Observation start time: 07:30:00
Observation end time: 12:00:00
Total observation time: 4.5 hours
Official Counter: Ajit Antony
Observers: Karolyn Chan, Liza Antony
Visitors:
A young woman came to the watch with binoculars and a camera with a long
lens. Karolyn Chan has moved to Colorado only 2 weeks ago, having been a
birder only for a few months, she was told by an experienced birder in NJ
to visit the Dinosaur Ridge Hawk Watch! I was extremely gratified to hear
that, that our daily reports on Hawkcount.org were being read from as far
away as New Jersey. We strongly recommended DFO and the Bald Eagle Watch of
the Bird Conservation of the Rockies, told her that she could watch
Meredith McBurney banding birds at Barr Lake, and she said she would go
there tomorrow. She scanned the sky assiduously and found us three distant
TV which were not migrants. I told her that Liza and I were leading a DFO
trip to the Dinosaur Ridge Hawk Watch combining raptor watching with a
discussion of the geology and paleontology of the area on Saturday August
30th and that she or anyone else could sign up for it at Dfobirds.org.
Weather:
Level 3 (8-12 mph) becoming level 5 winds (19 mph) from the NE which should
have been favorable to southbound migrants in fall, but the predicted cloud
cover of 30% was actually 90% at the watch, and this would result in very
poor thermal formation resulting in a poor migration of buteos; visibility
was excellent. Nullschool.earth.net had streaming winds coming down from
Canada favorable to migrants, but alas it was trumped perhaps by the lack
of strong thermals. See https://tinyurl.com/2s49z2ew where the green circle
is roughly where Dinosaur Ridge is located.
Raptor Observations:
Exploratory fall count 2025. See
https://groups.google.com/g/cobirds/c/Oznn4uc6MBk Not a single migrant found today.
Non migrant raptors: Osprey 2, carrying a fish, flying North, another one
seen over the Western Ridge 39 mins. later flying West; TV 4, RT 4.
Non-raptor Observations:
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1, Downy Woodpecker 1, N. House Wren 1, Woodhouse's
Scrub-Jay 1, hummingwood species, Black-capped Chickadee 1, Common Raven 1.
Predictions:
A 50% chance of rain, so unless the forecast changes we will be counting on
Sunday when we will have a small window to observe, with NE winds, before
rain and lightning are predicted by noon.
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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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