Wednesday 2 March 2022

[cobirds] Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists (02 Mar 2022) 7 Raptors

Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists
Colorado, USA

Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 02, 2022
SpeciesDay's CountMonth TotalSeason Total
Black Vulture000
Turkey Vulture000
Osprey000
Bald Eagle000
Northern Harrier022
Sharp-shinned Hawk000
Cooper's Hawk000
Northern Goshawk122
Red-shouldered Hawk000
Broad-winged Hawk000
Red-tailed Hawk577
Rough-legged Hawk000
Swainson's Hawk000
Ferruginous Hawk000
Golden Eagle033
American Kestrel000
Merlin011
Peregrine Falcon000
Prairie Falcon111
Mississippi Kite000
Unknown Accipiter000
Unknown Buteo000
Unknown Falcon000
Unknown Eagle000
Unknown Raptor000
Total:71616


Observation start time: 09:30:00
Observation end time: 17:00:00
Total observation time: 7.5 hours
Official CounterEmma Riley
Observers: Barbara Bank, Janet Peters



Visitors:
AM Observer was Janet Peters, with help from Deb Bogar, Doug Anderson, and Mike Ames. Barabara Bank acted as the PM observer. We also were lucky enough to have Shmoel (Sammy) Korengut's help today, as he has counted at Chimney Rock in New Jersey and other locations in the East. Sammy also spotted and ID'd the lone NOGO migrant today! Total visitor count today was 54, with 32 of those visitors' asking questions about the Hawk Watch. A few visitors in the morning even thanked us for our work!

Weather:
Sunny spring day with little to no clouds in the morning. Started the day off with light winds from the west, but shifting to a north wind by the afternoon. Wind was strongest mid-afternoon, almost completely dying out by 1700.

Raptor Observations:
Lots of resident activity with a total of 4 adult and 1 immature Red-tailed Hawks, an immature Golden Eagle (missing a left primary), an adult Bald Eagle, and an immature Prairie Falcon that gave us great looks as it perched on the telephone poles along the ridge. The local PRFA has obvious tail molt that should be noted by future counters. Most migrants were counted before 1200 with the highlight being a Prairie Falcon that was at eye level.

Non-raptor Observations:
The Common Ravens (21) were the star of the non-raptor show today with a "congress" of 13 ravens seen twice throughout the day. Townsend's Solitaire (3), Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay (3), and Dark-eyed Junco (7- Pink-sided), Mountain Chickadee (2), Downy Woodpecker (1), House Finch (7), and Black-billed Magpie (4) were also seen on the ridge today.

Predictions:
Tomorrow looks like another beautiful sunny day at the ridge. Winds seem to be a little sporadic, but with a majority west wind predicted, which should bring some migrants as we saw this morning. We are hopeful it will be a good day.


Report submitted by DAVID HILL ()
Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists information may be found at: http://www.dfobirds.org
More information at hawkcount.org: [Site Profile] [Day Summary] [Month Summary]




Site Description
Dinosaur Ridge is the only regularly staffed hawkwatch in Colorado and is the
best place in the world to see migrating Ferruginous Hawks. Dinosaur Ridge may
be the best place in the country to see the rare dark morph of the Broad-winged
Hawk (a few are seen each spring). Hawkwatchers who linger long enough may see
resident Golden Eagles, Red-tailed Hawks and Prairie Falcons, in addition to
migrating Swainson's, Cooper's and Sharp-shinned Hawks, American Kestrels and
Turkey Vultures. Peregrine Falcons and Ferruginous Hawks are uncommon; Northern
Goshawk is rare but regular. Non-raptor species include Rock Wren, and sometimes
Bushtit, Western Bluebird, Sandhill Crane, White-throated Swift, American White
Pelican or Dusky Grouse. Birders of any skill level are always welcome.
HawkWatch at Dinosaur Ridge is generally staffed by volunteers from about 9 AM
to around 3 PM from March 1st to May 7th.

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 small signs from the
southwest end of lot to the hawkwatch 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, head through the
gate, and walk to the clearly-visible, flat area at the crest of the ridge.
(Distance: 0.56 miles, Elevation gain: 259 feet)

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