[cobirds] Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists (23 Apr 2023) 152 Raptors

Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists
Colorado, USA

Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 23, 2023
Species	Day's Count	Month Total	Season Total
Black Vulture	0	0	0
Turkey Vulture	44	250	265
Osprey	4	27	29
Bald Eagle	2	19	50
Northern Harrier	2	10	21
Sharp-shinned Hawk	2	39	47
Cooper's Hawk	24	150	168
Northern Goshawk	0	1	8
Red-shouldered Hawk	0	0	0
Broad-winged Hawk	27	35	35
Red-tailed Hawk	6	107	394
Rough-legged Hawk	0	0	0
Swainson's Hawk	4	8	8
Ferruginous Hawk	0	7	47
Golden Eagle	0	6	32
American Kestrel	30	217	277
Merlin	3	9	19
Peregrine Falcon	2	5	10
Prairie Falcon	0	0	5
Mississippi Kite	0	0	0
Unknown Accipiter	2	4	7
Unknown Buteo	0	1	2
Unknown Falcon	0	1	1
Unknown Eagle	0	0	0
Unknown Raptor	0	0	2
Total:	152	896	1427

Observation start time:	08:00:00
Observation end time:	18:00:00
Total observation time:	9 hours
Official Counter	Emma Riley
Observers:	Aarohi Barman, Carol Cwiklinski, Ginni Dickinson, Matthew Klimock, Stephen Hadley, Steve Ryder , Steve Small

Visitors:
Thank you to everyone who helped spot birds today! It was a great day on the ridge with some folks seeing their lifer BW. We saw 38 visitors at the count site today including a group of people from Minnesota.

Weather:
We had nice temperatures all day today with sun for most of the day. The blue skies were challenging to spot birds against and the thick haze also added a challenge. Cloud cover increased finally by the end of the day. Winds were mild from the E all day.

Raptor Observations:
We had our second biggest day on the ridge (by 1 bird but who’s counting) today. 152 migrants with great numbers of AK, CH, TV, and the star of the show today BW. We got really great looks at a few BW early in the day that came along the ridge and then the birds went high and west or east of us. Other migrant highlights include 2 immature BE moving together overhead, 3 ML, and continuing SW. Non-migrant raptors seen today include RT (2), TV (3), GE (2), PG, and CH.

Non-raptor Observations:
Non-raptor highlights today include 40+ AMWP and a GBHE that went through the west valley. We continue to see SPTO, ROWR, WTSW, and our other regular visitors.

Predictions:
Tomorrow should bring some eye relief with heavier cloud cover. Winds are predicted to be from the E. We will hopefully have a decent flight!

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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]
Count data submitted via Dunkadoo - [Project Details]

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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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