Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists (20 Aug 2025) 2 Raptors
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Aug 20, 2025, 8:39:23 PMAug 20
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Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists
Golden, Colorado, USA
Weather:
Light winds from the east, temperature 23-24 degrees Celsius, steady barometer, clear visibility to 24 km. by 8:30 AM MST small puffy thermals were developing at different areas between North and SW, and by the time I left they were a broken chain of cloud low over the western ridge, but with no raptors within it or above it.
Raptor Observations:
The first raptor seen was a non-migrant TV at 7:32 AM MST. The first migrant was an SW at 8:45 AM, and the only other migrant was an immature RT 6 minutes later. Non-migrant Raptors RT 2, TV 3
Non-raptor Observations:
Bushtit 3, Broad-tailed Hummingbird 1 male, Black-chinned Hummingbird female 1, Lesser Goldfinch 4, Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay 1, House Finch 2.
Predictions:
Like today but with the winds coming from the NE, could be favorable.
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: Aug 20, 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 | 0 | 0 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| American Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 1 | 15 | 16 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipitrine | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Short-eared Owl | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total: | 2 | 18 | 23 |
| Observation start time: | 07:30:00 |
| Observation end time: | 10:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 2.5 hours |
| Official Counter | Ajit Antony |
| Observers: | Liza Antony |
Weather:
Light winds from the east, temperature 23-24 degrees Celsius, steady barometer, clear visibility to 24 km. by 8:30 AM MST small puffy thermals were developing at different areas between North and SW, and by the time I left they were a broken chain of cloud low over the western ridge, but with no raptors within it or above it.
Raptor Observations:
The first raptor seen was a non-migrant TV at 7:32 AM MST. The first migrant was an SW at 8:45 AM, and the only other migrant was an immature RT 6 minutes later. Non-migrant Raptors RT 2, TV 3
Non-raptor Observations:
Bushtit 3, Broad-tailed Hummingbird 1 male, Black-chinned Hummingbird female 1, Lesser Goldfinch 4, Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay 1, House Finch 2.
Predictions:
Like today but with the winds coming from the NE, could be favorable.
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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