Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists (19 Mar 2025) 9 Raptors
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Mar 19, 2025, 10:41:55 PM3/19/25
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Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists
Golden, Colorado, USA
Visitors:
Thank you to Chris & Cayce Gulbransen, Amanda Baker, Cheryl Wilcox, and Ryan Gannon for your help spotting birds on a cold day! The trail was empty for most of the day, with 4 visitors stopping at the hawk watch. No more than 10 other people were seen recreating all day, and most of them were on the trail below the ridge to the east.
Weather:
We finally made it onto the ridge after two days of high winds stopping our count. The trail was surprisingly dry, but temperatures were low all day. The sun showed itself every once in a while providing some great relief. Winds were very mild all day until the last hour or two when they picked up to around 30 km/h. Winds were from the N until they picked up, shifting W.
Raptor Observations:
Raptor activity kicked off almost immediately with a migrating GE. Eagles continued to move today with 3 BE following similar lines throughout the day. A SS was seen near Mt Morrison moving N, flying with a lot of stability in the very minimal winds. RT mainly moved through the W valley. Non-migrant activity continues to be high with three adult RT often seen flying together. Local BE and GE were also seen today. A male AK has been spotted a few times now, hunting from the power lines that cross the highway to the W of us. This bird was also seen kiting, rather impressively in the winds, just near the ridge. A local CH was also seen moving S with some good speed.
Non-raptor Observations:
Woodhouse's Scrub Jay 2, Black-billed Magpie 1, Common Raven 1, American Bushtit 7, Mountain Bluebird 2, American Robin 1, House Finch 1
Predictions:
Temperatures pick up tomorrow with winds continuing from a W direction. Winds should be mild and we are hopeful to get a good push here any day now!
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 19, 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 | 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| American Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 4 | 60 | 60 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 9 | 9 |
| Golden Eagle | 1 | 11 | 11 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Merlin | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 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: | 9 | 99 | 99 |
| Observation start time: | 09:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 17:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 8 hours |
| Official Counter | Emma Riley, Audrey Anderson |
| Observers: | Amanda Baker, Cayce Gulbransen , Cheryl Wilcox, Chris Gulbransen , Ryan Gannon |
Visitors:
Thank you to Chris & Cayce Gulbransen, Amanda Baker, Cheryl Wilcox, and Ryan Gannon for your help spotting birds on a cold day! The trail was empty for most of the day, with 4 visitors stopping at the hawk watch. No more than 10 other people were seen recreating all day, and most of them were on the trail below the ridge to the east.
Weather:
We finally made it onto the ridge after two days of high winds stopping our count. The trail was surprisingly dry, but temperatures were low all day. The sun showed itself every once in a while providing some great relief. Winds were very mild all day until the last hour or two when they picked up to around 30 km/h. Winds were from the N until they picked up, shifting W.
Raptor Observations:
Raptor activity kicked off almost immediately with a migrating GE. Eagles continued to move today with 3 BE following similar lines throughout the day. A SS was seen near Mt Morrison moving N, flying with a lot of stability in the very minimal winds. RT mainly moved through the W valley. Non-migrant activity continues to be high with three adult RT often seen flying together. Local BE and GE were also seen today. A male AK has been spotted a few times now, hunting from the power lines that cross the highway to the W of us. This bird was also seen kiting, rather impressively in the winds, just near the ridge. A local CH was also seen moving S with some good speed.
Non-raptor Observations:
Woodhouse's Scrub Jay 2, Black-billed Magpie 1, Common Raven 1, American Bushtit 7, Mountain Bluebird 2, American Robin 1, House Finch 1
Predictions:
Temperatures pick up tomorrow with winds continuing from a W direction. Winds should be mild and we are hopeful to get a good push here any day now!
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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