Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists (06 Apr 2021) 23 Raptors
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Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists
Colorado, USA
Visitors:
There were bikers, hikers and dog walkers on the trail today. I had no visitors to observation.
Weather:
The day started out with a clear blue sky. Gradually storms developed from the north.
Raptor Observations:
Raptors were migrating today, but sometimes just a few in an hour. It is likely the cloudless skies made it more difficult to see them, as evidenced by the count in the final hours. American kestrels were especially difficult to locate, often flying high and east of the ridge. The 1200-1300 hour I witnessed a push of birds likely due to the storms. All the raptors during this hour were eye level at the ridge, except for the Swainson’s Hawks which were spotted at limit of unaided eye.
Non-raptor Observations:
Violet green swallows, Mountain Bluebirds, White throated swifts.
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: Apr 06, 2021 | |||
| Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Turkey Vulture | 2 | 13 | 16 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 2 | 15 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 6 | 20 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 5 | 18 | 29 |
| Northern Goshawk | 1 | 2 | 6 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 7 | 43 | 236 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 1 | 1 | 7 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| American Kestrel | 5 | 14 | 16 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 2 | 11 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Total: | 23 | 104 | 381 |
| Observation start time: | 08:30:00 |
| Observation end time: | 13:15:00 |
| Total observation time: | 4.75 hours |
| Official Counter | Carol Cwiklinski |
| Observers: |
Visitors:
There were bikers, hikers and dog walkers on the trail today. I had no visitors to observation.
Weather:
The day started out with a clear blue sky. Gradually storms developed from the north.
Raptor Observations:
Raptors were migrating today, but sometimes just a few in an hour. It is likely the cloudless skies made it more difficult to see them, as evidenced by the count in the final hours. American kestrels were especially difficult to locate, often flying high and east of the ridge. The 1200-1300 hour I witnessed a push of birds likely due to the storms. All the raptors during this hour were eye level at the ridge, except for the Swainson’s Hawks which were spotted at limit of unaided eye.
Non-raptor Observations:
Violet green swallows, Mountain Bluebirds, White throated swifts.
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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