Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists (11 Mar 2021) 8 Raptors
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Mar 11, 2021, 6:42:40 PM3/11/21
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Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists
Colorado, USA
Visitors:
A few people stopping momentarily on the platform. Trail was fairly quiet today.
Weather:
Consistent coolness from 3c up to 10c, about a B3 breeze all day out of the east, increasing clouds, but still sunny, barometer dropping from 24.60 to 24.55 inHg. Surprised by the good weather in front of a potentially big spring snowstorm.
Raptor Observations:
Bird of the day, SS, very nice view (quite close) just above eye level on the east side of the ridge. Otherwise, local and migrating RT.
Non-raptor Observations:
A few elk across I-70. Not very many local birds or raptors, the crows and ravens were visible, several at most of the local RT pairs. Just not much activity. Magpies, Flicker, Townsend Solitaire, Junco, Woodhouse heard. Two F-16's returning to Buckley AFB during the first hour were fun to track.
Predictions:
It will be interesting if we get a few hours of data in the morn before the storm or if it will have settled along the Front Range early. We may have 3 days of 'no count'. Hopefully the raptors will flush out by Monday or Tuesday.
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 hawkwatch in Colorado and is the
best place in the world to see migrating Ferruginous Hawks. Dinosaur Ridge may
be the best place in the country to see the rare dark morph of the Broad-winged
Hawk (a few are seen each spring). Hawkwatchers who linger long enough may see
resident Golden Eagles, Red-tailed Hawks and Prairie Falcons, in addition to
migrating Swainson's, Cooper's and Sharp-shinned Hawks, American Kestrels and
Turkey Vultures. Peregrine Falcons and Ferruginous Hawks are uncommon; Northern
Goshawk is rare but regular. Non-raptor species include Rock Wren, and sometimes
Bushtit, Western Bluebird, Sandhill Crane, White-throated Swift, American White
Pelican or Dusky Grouse. Birders of any skill level are always welcome.
HawkWatch at Dinosaur Ridge is generally staffed by volunteers from about 9 AM
to around 3 PM from March 1st to May 7th.
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 small signs from the
southwest end of lot to the hawkwatch 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, head through the
gate, and walk to the clearly-visible, flat area at the crest of the ridge.
(Distance: 0.56 miles, Elevation gain: 259 feet)
Colorado, USA
| Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 11, 2021 | |||
| Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 7 | 49 | 49 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Total: | 8 | 71 | 71 |
| Observation start time: | 10:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 14:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 4 hours |
| Official Counter | Gary Rossmiller |
| Observers: | Janet Peters, Patty Burnett |
Visitors:
A few people stopping momentarily on the platform. Trail was fairly quiet today.
Weather:
Consistent coolness from 3c up to 10c, about a B3 breeze all day out of the east, increasing clouds, but still sunny, barometer dropping from 24.60 to 24.55 inHg. Surprised by the good weather in front of a potentially big spring snowstorm.
Raptor Observations:
Bird of the day, SS, very nice view (quite close) just above eye level on the east side of the ridge. Otherwise, local and migrating RT.
Non-raptor Observations:
A few elk across I-70. Not very many local birds or raptors, the crows and ravens were visible, several at most of the local RT pairs. Just not much activity. Magpies, Flicker, Townsend Solitaire, Junco, Woodhouse heard. Two F-16's returning to Buckley AFB during the first hour were fun to track.
Predictions:
It will be interesting if we get a few hours of data in the morn before the storm or if it will have settled along the Front Range early. We may have 3 days of 'no count'. Hopefully the raptors will flush out by Monday or Tuesday.
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 hawkwatch in Colorado and is the
best place in the world to see migrating Ferruginous Hawks. Dinosaur Ridge may
be the best place in the country to see the rare dark morph of the Broad-winged
Hawk (a few are seen each spring). Hawkwatchers who linger long enough may see
resident Golden Eagles, Red-tailed Hawks and Prairie Falcons, in addition to
migrating Swainson's, Cooper's and Sharp-shinned Hawks, American Kestrels and
Turkey Vultures. Peregrine Falcons and Ferruginous Hawks are uncommon; Northern
Goshawk is rare but regular. Non-raptor species include Rock Wren, and sometimes
Bushtit, Western Bluebird, Sandhill Crane, White-throated Swift, American White
Pelican or Dusky Grouse. Birders of any skill level are always welcome.
HawkWatch at Dinosaur Ridge is generally staffed by volunteers from about 9 AM
to around 3 PM from March 1st to May 7th.
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 small signs from the
southwest end of lot to the hawkwatch 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, head through the
gate, and walk to the clearly-visible, flat area at the crest of the ridge.
(Distance: 0.56 miles, Elevation gain: 259 feet)
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