Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists
Colorado, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 08, 2023
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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 3 3
Northern Harrier 0 0 0
Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 0 0
Cooper's Hawk 0 0 0
Northern Goshawk 0 2 2
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0
Red-tailed Hawk 3 26 26
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Swainson's Hawk 0 0 0
Ferruginous Hawk 3 5 6
Golden Eagle 1 6 6
American Kestrel 0 0 0
Merlin 0 1 1
Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0
Prairie Falcon 0 3 3
Mississippi Kite 0 0 0
Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0
Unknown Buteo 0 0 0
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 0 0
Total: 7 46 47
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Observation start time: 09:30:00
Observation end time: 15:30:00
Total observation time: 6 hours
Official Counter: Emma Riley
Observers: Ajit Antony, Karen Fernandez, Kathy Moses, Liza Antony,
Mike Fernandez, Natalie Uschner-Arroyo, Taina Brin
Visitors:
We had 6 visitors at the site today and 7 observers that helped spot and
count raptors today, so thank you all!
Weather:
Today started out with dense cloud cover but that quickly dissipated
revealing more sun than we expected. The clouds were present but variable
throughout the day, significantly impacting the temperature as the sun was
covered. There was a thick haze that was present all day, making visibility
worse as the day went on. Winds were mainly from the NE blowing at mild
speeds.
Raptor Observations:
Migrant raptors were seen mostly overhead or in the western valley today,
with some being at the limit of an unaided eye. Highlights today included a
close sub-adult GE, and three FH that came overhead throughout the day. The
flight slowed down at the end of the day with our last migrant counted in
the 1300 hour. We also observed three local RT today, including our pair
that we have seen most days this season, and one local GE over the western
ridge.
Non-raptor Observations:
The MOBLs continued to move through today with 13 counted, and a suspected
~20 over Green Mountain that were tricky to ID. We also saw SCJA (2), DEJU
(8), HOFI (2), CORA (9), TOSO (3), and AMRO (3) at the count site today. 15
Elk were seen just north of the Mother Cabrini statue.
Predictions:
Tomorrow should be sunny with limited cloud cover and high spring
temperatures, but we have winds of 30-40 mph on the radar, which may limit
our day.
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Report submitted by DAVID HILL ()
Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists information may be found at:
http://www.dfobirds.org
More site information at hawkcount.org:
https://hawkcount.org/siteinfo.php?rsite=123
Count data submitted via Dunkadoo - Project info at:
https://dunkadoo.org/explore/denver-field-ornithologists/dinosaur-ridge-spring-2023
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. Northern 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 a Hawk
Counter and volunteers from 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM from March 1st to May 14th,
weather permitting.
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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