Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field OrnithologistsColorado, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 20, 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 | 16 | 16 |
Northern Harrier | 0 | 3 | 3 |
Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 3 | 3 |
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 | 10 | 93 | 93 |
Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Ferruginous Hawk | 4 | 22 | 22 |
Golden Eagle | 0 | 21 | 21 |
American Kestrel | 1 | 5 | 5 |
Merlin | 1 | 2 | 2 |
Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Prairie Falcon | 0 | 4 | 4 |
Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Unknown Buteo | 0 | 4 | 4 |
Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Unknown Raptor | 0 | 3 | 3 |
Total: | 17 | 179 | 179 |
Observation start time: | 09:30:00 |
Observation end time: | 16:30:00 |
Total observation time: | 7 hours |
Official Counter | Emma Riley |
Observers: | Carol Cwiklinski, Janet Peters, Natalie Vande Vuss, Steve Small |
Visitors:We had a great turn out for observers and volunteers today. Carol
Cwiklinski and Steve Small started early at 0930 and stayed until 1600.
Natalie Vande Vuss spent all day observing. Kyle Carlsen, former Quaker
Ridge counter, spent all morning and much of the afternoon with us. Janet
Peters came for the afternoon to observe.
Total visitors count today was 53 with 40 people interacting with the Hawk
Watch. Many of our visitors stayed to bird with us for at least a few
minutes and it was great to share the migration with them.
Weather:The morning started off with partially cloudy skies and SW winds. As the
day went on clouds started to clear and winds died down and began varying
heavily but were light. At about 1600 a storm front began to move in from
the NW, bringing strong winds and close precipitation causing us to end the
count at 1630.
Raptor Observations:One Red-tailed Hawk and two Ferruginous Hawks kicked off the day, with the
two FEHAs coming low in the west valley giving us incredible looks. We
continued to have a relatively steady stream of migrants until about 1400.
Local raptor activity seemed to be higher today than it has been the past
few days, with three GOEA and two RTHA seen at various points throughout
the day. The GOEAs especially gave great looks to some of our visitors.
Non-raptor Observations:https://ebird.org/checklist/S105277299Predictions:Snow expected tomorrow morning, count delayed by 2 hours.
Report submitted by DAVID HILL (
)
Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists information may be found at:
http://www.dfobirds.orgMore information at
hawkcount.org: [
Site Profile] [
Day Summary] [
Month Summary]
Site DescriptionDinosaur 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)