Colorado, USA
| Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 20, 2024 | |||
| Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Turkey Vulture | 1 | 206 | 236 |
| Osprey | 4 | 26 | 32 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 8 | 38 |
| Northern Harrier | 1 | 6 | 11 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 1 | 30 | 46 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 1 | 92 | 113 |
| American Goshawk | 0 | 4 | 5 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 1 | 105 | 366 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 1 | 13 | 13 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 3 | 15 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 5 | 16 |
| American Kestrel | 14 | 236 | 258 |
| Merlin | 1 | 11 | 15 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 2 | 5 | 7 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 6 | 7 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 3 | 4 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Total: | 28 | 767 | 1193 |
| Observation start time: | 09:45:00 |
| Observation end time: | 12:30:00 |
| Total observation time: | 2.75 hours |
| Official Counter | Dustin Kohler |
| Observers: |
Visitors:
We surprisingly had 13 people visit the ridge today. In addition, a dog ran up and tried to steal my sandwich, but I was cold and hungry and did not share.
Weather:
Snows prevented us from getting up as early as usual, but there was a break in the precipitation. After a few hours, the snow picked back up, the fog rolled in, and the combination would have made visibility near zero km. At that point, I canceled the rest of the count.
Raptor Observations:
With bad weather the last 3 days, migrants seemed to be waiting for a lull in the snow to make a break north. All of our migrants were low either above me or to the east. We had a dark morph Broadwing Hawk all by himself, and not long after we had an intermediate morph Swainson's Hawk. Our Peregrines, and our other migrants, were flapping constantly fighting that northern wind. We had local red-tails, a Cooper's, two Turkey Vulture, an Osprey flying south, and a local kestrel. This local male Kestrel was my primary observer today he chased a lot of other Kestrels out of town, he screamed at the Harrier flying past, but was strangely quiet during the peregrines passing by. This kestrel also dove under a bush as a probable sparrow flew out the other side.
Non-raptor Observations:
We had another Great Blue Heron migrate. For the second day in a row, the highest bird I saw all day was a Great Blue Heron flying straight North with no deviation. Passerine birds were much more active today than the last couple of days as well. I saw some Tree Swallows, a Rock Wren, Dark-eyed Juncos, Western Meadowlarks, American Robins, Mountain Bluebirds, Black-billed Magpies, Spotted Towhees, and probably others that I didn't write down.
Predictions:
Tomorrow looks like a warm and cloudless sky with winds from the East/ Southeast. I expect a surge of migrants who were unable to migrate during the last 4-6 days of bad weather. Bring a neck pillow and fresh eyes because I expect these migrants high and fast.
Report submitted by Official Counter (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 10:00 AM to 6:00 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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