Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists (06 Mar 2025) Raptors
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Mar 6, 2025, 9:36:02 PM3/6/25
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Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists
Golden, Colorado, USA
Visitors:
Thank you to everyone who came out today, we had a great day full of volunteers, committee members, counters, and visitors. 28 visitors came to the ridge today including a pilot from New Hampshire! He is flying himself (and others) home tonight.
Weather:
We had a foggy start to our morning this morning but the fog lifted and revealed nice blue skies by the middle of the afternoon. We could see the storm front and precipitation north of us for a lot of the day but stayed dry. Winds picked up and temperatures dropped in the last 30 minutes.
Raptor Observations:
Raptor activity was a bit odd today with almost constant non-migrant raptors active in the area, but no migrants counted. At one time we counted 6 Red-tailed Hawks up, some of them performing aerial displays throughout the day. A Sharp-shinned Hawk was seen crossing the ridge W to E but then turned S in the morning. We also saw a Northern Harrier presumably hunting below Mt Morrison in the afternoon. Eagle activity was lower today than it has been this week.
Non-raptor Observations:
Migrating non-raptors noted today: Mountain Bluebird 7, GREY-CROWNED ROSY FINCH 120, Dark-eyed Junco 14 Late in the count day Audrey spotted a flock of at least 120 Grey-crowned Rosy Finches moving North, providing a lot of excitement at the end of a slow day. This is the second time this week we have seen these birds, and the only records of them ever seen at Dinosaur Ridge!
Predictions:
Rain and snow are predicted overnight into tomorrow. We are hopeful that we can get a full day of counting in as there is only an inch or two predicted, but spring in Colorado is rarely predictable. Bring warm layers and some good boots, and prepare for a beautiful snow covered ridge!
Report submitted by Official Counter (j.f.pe...@gmail.com)
Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists information may be found at: www.dinosaurridgehawkwatch.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. 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
Hawk Counter(s) and volunteers from March through early May.
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)
Golden, Colorado, USA
| Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 06, 2025 | |||
| 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 | 2 | 2 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| American Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 0 | 13 | 13 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipitrine | 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 | 23 | 23 |
| Observation start time: | 09:30:00 |
| Observation end time: | 15:30:00 |
| Total observation time: | 6 hours |
| Official Counter | Emma Riley, Audrey Anderson |
| Observers: | Bill Young, Chip Dawes, Dave Erickson, Mariane Erickson, Marianne Erickson, Natalie Uschner-Arroyo, Pam Schmidt |
Visitors:
Thank you to everyone who came out today, we had a great day full of volunteers, committee members, counters, and visitors. 28 visitors came to the ridge today including a pilot from New Hampshire! He is flying himself (and others) home tonight.
Weather:
We had a foggy start to our morning this morning but the fog lifted and revealed nice blue skies by the middle of the afternoon. We could see the storm front and precipitation north of us for a lot of the day but stayed dry. Winds picked up and temperatures dropped in the last 30 minutes.
Raptor Observations:
Raptor activity was a bit odd today with almost constant non-migrant raptors active in the area, but no migrants counted. At one time we counted 6 Red-tailed Hawks up, some of them performing aerial displays throughout the day. A Sharp-shinned Hawk was seen crossing the ridge W to E but then turned S in the morning. We also saw a Northern Harrier presumably hunting below Mt Morrison in the afternoon. Eagle activity was lower today than it has been this week.
Non-raptor Observations:
Migrating non-raptors noted today: Mountain Bluebird 7, GREY-CROWNED ROSY FINCH 120, Dark-eyed Junco 14 Late in the count day Audrey spotted a flock of at least 120 Grey-crowned Rosy Finches moving North, providing a lot of excitement at the end of a slow day. This is the second time this week we have seen these birds, and the only records of them ever seen at Dinosaur Ridge!
Predictions:
Rain and snow are predicted overnight into tomorrow. We are hopeful that we can get a full day of counting in as there is only an inch or two predicted, but spring in Colorado is rarely predictable. Bring warm layers and some good boots, and prepare for a beautiful snow covered ridge!
Report submitted by Official Counter (j.f.pe...@gmail.com)
Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists information may be found at: www.dinosaurridgehawkwatch.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. 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
Hawk Counter(s) and volunteers from March through early May.
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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