Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists (04 Apr 2026) 30 Raptors
33 views
Skip to first unread message
rep...@hawkcount.org
Apr 4, 2026, 11:41:55 PM (2 days ago) Apr 4
to cob...@googlegroups.com
Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists
Golden, Colorado, USA
Visitors:
13 Visitors. We had a mix of birders and hikers today. Paragliders were also seen soaring around Mount Morrison. We thank Pam Moore, Sara Painter, and Taylor Carlisle for volunteering today! We appreciate you for your great spotting and for being so welcoming to visitors.
Weather:
It was a beautiful spring day with light southeast winds and only a brief cloud or two. Temperatures started as cool but warmed a bit as the day passed.
Raptor Observations:
Today we had a few migrating raptors, with American Kestrels and Turkey Vultures as the most common of the day. Many birds were distant and visible with binoculars only, either overhead or to the west, and even local birds were gaining good height. A local Red-tailed Hawk was observed chasing off a migrating Bald Eagle and stooped making contact with the eagle's talons! They quickly separated and the eagle continued on its way. Another highlight was watching a group of seven Turkey Vultures glide directly overhead. Local American Kestrel activity was higher than previous days, with both males and females hunting and perching nearby. We also saw swifts and swallows today, including our first Barn Swallow.
Non-raptor Observations:
Mallard 2, White-throated Swift 27, Mourning Dove 2, American White Pelican 2, Northern Flicker 1, Woodhouse's Scrub Jay 1, Magpie 1, Black-billed Magpie 1, American Crow 1, Common Raven 6, Tree Swallow 7, Barn Swallow 1, swalow sp. 4, American Bushtit 1, Rock Wren 1, Townsend's Solitaire 1, House Finch 2, Pine Siskin 1, Dark-eyed Junco 1, Spotted Towhee 2, Western Meadowlark 1
Predictions:
Tomorrow, expect more sun and a calm wind to the north and northeast. Temperatures are predicted to start cool in the high 40s F in the morning but reach the mid 60s F by late afternoon. Bring layers and sunscreen!
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]
Count data submitted via Trektellen.org - [Project Details]
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, and American White Pelican. 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: Apr 04, 2026 | |||
| Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Turkey Vulture | 12 | 40 | 67 |
| Osprey | 0 | 3 | 9 |
| Bald Eagle | 2 | 4 | 17 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 1 | 13 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 2 | 8 | 29 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 0 | 16 | 68 |
| American Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 3 | 40 | 288 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| American Kestrel | 10 | 45 | 184 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipitrine | 1 | 1 | 7 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Total: | 30 | 159 | 712 |
| Observation start time: | 09:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 17:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 8 hours |
| Official Counter | Soren Zappia |
| Observers: | Laura Farnsworth |
Visitors:
13 Visitors. We had a mix of birders and hikers today. Paragliders were also seen soaring around Mount Morrison. We thank Pam Moore, Sara Painter, and Taylor Carlisle for volunteering today! We appreciate you for your great spotting and for being so welcoming to visitors.
Weather:
It was a beautiful spring day with light southeast winds and only a brief cloud or two. Temperatures started as cool but warmed a bit as the day passed.
Raptor Observations:
Today we had a few migrating raptors, with American Kestrels and Turkey Vultures as the most common of the day. Many birds were distant and visible with binoculars only, either overhead or to the west, and even local birds were gaining good height. A local Red-tailed Hawk was observed chasing off a migrating Bald Eagle and stooped making contact with the eagle's talons! They quickly separated and the eagle continued on its way. Another highlight was watching a group of seven Turkey Vultures glide directly overhead. Local American Kestrel activity was higher than previous days, with both males and females hunting and perching nearby. We also saw swifts and swallows today, including our first Barn Swallow.
Non-raptor Observations:
Mallard 2, White-throated Swift 27, Mourning Dove 2, American White Pelican 2, Northern Flicker 1, Woodhouse's Scrub Jay 1, Magpie 1, Black-billed Magpie 1, American Crow 1, Common Raven 6, Tree Swallow 7, Barn Swallow 1, swalow sp. 4, American Bushtit 1, Rock Wren 1, Townsend's Solitaire 1, House Finch 2, Pine Siskin 1, Dark-eyed Junco 1, Spotted Towhee 2, Western Meadowlark 1
Predictions:
Tomorrow, expect more sun and a calm wind to the north and northeast. Temperatures are predicted to start cool in the high 40s F in the morning but reach the mid 60s F by late afternoon. Bring layers and sunscreen!
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]
Count data submitted via Trektellen.org - [Project Details]
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, and American White Pelican. 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)
Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages