Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists (22 Mar 2025) 1 Raptors
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Mar 22, 2025, 11:06:43 PM3/22/25
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Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists
Golden, Colorado, USA
Visitors:
Thank you to all of our volunteers for coming up to the ridge and working with us in these windy conditions. In the 2 hours we had a total of 14 visitors! Thank you to our wonderful volunteers and our official observer Laura Campbell for help with education and interpretation. Can't make it out to the ridge and still want to follow along? Check out our Trektellen page and follow along with live updates at https://www.trektellen.org/count/view/4515/20250301 .
Weather:
Today was partially cloudy with strong NW winds. Gusts on the ride reached 35 mph and were predicted to continue into afternoon up to 45+. With the strong gusts and dry conditions, along with potential high wind fire risk, the count was called around noon. A red flag warning also went into effect across the front range, it was in place till 8:00pm this evening.
Raptor Observations:
Migrant activity was low in the hours spent on the ridge, all migrants were high in a flight line directly above the ridge. No other movement. Local raptor activity however seemed at an all time high. 2 pairs of RTHA made consistent appearances kiting in the wing and displaying. One RTHA perched atop a juniper and was harassed by a local male AMKE.
Non-raptor Observations:
Common Raven 2, Mountain Bluebird 20, American Robin 1, House Finch 3, Dark-eyed Junco 1, Spotted Towhee 2
Predictions:
Similar conditions to today but not as windy with generally 10-15 mph winds. Winds will begin in the SE before shifting to a NW in the afternoon.
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 22, 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 | 15 | 15 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 0 | 6 | 6 |
| American Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 1 | 129 | 129 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 10 | 10 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 12 | 12 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Merlin | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 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: | 1 | 184 | 184 |
| Observation start time: | 10:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 12:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 2 hours |
| Official Counter | Audrey Anderson |
| Observers: | Laura Campbell, Lori Morton |
Visitors:
Thank you to all of our volunteers for coming up to the ridge and working with us in these windy conditions. In the 2 hours we had a total of 14 visitors! Thank you to our wonderful volunteers and our official observer Laura Campbell for help with education and interpretation. Can't make it out to the ridge and still want to follow along? Check out our Trektellen page and follow along with live updates at https://www.trektellen.org/count/view/4515/20250301 .
Weather:
Today was partially cloudy with strong NW winds. Gusts on the ride reached 35 mph and were predicted to continue into afternoon up to 45+. With the strong gusts and dry conditions, along with potential high wind fire risk, the count was called around noon. A red flag warning also went into effect across the front range, it was in place till 8:00pm this evening.
Raptor Observations:
Migrant activity was low in the hours spent on the ridge, all migrants were high in a flight line directly above the ridge. No other movement. Local raptor activity however seemed at an all time high. 2 pairs of RTHA made consistent appearances kiting in the wing and displaying. One RTHA perched atop a juniper and was harassed by a local male AMKE.
Non-raptor Observations:
Common Raven 2, Mountain Bluebird 20, American Robin 1, House Finch 3, Dark-eyed Junco 1, Spotted Towhee 2
Predictions:
Similar conditions to today but not as windy with generally 10-15 mph winds. Winds will begin in the SE before shifting to a NW in the afternoon.
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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