Observation start time: 09:30:00
Observation end time: 11:00:00
Total observation time: 1.5 hours
Official Counter:
Observers:
Visitors:
3 visitors.
Despite the weather, a few hikers stopped by the ridge to enjoy the winter
scenery. I was surprised to see a proposal occur at the ridge this morning!
They were both very happy and took many photos in the snow.
Congratulations!
Weather:
It was a snowy day on the ridge with a few inches of snow already
accumulated by the time the count began. Moderate-to-heavy snowfall
throughout the morning limited visibility to a kilometer or less - both Mt.
Morrison and Green Mountain were nowhere to be seen. Temperatures remained
steady at slightly above freezing, and wind started calm but started to
pick up from the northeast in the late morning.
The count was cancelled at 11:00 AM due to worsening visibility and
snowfall expected throughout the day.
Raptor Observations:
It was a quiet snowy day at the ridge with no raptor activity detected.
The only bird observed, a single local Townsend's Solitaire, was spotted on
the east slope among the junipers.
Non-raptor Observations:
Townsend's Solitaire 1
Predictions:
Tomorrow we expect a return to sunny weather, with cold temperatures
warming a bit as the day goes on. Winds are predicted to be light and
variable. Bring layers and sunscreen, and prepare for snowy and wet trail
conditions.
========================================================================
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)
--
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To post to this group, send email to <cobirds...>
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds * All posts should be signed with the poster's full name and city. Include bird species and location in the subject line when appropriate.
* Join Colorado Field Ornithologists https://cobirds.org/membership/ ---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to cobirds+<unsubscribe...>
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/<0101019cc5793e56-c5a14457-0c2d-4ac5-8b25-25b9e2e7b2e6-000000...>
