Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 11:15:00
Total observation time: 3.25 hours
Official Counter: Ajit Antony
Observers:
Weather:
weather.gov for Golden predicted 70% cloud cover so Liza stayed home, as
last week with a similar prediction the actual cloud cover at the watch was
90% with few migrants. I went to the watch to see if this was a consistent
phenomenon, and at the watch there was only about 45% cloud cover, high
cirrus clouds with filtered sunlight. I wondered whether this would be
enough to create adequate thermals or not. I checked earth.nullschool.net
which showed that the winds aloft were light and from the south, which may
explain why there were very few migrant raptors.
Near the end of the watch, when the ridges to the South became very dark,
and because of the risk of lightning, my My Lightning app showed 50+
lightning strikes to the West only 15 miles away near Aspen Park. Every
Denverite knows of the daily afternoon thunderstorms in summer.
Raptor Observations:
Only one migrant today, a Swainson's Hawk at 11:45 AM MDT seen to the SW
initially, which flew SE initially, then circled gaining height. I was
binocular scanning between North and SW every 1-2 minutes, including higher
up, later in the morning.
Non migrant Raptors: TV 4, RT 2.
Non-raptor Observations:
Rock Wren 1, Barn Swallow 1, Violet-green Swallow 6, Red-breasted Nuthatch
heard twice, Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay 6, Common Raven 7.
A paraglider at 11:00 AM did not seem to have much lift, 5 more at 11:45
a.m. who got only a little higher than the antennae on Lookout Mountain,
and who in my opinion were foolhardy as there were lightning strikes
already to the West a scant 15 miles away. You can be struck by lightning
from more than 10 miles away, and even up to 25 miles away, even without
hearing thunder. Yes, paragliders can be struck by lightning. A Chinese man
was killed paragliding in Australia in 2006, while a German woman was
sucked up by the same storm, rising a potentially lethal 9144 feet, and
survived.
Predictions:
Patchy fog before 9:00 AM, increasing chance of rain and lightning after
2:00 PM, with winds from the SE>E>NE, so I will count in the morning.
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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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