[cobirds] Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists (04 Apr 2022) 51 Raptors

Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists
Colorado, USA

Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 04, 2022
Species	Day's Count	Month Total	Season Total
Black Vulture	0	0	0
Turkey Vulture	8	49	75
Osprey	0	2	4
Bald Eagle	0	0	33
Northern Harrier	0	2	8
Sharp-shinned Hawk	3	14	23
Cooper's Hawk	2	18	29
Northern Goshawk	0	0	2
Red-shouldered Hawk	0	0	0
Broad-winged Hawk	0	0	0
Red-tailed Hawk	15	130	541
Rough-legged Hawk	0	0	3
Swainson's Hawk	0	0	0
Ferruginous Hawk	1	8	62
Golden Eagle	0	2	32
American Kestrel	19	49	81
Merlin	0	3	7
Peregrine Falcon	0	0	7
Prairie Falcon	0	0	7
Mississippi Kite	0	0	0
Unknown Accipiter	0	0	0
Unknown Buteo	1	4	10
Unknown Falcon	0	1	3
Unknown Eagle	2	2	2
Unknown Raptor	0	0	5
Total:	51	284	934

Observation start time:	09:00:00
Observation end time:	16:30:00
Total observation time:	7.5 hours
Official Counter	Ben Jacques
Observers:	Carol Cwiklinski, Mark Meiklejohn, Sonja Meiklejohn

Visitors:
14 visitors, a couple of whom helped keep watch! Thanks Jane and Peter! Also thanks to Mark and Sonja for observing in the morning!

Weather:
Today was sunny and warm with light winds in the morning, changing suddenly to overcast conditions and growing winds in the afternoon. Winds from the East clocked around to the North and then the West in the afternoon.

Raptor Observations:
Raptor migration seemed steady throughout the day with Red-tails and Kestrels seen consistently. A few vultures, accipiters, and eagles passed either early or mid-day, prior to winds picking up. Non-migrants were present most of the day with red-tails, a golden eagle, and some vultures hanging around. A late afternoon osprey rode the wind South at incredible speed going the "wrong" way.

Non-raptor Observations:
White-throated swifts continue to move past the ridge in small numbers (~10 birds). Corvid activity was typical with scrub jays, crows, magpies, and ravens all present. Towhees and solitaires were singing.

Predictions:
It's going to be wicked windy out. Partly cloudy. Gusty winds in the afternoon. High 57F. Winds WNW at 20 to 30 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.

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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]

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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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