Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 17:00:00
Total observation time: 8.83 hours
Official Counter: Emma Riley, Emma Riley, Audrey Anderson
Observers: Janet Peters, Kathie Moses, Laura Hollenbaugh,
Natalie Uschner-Arroyo
Visitors:
Thank you to Kathie Moses, Natalie Uschner-Arroyo, Janet Peters, and Laura
Hollenbaugh for coming out today! Janet and Natalie came up (bearing
lunch-thank you!) to enjoy the last full day this season with both Audrey
and Emma counting.
Trail activity was slow today with intermittent rain. 11 visitors stopped
by today.
Weather:
Late season continues to see precipitation in the afternoons but luckily it
was brief and light today. Winds came predominantly from the NE today at
light speeds mostly, with stronger gusts at the end of the day. Verga was
seen for most of the day in all directions. The first rainbow of the year
was seen just as we were leaving for the day!
Raptor Observations:
May 1 marks the beginning of the end of the 2025 season at Dinosaur Ridge,
with our final count day being May 10. Migrants have begun tapering out but
are still providing us with great looks. We got stellar looks at all of our
late-season buteos today, including the Swainson's Hawk and Broad-winged
Hawk. Most of our migrants came overhead, varying immensely in the
overhead height.
Our American Kestrel flights dropped off very suddenly in the last week,
but the few that we continue to get in the late afternoon remind us of how
incredible this season has been!
This April has been our 6th highest April on record! 2000 was the last year
with a higher count. This was also our 3rd highest American Kestrel count
for April on record.
Non-raptor Observations:
Passerines were moving when the count started just after 0800 MST this
morning. Yellow-rumped Warbler was the main species seen moving N today.
Birds flew through the day in small flocks and as individuals just along
the ridge. Other notable species seen today include American White Pelican
(15) in 2 groups moving N, Chipping Sparrow (33) seen S along the trail
foraging and bathing in a small muddy puddle, and our FOS Hermit Thrush low
in a Juniper.
White-throated Swift 40, Broad-tailed Hummingbird 2, Double-crested
Cormorant 1, American White Pelican 16, Blue Jay 1, Woodhouse's Scrub Jay
1, Black-billed Magpie 1, Common Raven 2, Black-capped Chickadee 1, Tree
Swallow 1, Violet-green Swallow 28, Rock Wren 1, Blue-grey Gnatcatcher 2,
Pygmy Nuthatch 1, Western Bluebird 2, Hermit Thrush 1, American Robin 2,
House Finch 2, American Goldfinch 2, Chipping Sparrow 34, Song Sparrow 1,
Spotted Towhee 4, Western Meadowlark 3, Common Grackle 1, Yellow-rumped
Warbler (Audubon's) 34, Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 6
Predictions:
Tomorrow and Saturday look to be the last two fully nice days of the
season, so come enjoy migration with us! Thunderstorms/precipitation are
possible every day after Saturday. Tomorrow is expected to see light winds
from the E and sun.
========================================================================
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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