Observation start time: 09:00:00
Observation end time: 17:00:00
Total observation time: 7 hours
Official Counter: Emma Riley
Observers: Amanda Baker, Ryan Gannon
Visitors:
Thank you to today's volunteers Amanda Baker and Ryan Gannon for powering
through the moody weather today. Amanda sat through some of the morning
rain with me. It was the last day for both of them. Amanda and Ryan have
both been regular volunteers at the ridge this season, coming up more than
once a week some weeks! This was Amandas first season with us and Ryan's
second. They have been essential help in spotting and IDing birds as well
as educating visitors/volunteers on migration. We look forward to having
them both back next year!
We saw three people on the trail all day, which was three more than we were
expecting to see with all the mud.
Weather:
The morning started off with a muddy ascent and pleasant temperatures.
Temperatures dropped when precipitation came in from the NE and settled in
for a few hours. The count was paused for an hour in the heaviest of it.
Skies cleared slowly, but not before some brief hail. The trail developed a
small stream flowing down it that caused some erosion in spots.
Raptor Observations:
Raptor migration was non-existent today.
Non-migratory raptors were out once the rain stopped, with the local
Red-tailed Hawks and Turkey Vultures seen most frequently. One American
Kestrel, Golden Eagle, and Bald Eagle were seen as well.
4 Swainson's Hawks were spotted all in a glide side by side going directly
SE until they couldn't be seen through binoculars anymore.
Non-raptor Observations:
A flock of Franklin's Gulls flew N over Green Mountain just before the rain
started. Most of the bird activity on the ridge was concentrated in the
late afternoon.
White-throated Swift 2, Broad-tailed Hummingbird 1, Mourning Dove 2,
Franklin's Gull 21, Northern Flicker 1, Say's Phoebe 1, Woodhouse's Scrub
Jay 1, Magpie 1, Black-billed Magpie 4, Common Raven 1, Tree Swallow 1,
Violet-green Swallow 1, Rock Wren 1, House Wren 1, American Robin 1,
Spotted Towhee 2, Western Meadowlark 1, Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 3
Predictions:
Conditions look promising for at least one migrant tomorrow! The trail will
be muddy and the sun will be shining.
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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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