Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 12:00:00
Total observation time: 4 hours
Official Counter: Ajit Antony
Observers: Liza Antony
Weather:
The conditions were very similar to yesterday as far as the winds aloft
predicted on Earth.nullschool.net with an excellent soaring forecast. There
was a perfectly blue sky but the first cumulogenic clouds were seen to the
NW, and by the 3rd hour there was a good bank of clouds going all the way
from north to SW almost a binocular field wide. The count began with light
winds from the SW changing to east, temperature 21> 26 degrees Celsius,
lower humidity 25>22%, maximum cloud cover only 15%, excellent visibility
to 24 km.
Raptor Observations:
Exploratory fall hawk count 2025.
See https://groups.google.com/g/cobirds/c/Oznn4uc6MBk The first migrant was an adult SW over the power cut at 9:26 AM MDT.
Non migrant raptors: CH 1, RT two, TV 5 and one which glided arrow-straight
and fast from the north southward and was lost against the trees on the
north flank of Mount Morrison - not counted as I couldn't see it south of
that mountain.
I was surprised there were not many more migrants with the continuous
streaming winds coming down from Canada.
See https://tinyurl.com/jk6x4b35, the green circle roughly at Dinosaur
Ridge.
By 1:00 PM it was really hot, with no shade and very little cooling wind so
we decided to quit, especially as there were no migrants seen for an hour.
Waiting yesterday until 5:00 PM did not yield too many migrants with
similar conditions.
Non-raptor Observations:
Clark's Nutcracker 3 flew low over the watch, Rock Wren 1, Barn Swallow 1.
Violet-green Swallow 2, White-breasted nuthatch interior West 1, Downy
Woodbecker 1, Common Raven 2, Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay 1.
3 paragliders.
Predictions:
Quite similar to today in terms of wind and cloud cover.
========================================================================
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,
American White Pelican, and Dusky Grouse. 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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