Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists (01 May 2023) 36 Raptors
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May 1, 2023, 11:24:46 PM5/1/23
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Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists
Colorado, USA
Visitors:
Dominic a birder from Arvada, originally from Pennsylvania whose parents started the Allegheny Front Hawk Watch in Pennsylvania. A couple hiking who were birders asked about the count.
Weather:
Mostly sunny and hazy which got worse as the day progressed, starting with good cloud cover to the West and SW, increasing overhead to provide a good background to see migrants but we didn't see too many, in spite of constantly scanning the skies with binoculars in a systematic fashion especially high, and in the afternoon specifically along a track under the sun that Steve found a number of migrants along a week ago. Winds were moderate from the ESE>East so expected migrants over the western ridge which we scanned assiduously, but we had far fewer than Emma had the day before.
Raptor Observations:
The 1st migrant was an adult Swainson's Hawk visible to the naked eye overhead at 8:23 AM MST. An immature GE at 10:38 AM was escorted by a local RT then flew directly overhead – missing innermost left secondary feathers. A low GH was missing right inner primaries flying overhead/East. Non--migrant raptors: RT rufous/intermediate morph, GE 1, a CH flew West, TV 4. Thanks to Martha and Sammy (Shmuel) for their help.
Non-raptor Observations:
Broad-tailed Hummingbird heard 5 times, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Rock Wren, White Pelican 30, Spotted Towhee, Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay, White-throated Swift, Double-crested Cormorant 4, Townsend's Solitaire, Black-billed Magpie, Tree Swallow, White-throated Swift. Pelicans and 40 elk found by Martha.
Predictions:
A chance of rain and thunderstorms after noon, which if materializes may end the watch early.
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 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. Northern 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 a
Hawk Counter and volunteers from 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM from March 1st to May 14th,
weather permitting.
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)
Colorado, USA
| Daily Raptor Counts: May 01, 2023 | |||
| Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Turkey Vulture | 3 | 3 | 361 |
| Osprey | 1 | 1 | 53 |
| Bald Eagle | 1 | 1 | 52 |
| Northern Harrier | 1 | 1 | 31 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 1 | 1 | 78 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 12 | 12 | 236 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 2 | 2 | 127 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 7 | 7 | 448 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 1 | 1 | 36 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 54 |
| Golden Eagle | 1 | 1 | 38 |
| American Kestrel | 4 | 4 | 362 |
| Merlin | 1 | 1 | 23 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 0 | 18 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 0 | 11 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Raptor | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Total: | 36 | 36 | 1951 |
| Observation start time: | 08:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 16:30:00 |
| Total observation time: | 8.5 hours |
| Official Counter | Ajit Antony |
| Observers: | Janet Peters, Martha Delporte, Sammy Korengut |
Visitors:
Dominic a birder from Arvada, originally from Pennsylvania whose parents started the Allegheny Front Hawk Watch in Pennsylvania. A couple hiking who were birders asked about the count.
Weather:
Mostly sunny and hazy which got worse as the day progressed, starting with good cloud cover to the West and SW, increasing overhead to provide a good background to see migrants but we didn't see too many, in spite of constantly scanning the skies with binoculars in a systematic fashion especially high, and in the afternoon specifically along a track under the sun that Steve found a number of migrants along a week ago. Winds were moderate from the ESE>East so expected migrants over the western ridge which we scanned assiduously, but we had far fewer than Emma had the day before.
Raptor Observations:
The 1st migrant was an adult Swainson's Hawk visible to the naked eye overhead at 8:23 AM MST. An immature GE at 10:38 AM was escorted by a local RT then flew directly overhead – missing innermost left secondary feathers. A low GH was missing right inner primaries flying overhead/East. Non--migrant raptors: RT rufous/intermediate morph, GE 1, a CH flew West, TV 4. Thanks to Martha and Sammy (Shmuel) for their help.
Non-raptor Observations:
Broad-tailed Hummingbird heard 5 times, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Rock Wren, White Pelican 30, Spotted Towhee, Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay, White-throated Swift, Double-crested Cormorant 4, Townsend's Solitaire, Black-billed Magpie, Tree Swallow, White-throated Swift. Pelicans and 40 elk found by Martha.
Predictions:
A chance of rain and thunderstorms after noon, which if materializes may end the watch early.
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 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. Northern 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 a
Hawk Counter and volunteers from 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM from March 1st to May 14th,
weather permitting.
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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