Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists (07 Mar 2026) 2 Raptors
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Mar 7, 2026, 11:05:28 PM (2 days ago) Mar 7
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Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists
Golden, Colorado, USA
Visitors:
5 visitors. Similar to the birds, the visitors appeared most active in the late morning and early afternoon. Thanks to Sara Painter and Cassandra Baird for volunteering today!
Weather:
Yesterday's snow made for a beautiful winter scene on the ridge. The sun was shining all day with blue skies, and temperatures cool but above freezing throughout the day. In the morning, the wind started as a light breeze from the northwest, picking up a bit as the morning went on. In the early afternoon wind briefly shifted to southwest before shifting back to northwest and increasing to moderately-strong.
Raptor Observations:
It was a quiet first few hours of the count, with local activity starting in the late hours of the morning with first an American Kestrel, then the resident Red-tailed Hawks and Golden Eagles. Mid-day, A juvenile Golden Eagle flew low directly overhead, and was relentlessly harassed by a resident pair of Red-tailed Hawks before eventually heading east. Shortly after, a migrant Red-tailed Hawk soared high before streaming north. A few minutes later a second went past, both birds distant and at the limits of our binoculars. Later in the afternoon, increasing winds appeared to dampen raptor activity. Regardless, a pair of local Red-tailed Hawks were out hunting, often seen below eye level. One bird appeared quite successful and presented its mate with a small rodent it had caught.
Non-raptor Observations:
Northern Flicker 1, Black-billed Magpie 1, Common Raven 6, Black-capped Chickadee 1, Mountain Bluebird 3, Townsend's Solitaire 1, Dark-eyed Junco 3, Spotted Towhee 1, Red-winged Blackbird 1
Predictions:
Tomorrow, expect more sun and warming temperatures. Winds are predicted to be moderate from the west. Prepare for muddy trail conditions - boots and hiking poles recommended.
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, 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: Mar 07, 2026 | |||
| 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 | 2 | 2 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| American Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 2 | 10 | 10 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 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 Accipitrine | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total: | 2 | 18 | 18 |
| Observation start time: | 09:30:00 |
| Observation end time: | 15:30:00 |
| Total observation time: | 6 hours |
| Official Counter | |
| Observers: | Soren Zappia |
Visitors:
5 visitors. Similar to the birds, the visitors appeared most active in the late morning and early afternoon. Thanks to Sara Painter and Cassandra Baird for volunteering today!
Weather:
Yesterday's snow made for a beautiful winter scene on the ridge. The sun was shining all day with blue skies, and temperatures cool but above freezing throughout the day. In the morning, the wind started as a light breeze from the northwest, picking up a bit as the morning went on. In the early afternoon wind briefly shifted to southwest before shifting back to northwest and increasing to moderately-strong.
Raptor Observations:
It was a quiet first few hours of the count, with local activity starting in the late hours of the morning with first an American Kestrel, then the resident Red-tailed Hawks and Golden Eagles. Mid-day, A juvenile Golden Eagle flew low directly overhead, and was relentlessly harassed by a resident pair of Red-tailed Hawks before eventually heading east. Shortly after, a migrant Red-tailed Hawk soared high before streaming north. A few minutes later a second went past, both birds distant and at the limits of our binoculars. Later in the afternoon, increasing winds appeared to dampen raptor activity. Regardless, a pair of local Red-tailed Hawks were out hunting, often seen below eye level. One bird appeared quite successful and presented its mate with a small rodent it had caught.
Non-raptor Observations:
Northern Flicker 1, Black-billed Magpie 1, Common Raven 6, Black-capped Chickadee 1, Mountain Bluebird 3, Townsend's Solitaire 1, Dark-eyed Junco 3, Spotted Towhee 1, Red-winged Blackbird 1
Predictions:
Tomorrow, expect more sun and warming temperatures. Winds are predicted to be moderate from the west. Prepare for muddy trail conditions - boots and hiking poles recommended.
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, 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)
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