Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists
Colorado, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 23, 2023
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
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Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 44 250 265
Osprey 4 27 29
Bald Eagle 2 19 50
Northern Harrier 2 10 21
Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 39 47
Cooper's Hawk 24 150 168
Northern Goshawk 0 1 8
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0
Broad-winged Hawk 27 35 35
Red-tailed Hawk 6 107 394
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Swainson's Hawk 4 8 8
Ferruginous Hawk 0 7 47
Golden Eagle 0 6 32
American Kestrel 30 217 277
Merlin 3 9 19
Peregrine Falcon 2 5 10
Prairie Falcon 0 0 5
Mississippi Kite 0 0 0
Unknown Accipiter 2 4 7
Unknown Buteo 0 1 2
Unknown Falcon 0 1 1
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 0 2
Total: 152 896 1427
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Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 18:00:00
Total observation time: 9 hours
Official Counter: Emma Riley
Observers: Aarohi Barman, Carol Cwiklinski, Ginni Dickinson,
Matthew Klimock, Stephen Hadley, Steve Ryder , Steve Small
Visitors:
Thank you to everyone who helped spot birds today! It was a great day on
the ridge with some folks seeing their lifer BW. We saw 38 visitors at the
count site today including a group of people from Minnesota.
Weather:
We had nice temperatures all day today with sun for most of the day. The
blue skies were challenging to spot birds against and the thick haze also
added a challenge. Cloud cover increased finally by the end of the day.
Winds were mild from the E all day.
Raptor Observations:
We had our second biggest day on the ridge (by 1 bird but who’s counting)
today. 152 migrants with great numbers of AK, CH, TV, and the star of the
show today BW. We got really great looks at a few BW early in the day that
came along the ridge and then the birds went high and west or east of us.
Other migrant highlights include 2 immature BE moving together overhead, 3
ML, and continuing SW. Non-migrant raptors seen today include RT (2), TV
(3), GE (2), PG, and CH.
Non-raptor Observations:
Non-raptor highlights today include 40+ AMWP and a GBHE that went through
the west valley. We continue to see SPTO, ROWR, WTSW, and our other regular
visitors.
Predictions:
Tomorrow should bring some eye relief with heavier cloud cover. Winds are
predicted to be from the E. We will hopefully have a decent flight!
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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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