Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 12:00:00
Total observation time: 4 hours
Official Counter: Ajit Antony
Observers: Liza Antony
Visitors:
One hiker asked how the count was going.
Weather:
Weather.gov predicted 30% cloud cover, but at the watch it was 60% and
increasing to 90% earth.nullschool.net showed streaming winds from the WNW
from California and Utah. The National Weather Service's Soaring forecast
(surprising in view of the heavily overcast skies) was excellent with 4.9
m/sec lift with the maximum height of thermals predicted at 8776 feet above
ground level! Perhaps they were calculating it based on a 30% cloud cover.
Humidity was high at 41% dropping to 32%, winds were light from the SW>ENE,
temperature 21>26° Celsius, excellent visibility at 24 km with no
haziness.
Raptor Observations:
Exploratory fall count 2025. See
https://groups.google.com/g/cobirds/c/Oznn4uc6MBk All migrant raptors were very high and far to the West, so it fit with the
soaring forecast. The first migrant was an RT over the western ridge at
9:23 AM MDT. We had 2 more RT, 2 SW, and an adult GE which posed a
diagnostic challenge as it was really very high, completely tucked in in a
strong glide, it did not flap even once, but the wide wings and a more
prominent head clinched the ID.
Birds of the day: We heard an odd call at 11:35 a.m. that we didn't know,
coming downslope west of us, but we couldn't see any birds there. Liza had
put on Merlin for the sound ID, and she said that it identified peregrines!
This was a call we hadn't heard before. She then found two of them flying
moderately close, easily visible with the naked eye. One was larger, a
female, was molting a left 8th primary and a few secondaries, the other was
smaller and likely a male. They flew together gaining height. At one point
they faced each other presenting talons, without locking them. I followed
one and Liza followed the other, and one of them flew to the SE, eventually
just gliding. We couldn't remember which was the one that migrated, but at
11:51 AM when an immature RT flow low over the watch to the east we saw the
female PG high overhead, and later at noon we saw it patrolling further
South, so we realized that it was escorting migrants out of its territory.
Presenting talons appears to be its territorial defense.
Non-migrant raptors: 2 Adult GE to the NW flew North, RT 2, TV 8.
The last 1.5 hours yielded no migrants, so we thought the flight was over
for the day, and left.
Non-raptor Observations:
White-throated Swift 1, Barn Swallow 3, White-breasted Nuthatch interior
West subspecies heard, House Finch 1, Downy Woodpecker 1.
1 paraglider who seemed to have lift only up to the height of the tallest
antenna over Lookout Mountain.
Predictions:
Light winds Starting at 9:00 AM from the NNE changing to NE, a 32% chance
of rain all morning increasing to a likely 55% by noon, with the usual
chance of lightning at 12 noon becoming more likely by 3:00 PM.
========================================================================
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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