Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists (08 Apr 2021) 10 Raptors
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Apr 8, 2021, 7:24:24 PM4/8/21
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Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists
Colorado, USA
Visitors:
Several people stopping to ask about us. Larry and Mike spent most of the first hour with us. Skye spent the second hour and may volunteer.
Weather:
Very pretty day, increasing clouds and wind until past noon, then a bit calmer and more sunny. Windiest around noon B5-B6, yet often calm during any hour. Winds shifting almost every hour; out of the west or north. Temp from 15c up to 20c, barometer falling 24.43 inHg down to 24.36. Cloud cover started with clouds to the west, they gradually moved east, sunny last hour. Horizons visible. Trail is dry and hardpacked.
Raptor Observations:
Local TV entertained me on the hike up, followed by a local RT. Most raptors to the east around eye level, except one SS scrapping the tree tops very low to the east of the ridge. One UA very high this afternoon overhead. Started out at a good clip this morning, then numbers dwindled. Local raptors and song birds disappeared till later.
Non-raptor Observations:
Trail steady but not busy. Woodhouse, magpie, mtn chickadee, ravens, bushtit, swifts, solitaires. The white throated swifts tended to come by in pairs very close to the ridge. A few were quite a ways up.
Predictions:
Is our weather to good for migration? I'm predicting another day of 12+ raptors.
Report submitted by DAVID HILL ()
Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists information may be found at: http://www.dfobirds.org
More information at hawkcount.org: [Site Profile] [Day Summary] [Month Summary]
Site Description
Dinosaur 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)
Colorado, USA
| Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 08, 2021 | |||
| Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 17 | 20 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 2 | 15 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 3 | 9 | 23 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 1 | 20 | 31 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 2 | 6 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 3 | 49 | 242 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 1 | 7 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 14 | 16 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Prairie Falcon | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 5 | 14 |
| Unknown Falcon | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Total: | 10 | 126 | 403 |
| Observation start time: | 09:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 15:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 6 hours |
| Official Counter | Gary Rossmiller |
| Observers: |
Visitors:
Several people stopping to ask about us. Larry and Mike spent most of the first hour with us. Skye spent the second hour and may volunteer.
Weather:
Very pretty day, increasing clouds and wind until past noon, then a bit calmer and more sunny. Windiest around noon B5-B6, yet often calm during any hour. Winds shifting almost every hour; out of the west or north. Temp from 15c up to 20c, barometer falling 24.43 inHg down to 24.36. Cloud cover started with clouds to the west, they gradually moved east, sunny last hour. Horizons visible. Trail is dry and hardpacked.
Raptor Observations:
Local TV entertained me on the hike up, followed by a local RT. Most raptors to the east around eye level, except one SS scrapping the tree tops very low to the east of the ridge. One UA very high this afternoon overhead. Started out at a good clip this morning, then numbers dwindled. Local raptors and song birds disappeared till later.
Non-raptor Observations:
Trail steady but not busy. Woodhouse, magpie, mtn chickadee, ravens, bushtit, swifts, solitaires. The white throated swifts tended to come by in pairs very close to the ridge. A few were quite a ways up.
Predictions:
Is our weather to good for migration? I'm predicting another day of 12+ raptors.
Report submitted by DAVID HILL ()
Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists information may be found at: http://www.dfobirds.org
More information at hawkcount.org: [Site Profile] [Day Summary] [Month Summary]
Site Description
Dinosaur 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)
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