counters, but
getting to share this with others makes it so special.
We had a total of 52 visitors today, with 20 of them being a Jefferson
County all women's volunteer trail maintenance crew! We also saw three
hikers early in the morning and then again at the end of the day after
their summit of Mt. Morrison.
Weather:
It was another really pleasant day on the ridge until the temperatures
dropped at the end of the day when some heavier cloud cover came in.
Temperatures were mild, winds were from the NE at low speeds for most of
the day. Verga and dense storm clouds could be seen west of us for the last
few hours of the day, but never came over us. Precipitation was possible
today but we were spared.
Raptor Observations:
We had a record day at Dinosaur Ridge today with an absolutely outstanding
daily count of 329 raptors! This is the 6th highest daily count at Dinosaur
Ridge Hawk Watch on record. We have the American Kestrels to thank for
making up almost half of today's count. This puts us at the 5th highest
season total in site history, with over 2 weeks left in the season! We
continue to be completely amazed by the afternoon movement we have been
seeing from these birds. The flight was incredibly similar to yesterday's,
but we started the afternoon with a good count of them already.
Across the board there were fantastic numbers of most other species as
well. Today was our highest Broad-winged Hawk day this season by one bird!
A few came right overhead, and one came right below us on the E side. All 3
of our Peregrine Falcons moved along the ridge, with #3 coming close enough
for us to see the notable 'helmet' on this species. Today's 9 Northern
Harriers also make it so that we have doubled (and then some) last year's
count for this species!
To top it all off, today's flight puts the 2025 season as the highest
season total since 2005, with many more days to go.
Non-raptor migrants came in force this morning! It was a great morning
flight for Chipping Sparrows (61), Yellow-rumped Warblers (37 Audubon’s
and 2 Myrtle), and Dark-eyed Juncos (33). Other highlights this morning
were Vesper Sparrows (4), 4 types of swallows, and Broad-tailed
Hummingbirds (7). Today was the largest and most diverse passerine flight
of the season, the songbird migration has really kicked up a notch! There
were 3 main pushes in the morning starting at 6:30 MST, flight lines
directly eye level on the main ridge. A really cool morning flight and
first truly noticeable passerines flight of the season. Hopefully there
will be another push of songbirds tomorrow as conditions are predicted to
be similar in the morning.
** To see final numbers for this mornings passerine flight please visit our
Trektellen site, linked under the 'Visitors' comment section.**
Non-raptor Observations:
Canada Goose 18, White-throated Swift 163, Broad-tailed Hummingbird 7,
Eurasian Collared-Dove 8, Mourning Dove 1, Ring-billed Gull 1,
Double-crested Cormorant 1, Great Blue Heron 1, American White Pelican 3,
Say's Phoebe 3, Blue Jay 1, Woodhouse's Scrub Jay 2, Black-billed Magpie
32, Common Raven 15, Black-capped Chickadee 3, Tree Swallow 18,
Violet-green Swallow 25, Barn Swallow 5, Cliff Swallow 5, Rock Wren 4,
White-breasted Nuthatch 1, European Starling 1, Mountain Bluebird 1,
Western Bluebird 1, Townsend's Solitaire 1, American Robin 9, Chipping
Sparrow 61, Dark-eyed Junco 33, Vesper Sparrow 4, Song Sparrow 2, Spotted
Towhee 3, Western Meadowlark 1, Common Grackle 3, Yellow-rumped Warbler
(Audubon's) 37, Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 2
Predictions:
Tomorrow's conditions look pretty similar to today's conditions, with a
higher chance of afternoon showers. Winds from the NE again with variable
cloud cover. A rain coat is recommended, as we will do our best to stick
out the rain!
========================================================================
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)
--
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To post to this group, send email to <cobirds...>
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds * All posts should be signed with the poster's full name and city. Include bird species and location in the subject line when appropriate.
* Join Colorado Field Ornithologists https://cobirds.org/membership/ ---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to cobirds+<unsubscribe...>
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/<01010196663c8fb4-ebca92a8-1a08-4787-92db-b00bf7b96746-000000...>
