Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists Colorado, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 26, 2023 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 0 4 4 Osprey 2 2 2 Bald Eagle 1 25 25 Northern Harrier 1 8 8 Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 7 7 Cooper's Hawk 1 7 7 Northern Goshawk 0 5 5 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 19 197 197 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Swainson's Hawk 0 0 0 Ferruginous Hawk 3 35 36 Golden Eagle 0 24 24 American Kestrel 12 26 26 Merlin 0 3 3 Peregrine Falcon 1 3 3 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: 40 354 355 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:30:00 Observation end time: 16:30:00 Total observation time: 8 hours Official Counter: Emma Riley Observers: Aarohi Barman, Carol Cwiklinski, Steve Small Visitors: Big thanks to Carol Cwiklinski, Steve Small, and Matthew Klimock for helping Aarohi and I count the busiest day of the season so far. 42 visitors stopped at the ridge today including two families that spent a while at the ridge looking for birds with us and asking questions. We had more people that spent a good amount with us on the ridge than we normally do, it was great to share the migration with others! Weather: Today started out with thin clouds, sun, and variable winds. Winds varied in the morning around SW before settling into a NE direction. Cloud cover was present all day but got heavier into the afternoon, until we were able to see scattered precipitation along the western ridge. As we were hiking down the snow started to fall on our site. Temperatures were low all day, dropping with the nearby precipitation. Raptor Observations: We had our biggest day of the season so far today with 40 birds total counted including our first (and second) OS of the season. Other highlights include 11 AK, 8 of which came in the 1400 MST hour. An eye-level PG came through the ridge putting on a show for us and many visitors. We also saw 2 FH today, bringing our total count to 35 on the season. Non-migrant raptor activity was slow but steady today with the local RT pair seen perched on the power poles below us on the east side. At one point the female could be seen with a prey item. We also saw a local GE, BE, and a PG that was seen moving E. Non-raptor Observations: We saw 120+ BOWA west of the count site today early in the day, which is always a treat. We also counted around 100 SACR today in multiple groups, all moving high and presumably silent, although we had high noise from the dirt bike race today. We also saw DEJU (4), TOSO (4), AMRO (8), HOFI (5), ROPI (3), BBMA (2), CORA (14), AMCR (8), and CANG (2). Predictions: Tomorrow is expected to be another cold day, hopefully our last for a few days. Winds are predicted to be from the general N direction with the potential for strong gusts in the afternoon. E ======================================================================== 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 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) -- -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. 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