Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists (09 May 2025) 17 Raptors
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May 10, 2025, 9:13:22 AM5/10/25
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Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists
Golden, Colorado, USA
Visitors:
Thank you to today’s volunteers for your help on the ridge! 20 visitors stopped by the site including a group of 10 children with 4 adults.
Weather:
partly cloudy with most of the cumulus clouds to the west over the mountains, serious and serious Stratus clouds overhead extending out into the plains. Light breeze coming from the south east. Good visibility, but pikes Peak is not visible with some haze on the horizon.; partly cloudy with most of the cumulus clouds to the west over the mountains, serious and serious Stratus clouds overhead extending out into the plains. Light breeze coming from the south east. Good visibility, but pikes Peak is not visible with some haze on the horizon.; partly cloudy with most of the cumulus clouds to the west over the mountains, serious and serious Stratus clouds overhead extending out into the plains. Light breeze coming from the south east. Good visibility, but pikes Peak is not visible with some haze on the horizon.; partly cloudy with most of the cumulus clouds to the west over the mountains, serious and serious Stratus clouds overhead extending out into the plains. Light breeze coming from the south east. Good visibility, but pikes Peak is not visible with some haze on the horizon.; Breeze has been slowly shifting and become a bit more gusty. Now out of NE. Cloud cover has slowly increased as well.; Wind is variable NE to E; Wind is variable NE to E; Wind is variable NE to E; Wind is variable NE to E
Raptor Observations:
A few highlights on the day from Jeff Birek- an adult Broad-winged Hawk was the first migrant of the day! He also had a Merlin zip by that according to him was “hard to follow in the scope†. Sounds like a Merlin.
Non-raptor Observations:
Jeff’s full bird list can be found on eBird. He had a Lazuli Bunting, the FOY for the site!
Predictions:
Tomorrow is our last day of the 2025 count season, and we will be taking in all the sun! Warm temps, strong sun, and light winds are gonna leave us tanned and tired for the last day. Our last day just so happens to coincide with Migratory Bird Day. What better way to celebrate than to join us at the migration site!
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: May 09, 2025 | |||
| Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 6 | 381 |
| Osprey | 0 | 4 | 85 |
| Bald Eagle | 1 | 3 | 47 |
| Northern Harrier | 1 | 4 | 61 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 2 | 14 | 357 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 2 | 14 | 307 |
| American Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 1 | 11 | 274 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 8 | 17 | 521 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 7 | 45 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 29 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 0 | 24 |
| American Kestrel | 1 | 14 | 951 |
| Merlin | 1 | 1 | 17 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipitrine | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Short-eared Owl | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Total: | 17 | 95 | 3135 |
| Observation start time: | 08:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 17:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 8.17 hours |
| Official Counter | 1, 2, 3 |
| Observers: | Derek Freed, Jeff Birek, Leslie Dixon, Shannon Campbell |
Visitors:
Thank you to today’s volunteers for your help on the ridge! 20 visitors stopped by the site including a group of 10 children with 4 adults.
Weather:
partly cloudy with most of the cumulus clouds to the west over the mountains, serious and serious Stratus clouds overhead extending out into the plains. Light breeze coming from the south east. Good visibility, but pikes Peak is not visible with some haze on the horizon.; partly cloudy with most of the cumulus clouds to the west over the mountains, serious and serious Stratus clouds overhead extending out into the plains. Light breeze coming from the south east. Good visibility, but pikes Peak is not visible with some haze on the horizon.; partly cloudy with most of the cumulus clouds to the west over the mountains, serious and serious Stratus clouds overhead extending out into the plains. Light breeze coming from the south east. Good visibility, but pikes Peak is not visible with some haze on the horizon.; partly cloudy with most of the cumulus clouds to the west over the mountains, serious and serious Stratus clouds overhead extending out into the plains. Light breeze coming from the south east. Good visibility, but pikes Peak is not visible with some haze on the horizon.; Breeze has been slowly shifting and become a bit more gusty. Now out of NE. Cloud cover has slowly increased as well.; Wind is variable NE to E; Wind is variable NE to E; Wind is variable NE to E; Wind is variable NE to E
Raptor Observations:
A few highlights on the day from Jeff Birek- an adult Broad-winged Hawk was the first migrant of the day! He also had a Merlin zip by that according to him was “hard to follow in the scope†. Sounds like a Merlin.
Non-raptor Observations:
Jeff’s full bird list can be found on eBird. He had a Lazuli Bunting, the FOY for the site!
Predictions:
Tomorrow is our last day of the 2025 count season, and we will be taking in all the sun! Warm temps, strong sun, and light winds are gonna leave us tanned and tired for the last day. Our last day just so happens to coincide with Migratory Bird Day. What better way to celebrate than to join us at the migration site!
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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