Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists (17 Sep 2025) 10 Raptors
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Sep 17, 2025, 9:18:11 PM (3 days ago) Sep 17
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Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists
Golden, Colorado, USA
Weather:
The predicted surface winds were from the NE with 29% cloud cover at 9:00 AM, but at the watch there was only 2% cloud cover. It was chilly so I needed a windbreaker and light gloves. The prediction for winds aloft were from the NW at 11 km/hr, see: https://earth.nullschool.net/#2025/09/17/1600Z/wind/isobaric/700hPa/orthographic=-110.78,27.20,783/loc=-105.236,39.343. The soaring forecast was poor with thermals only expected to reach 2999 feet above ground level. By 11:00 AM MDT there were many cumulus clouds to the NW and SW presumably as a result of rapid thermal formation because of the cold air, hot sun with the lack of clouds, reaching 2 binocular fields above the western ridge and Lookout Mountain and a large one 3 binocular fields above, which I was able to use to look for migrants. By the next hour there were even clouds overhead.
Raptor Observations:
The first migrants at 11:10 AM was an SS attacking a CH repeatedly, a whole binocular field above sub-peak. Non-migrant raptors CH 2, RT 6, TV 2. Overall, we have had many fewer migrants counted at this watch compared to our count at the Mount Zion Hawk Watch only 4 miles away to the NW, for the same period in 2024. See: https://hawkcount.org/month_summary.php?rsite=968&ryear=2024&rmonth=09 We will count only for 3 more weeks to cover the peak Swainson's Hawk migration which is during the last week in September and the first week of October, using data from Commissary Ridge in Wyoming and Manzano Mountains in New Mexico, though which are further west and probably get raptors along a different flight route that we don't get to see here.
Non-raptor Observations:
Violet-green Swallow 2. Northern Flicker 1.
Predictions:
Surface light winds from the NW>NE>ENE with 30% cloud cover, and 17 mph wind gusts after 1:00 PM. The wind direction aloft is expected to be from the WNW, not particularly favorable. See: https://earth.nullschool.net/#2025/09/18/1600Z/wind/isobaric/700hPa/orthographic=-110.78,27.20,783/loc=-105.236,39.343
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: Sep 17, 2025 | |||
| Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Turkey Vulture | 6 | 11 | 15 |
| Osprey | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 1 | 10 | 15 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 3 | 14 | 16 |
| American Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 0 | 5 | 18 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 18 | 68 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 22 | 28 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipitrine | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 6 | 8 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Short-eared Owl | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total: | 10 | 97 | 185 |
| Observation start time: | 08:15:00 |
| Observation end time: | 11:30:00 |
| Total observation time: | 3.25 hours |
| Official Counter | Ajit Antony |
| Observers: |
Weather:
The predicted surface winds were from the NE with 29% cloud cover at 9:00 AM, but at the watch there was only 2% cloud cover. It was chilly so I needed a windbreaker and light gloves. The prediction for winds aloft were from the NW at 11 km/hr, see: https://earth.nullschool.net/#2025/09/17/1600Z/wind/isobaric/700hPa/orthographic=-110.78,27.20,783/loc=-105.236,39.343. The soaring forecast was poor with thermals only expected to reach 2999 feet above ground level. By 11:00 AM MDT there were many cumulus clouds to the NW and SW presumably as a result of rapid thermal formation because of the cold air, hot sun with the lack of clouds, reaching 2 binocular fields above the western ridge and Lookout Mountain and a large one 3 binocular fields above, which I was able to use to look for migrants. By the next hour there were even clouds overhead.
Raptor Observations:
The first migrants at 11:10 AM was an SS attacking a CH repeatedly, a whole binocular field above sub-peak. Non-migrant raptors CH 2, RT 6, TV 2. Overall, we have had many fewer migrants counted at this watch compared to our count at the Mount Zion Hawk Watch only 4 miles away to the NW, for the same period in 2024. See: https://hawkcount.org/month_summary.php?rsite=968&ryear=2024&rmonth=09 We will count only for 3 more weeks to cover the peak Swainson's Hawk migration which is during the last week in September and the first week of October, using data from Commissary Ridge in Wyoming and Manzano Mountains in New Mexico, though which are further west and probably get raptors along a different flight route that we don't get to see here.
Non-raptor Observations:
Violet-green Swallow 2. Northern Flicker 1.
Predictions:
Surface light winds from the NW>NE>ENE with 30% cloud cover, and 17 mph wind gusts after 1:00 PM. The wind direction aloft is expected to be from the WNW, not particularly favorable. See: https://earth.nullschool.net/#2025/09/18/1600Z/wind/isobaric/700hPa/orthographic=-110.78,27.20,783/loc=-105.236,39.343
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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