Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists (28 Aug 2025) 2 Raptors

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Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists
Golden, Colorado, USA

Daily Raptor Counts: Aug 28, 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	0	2	3
Rough-legged Hawk	0	0	0
Swainson's Hawk	2	34	35
Ferruginous Hawk	0	0	0
Golden Eagle	0	0	0
American Kestrel	0	1	2
Merlin	0	0	0
Peregrine Falcon	0	0	0
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:	2	40	45

Observation start time:	09:00:00
Observation end time:	11:15:00
Total observation time:	2.25 hours
Official Counter	Liza Antony
Observers:

Visitors:
2 women were wondering what I was doing, I explained that I was counting migrating raptors. They were hiking.

Weather:
At the start of the observation. Temperature was 21°C with level two winds from the north east. Cloud cover was 50% mostly in the west and north of the watch. At the end of the observation period cloud cover was 70% and it started drizzling. Humidity was fairly high at 55, 63 and 47%.. Visibility was excellent at 24.km.

Raptor Observations:
Only two migratingSwanson Hawks noted migrating at 9:30 MST over the Western Ridge going south. I tried to find the birds with my scope, but was not able to see the birds in my scope to age the birds. Non-migrant raptors: 1 UB noted at 9:27 MST over Lookout mtn; TV-2; RT-2

Non-raptor Observations:
Exploratory fall count 2025. See https://groups.google.com/g/cobirds/c/Oznn4uc6MBk Northern Flicker 1, BTHU 2, Violet – green swallow 3, Canyon wren 1 heard the call note 1st and subsequently saw the bird on a snag, Woodhouse's Scrub Jay 3

Predictions:
40 % cloud cover at 9 AM with winds from NW, changing to NE. Rain expected around 1 PM

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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]

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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)