Observation start time: 09:30:00
Observation end time: 15:30:00
Total observation time: 6 hours
Official Counter: Emma Riley, Soren Zappia
Observers:
Visitors:
It was a slow day along the trail today with a total of 4 visitors.
Thanks to Cayce and Chris Gulbransen, and Mike Serruto for their help on
the ridge today.
Weather:
We had another warm spring day at the ridge with warm temperatures and
light winds. Winds were predicted to reach 20 mph but stayed light all day.
Clouds were varied in size, shape, and color all day making for excellent
spotting conditions.
Raptor Observations:
Another excellent early season day full of local raptor activity.
Red-tailed Hawks scattered the sky for much of the day preforming
territorial and courtship behaviors again. One adult was seen mobbing a
Golden Eagle again. The highlight of the day was a Prairie Falcon that was
first spotted just E of the ridge before gaining some great height and
moving S. We are hoping this bird might be moving in to the Ship Rock
falcon scrape. We also spotted a few Bald Eagles and two Cooper�s Hawks
that didn�t migrate. We had one migrating Red-tailed Hawk.
It was a great day for Mountain Bluebirds with a total count of 124 moving
north. We also had some early season Sandhill Cranes!
Non-raptor Observations:
Canada Goose 22, Sandhill Crane 3, Black-billed Magpie 1, Common Raven 2,
American Bushtit 3, Mountain Bluebird 124, American Robin 1, House Finch 1,
Dark-eyed Junco 2
Predictions:
Temperatures drop tomorrow with a chance for precipitation in the
afternoon. Winds are predicted to come from the NE for most of the day. We
are hoping to get a full day of counting in and some much needed
precipitation! The trail may be muddy at the end of the day depending on
rain presence.
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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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