Monday, 30 March 2026

[cobirds] Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists (30 Mar 2026) 11 Raptors

Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists
Golden, Colorado, USA

Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 30, 2026
SpeciesDay's CountMonth TotalSeason Total
Black Vulture000
Turkey Vulture12525
Osprey044
Bald Eagle01313
Northern Harrier01212
Sharp-shinned Hawk21919
Cooper's Hawk35252
American Goshawk011
Red-shouldered Hawk000
Broad-winged Hawk000
Red-tailed Hawk4243243
Rough-legged Hawk000
Swainson's Hawk000
Ferruginous Hawk099
Golden Eagle066
American Kestrel1129129
Merlin033
Peregrine Falcon022
Prairie Falcon022
Mississippi Kite000
Unknown Accipitrine066
Unknown Buteo033
Unknown Falcon011
Unknown Eagle000
Unknown Raptor011
Total:11531531


Observation start time: 09:00:00
Observation end time: 17:00:00
Total observation time: 8 hours
Official CounterEmma Riley
Observers:



Visitors:
We had a total of 12 visitors on the ridge today, including a few who stayed for 30 minutes to over an hour to see migrants! Thanks to Clay Gibson and Mike Serruto for their continued support and company on Mondays.

Weather:
Temperatures were in the high 20s Celsius all day with scattered clouds. Weather was overall pleasant for most of the day short of a few strong wind gusts. Winds were highly variable in direction and speed, from E winds that could barely be felt, to N and SW winds that came with some good gusts. Barometric pressure dropped quicker than normal throughout the day today.

Raptor Observations:
Migration was heavily stunted today for whatever reason. The winds? Maybe. A few accipitrines, Red-tailed Hawks, and Turkey Vultures made up our count today. There was no clear line that these birds were taking. The local Turkey Vultures have officially moved in. First thing today we had a group of 10 kettle over Green Mountain, move W to the Dakota Hogback, move NW to near Mother Cabrini, and head SW. Classic. We also had a dark-morph Red-tailed Hawk fly perfectly N before getting mobbed by a local RT, making that bird tuck tail and go S again. Weird movements today. Passerine and non-raptor activity was also very still today!

Non-raptor Observations:
American White Pelican 1, Woodhouse's Scrub Jay 1, Black-billed Magpie 1, Common Raven 3, Black-capped Chickadee 1, American Bushtit 2, Spotted Towhee 2, Western Meadowlark 1

Predictions:
Temperatures drop tomorrow and winds shift E. I'm hoping for a bit more of a push tomorrow before possible precipitation on Wednesday.


Report submitted by Official Counter of the day shown above (dinoridgehw@gmail.com)
Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists information may be found at: www.dinosaurridgehawkwatch.org
More information at hawkcount.org: [Site Profile] [Day Summary] [Month Summary]
Count data submitted via Trektellen.org - [Project Details]




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, and American White Pelican. Birders of any skill level are
always welcome. The hawk watch at Dinosaur Ridge is staffed by Hawk Counter(s)
and volunteers from March through early May.

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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Re: [cobirds] Fwd: DFO Presents: Scott Rashid on March 30: “Blue-Mmers are back! Bluebirds and Hummingbirds"

There's still time to register for the 7 p.m. webinar, "Bluebirds and Hummingbirds: Get ready for two of the most beloved birds in North America," by Scott Rashid. 

On Sunday, March 29, 2026 at 11:47:11 AM UTC-6 Scott Rashid wrote:
Thank you 

On Sun, Mar 29, 2026 at 12:43 PM David Suddjian <dsud...@gmail.com> wrote:
Scott's webinar talk for DFO is tomorrow at 7:00 pm. Register here

David Suddjian
Littleton, CO


---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: David Suddjian <dsud...@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, Mar 19, 2026 at 8:07 AM
Subject: DFO Presents: Scott Rashid on March 30: "Blue-Mmers are back! Bluebirds and Hummingbirds"
To: Colorado Birds <cob...@googlegroups.com>, David Suddjian <dsud...@gmail.com>


Scott Rashid presents "Blue-Mmers are back! Bluebirds and Hummingbirds: Get ready for two of the most beloved birds in North America." On Zoom with DFO at 7pm on March 30.

Register here for Blue-Mmers are Back

Come join us for DFO's free Zoom webinar with Scott Rashid presenting on two of the most beloved groups of North America birds, bluebirds and hummingbirds. Bluebirds arrive in Colorado in February, and the hummingbirds appear in April. The focus will be on Scott's home area of the Estes Valley and Rocky Mountain National Park. For the bluebirds, learn about the habitats each species prefers and where they can be found, where they nest, and where to place nest boxes for them. Enjoy images of their eggs, nestlings, and fledglings. Scott will also discuss the hummingbird research he has been conducting for more than a decade. Scott will share the amazing adaptations that only hummingbirds have, including their unique ability to fly in any direction (including backwards!) and what their colored throat patch is used for. See images and videos of courtship activities, feeding, nest building, and the females feeding their young. Learn the proper mixture of sugar and water to fill your feeders, and how to properly care for them. 

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[cobirds] Re: Question about Cobirds.org

Hi Thomas:  I still do as part of checking in on topics, bird sightings etc. Since I live in the San Luis Valley, it is often my only connection to Statewide topics and discussions. 
To be honest, I do check some FB pages, but have become increasingly less enamored with all the "stuff" FB throws at you. I also use eBird for recent site visits and I enjoy some Colorado Bird Photography sites. So I use a lot of tools in the box. 

As examples, I have enjoyed reading the Cassia Crossbill comments, as well as Eastern vs Western Warbling Vireo topics on COBIRDS. That is certainly something I am not going to find on most FB pages. The dialogues have been insightful, civil, (thanks David!) and diverse.  

For close to 30 years, I managed a San Luis Valley Birding Network, an info line for bird observations. This consisted of about 110 local birders connected on an email list, but was not limited to local birders. Some front range birders used it as a connection to the SLV. The network helped connect us isolated birders in the San Luis Valley with exciting and local bird news. Oftentimes, a SLV post was shared with COBIRDS. We often did big day events, Migratory Spring Bird Counts, and fundraisers for local conservation groups like Rio Grande Headwaters Land Trust, Food Banks and others. 

After at least 30 years, I recently had to surrender it to FB so I could focus on health issues and other life things. So that is my perspective on it. 

Spring is in the air and new birds are arriving daily. Cranes are but a memory, and a great year it was. But onto the greening thickets, smells of fresh spring, and the new bird arrivals!

John Rawinski
Monte Vista, CO

On Sunday, March 29, 2026 at 12:11:04 PM UTC-6 Thomas Heinrich wrote:
Who reads and/or responds to emails sent to in...@cobirds.org?

Thanks,

Thomas Heinrich
Boulder, CO
Nyc...@aol.com

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Sunday, 29 March 2026

[cobirds] Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists (29 Mar 2026) 16 Raptors

Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists
Golden, Colorado, USA

Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 29, 2026
SpeciesDay's CountMonth TotalSeason Total
Black Vulture000
Turkey Vulture02424
Osprey144
Bald Eagle11313
Northern Harrier21212
Sharp-shinned Hawk11717
Cooper's Hawk34949
American Goshawk011
Red-shouldered Hawk000
Broad-winged Hawk000
Red-tailed Hawk4239239
Rough-legged Hawk000
Swainson's Hawk000
Ferruginous Hawk099
Golden Eagle066
American Kestrel4128128
Merlin033
Peregrine Falcon022
Prairie Falcon022
Mississippi Kite000
Unknown Accipitrine066
Unknown Buteo033
Unknown Falcon011
Unknown Eagle000
Unknown Raptor011
Total:16520520


Observation start time: 09:00:00
Observation end time: 17:00:00
Total observation time: 8.88 hours
Official CounterEmma Riley, Soren Zappia
Observers:



Visitors:
19 visitors. We had another DFO trip visit this morning! The group was able to see raptors at all distances including close a close RT, AK, CH and SS. Thank you to Jason Bidgood for leading the trip. We also saw many dogs on the trails today, including one wearing a baseball cap! Thank you also to our volunteers Janet Peters, Chris Gulbransen, and Cayce Gulbransen for all the help and great spotting today!

Weather:
The day quickly warmed and we spent most the day in the low 80s F. Cloud cover was thin and wispy but extensive in the morning. While the thin clouds faded, in the later afternoon we had mostly cloudy skies with more defined denser clouds, at times blocking the sun. The wind was light, except for a windier period midday. Winds started as west but switched to east in midafternoon.

Raptor Observations:
Raptor activity slowed a bit today compared to the past few days, but we had a Sharp-shinned Hawk, and two American Kestrels migrate in the first hour close overhead, as well as a distant Cooper's Hawk. After that, activity was quieter with a few birds per hour from late morning to midafternoon, mostly far on the west side. Highlights included an Osprey gliding through the sky in the late afternoon, and a Northern Harrier soaring high to the west in the final hour of the count. There was a lot of Turkey Vulture activity throughout the day, but none seemed to want to migrate, often gliding quite far north before turning around.

Non-raptor Observations:
White-throated Swift 8, Say's Phoebe 1, Steller's Jay 1, Woodhouse's Scrub Jay 1, Magpie 1, American Crow 2, Common Raven 5, Black-capped Chickadee 1, House Finch 1, Pine Siskin 1, Spotted Towhee 1

Predictions:
Tomorrow, similar high temperatures are predicted with highs near 80F. Cloud cover is predicted to vary from partly cloudy to mostly sunny. West winds are predicted, starting as light in the morning intensifying in the afternoon, with possible wind gusts of up to 29 MPH forecasted.


Report submitted by Official Counter of the day shown above (dinoridgehw@gmail.com)
Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists information may be found at: www.dinosaurridgehawkwatch.org
More information at hawkcount.org: [Site Profile] [Day Summary] [Month Summary]
Count data submitted via Trektellen.org - [Project Details]




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, and American White Pelican. Birders of any skill level are
always welcome. The hawk watch at Dinosaur Ridge is staffed by Hawk Counter(s)
and volunteers from March through early May.

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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[cobirds] NoCo Bird Alliance 4/9 Program - Online & In Person

Beige Minimalist Stay Tuned Coming Soon Instagram Post (Facebook Post (Square)).pngApril 9th Program - "Feathers Through Time" with Harper Bovberg
This talk will focus on how different cultures throughout history have portrayed birds and why they made the decisions they did in those portrayals. Mostly centering on visual art mediums, this discussion goes back thousands of years and around the world to look at the long-lasting human fascination with our feathered companions. Each section will discuss what birds are represented, how they're portrayed, why they're portrayed that way, and what it says about the culture that made the art.
Harper Bovberg has spent her life in Colorado around artists and historians. It was logical for her to attend CSU and get a bachelor's degree in history. Her unique theatrical and visual focus means the subjects she explores are less about what something is and more about why it is that way. Despite not being a birder or birdwatcher herself, her knowledge of art and visual choices lends a unique perspective.
Mark your calendar and join us in person for this informative program that is free and open to the public. Or via Zoom link - https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84217055396

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[cobirds] April 9th Program - “Feathers Through Time” with Harper Bovberg - Online & In Person

Beige Minimalist Stay Tuned Coming Soon Instagram Post (Facebook Post (Square)).pngApril 9th Program - "Feathers Through Time" with Harper Bovberg

This talk will focus on how different cultures throughout history have portrayed birds and why they made the decisions they did in those portrayals. Mostly centering on visual art mediums, this discussion goes back thousands of years and around the world to look at the long-lasting human fascination with our feathered companions. Each section will discuss what birds are represented, how they're portrayed, why they're portrayed that way, and what it says about the culture that made the art.
Harper Bovberg has spent her life in Colorado around artists and historians. It was logical for her to attend CSU and get a bachelor's degree in history. Her unique theatrical and visual focus means the subjects she explores are less about what something is and more about why it is that way. Despite not being a birder or birdwatcher herself, her knowledge of art and visual choices lends a unique perspective.

Mark your calendar and join us in person for this informative program that is free and open to the public. Or via Zoom link - https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84217055396

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[cobirds] Band-tailed Pigeons in Fraser

Twice today I saw a pair of Band-tailed Pigeons eating seed below my bird feeders today. This was a first for me, but with the crazy warm weather and seeing as we haven't had snow on the ground in our yard for several weeks, it's not surprising, I guess. I couldn't get photos because they were very skittish and flew off every time I tried to sneak outside with my camera or open a window to take a picture. I also saw my FOY male Cassin's Finch.

Kirstin Chapman
Fraser
Grand County
Sent from my iPad

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