Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists (13 May 2023) 23 Raptors
34 views
Skip to first unread message
rep...@hawkcount.org
May 13, 2023, 11:43:14 PM5/13/23
to cob...@googlegroups.com
Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists
Colorado, USA
Visitors:
As our season comes to an end we continue to have to say goodbye to our observers. Carol, Steve, Mike, and Karen have been vital parts of keeping this count running and it is bittersweet ending the season and already looking forward to the next. As always, thank you to you all for everything that you do! One DFO member Eric (I did not catch your last name!) came up for his first time today and spent a few hours watching with us. We saw 22 visitors at the ridge today including Jesse and Asher, Asher being an incredibly talented and ambitious young birder on a mission to see 50 bird species in all 50 states! Aarohi’s family was also able to visit the ridge today and it was great to see them.
Weather:
The sun was out first thing in the morning but was quickly shadowed by cloud cover. Clouds got darker as the day went on but we did not feel any drizzle until the 1600 hour. Winds were from the NE and picked up slightly in the afternoon. Temperatures dropped in the afternoon leaving us with a chilly end to the day.
Raptor Observations:
We had a great late season migration today with birds moving all over the place. Highlights today include multiple very close accipiters that zipped by us, 2 OS, and continuing SW. Late adult RT and eagles continue to move as well! The local TV and RT were seen periodically throughout the day, as well as one SS that did not go north.
Non-raptor Observations:
A female BUOR was seen by Steve today, as he continues to be the lucky (and skilled) spotter of these birds at the ridge. 3 unknown ducks flew by our site today as well as one DCCO. Most of the regulars were seen today including BGGN, BTHU, WTSW, SPTO, BUSH, and more.
Predictions:
Tomorrow is our final day of the season and it’s only natural that rain is predicted! We are crossing our fingers for a long countable day, and a MK or two.
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]
Count data submitted via Dunkadoo - [Project Details]
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 13, 2023 | |||
| Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Turkey Vulture | 4 | 83 | 435 |
| Osprey | 2 | 12 | 62 |
| Bald Eagle | 1 | 5 | 55 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 2 | 31 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 4 | 28 | 102 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 6 | 58 | 279 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 45 | 156 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 3 | 56 | 495 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 2 | 40 | 72 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 12 | 64 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 4 | 40 |
| American Kestrel | 1 | 26 | 378 |
| Merlin | 0 | 4 | 26 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 2 | 20 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 6 | 17 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 2 | 5 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Total: | 23 | 386 | 2255 |
| Observation start time: | 08:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 16:30:00 |
| Total observation time: | 8.5 hours |
| Official Counter | Carol Cwiklinski, Emma Riley |
| Observers: | Carol Cwiklinski, Aarohi Barman, Carol Cwiklinski, Karen Fernandez, Mike Fernandez, Steve Small |
Visitors:
As our season comes to an end we continue to have to say goodbye to our observers. Carol, Steve, Mike, and Karen have been vital parts of keeping this count running and it is bittersweet ending the season and already looking forward to the next. As always, thank you to you all for everything that you do! One DFO member Eric (I did not catch your last name!) came up for his first time today and spent a few hours watching with us. We saw 22 visitors at the ridge today including Jesse and Asher, Asher being an incredibly talented and ambitious young birder on a mission to see 50 bird species in all 50 states! Aarohi’s family was also able to visit the ridge today and it was great to see them.
Weather:
The sun was out first thing in the morning but was quickly shadowed by cloud cover. Clouds got darker as the day went on but we did not feel any drizzle until the 1600 hour. Winds were from the NE and picked up slightly in the afternoon. Temperatures dropped in the afternoon leaving us with a chilly end to the day.
Raptor Observations:
We had a great late season migration today with birds moving all over the place. Highlights today include multiple very close accipiters that zipped by us, 2 OS, and continuing SW. Late adult RT and eagles continue to move as well! The local TV and RT were seen periodically throughout the day, as well as one SS that did not go north.
Non-raptor Observations:
A female BUOR was seen by Steve today, as he continues to be the lucky (and skilled) spotter of these birds at the ridge. 3 unknown ducks flew by our site today as well as one DCCO. Most of the regulars were seen today including BGGN, BTHU, WTSW, SPTO, BUSH, and more.
Predictions:
Tomorrow is our final day of the season and it’s only natural that rain is predicted! We are crossing our fingers for a long countable day, and a MK or two.
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]
Count data submitted via Dunkadoo - [Project Details]
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)
Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages