Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field OrnithologistsColorado, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Feb 10, 2023 |
Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Osprey | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Bald Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Northern Harrier | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Cooper's Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Northern Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Red-tailed Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Golden Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Merlin | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Unknown Buteo | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Unknown Raptor | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Total: | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Observation start time: | 10:15:00 |
Observation end time: | 13:15:00 |
Total observation time: | 3 hours |
Official Counter | Ajit Antony |
Observers: | |
Weather:The initial path going north was ice-free but the shaded portions after the
bend were icy, with no problem going up but coming down was slick from the
snow having melted especially in the steeper areas just before the bend
where I saw hiker slip but not fall, I avoided his way but slipped on
invisible black ice in the shade of acedar and the next thing I knew I was
on my back.
Raptor Observations:South-based winds were predicted today so we continued our exploration of
whether we could see early migrant raptors in February.My guess is we may
see a few in the last week of February.
In the 1st hour an RT rose in the valley to the east then flew little
above the watch going south (Western subspecies with a dark throat, and was
missing a left 6th primary) and a few minutes later it was joined by
another one which dove on it and then soared with it.
In the last hour 2 RT flew in from the south but they were different pair
as neither of them were in molt (one was an Eastern subspecies with a white
throat and the other was a Western subspecies). An SS flew south quite low.
I had to look at it for long time to confirm my initial impression that it
was an SS as Western CH are smaller than Eastern, thus more similar to SS
in flight.
Non-raptor Observations:White-breasted Nuthatch 2, Common Raven 2, Townsend’s Solitaire 3,
Black-capped Chickadee 2.
There was the band of smog at the NE horizon.
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 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. Northern 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 a
Hawk Counter and volunteers from 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM from March 1st to May 14th,
weather permitting.
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)