Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists
Colorado, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: May 04, 2023
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
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Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 4 43 401
Osprey 0 6 58
Bald Eagle 0 4 55
Northern Harrier 0 1 31
Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 9 86
Cooper's Hawk 3 28 252
Northern Goshawk 0 0 9
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0
Broad-winged Hawk 0 30 155
Red-tailed Hawk 2 19 460
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Swainson's Hawk 0 14 49
Ferruginous Hawk 0 5 59
Golden Eagle 0 2 39
American Kestrel 0 8 366
Merlin 0 4 26
Peregrine Falcon 0 2 20
Prairie Falcon 0 0 5
Mississippi Kite 0 0 0
Unknown Accipiter 0 2 13
Unknown Buteo 0 1 6
Unknown Falcon 0 0 1
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 1 3
Total: 9 179 2094
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Observation start time: 08:30:00
Observation end time: 14:00:00
Total observation time: 4.5 hours
Official Counter: Emma Riley
Observers: Dave Erickson, Gary Rossmiller, Janet Peters,
Marianne Erickson
Visitors:
Thank you Janet Peters, Gary Rossmiller, and Marianne & Dave Erickson for
your help with the count today. We saw 13 visitors at the count site today
including Roger and Michelle, a couple that we have seen a few times now in
search of BW. Jefferson County rangers Sabrina and Sam were out today and
stopped to discuss the hawkwatch.
Weather:
Winds and light rain were immediate this morning. The rain subdued for a
few hours but by 1100 MST the winds and rain had come back. We chose to let
this rain pass from the cars, and returned to the site at 1200 MST. Blue
skies and strong sun were revealed until a large system from the west
brought lightning behind Mt. Morrison. We ended the count at 1400 MST and
by 1415 heavy rain had consumed the site.
Raptor Observations:
Migration was very slow today with most of the migrants flying low, except
two birds in the afternoon. Local RT and TV were active today utilizing the
winds.
Non-raptor Observations:
Non-raptor highlights today include a WEKI seen flying along the ridge
multiple times today, and two BGGN we heard singing all morning. SPTO were
also active today as well as the WTSW. One DCCO was seen crossing the
ridge.
Predictions:
Tomorrow will be warm and mostly sunny. High winds in the afternoon are
possible, and the trail may be muddy after the heavy rain today.
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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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