Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists (29 Aug 2025) 7 Raptors
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Aug 29, 2025, 7:07:00 PM (9 days ago) Aug 29
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Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists
Golden, Colorado, USA
Visitors:
One hiker asked how the count was going.
Weather:
Weather.gov predicted 30% cloud cover, but at the watch it was 60% and increasing to 90% earth.nullschool.net showed streaming winds from the WNW from California and Utah. The National Weather Service's Soaring forecast (surprising in view of the heavily overcast skies) was excellent with 4.9 m/sec lift with the maximum height of thermals predicted at 8776 feet above ground level! Perhaps they were calculating it based on a 30% cloud cover. Humidity was high at 41% dropping to 32%, winds were light from the SW>ENE, temperature 21>26° Celsius, excellent visibility at 24 km with no haziness.
Raptor Observations:
Exploratory fall count 2025. See https://groups.google.com/g/cobirds/c/Oznn4uc6MBk All migrant raptors were very high and far to the West, so it fit with the soaring forecast. The first migrant was an RT over the western ridge at 9:23 AM MDT. We had 2 more RT, 2 SW, and an adult GE which posed a diagnostic challenge as it was really very high, completely tucked in in a strong glide, it did not flap even once, but the wide wings and a more prominent head clinched the ID. Birds of the day: We heard an odd call at 11:35 a.m. that we didn't know, coming downslope west of us, but we couldn't see any birds there. Liza had put on Merlin for the sound ID, and she said that it identified peregrines! This was a call we hadn't heard before. She then found two of them flying moderately close, easily visible with the naked eye. One was larger, a female, was molting a left 8th primary and a few secondaries, the other was smaller and likely a male. They flew together gaining height. At one point they faced each other presenting talons, without locking them. I followed one and Liza followed the other, and one of them flew to the SE, eventually just gliding. We couldn't remember which was the one that migrated, but at 11:51 AM when an immature RT flow low over the watch to the east we saw the female PG high overhead, and later at noon we saw it patrolling further South, so we realized that it was escorting migrants out of its territory. Presenting talons appears to be its territorial defense. Non-migrant raptors: 2 Adult GE to the NW flew North, RT 2, TV 8. The last 1.5 hours yielded no migrants, so we thought the flight was over for the day, and left.
Non-raptor Observations:
White-throated Swift 1, Barn Swallow 3, White-breasted Nuthatch interior West subspecies heard, House Finch 1, Downy Woodpecker 1. 1 paraglider who seemed to have lift only up to the height of the tallest antenna over Lookout Mountain.
Predictions:
Light winds Starting at 9:00 AM from the NNE changing to NE, a 32% chance of rain all morning increasing to a likely 55% by noon, with the usual chance of lightning at 12 noon becoming more likely by 3:00 PM.
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 29, 2025 | |||
| Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 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 | 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 2 | 36 | 37 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Golden Eagle | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 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 | 1 | 1 |
| Short-eared Owl | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total: | 7 | 47 | 52 |
| Observation start time: | 08:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 12:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 4 hours |
| Official Counter | Ajit Antony |
| Observers: | Liza Antony |
Visitors:
One hiker asked how the count was going.
Weather:
Weather.gov predicted 30% cloud cover, but at the watch it was 60% and increasing to 90% earth.nullschool.net showed streaming winds from the WNW from California and Utah. The National Weather Service's Soaring forecast (surprising in view of the heavily overcast skies) was excellent with 4.9 m/sec lift with the maximum height of thermals predicted at 8776 feet above ground level! Perhaps they were calculating it based on a 30% cloud cover. Humidity was high at 41% dropping to 32%, winds were light from the SW>ENE, temperature 21>26° Celsius, excellent visibility at 24 km with no haziness.
Raptor Observations:
Exploratory fall count 2025. See https://groups.google.com/g/cobirds/c/Oznn4uc6MBk All migrant raptors were very high and far to the West, so it fit with the soaring forecast. The first migrant was an RT over the western ridge at 9:23 AM MDT. We had 2 more RT, 2 SW, and an adult GE which posed a diagnostic challenge as it was really very high, completely tucked in in a strong glide, it did not flap even once, but the wide wings and a more prominent head clinched the ID. Birds of the day: We heard an odd call at 11:35 a.m. that we didn't know, coming downslope west of us, but we couldn't see any birds there. Liza had put on Merlin for the sound ID, and she said that it identified peregrines! This was a call we hadn't heard before. She then found two of them flying moderately close, easily visible with the naked eye. One was larger, a female, was molting a left 8th primary and a few secondaries, the other was smaller and likely a male. They flew together gaining height. At one point they faced each other presenting talons, without locking them. I followed one and Liza followed the other, and one of them flew to the SE, eventually just gliding. We couldn't remember which was the one that migrated, but at 11:51 AM when an immature RT flow low over the watch to the east we saw the female PG high overhead, and later at noon we saw it patrolling further South, so we realized that it was escorting migrants out of its territory. Presenting talons appears to be its territorial defense. Non-migrant raptors: 2 Adult GE to the NW flew North, RT 2, TV 8. The last 1.5 hours yielded no migrants, so we thought the flight was over for the day, and left.
Non-raptor Observations:
White-throated Swift 1, Barn Swallow 3, White-breasted Nuthatch interior West subspecies heard, House Finch 1, Downy Woodpecker 1. 1 paraglider who seemed to have lift only up to the height of the tallest antenna over Lookout Mountain.
Predictions:
Light winds Starting at 9:00 AM from the NNE changing to NE, a 32% chance of rain all morning increasing to a likely 55% by noon, with the usual chance of lightning at 12 noon becoming more likely by 3:00 PM.
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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