Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists (12 Mar 2022) 5 Raptors
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Mar 12, 2022, 10:51:31 PM3/12/22
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Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists
Colorado, USA
Visitors:
A total of 34 people were seen today, with 22 of them interacting with us. About a quarter of the visitors today got great looks at raptors which is always exciting for us. We also had a total of five volunteers up at the ridge today.
Weather:
Temperatures reached about 16 C with winds on and off all day. Wind speeds reached a season high today with gusts up to 30 km/h from the west. The sun stayed out until early afternoon, but clouds rolled in and the wind picked up at the end of the day.
Raptor Observations:
Lots of local Red-tailed Hawk activity again today giving us great looks and keeping us busy. All but one migrant was also a Red-tailed Hawk. The local Prairie Falcon stole the show today by circling immediately overhead for about a minute in the afternoon. The local Golden Eagle also briefly came out today. By about 1330 all raptor activity ceased.
Non-raptor Observations:
About 30 American Robins were seen moving before our count started. Corvid activity was the greatest today of non-raptors, with a total of 17 American Crows and 11 Common Ravens enjoying the strong winds. Two Townsend's Solitaires perched in the nearby snag, followed by three American Robins. All non-raptor activity ceased by 1400, except for the Robins.
Predictions:
Another warm day tomorrow with temperatures reaching 16 C or 61 F, with variable but calm winds. Raptor movement is hard to predict with such variable winds, but we are always hopeful.
Report submitted by DAVID HILL ()
Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists information may be found at: http://www.dfobirds.org
More information at hawkcount.org: [Site Profile] [Day Summary] [Month Summary]
Site Description
Dinosaur Ridge is the only regularly staffed hawkwatch in Colorado and is the
best place in the world to see migrating Ferruginous Hawks. Dinosaur Ridge may
be the best place in the country to see the rare dark morph of the Broad-winged
Hawk (a few are seen each spring). Hawkwatchers who linger long enough may see
resident Golden Eagles, Red-tailed Hawks and Prairie Falcons, in addition to
migrating Swainson's, Cooper's and Sharp-shinned Hawks, American Kestrels and
Turkey Vultures. Peregrine Falcons and Ferruginous Hawks are uncommon; Northern
Goshawk is rare but regular. Non-raptor species include Rock Wren, and sometimes
Bushtit, Western Bluebird, Sandhill Crane, White-throated Swift, American White
Pelican or Dusky Grouse. Birders of any skill level are always welcome.
HawkWatch at Dinosaur Ridge is generally staffed by volunteers from about 9 AM
to around 3 PM from March 1st to May 7th.
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 small signs from the
southwest end of lot to the hawkwatch 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, head through the
gate, and walk to the clearly-visible, flat area at the crest of the ridge.
(Distance: 0.56 miles, Elevation gain: 259 feet)
Colorado, USA
| Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 12, 2022 | |||
| Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bald Eagle | 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 4 | 29 | 29 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 12 | 12 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Merlin | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total: | 5 | 61 | 61 |
| Observation start time: | 09:30:00 |
| Observation end time: | 16:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 6.5 hours |
| Official Counter | Emma Riley |
| Observers: | Steve Small, Susan Blansett |
Visitors:
A total of 34 people were seen today, with 22 of them interacting with us. About a quarter of the visitors today got great looks at raptors which is always exciting for us. We also had a total of five volunteers up at the ridge today.
Weather:
Temperatures reached about 16 C with winds on and off all day. Wind speeds reached a season high today with gusts up to 30 km/h from the west. The sun stayed out until early afternoon, but clouds rolled in and the wind picked up at the end of the day.
Raptor Observations:
Lots of local Red-tailed Hawk activity again today giving us great looks and keeping us busy. All but one migrant was also a Red-tailed Hawk. The local Prairie Falcon stole the show today by circling immediately overhead for about a minute in the afternoon. The local Golden Eagle also briefly came out today. By about 1330 all raptor activity ceased.
Non-raptor Observations:
About 30 American Robins were seen moving before our count started. Corvid activity was the greatest today of non-raptors, with a total of 17 American Crows and 11 Common Ravens enjoying the strong winds. Two Townsend's Solitaires perched in the nearby snag, followed by three American Robins. All non-raptor activity ceased by 1400, except for the Robins.
Predictions:
Another warm day tomorrow with temperatures reaching 16 C or 61 F, with variable but calm winds. Raptor movement is hard to predict with such variable winds, but we are always hopeful.
Report submitted by DAVID HILL ()
Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists information may be found at: http://www.dfobirds.org
More information at hawkcount.org: [Site Profile] [Day Summary] [Month Summary]
Site Description
Dinosaur Ridge is the only regularly staffed hawkwatch in Colorado and is the
best place in the world to see migrating Ferruginous Hawks. Dinosaur Ridge may
be the best place in the country to see the rare dark morph of the Broad-winged
Hawk (a few are seen each spring). Hawkwatchers who linger long enough may see
resident Golden Eagles, Red-tailed Hawks and Prairie Falcons, in addition to
migrating Swainson's, Cooper's and Sharp-shinned Hawks, American Kestrels and
Turkey Vultures. Peregrine Falcons and Ferruginous Hawks are uncommon; Northern
Goshawk is rare but regular. Non-raptor species include Rock Wren, and sometimes
Bushtit, Western Bluebird, Sandhill Crane, White-throated Swift, American White
Pelican or Dusky Grouse. Birders of any skill level are always welcome.
HawkWatch at Dinosaur Ridge is generally staffed by volunteers from about 9 AM
to around 3 PM from March 1st to May 7th.
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 small signs from the
southwest end of lot to the hawkwatch 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, head through the
gate, and walk to the clearly-visible, flat area at the crest of the ridge.
(Distance: 0.56 miles, Elevation gain: 259 feet)
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