Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists (05 Apr 2025) 18 Raptors
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Apr 5, 2025, 10:57:28 PM4/5/25
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Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists
Golden, Colorado, USA
Visitors:
Thank you to our weekend observer Laura Campbell, our high school intern Haley, and our lovely volunteer Buzz for helping with the count today! A total of 9 visitors came up to the ridge today. 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:
The count began an hour later than normal due to heavy snow and low visibility. Majority of the day consisted of heavy cloud cover and light flurries. The weather cleared in the late afternoon bringing blue skies with a strong haze. Temperatures were around 5C with light wind mainly out of the NE throughout the count.
Raptor Observations:
A great day for raptor diversity, both local and migrant. All migrants in the morning came low or directly above the ridge, providing extraordinary looks at BAEA, COHA, SSHA, TUVU, RTHA, and most impressively FEHA. An adult Ferruginous Hawk followed by a juvenile came directly over the platform, definitely the highlights of the day. The 3rd FRHA was seen moving N along the W ridge. The PRFA was seen moving N between the ridge and Green Mountain. The majority of migrant movement was seen in the E. Local raptor highlights includes a pair of adult GOEA, an adult SSHA with a full crop, the male AMKE, and a few local BAEA.
Non-raptor Observations:
Hairy Woodpecker 1, Northern Flicker 2, Black-billed Magpie 2, Common Raven 3, Horned Lark 5, Western Bluebird 1, American Robin 3, Pine Siskin 1, Dark-eyed Junco 8, Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon) 6, Spotted Towhee 2, Western Meadowlark 2
Predictions:
Overall sunny day predicted tomorrow with varying cloud cover. Temperatures will be around 12C with winds mainly out of the N up to 10mph. Trails will be muddy on the hike up so please plan accordingly.
Report submitted by Official Counter of the day shown above (dinor...@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: Apr 05, 2025 | |||
| Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Turkey Vulture | 2 | 16 | 57 |
| Osprey | 0 | 2 | 6 |
| Bald Eagle | 1 | 1 | 28 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 2 | 10 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 2 | 6 | 34 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 1 | 3 | 52 |
| American Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 8 | 22 | 287 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 3 | 3 | 18 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 0 | 19 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 9 | 111 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Prairie Falcon | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipitrine | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Total: | 18 | 66 | 639 |
| Observation start time: | 10:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 17:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 7 hours |
| Official Counter | Audrey Anderson |
| Observers: | Buzz Schaumberg, Haley Caron, Laura Campbell |
Visitors:
Thank you to our weekend observer Laura Campbell, our high school intern Haley, and our lovely volunteer Buzz for helping with the count today! A total of 9 visitors came up to the ridge today. 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:
The count began an hour later than normal due to heavy snow and low visibility. Majority of the day consisted of heavy cloud cover and light flurries. The weather cleared in the late afternoon bringing blue skies with a strong haze. Temperatures were around 5C with light wind mainly out of the NE throughout the count.
Raptor Observations:
A great day for raptor diversity, both local and migrant. All migrants in the morning came low or directly above the ridge, providing extraordinary looks at BAEA, COHA, SSHA, TUVU, RTHA, and most impressively FEHA. An adult Ferruginous Hawk followed by a juvenile came directly over the platform, definitely the highlights of the day. The 3rd FRHA was seen moving N along the W ridge. The PRFA was seen moving N between the ridge and Green Mountain. The majority of migrant movement was seen in the E. Local raptor highlights includes a pair of adult GOEA, an adult SSHA with a full crop, the male AMKE, and a few local BAEA.
Non-raptor Observations:
Hairy Woodpecker 1, Northern Flicker 2, Black-billed Magpie 2, Common Raven 3, Horned Lark 5, Western Bluebird 1, American Robin 3, Pine Siskin 1, Dark-eyed Junco 8, Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon) 6, Spotted Towhee 2, Western Meadowlark 2
Predictions:
Overall sunny day predicted tomorrow with varying cloud cover. Temperatures will be around 12C with winds mainly out of the N up to 10mph. Trails will be muddy on the hike up so please plan accordingly.
Report submitted by Official Counter of the day shown above (dinor...@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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