Observation start time: 09:00:00 Observation end time: 17:00:00 Total observation time: 8 hours
Official Counter: Soren Zappia
Observers:
Visitors: 7 Visitors. A few hikers stopped by throughout the day and asked about our research. We also enjoyed getting to meet their dogs!
Thank you to Leslie Dixon, Janet Peters, and Chris and Cayce Gulbransen for volunteering today! It was so helpful to have a great team of spotters during the morning rush.
Weather: The morning was cool with thin but complete cloud cover and light SE winds. Cloud cover became denser as the morning went on, as winds shifted slowly to the NE.
In the afternoon, the visibility dropped as precipitation became visible to the south and west. Cloud cover became dense, and the wind switched back to SE. Rain was a light drizzle, present intermittently for periods of around 20-30 minutes at a time.
The sun returned in the final few hours of the count, visible behind thinning clouds. The misty sunshine lessened visibility a bit to the west and south, but the rain did not return.
Raptor Observations: It was a great day with over 100 migrating raptors. American Kestrels, Turkey Vultures, and Red-tailed Hawks all made a strong showing, but we also had a good flight of both Cooper's and Sharp-shinned Hawks. Most flight was distant on the west ridgeline, but we had a few close birds as well, including a stunning adult Prairie Falcon directly overhead. The peak of activity was in the late hours of the morning, when bird after bird was streaming past on the west after gaining height over Mt. Morrison.
As the rainclouds closed in from the south, kestrels were jetting past soon before the drizzle arrived. Drizzle remained on and off, with kestrels and a few accipitrines often flying ahead of incoming rain. Once the intermittent rain started, few buteos or TVs were seen until after the sun returned.
In the final hour of the count, during a lull in activity, suddenly an adult Ferruginous Hawk flew past on the east at eye level - Our last was over two weeks ago on March 22nd, so it was an unexpected surprise!
Non-raptor Observations: White-throated Swift 48, Broad-tailed Hummingbird 1, Double-crested Cormorant 14, American White Pelican 3, Northern Flicker 1, Black-billed Magpie 1, Common Raven 2, Black-capped Chickadee 1, Tree Swallow 3, Barn Swallow 1, American Bushtit 1, thrush sp. 4, Pine Siskin 3, Spotted Towhee 1, Western Meadowlark 1
Predictions: Tomorrow, expect much higher temperatures in the mid 60s to low 70s F, and variable cloud cover. Winds are forecasted as light to moderate from the S and SW, with wind speed increasing in the afternoon. Gusts may reach 20 MPH.
There is a chance of showers after noon, with possible thunderstorms in the late afternoon. It's always best to be prepared with both sunscreen and rain gear! ======================================================================== 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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