Sunday 17 March 2024

[cobirds] Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists (17 Mar 2024) 3 Raptors

Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists
Colorado, USA

Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 17, 2024
SpeciesDay's CountMonth TotalSeason Total
Black Vulture000
Turkey Vulture000
Osprey000
Bald Eagle21818
Northern Harrier000
Sharp-shinned Hawk011
Cooper's Hawk033
American Goshawk000
Red-shouldered Hawk000
Broad-winged Hawk000
Red-tailed Hawk1122122
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:3163163


Observation start time: 09:00:00
Observation end time: 17:00:00
Total observation time: 8 hours
Official CounterDustin Kohler
Observers: Audry Anderson, Ginni Dickinson



Visitors:
We had 5 visitors to the ridge today including a guy who came up the trail in skis.

Weather:
Today was very similar to yesterday except even more overcast. Today had gusts of wind on an otherwise still day.

Raptor Observations:
All of our migrants followed the same pathway, low and close to our ridge on the east side. Early in the day we had two local adult Bald Eagles and a local juvenile Golden Eagle hunting. Later in the day we had three Juvenile Bald Eagles flying around and chasing each other over the apex houses, but none of them left to go north.

Non-raptor Observations:
We had a large flock of roughly 40 Mountain Bluebirds and a flock of roughly 60 American Robins. We saw about 17 elk near two pines.

Predictions:
Tomorrow looks to be a day full of sunshine and a southern wind. Both of which should increase thermals and overall migratory behavior. After the last five days of being grounded or slow migration, I expect a surge of migrants. Snowshoes might still be needed in the morning, but in the afternoon I think spikes or at least waterproof shoes are a must.


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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