Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists (25 Mar 2025) 75 Raptors
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Mar 25, 2025, 10:44:28 PM3/25/25
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Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists
Golden, Colorado, USA
Visitors:
Flight lines were incredibly high today and we couldn't have counted them all without our incredible volunteer observers! Thank you to everyone who came out today. Everyone was rewarded with a great day of migration. We had a total of 33 visitors to the ridge today, with many people curious about the count.
Weather:
Today was a warm and sunny day with very little cloud cover for most of the day. Winds came out of the NE/ENE finally after a few days of W winds. Temperatures were high and a few of us got a slight sunburn today. A Classic Colorado spring so far.
Raptor Observations:
We had our best day of the season today, with the last 6 days really seeing migration take off. Birds were very, very distant and high over the west ridge for most of the day. We counted our first Turkey Vultures of the season today, one individual and a kettle of four came through today. We saw an amazing American Kestrel flight this afternoon after only counting 2 all season. At one point we had three AK together at once. A late day FH was the cherry on top of the already great day. Turkey Vultures have already begun checking out the area with 2 seen in different spots not migrating. Local Bald and Golden Eagles continue to be seen displaying and soaring at great heights.
Non-raptor Observations:
Non-raptor migration was also incredible today with three flocks of Sandhill Cranes flying over, one with 125 birds. Mountain Bluebirds were also seen moving north almost constantly throughout the day. White-throated Swifts were seen flying with the Kestrels in the afternoon. Canada Goose 6, White-throated Swift 4, Sandhill Crane 208, Woodhouse's Scrub Jay 1, Black-billed Magpie 1, American Crow 18, Common Raven 2, Black-capped Chickadee 1, Mountain Bluebird 48, Townsend's Solitaire 2, House Finch 2, Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) 1, Spotted Towhee 1
Predictions:
Tomorrow is predicted to be even warmer and sunnier, with E winds continuing. Migration may be good again tomorrow. We recommend bringing extra sunscreen and a chair to help alleviate neck strain!
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: Mar 25, 2025 | |||
| Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Turkey Vulture | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bald Eagle | 3 | 23 | 23 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 6 | 6 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 5 | 18 | 18 |
| American Goshawk | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 26 | 186 | 186 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 1 | 14 | 14 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 13 | 13 |
| American Kestrel | 32 | 38 | 38 |
| Merlin | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipitrine | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total: | 75 | 320 | 320 |
| Observation start time: | 09:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 17:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 8 hours |
| Official Counter | Emma Riley, Audrey Anderson |
| Observers: | Audrey Hicks, Bob Mitchell, Buzz Schaumberg, Ric Olson |
Visitors:
Flight lines were incredibly high today and we couldn't have counted them all without our incredible volunteer observers! Thank you to everyone who came out today. Everyone was rewarded with a great day of migration. We had a total of 33 visitors to the ridge today, with many people curious about the count.
Weather:
Today was a warm and sunny day with very little cloud cover for most of the day. Winds came out of the NE/ENE finally after a few days of W winds. Temperatures were high and a few of us got a slight sunburn today. A Classic Colorado spring so far.
Raptor Observations:
We had our best day of the season today, with the last 6 days really seeing migration take off. Birds were very, very distant and high over the west ridge for most of the day. We counted our first Turkey Vultures of the season today, one individual and a kettle of four came through today. We saw an amazing American Kestrel flight this afternoon after only counting 2 all season. At one point we had three AK together at once. A late day FH was the cherry on top of the already great day. Turkey Vultures have already begun checking out the area with 2 seen in different spots not migrating. Local Bald and Golden Eagles continue to be seen displaying and soaring at great heights.
Non-raptor Observations:
Non-raptor migration was also incredible today with three flocks of Sandhill Cranes flying over, one with 125 birds. Mountain Bluebirds were also seen moving north almost constantly throughout the day. White-throated Swifts were seen flying with the Kestrels in the afternoon. Canada Goose 6, White-throated Swift 4, Sandhill Crane 208, Woodhouse's Scrub Jay 1, Black-billed Magpie 1, American Crow 18, Common Raven 2, Black-capped Chickadee 1, Mountain Bluebird 48, Townsend's Solitaire 2, House Finch 2, Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) 1, Spotted Towhee 1
Predictions:
Tomorrow is predicted to be even warmer and sunnier, with E winds continuing. Migration may be good again tomorrow. We recommend bringing extra sunscreen and a chair to help alleviate neck strain!
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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