Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists (08 Apr 2023) 84 Raptors
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Apr 8, 2023, 10:40:10 PM4/8/23
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Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists
Colorado, USA
Visitors:
We had a great turn out today of both DFO volunteers and local hawkwatchers and birders. Thank you to Carol Cwiklinski, Steve Small, Janet Peters & her lovely granddaughter June, Matthew Klimock, Ruth Smith, Tim Meehan, and Jenika & Lee Doberstein for all your help spotting and IDing migrants today. We also saw 41 visitors at the site with many folks getting a chance to see some birds and have time to ask questions and talk migration.
Weather:
We’re getting into a nice stretch of warmer days which is a great relief from some of the weather we’ve been experiencing this season. Winds shifted a couple times today, with predominantly E winds in the morning and W winds later in the day, also getting a bit stronger towards the end. Cloud cover was consistent all day and some rain clouds could be seen along the western ridges in the late afternoon. We lucked out today and didn’t experience any precipitation at the ridge.
Raptor Observations:
Migration started bright and early today with our busiest hour in the the first 30 minutes thanks to two kettles of TV. We had a great push of CH today and counted the first BW of the season! Birds were everywhere during the push and we got many close CH along the ridge. Non-migrant raptors seen today include a couple TV low in the valleys as well as near the top of Morrison. Other non-migrants include GE (1), RT (2), and CH (1).
Non-raptor Observations:
The non-raptor highlight of the day was a RNSA that briefly stopped by a burnt Ponderosa Pine right at our site. Other non-raptors seen or heard include WTSF (50+), SCJA (1), SPTO (2), TOSO (4), AMRO (5), BCCH (2), HOFI (3), CORA (6), and AMCR (6).
Predictions:
Temperatures will continue to climb tomorrow bringing strong sun and hopefully good thermals. Winds are predicted to be out of the N for most of the day. We never know what to expect with a north wind but we are hoping for another great push of migrants.
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]
Count data submitted via Dunkadoo - [Project Details]
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: Apr 08, 2023 | |||
| Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Turkey Vulture | 21 | 83 | 98 |
| Osprey | 2 | 10 | 12 |
| Bald Eagle | 2 | 6 | 37 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 2 | 13 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 5 | 11 | 19 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 26 | 64 | 82 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 1 | 8 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 11 | 47 | 334 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 2 | 42 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 1 | 27 |
| American Kestrel | 15 | 76 | 136 |
| Merlin | 1 | 2 | 12 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Total: | 84 | 306 | 837 |
| Observation start time: | 08:30:00 |
| Observation end time: | 16:30:00 |
| Total observation time: | 8 hours |
| Official Counter | Emma Riley |
| Observers: | Aarohi Barman, Carol Cwiklinski, Janet Peters, Matthew Klimock, Steve Small |
Visitors:
We had a great turn out today of both DFO volunteers and local hawkwatchers and birders. Thank you to Carol Cwiklinski, Steve Small, Janet Peters & her lovely granddaughter June, Matthew Klimock, Ruth Smith, Tim Meehan, and Jenika & Lee Doberstein for all your help spotting and IDing migrants today. We also saw 41 visitors at the site with many folks getting a chance to see some birds and have time to ask questions and talk migration.
Weather:
We’re getting into a nice stretch of warmer days which is a great relief from some of the weather we’ve been experiencing this season. Winds shifted a couple times today, with predominantly E winds in the morning and W winds later in the day, also getting a bit stronger towards the end. Cloud cover was consistent all day and some rain clouds could be seen along the western ridges in the late afternoon. We lucked out today and didn’t experience any precipitation at the ridge.
Raptor Observations:
Migration started bright and early today with our busiest hour in the the first 30 minutes thanks to two kettles of TV. We had a great push of CH today and counted the first BW of the season! Birds were everywhere during the push and we got many close CH along the ridge. Non-migrant raptors seen today include a couple TV low in the valleys as well as near the top of Morrison. Other non-migrants include GE (1), RT (2), and CH (1).
Non-raptor Observations:
The non-raptor highlight of the day was a RNSA that briefly stopped by a burnt Ponderosa Pine right at our site. Other non-raptors seen or heard include WTSF (50+), SCJA (1), SPTO (2), TOSO (4), AMRO (5), BCCH (2), HOFI (3), CORA (6), and AMCR (6).
Predictions:
Temperatures will continue to climb tomorrow bringing strong sun and hopefully good thermals. Winds are predicted to be out of the N for most of the day. We never know what to expect with a north wind but we are hoping for another great push of migrants.
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]
Count data submitted via Dunkadoo - [Project Details]
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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