Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field OrnithologistsColorado, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 17, 2024 |
Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Osprey | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Bald Eagle | 2 | 18 | 18 |
Northern Harrier | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Cooper's Hawk | 0 | 3 | 3 |
American Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Red-tailed Hawk | 1 | 122 | 122 |
Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 10 | 10 |
Golden Eagle | 0 | 4 | 4 |
American Kestrel | 0 | 2 | 2 |
Merlin | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Prairie Falcon | 0 | 2 | 2 |
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: | 3 | 163 | 163 |
Observation start time: | 09:00:00 |
Observation end time: | 17:00:00 |
Total observation time: | 8 hours |
Official Counter | Dustin Kohler |
Observers: | Audry Anderson, Ginni Dickinson |
Visitors:We had 5 visitors to the ridge today including a guy who came up the trail
in skis.
Weather:Today was very similar to yesterday except even more overcast. Today had
gusts of wind on an otherwise still day.
Raptor Observations:All of our migrants followed the same pathway, low and close to our ridge
on the east side.
Early in the day we had two local adult Bald Eagles and a local juvenile
Golden Eagle hunting. Later in the day we had three Juvenile Bald Eagles
flying around and chasing each other over the apex houses, but none of them
left to go north.
Non-raptor Observations:We had a large flock of roughly 40 Mountain Bluebirds and a flock of
roughly 60 American Robins.
We saw about 17 elk near two pines.
Predictions:Tomorrow looks to be a day full of sunshine and a southern wind. Both of
which should increase thermals and overall migratory behavior. After the
last five days of being grounded or slow migration, I expect a surge of
migrants.
Snowshoes might still be needed in the morning, but in the afternoon I
think spikes or at least waterproof shoes are a must.
Report submitted by Janet Peters (
j.f.pe...@gmail.com)
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. American 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 10th,
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)