Date: 8/18/26 4:00 pm From: <reports...> Subject: [cobirds] Mount Zion Hawk Watch at Windy Saddle Park (18 Aug 2026) 2 Raptors
Mount Zion Hawk Watch at Windy Saddle Park
Golden, Greater Denver, Colorado, USA
This is a new raptor migration site identified and designated in mid-September 2024. This is Colorado's 1st fall hawk watch site, and the second hawk watch in Colorado.
To get to the site which is along Lookout Mountain Rd. in Golden, enter either Windy Saddle Park or Mount Zion into Google Maps on your favorite navigation app, or enter the coordinates 39.7368,-105.2454. From the parking lot ascend the stone steps to the watch site.
EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO THE HAWK WATCH TO ENJOY THE SPECTACLE OF RAPTOR MIGRATION, EVEN IF YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT IDENTIFYING RAPTORS IN FLIGHT. We will help you to learn Raptor ID.
See https://groups.google.com/g/cobirds/c/Oznn4uc6MBk
Daily Raptor Counts: Aug 18, 2026
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Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 11:30:00
Total observation time: 3.5 hours
Official Counter: Ajit Antony
Observers:
Visitors:
A woman hiker was curious as to what I was watching, when I told her, she
wanted to know how I tell migrants from non-migrants, and what species I
could see. I told her I could see 14 different species and she wanted to
know what I had seen today. I hesitated to name them, as most non-birders
have not heard of any of them, but I mentioned the CH and the RT, and she
said she had a CH in her backyard. I discussed the increased urbanization
of CH, which thrives in cities such as Seattle.
Weather:
Light ildfire smoke over Denver but none above the horizon. Altocumulus
with lenticularis and cirrus clouds with a large swath of the latter
developing overhead and to the north and east which would have been a
wonderful backdrop to see migrants if there had been any. Later cumulus
clouds developed as usual from the West over the Rockies , gradually
blowing East over the watch. The synoptic winds were from the West which
were rapidly overcome by locally caused East winds because of Denver.
Raptor Observations:
Looking at my reports last fall from Dinosaur Ridge, I realized that there
were SW flying early so I got there by 9:00 a.m. DST which was fortunate
because the only two migrants a CH which chased a local RT, and another RT
were the only migrants for the day in that hour, even though I assiduously
and systematically scanned the high clouds for migrants to no avail.
Non-migrant raptor sightings: an adult dark morph RT, 11 RT in all; CH 1;
adult BE 1; TV 5, one harassed by 2 CORA,
Non-raptor Observations:
9 paragliders, 3 starting at 10:00 a.m. DST when 3 of them had minimal
lift, 35 minutes later I saw one of them far to the North and high.
CONI 1, ROWR 1, VGSW 1, BTHU 1, SPTO 1, BCCH 1, CORA 4, AMCR 4.
Predictions:
A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 3pm. Mostly
sunny, with a high near 87. Light and variable wind becoming north
northeast 5 to 8 mph in the morning.
The winds aloft are expected to be light and from the WNW/NW.
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Report submitted by Ajit Antony (<aiantony...>)
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