Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field OrnithologistsColorado, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 29, 2021 |
Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Turkey Vulture | 2 | 136 | 139 |
Osprey | 0 | 25 | 25 |
Bald Eagle | 0 | 8 | 21 |
Northern Harrier | 0 | 4 | 4 |
Sharp-shinned Hawk | 2 | 108 | 122 |
Cooper's Hawk | 0 | 86 | 97 |
Northern Goshawk | 0 | 6 | 10 |
Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 29 | 29 |
Red-tailed Hawk | 1 | 148 | 341 |
Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 8 | 8 |
Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 2 | 9 |
Golden Eagle | 0 | 3 | 9 |
American Kestrel | 1 | 117 | 119 |
Merlin | 0 | 8 | 12 |
Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 6 | 10 |
Prairie Falcon | 1 | 21 | 22 |
Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 10 | 11 |
Unknown Buteo | 0 | 9 | 18 |
Unknown Falcon | 0 | 3 | 5 |
Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Unknown Raptor | 0 | 4 | 7 |
Total: | 7 | 741 | 1019 |
Observation start time: | 09:00:00 |
Observation end time: | 15:00:00 |
Total observation time: | 6 hours |
Official Counter | Gary Rossmiller |
Observers: | David Gulbenkian, Janet Peters, Skye Lewis |
Visitors:David Gulbenkian and Skye Lewis helped the first hour. After that just a
few people pass across the site.
Weather:Clear, warm day! Breezy normally between B2-B3. A few gusts to B5 before
noon. A few cirrus clouds later in the day gave a bit of background to spot
birds. Temp from 11.7C up to 17.8C, humidity dropping from 45% down to 30%,
barometer steady around 24.84 inHg.
Raptor Observations:Very nice look at a local male AK very close to our site and then perching
on various wires. Quite a few TV's just before leaving, locals. PR was east
below the ridge, 1st TV was over west ridge, all other raptors very close
to overhead. While following afternoon AK, Janet said a local TV was within
7' of my hat! I saw the shadow pass over me! Dark morph RT overhead right
at 9am. Very slow day. Local raptors didn't come out till around noon.
Non-raptor Observations:3 paragliders went south just before noon from Lookout Mtn, returning after
3pm. A couple of doe mule deer by trail on way up. Swifts, broadtail
hummingbird, woodhouse scrubjay, mtn chickadee, meadowlark, spotted towhee,
says phoebe, magpie, ravens.
Predictions:Slow?
Report submitted by DAVID HILL (
)
Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists information may be found at:
http://www.dfobirds.orgMore information at
hawkcount.org: [
Site Profile] [
Day Summary] [
Month Summary]
Site DescriptionDinosaur Ridge is the only regularly staffed hawkwatch in Colorado and is the
best place in the world to see migrating Ferruginous Hawks. Dinosaur Ridge may
be the best place in the country to see the rare dark morph of the Broad-winged
Hawk (a few are seen each spring). Hawkwatchers who linger long enough may see
resident Golden Eagles, Red-tailed Hawks and Prairie Falcons, in addition to
migrating Swainson's, Cooper's and Sharp-shinned Hawks, American Kestrels and
Turkey Vultures. Peregrine Falcons and Ferruginous Hawks are uncommon; Northern
Goshawk is rare but regular. Non-raptor species include Rock Wren, and sometimes
Bushtit, Western Bluebird, Sandhill Crane, White-throated Swift, American White
Pelican or Dusky Grouse. Birders of any skill level are always welcome.
HawkWatch at Dinosaur Ridge is generally staffed by volunteers from about 9 AM
to around 3 PM from March 1st to May 7th.
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 small signs from the
southwest end of lot to the hawkwatch 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, head through the
gate, and walk to the clearly-visible, flat area at the crest of the ridge.
(Distance: 0.56 miles, Elevation gain: 259 feet)