Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists
Colorado, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 22, 2023
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 0 2 2
Osprey 0 0 0
Bald Eagle 0 21 21
Northern Harrier 3 6 6
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 6 6
Cooper's Hawk 1 4 4
Northern Goshawk 0 5 5
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0
Red-tailed Hawk 8 153 153
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Swainson's Hawk 0 0 0
Ferruginous Hawk 0 29 30
Golden Eagle 0 24 24
American Kestrel 1 11 11
Merlin 0 3 3
Peregrine Falcon 1 2 2
Prairie Falcon 0 4 4
Mississippi Kite 0 0 0
Unknown Accipiter 0 1 1
Unknown Buteo 0 1 1
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 2 2
Total: 15 274 275
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Observation start time: 08:30:00
Observation end time: 16:30:00
Total observation time: 8 hours
Official Counter: Emma Riley
Observers: Karen Fernandez, Kathy Barnum, Mike Fernandez,
Natalie Uschner-Arroyo, Sammy Korengut
Visitors:
Thank you to Karen & Mike Fernandez, Sammy Korengut, Kathy Barnum, and
Natalie Uschner-Arroyo for sticking out the snowy conditions and helping
count todays migration. We had 16 visitors at the ridge today including a
visitor from DC and a gentleman who visited while hiking a few times last
season.
Weather:
What started out as a nice sunny morning was slowly filled in by scattered
snowstorms for the rest of the day. Snow could be seen west of us all day,
as well as north and south of us for bits of the day. Visibility was
surprisingly only limited for under an hour total. Temperatures were low
but manageable, and winds were from the NE for a good chunk of the day
while we could see storms moving in from the SW, eventually giving way to
the SW winds.
Raptor Observations:
Despite the snow, birds were still moving today. Our first migrant of the
day was an adult dark Harlan’s RT that moved through the west valley and
found an updraft just south of the platform. Other highlights included a
gorgeous Grey Ghost coming directly overhead in the last 10 minutes of the
day and an adult PG that came just below eye level along the east side of
the ridge following a dark-morph RT. Migrants were seen below eye level
both east and west of the ridge, or overhead within the limit of an unaided
eye, giving us great looks. Non-migrant activity was also very high today
with a dark-morph RT seen flying directly south twice today, a BE flying
south just below eye level along the ridge, one local GE displaying near Mt
Morrison, and the local RT pair seen throughout the day hunting and
interacting with each other.
Non-raptor Observations:
We had a couple surprise non-raptor guests today including two GBHE flying
north just above Green Mountain, and a lone CANG again heading north
through the western valley. Other non-raptors today include HOFI (3), DEJU
(2), BCCH (1), AMRO (7), TOSO (5), SCJA (1), CORA (13), and AMCR (11).
Predictions:
Tomorrows weather prediction shows mostly cloudy skies and mild spring
temperatures. Winds are predicted to be out of the E in the morning with
the potential to shift W in the afternoon, but overall mild speeds. We are
hoping for a nice push of migrants that did not move during todays snow.
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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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