Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists
Colorado, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 03, 2024
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SpeciesDay's CountMonth Total Season Total
-- --- -- --
Black Vulture0 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 Hawk0 0 0
American Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0
Broad-winged Hawk0 0 0
Red-tailed Hawk 1 12 12
Rough-legged Hawk0 0 0
Swainson's Hawk 0 0 0
Ferruginous Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 0 0
American Kestrel 0 0 0
Merlin 0 0 0
Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0
Prairie Falcon 0 0 0
Mississippi Kite 0 0 0
Unknown Accipiter0 0 0
Unknown Buteo0 0 0
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 0 0
Total: 1 15 15
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Observation start time: 09:30:00
Observation end time: 15:30:00
Total observation time: 6 hours
Official Counter:Dustin Kohler
Observers:Archer Silverman, Gary Rossmiller, Janet Peters,
Vonnie Robinson
Visitors:
We had 54 visitors to the ridge today, including a guy from France who was
in town for a conference.
Observers include Gary Rossmiller, Vonnie Robinson, Archer Silverman, and
Janet Peters.
Weather:
On the colder side and windy. Could see snow to the North and slightly to
the West. Only small flakes on us. Last 45 minutes of the survey the
weather improved.
Raptor Observations:
Slow migration day, with very little movement for all species until about
2:30 local or migrants.
In the morning, a red-tailed hawk was seen with nesting material on the
east side of the ridge, and in the afternoon, two red-tailed were seen
copulating on the west side of the ridge.
Non-raptor Observations:
Gary and Vonnie spotted a Mountain Cottontail (Rabbit) up on the ridge.
We saw two female Mule Deer.
We also saw the first Mountain Bluebirds of the year on the valley floor on
the east side.
Predictions:
A chilly and overcast day is predicted for tomorrow but seems like it will
be dry. Bundle up and I'll see you on the ridge.
Report submitted by Janet Peters (j.f.peter...@gmail.com)
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
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,
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 10th,
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,
