Observation start time: 09:00:00 Observation end time: 17:00:00 Total observation time: 8 hours
Official Counter: Emma Riley
Observers:
Visitors: We had two visitors stop by the ridge including Linda from the Birds of Prey Foundation.
Thank you to Clay Gibson, Mike Serruto, and Amy Walsh for your help looking for migrants today!
Weather: It was a sunny and warm morning with partial cloud cover that seemed to be avoiding the ridge. Winds were out of the W across the metro area and the state except for our little pocket of land that had E winds almost all day. Heavier cloud cover came in the afternoon bringing cooler temperatures. Wind speeds got up to a bft of 4.
Raptor Observations: Migration was extremely stunted today with the W winds across the state and S of us. The few migrants we had came along the ridge and W of us relatively low. We got great looks at the American Kestrels that came by late in the day.
Local Red-tailed Hawks seemed aggravated with everything today. Up to four at a time could be seen mobbing Ravens, Golden Eagles, and each other. They were mostly active in the morning and late afternoon.
Non-raptor Observations: White-throated Swift 41, Broad-tailed Hummingbird 2, large gull sp. 1, Double-crested Cormorant 1, American White Pelican 2, Say's Phoebe 1, Black-billed Magpie 2, Common Raven 3, Black-capped Chickadee 1, American Bushtit 3, House Finch 3, Pine Siskin 2, Spotted Towhee 1, Western Meadowlark 1
Predictions: We are hoping to get a push of migrants in the morning as rain is possible in the afternoon. Bring a raincoat! ======================================================================== 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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