Friday 10 February 2023

[cobirds] Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists (10 Feb 2023) Raptors

Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists
Colorado, USA

Daily Raptor Counts: Feb 10, 2023
SpeciesDay's CountMonth TotalSeason Total
Black Vulture000
Turkey Vulture000
Osprey000
Bald Eagle000
Northern Harrier000
Sharp-shinned Hawk000
Cooper's Hawk000
Northern Goshawk000
Red-shouldered Hawk000
Broad-winged Hawk000
Red-tailed Hawk000
Rough-legged Hawk000
Swainson's Hawk000
Ferruginous Hawk000
Golden Eagle000
American Kestrel000
Merlin000
Peregrine Falcon000
Prairie Falcon000
Mississippi Kite000
Unknown Accipiter000
Unknown Buteo000
Unknown Falcon000
Unknown Eagle000
Unknown Raptor000
Total:000


Observation start time: 10:15:00
Observation end time: 13:15:00
Total observation time: 3 hours
Official CounterAjit Antony
Observers:


Weather:
The initial path going north was ice-free but the shaded portions after the bend were icy, with no problem going up but coming down was slick from the snow having melted especially in the steeper areas just before the bend where I saw hiker slip but not fall, I avoided his way but slipped on invisible black ice in the shade of acedar and the next thing I knew I was on my back.

Raptor Observations:
South-based winds were predicted today so we continued our exploration of whether we could see early migrant raptors in February.My guess is we may see a few in the last week of February. In the 1st hour an RT rose in the valley to the east then flew little above the watch going south (Western subspecies with a dark throat, and was missing a left 6th primary) and a few minutes later it was joined by another one which dove on it and then soared with it. In the last hour 2 RT flew in from the south but they were different pair as neither of them were in molt (one was an Eastern subspecies with a white throat and the other was a Western subspecies). An SS flew south quite low. I had to look at it for long time to confirm my initial impression that it was an SS as Western CH are smaller than Eastern, thus more similar to SS in flight.

Non-raptor Observations:
White-breasted Nuthatch 2, Common Raven 2, Townsend’s Solitaire 3, Black-capped Chickadee 2. There was the band of smog at the NE horizon.


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 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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