Wednesday 6 March 2024

[cobirds] Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists (06 Mar 2024) 6 Raptors

Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists
Colorado, USA

Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 06, 2024
SpeciesDay's CountMonth TotalSeason Total
Black Vulture000
Turkey Vulture000
Osprey000
Bald Eagle499
Northern Harrier000
Sharp-shinned Hawk000
Cooper's Hawk000
American Goshawk000
Red-shouldered Hawk000
Broad-winged Hawk000
Red-tailed Hawk13535
Rough-legged Hawk000
Swainson's Hawk000
Ferruginous Hawk011
Golden Eagle133
American Kestrel022
Merlin000
Peregrine Falcon000
Prairie Falcon000
Mississippi Kite000
Unknown Accipiter000
Unknown Buteo000
Unknown Falcon000
Unknown Eagle000
Unknown Raptor000
Total:65050


Observation start time: 09:30:00
Observation end time: 15:30:00
Total observation time: 6 hours
Official CounterDustin Kohler
Observers: Bill Young, Charlie Wall, Lori Morton, Steve Ryder



Visitors:
We had 21 visitors to the ridge today. We had a couple of new observers to the ridge today, Charlie Wall and Lori Morton, and a couple of regulars, Steve Ryder and Bill Young.

Weather:
It was a beautiful day on the ridge, but cooled off as the cloud cover increased. Visibility was great, but the maximum distance we could see was slightly hazy.

Raptor Observations:
A migrating Bald Eagle and a Golden Eagle followed the exact same flight path, but a few hundred yards apart from each other. In local news, we saw two Red-tailed hawks perform what I believe to have been courtship flights. A visitor also showed a picture of a Ferruginous hawk that he saw on Green Mountain yesterday.

Non-raptor Observations:
Down at the Western Valley floor, we saw a flock of 19 black-billed magpies. We also saw a herd of 68 elk on the bare slope to the west.

Predictions:
Tomorrow looks to be full of precipitation changing from snow to rain to snow again. There is a Northern Wind for most of the day. A Shortened or Canceled survey is likely, but final decisions will be made in the morning.


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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