Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists (15 Apr 2021) 13 Raptors
33 views
Skip to first unread message
rep...@hawkcount.org
Apr 15, 2021, 5:05:36 PM4/15/21
to cob...@googlegroups.com
Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists
Colorado, USA
Visitors:
One person on deck briefly, very few on the trail today.
Weather:
Overcast, breezy, snow flurries started at 13:00. Mt Morrison shrouded in clouds, eventually clearing. Horizons just visible, becoming hazy. Wind consistent out of the north, increasing from B2 up to B5. Barometer falling 24.52 inHg down to 24.47. Chilly, cold, overcast spring day.
Raptor Observations:
SS was the first sighted, confirming them as first to fly. 2 local TV's came close then back south. Local RT was busy hunting on the east side, remaining motionless for extended periods, then flapping. The second 2 CH crossed over to the west side of the ridge. One CH and one SS stopped briefly in the dead tree. 3 TV's wound thru the ridge trees like they lived here, eventually soaring very high and heading north. All raptors on east side at eye level or below except the 2 CH's.
Non-raptor Observations:
Bird of the day, Blue Heron heading north below eye level on the west side. 7 deer also on the west side. Magpies, tree swallows, solitaire heard, ravens later in the day.
Predictions:
No Count?
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 15, 2021 | |||
| Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Turkey Vulture | 3 | 52 | 55 |
| Osprey | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 6 | 19 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 4 | 29 | 43 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 3 | 40 | 51 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 3 | 7 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 0 | 88 | 281 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 1 | 7 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 3 | 9 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 46 | 48 |
| Merlin | 0 | 5 | 9 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 4 | 8 |
| Prairie Falcon | 1 | 11 | 12 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 3 | 4 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 7 | 16 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Total: | 13 | 316 | 593 |
| Observation start time: | 09:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 14:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 4 hours |
| Official Counter | Gary Rossmiller |
| Observers: | Janet Peters |
Visitors:
One person on deck briefly, very few on the trail today.
Weather:
Overcast, breezy, snow flurries started at 13:00. Mt Morrison shrouded in clouds, eventually clearing. Horizons just visible, becoming hazy. Wind consistent out of the north, increasing from B2 up to B5. Barometer falling 24.52 inHg down to 24.47. Chilly, cold, overcast spring day.
Raptor Observations:
SS was the first sighted, confirming them as first to fly. 2 local TV's came close then back south. Local RT was busy hunting on the east side, remaining motionless for extended periods, then flapping. The second 2 CH crossed over to the west side of the ridge. One CH and one SS stopped briefly in the dead tree. 3 TV's wound thru the ridge trees like they lived here, eventually soaring very high and heading north. All raptors on east side at eye level or below except the 2 CH's.
Non-raptor Observations:
Bird of the day, Blue Heron heading north below eye level on the west side. 7 deer also on the west side. Magpies, tree swallows, solitaire heard, ravens later in the day.
Predictions:
No Count?
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)
Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages