Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists
Colorado, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 18, 2023
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
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Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 1 2 2
Osprey 0 0 0
Bald Eagle 0 16 16
Northern Harrier 0 1 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 4 4
Cooper's Hawk 0 3 3
Northern Goshawk 1 5 5
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0
Red-tailed Hawk 3 108 108
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Swainson's Hawk 0 0 0
Ferruginous Hawk 2 25 26
Golden Eagle 2 24 24
American Kestrel 0 8 8
Merlin 0 3 3
Peregrine Falcon 0 1 1
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: 9 208 209
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Observation start time: 08:30:00
Observation end time: 16:30:00
Total observation time: 8.5 hours
Official Counter: Emma Riley
Observers: Carol Cwiklinski, Aarohi Barman, Carol Cwiklinski,
Jeff Birek, Kathy Barnum, Matthew Klimock, Steve Small
Visitors:
Thank you to Carol Cwiklinski, Steve Small, Jeff Birek, Matthew Klimock,
and Kathy Barnum for your help today spotting birds against the blue sky,
we couldn’t have done it without you. We had 17 visitors at the ridge
today including two of our off-duty volunteers Karen & John Rutledge.
Weather:
Today we saw clear blue skies all day, with low but manageable temperatures
with the strong sun. Winds were from the general east direction today but
did vary between NE and SE. Wind speeds were generally mild with some
moderate gusts in the afternoon.
Raptor Observations:
Despite the relatively ideal conditions for raptor migration, we had
another slow day. Birds were mostly seen very distant and high in all
directions, with the exception of two birds low against the western ridge.
Despite low numbers we continue to have great diversity in our migrants
with 5 species seen today. Non-migrant BE, GE, RT, PR, and NG were also
seen today.
Non-raptor Observations:
Bohemian waxwings were seen again today moving around the ridge in the
morning and were heard on the hike out. Corvid activity was great today
with 9-12 CORA seen around the towers on Mt Morrison and in the surrounding
area for most of the day. AMCR (6) were also seen throughout the day, as
well as BBMA (4), AMRO (2), TOSO (4), HOFI (5), BCCH (2), MOCH (1), and our
first BUSH (12) of the season. The elk herd was seen again just south of
Lookout Mountain.
Predictions:
Tomorrows weather will bring relief in both the form of warmer temperatures
and higher cloud cover. Winds are predicted to be light and variable from
the general west direction. We may have another slow paced day but are
looking forward to clouds in the sky and continued species diversity.
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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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