Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field OrnithologistsColorado, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 29, 2024 |
Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Turkey Vulture | 1 | 5 | 5 |
Osprey | 1 | 2 | 2 |
Bald Eagle | 0 | 27 | 27 |
Northern Harrier | 2 | 5 | 5 |
Sharp-shinned Hawk | 5 | 12 | 12 |
Cooper's Hawk | 1 | 12 | 12 |
American Goshawk | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Red-tailed Hawk | 9 | 236 | 236 |
Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 12 | 12 |
Golden Eagle | 0 | 9 | 9 |
American Kestrel | 3 | 13 | 13 |
Merlin | 1 | 4 | 4 |
Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 2 | 2 |
Prairie Falcon | 0 | 3 | 3 |
Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Unknown Buteo | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Unknown Falcon | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Unknown Raptor | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Total: | 23 | 344 | 344 |
Observation start time: | 09:00:00 |
Observation end time: | 17:00:00 |
Total observation time: | 8 hours |
Official Counter | Dustin Kohler |
Observers: | Chip Dawes, Chris Gearhart, Dave Hill, Ryan Stander, Sammy Korengut , Steve Ryder |
Visitors:We had 14 visitors to the ridge today, one person might become a member of
the Denver Field Ornithologist along with his father who wasn't there.
Weather:Today was a very overcast day that got colder as the day went on. The wind
started from the Southeast and shifted to the Northeast.
It threatened to rain on us and multiple times we had very light rain or
snow that we could see, but not really feel. In the last hour, it switched
to an off and on light drizzle, but my persistance was rewarded.
Raptor Observations:Our migrants were mostly straight above us and close due to the low clouds
and almost constant precipitation around us.
As we were watching a migrating red-tailed a second red-tailed appeared
roughly 3 times higher up than our migrant. The higher bird tucked its
wings and dove straight at the migrant. When the local bird made contact
there was a small puff of little feathers came off the migrant. The local
attacked many times before it turned around leaving the migrant to go
north.
Our first Sharp-shinned hawk was very tiny suggesting that it was a male.
This hawk was about 40 feet slightly above eye level.
We saw a pair of Red-tailed Hawks, what I believe was a different pair than
the day before, copulate along the western ridge.
Non-raptor Observations:We saw lots of moving passerines in all directions. Mostly American Robins
and Mountain Bluebirds, but there were a few where none of us saw the
species.
A few mule deer were within 60 feet away from me on the way down the trail.
Predictions:Tomorrow we should have a sunny day with an ever changing wind. The trail
should be muddy in the morning and dry out pretty well over the course of
the day. Bring some sunblock and I'll see you up there.
Report submitted by Official Counter (
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 10:00 AM to 6:00 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)