Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists (27 Apr 2026) 95 Raptors
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Apr 27, 2026, 10:59:43 PM (2 days ago) Apr 27
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Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists
Golden, Colorado, USA
Visitors:
We had three visitors at the ridge today, all coming to enjoy migration. Thank you to Clay Gibson and Mike Serruto for your company and help on yet another Monday on the ridge.
Weather:
Today was a cold day with heavy fog present at the beginning of the count. The count was delayed an hour and 15 minutes due to the fog. It slowly lifted throughout the day with even a moment of sun shining before disappearing again. Light snow was present on and off for a few hours. Temperatures were low all day.
Raptor Observations:
Today was an outstanding day, after many hours of cold snowy conditions. Before 1400 MST we had a total of four migrants that had come at or below eye level. At about 1415 MST the fun began. We spotted a few birds at once and it turned out to be three Osprey, one Swainson's Hawk, and a fourth Osprey just behind. Shortly after this we had another four birds- 3 Northern Harriers and a juvenile American Goshawk! What followed was 2-6 birds at a time coming within 30 meters directly overhead. A number of dark-morph Swainson's Hawks came over, with up to three in the air at a time. Sharp-shinned Hawks also came 2+ at a time. The species diversity seen in the next two hours, paired with how close these birds were, made for two of the most exciting hours our lead counter Emma Riley has ever seen at this site. We ended with 89 raptors coming in less than two hours.
Non-raptor Observations:
Broad-tailed Hummingbird 1, Double-crested Cormorant 1, Woodhouse's Scrub Jay 1, Black-billed Magpie 1, Common Raven 3, Black-capped Chickadee 2, American Bushtit 3, Rock Wren 1, Chipping Sparrow 4, Spotted Towhee 2, Western Meadowlark 1, Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's) 1
Predictions:
Tomorrow is predicted to see less precipitation and fog tomorrow with continued lower temperatures. Bring warm layers and a rain coat.
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 27, 2026 | |||
| Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Turkey Vulture | 1 | 135 | 162 |
| Osprey | 8 | 49 | 55 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 11 | 24 |
| Northern Harrier | 10 | 33 | 45 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 15 | 130 | 151 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 2 | 173 | 225 |
| American Goshawk | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 4 | 45 | 45 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 2 | 203 | 451 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 13 | 38 | 38 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 8 | 17 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 1 | 8 |
| American Kestrel | 38 | 531 | 670 |
| Merlin | 0 | 4 | 7 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 6 | 8 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipitrine | 1 | 13 | 19 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 3 | 6 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 4 | 5 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 4 | 5 |
| Total: | 95 | 1394 | 1947 |
| Observation start time: | 10:15:00 |
| Observation end time: | 17:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 6.75 hours |
| Official Counter | Emma Riley |
| Observers: |
Visitors:
We had three visitors at the ridge today, all coming to enjoy migration. Thank you to Clay Gibson and Mike Serruto for your company and help on yet another Monday on the ridge.
Weather:
Today was a cold day with heavy fog present at the beginning of the count. The count was delayed an hour and 15 minutes due to the fog. It slowly lifted throughout the day with even a moment of sun shining before disappearing again. Light snow was present on and off for a few hours. Temperatures were low all day.
Raptor Observations:
Today was an outstanding day, after many hours of cold snowy conditions. Before 1400 MST we had a total of four migrants that had come at or below eye level. At about 1415 MST the fun began. We spotted a few birds at once and it turned out to be three Osprey, one Swainson's Hawk, and a fourth Osprey just behind. Shortly after this we had another four birds- 3 Northern Harriers and a juvenile American Goshawk! What followed was 2-6 birds at a time coming within 30 meters directly overhead. A number of dark-morph Swainson's Hawks came over, with up to three in the air at a time. Sharp-shinned Hawks also came 2+ at a time. The species diversity seen in the next two hours, paired with how close these birds were, made for two of the most exciting hours our lead counter Emma Riley has ever seen at this site. We ended with 89 raptors coming in less than two hours.
Non-raptor Observations:
Broad-tailed Hummingbird 1, Double-crested Cormorant 1, Woodhouse's Scrub Jay 1, Black-billed Magpie 1, Common Raven 3, Black-capped Chickadee 2, American Bushtit 3, Rock Wren 1, Chipping Sparrow 4, Spotted Towhee 2, Western Meadowlark 1, Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's) 1
Predictions:
Tomorrow is predicted to see less precipitation and fog tomorrow with continued lower temperatures. Bring warm layers and a rain coat.
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)
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