Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists
Colorado, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 05, 2024
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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 5 5
Northern Harrier 0 0 0
Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 0 0
Cooper's Hawk 0 0 0
American Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0
Red-tailed Hawk 16 34 34
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Swainson's Hawk 0 0 0
Ferruginous Hawk 1 1 1
Golden Eagle 2 2 2
American Kestrel 2 2 2
Merlin 0 0 0
Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0
Prairie Falcon 0 0 0
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: 21 44 44
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Observation start time: 08:30:00
Observation end time: 14:45:00
Total observation time: 6.25 hours
Official Counter: Ajit Antony
Observers: Clay Gibson, Janet Peters, Liza Antony,
Natalie Uschner-Arroyo, Shmuel Korengut
Visitors:
13. A special thanks to my observers – Liza, Natalie, Janet, Shmuel, and
Clay who last volunteered here in 1996!
Weather:
South winds predicted for Golden would be good for North-bound migrants.
However as is mostly the case different on the ridge top – from the SE at
initially Level 3 but only for the 1st hour and then dropped to Level 2 for
the rest of the day. Heavy cloud cover after 1300 hour MST.
Raptor Observations:
The 2 adult GE came through just as we were setting down the trail at the
end of the watch, easily naked-eye, being escorted out of their territory
by 2 local RT, 1 of which dove on 1 of the GE.
The 1st FH of the season was an adult and came through at 12:22 PM,
identified through a scope as having a pure white tail and white dorsal
wing patches.
The 1st AK of the season were a pair, led by the female. The male had a
missing left 1st or 2nd primary.
Non-migrant raptors: GE 3 – The 1st was at 8:50 AM MST a juvenile
initially seen far to the NE and flew directly over us to the SW with large
white underwing markings. The 2nd was in initially in the same location and
glided on bowed wings like a BE but I pointed out that when it flapped it
ended in an upstroke and stayed in a dihedral and without any white on the
underwing, so it was an adult GE which flew to the SW. The 3rd was seen far
to the SSE flying to the East. Through a scope a narrow white line along
the coverts and without the large underwing primary white patches or tail
patches suggested a subadult GE. RT 4. Immature CH 1.
Non-raptor Observations:
Common Raven Townsend's Solitaire 1, American Robin 2, Downy Woodpecker 1,
Spotted Towhee 1, House Finch 2, Dark-eyed Junco 2, Black-billed Magpie 2.
Predictions:
Similar to today – Partly sunny, with a high near 54. West southwest wind
5 to 9 mph becoming east northeast in the afternoon. Winds could gust as
high as 15 mph. A 20 percent chance of showers after 2pm.
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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, Elevation gain: 259 feet)
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