Observation start time: 07:45:00
Observation end time: 11:00:00
Total observation time: 3.25 hours
Official Counter: Ajit Antony
Observers: Liza Antony
Weather:
The forecast was for 50% cloud cover predicted to rise to 85% in the
afternoon, with rain likely by noon with lightning, with light winds from
the NE, but at the watch there was 70% cloud cover. When faced with this we
looked up the Soaring Forecast of the National Weather Service and it was
poor with lift at only 0.2 meters per second, and the height of the
thermals was predicted to be only 3265 feet above ground level, which boded
poorly for a good migration of buteos. There was watery sunlight which
perhaps would not create good thermals, I felt. The sun came out from
behind the clouds in the 9-10 hour MDT for a longish time. In the last hour
we had low dark clouds coming in rapidly from the north. I kept my eye on
My Lightning app, and there were none until to the West of Rifle 142 miles
away. When Genesee Mountain was extremely hazy and all the mountains north
of Lookout Mountain were the same, we decided to stop. 10 minutes of
driving on the way home there was some rain, and 1.5 hours later there was
lightning strikes SW of the watch site near Evergreen.
Raptor Observations:
The first raptor was a CH which was lost in front of Mount Morrison, not
counted as a migrant because we could not see it further to the South. The
first migrant was an adult SW at 8 9:49 AM over the Western Ridge which
needed a scope to identify it as an adult with its two-toned underwing. At
11:09 AM a small kettle of 3 SW were seen circling then streaming fast,
just south of Mount Morrison, through the scope I could see their pointed
wingtips and dihedral.
Non-migrant Raptors: Osprey 2, TV 3, RT 4.
Non-raptor Observations:
Violet-green Swallow 2, Broad-tailed Hummingbird 1, Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay 6
American Robin 1, Black-capped Chickadee 1, House Finch 2, Northern Flicker
heard, Common Raven 2, American Crow 1.
A paraglider at 9:21 who could not get much lift, in fact he was below the
height he took off from. At 10:30 AM we could see 5 paragliders with
moderate lift.
Predictions:
Is 62% risk of rain in the morning, with a chance of lightning by 11:00 AM,
and likely by 3:00 PM, so I will skip counting tomorrow. On Wednesday there
may be a small window before thunderstorms are predicted to start by noon.
========================================================================
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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