Date: 10/3/26 8:06 pm From: <reports...> Subject: [cobirds] Mount Zion Hawk Watch at Windy Saddle Park (03 Oct 2026) 30 Raptors
Mount Zion Hawk Watch at Windy Saddle Park
Golden, Greater Denver, Colorado, USA
To see hourly weather data and details of migrant raptors, look up this watch at hawkcount.org.
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 if you are interested.
See https://groups.google.com/g/cobirds/c/Oznn4uc6MBk
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 03, 2026
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Observation start time: 09:00:00
Observation end time: 13:00:00
Total observation time: 4 hours
Official Counter: Zak Hepler
Observers: Ajit Antony, Liza Antony
Visitors:
DFO/Denver Audubon Trip to Mount Zion Hawk Watch. We had a nice group (10
people) at the watch today. The focused, curious, and astute observations
led to a great number of raptors being seen in quick succession. Our entire
group asked great questions, learned quickly, and expressed interest in
furthering their raptor ID skills. For some, seeing the Golden Eagles this
morning was a first time event and we explained to them how lucky they are
to have such great views of these majestic birds! There were other
visitors, of course, at the watch and I was asked once "What are you
looking for?". I explained that we are looking for migrating hawks.
Weather:
Overall, great weather conditions. No precipitation and winds were steady,
but not unbearable. The raptors were able to get plenty of lift and with
the little bit of cloud cover, we were able to spot them without too much
difficulty. In typical fashion, the morning started with Western winds that
became Eastern winds as the day progressed.
Raptor Observations:
A very raptor-heavy morning. Before we were even set up, the group had seen
a GOEA in the Northern Channel at the Watch. This was but one of FOUR GOEA
birds seen today. All GOEA were seen before 10 AM. Most of the birds were
in some stage of molt. We had the usual variety of raptors in migration
today: SH, RT, CH, GE, AK, TV, and SW. One rufous-morph calurus ssp of RTHA
was seen and photos were taken. We try to note ssp, age, and sex of the
raptors whenever possible. Non-migratory raptors: OS (1), RT (13), AK (2),
CH (3), GE (3)
Non-raptor Observations:
For a full list of passerines, please see the eBird list from today's trip:
https://ebird.org/checklist/S398840002. There were no unusual sightings,
but I did note that the hummingbirds and swallows seem to be gone. The
WTSWs are still plenty active and we had a great time hearing them 'swoosh'
past the group plenty of times.
Predictions:
Tomorrow should bring more of the same weather as today; mostly clear skies
with high 50s in the morning that will warm to a temperature of 70s by
noonish. Great visibility is also expected.
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Report submitted by Zak Hepler (<zakhepler...>)
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