Observation start time: 09:30:00
Observation end time: 15:30:00
Total observation time: 6.5 hours
Official Counter: Emma Riley
Observers: Soren Zappia
Visitors:
It was a steady day with local visitors and out of state visitors. A total
of 27 people interacted with the count in one way or another, many of them
asking about our activity for the day.
Thank you to Cayce and Chris Gulbransen for their help at the site this
morning!
Weather:
We had a pretty perfect first day with scattered clouds, warm temperatures,
and light SE winds for most of the day. In the afternoon heavier clouds
rolled in from the W dropping temperatures a bit. We had a very light
drizzle at the end of the day, something we desperately need along the
front range this spring.
Raptor Observations:
Let the 2026 season begin! Today was our first day back on the ridge and we
couldn�t be happier. We had a fun day with lots of local RT, GE, BE, and NH
activity. Up to 6 RT at once could be seen performing territorial displays,
mobbing the local GE, and overall perusing the landscape. We had 8 total
migrants including 2 FH! We have seen FH on the first day a few times since
2020, but never 2. We also had a dark-morph RT come overhead going S. Lots
of local birds were seen E of the site, with most of the migrants seen W of
the site. We enjoyed watching migrants move from one thermal to the next.
Non-raptor Observations:
Magpie 1, Common Raven 7, Black-capped Chickadee 1, American Bushtit 4,
Mountain Bluebird 85, Townsend's Solitaire 2, American Robin 1, House Finch
4, Pine Siskin 5, Dark-eyed Junco 2
Predictions:
Tomorrow should be warmer than today with winds predominantly from the W.
The trail should be dry and it should be another beautiful, maybe a bit
windy, day on the ridge.
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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, and
American White Pelican. 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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