Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists (08 May 2023) 42 Raptors
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May 8, 2023, 11:43:59 PM5/8/23
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Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists
Colorado, USA
Visitors:
6 stopped to ask questions, of whom a duo from Florida and the Dominican Republic stayed for a long time in conversation with the volunteers.
Weather:
The forecast called for 16 mph winds in the afternoon and a chance of rain after 2 PM. We did have a drizzle in the 1-2 PM MST as well as at the beginning of the 4 PM hour, which were both short-lived. The winds were only represented by very brief but very strong gusts. Winds mainly from the E>ENE, cloud cover initially only in the West but gradually covered the South and overhead which helped us actually see raptors, mild haziness.
Raptor Observations:
The 1st migrant was an adult SH at 8:31 AM. Non-migrant raptors: adult SH which dropped into the valley to the west presumably to hunt, immature CH did the same on the east, in last 0.5 hours an OS flew south low over the watch, a PG, RT 4 - 1 with a full crop, TV 4.
Non-raptor Observations:
Around 125 Tree Swallow suddenly at 3:25 PM MST, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1, Western Kingbird 1, Western Meadowlark, Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay 2, White-throated Swift 4, Broad-tailed Hummingbird heard 3 times, Common Raven 2. I was delighted to see Carol at the watch who had gotten there just before I did – she was subbing for Natalie who was taken ill. Speedy recovery to Natalie. Carol was very helpful in spotting and identifying raptors and on questioning her giving me ID hints. In the afternoon Shannon found a CH behind me as soon as she got to the watch, and she and Martha were helpful spotting raptors.
Predictions:
The weather forecast is similar to today but with a risk of rain only after the watch end, and so migrants presumably should be similar to today.
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 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)
Colorado, USA
| Daily Raptor Counts: May 08, 2023 | |||
| Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Turkey Vulture | 8 | 70 | 428 |
| Osprey | 2 | 10 | 62 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 4 | 55 |
| Northern Harrier | 1 | 2 | 32 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 2 | 18 | 95 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 4 | 47 | 271 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 2 | 45 | 170 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 6 | 45 | 486 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 11 | 33 | 68 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 1 | 12 | 66 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 2 | 39 |
| American Kestrel | 4 | 22 | 380 |
| Merlin | 0 | 4 | 26 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 2 | 20 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 1 | 5 | 16 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 2 | 7 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Total: | 42 | 324 | 2239 |
| Observation start time: | 08:15:00 |
| Observation end time: | 16:30:00 |
| Total observation time: | 8.25 hours |
| Official Counter | Ajit Antony |
| Observers: | Carol Cwiklinski, Martha Delporte, Shannon Campbell |
Visitors:
6 stopped to ask questions, of whom a duo from Florida and the Dominican Republic stayed for a long time in conversation with the volunteers.
Weather:
The forecast called for 16 mph winds in the afternoon and a chance of rain after 2 PM. We did have a drizzle in the 1-2 PM MST as well as at the beginning of the 4 PM hour, which were both short-lived. The winds were only represented by very brief but very strong gusts. Winds mainly from the E>ENE, cloud cover initially only in the West but gradually covered the South and overhead which helped us actually see raptors, mild haziness.
Raptor Observations:
The 1st migrant was an adult SH at 8:31 AM. Non-migrant raptors: adult SH which dropped into the valley to the west presumably to hunt, immature CH did the same on the east, in last 0.5 hours an OS flew south low over the watch, a PG, RT 4 - 1 with a full crop, TV 4.
Non-raptor Observations:
Around 125 Tree Swallow suddenly at 3:25 PM MST, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1, Western Kingbird 1, Western Meadowlark, Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay 2, White-throated Swift 4, Broad-tailed Hummingbird heard 3 times, Common Raven 2. I was delighted to see Carol at the watch who had gotten there just before I did – she was subbing for Natalie who was taken ill. Speedy recovery to Natalie. Carol was very helpful in spotting and identifying raptors and on questioning her giving me ID hints. In the afternoon Shannon found a CH behind me as soon as she got to the watch, and she and Martha were helpful spotting raptors.
Predictions:
The weather forecast is similar to today but with a risk of rain only after the watch end, and so migrants presumably should be similar to today.
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 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)
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