Friday, 15 March 2024

[cobirds] Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists (15 Mar 2024) Raptors

Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists
Colorado, USA

Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 15, 2024
SpeciesDay's CountMonth TotalSeason Total
Black Vulture000
Turkey Vulture000
Osprey000
Bald Eagle01616
Northern Harrier000
Sharp-shinned Hawk000
Cooper's Hawk033
American Goshawk000
Red-shouldered Hawk000
Broad-winged Hawk000
Red-tailed Hawk0118118
Rough-legged Hawk000
Swainson's Hawk000
Ferruginous Hawk01010
Golden Eagle044
American Kestrel022
Merlin000
Peregrine Falcon011
Prairie Falcon022
Mississippi Kite000
Unknown Accipiter000
Unknown Buteo000
Unknown Falcon000
Unknown Eagle000
Unknown Raptor000
Total:0156156


Observation start time: 12:45:00
Observation end time: 14:45:00
Total observation time: 2 hours
Official CounterDustin Kohler
Observers: Janet Peters



Visitors:
We had 3 visitors up on the ridge. Two of which plan on seeing us again on a nicer weathered day. The third had headphones in and was singing at the top of their lungs, and to be honest I'm not sure they knew we were there. See the Next Day Prediction Notes if you plan on visiting tomorrow.

Weather:
With over 2 feet of snow the last couple of days, we were delayed in coming up to the ridge. The morning off the ridge had amazingly clear skies, but we only got to experience those skies on the ridge for a half hour or so before the clouds came. The clouds dropped and our visibility went to less than a Kilometer, so we left early.

Raptor Observations:
We had 2 local red-tailed hawks flying low and southwards. This was the only raptor sightings from the ridge today. Kestrels, Red-tailed Hawks, Bald Eagles, and a Cooper's Hawk were seen on the drive from the ridge. These guys might be local or waiting for nice weather to leave town.

Non-raptor Observations:
We had flickers, Dark-eyed Juncos, Townsend's Solitares, Black-billed Magpies, and a Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay flying by us up there. Most of the non-corvids seemed to be heading in a Southern direction. Most of the area had about 2.5 feet of snow, but some drifts were over 4 feet!!

Predictions:
The weather tomorrow should reach the 40s and should be a great day for migration since a large number of these migrants have been grounded for the last 3 days. If you plan on joining us tomorrow be warned that snow shoes will help climb up, and the conditions might be more wintery than spring. I plan on being up there at normal times, so if you are comfortable with the conditions, then I will see you up there.


Report submitted by Janet Peters (j.f.peters58@gmail.com)
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. American 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 10th,
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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