Date: 10/11/26 6:59 pm From: <reports...> Subject: [cobirds] Mount Zion Hawk Watch at Windy Saddle Park (11 Oct 2026) 12 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 11, 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
Visitors:
We had many curious visitors at the watch today. Early in the morning, a
young girl by the name Ruth was surprised to find out that "tiny speck" was
an adult bald eagle. Ajit and Ruth discussed curvature of the Earth and why
that would NOT be the reason for the 'small' bird. It is simply due to
distance. One couple stayed for a long time painting. They wore aprons as
they painted. The last visitors was a young couple from Tennessee and they
both stated, in their own, that the love Red-tailed hawks. So, naturally,
they became fast friends. The man even had a Red-tailed Hawk tattoo. Ajit
and I spoke about the free Merlin app to many people and encouraged the
young Tennessee couple to purchase some binoculars.
Weather:
Great morning weather conditions at Mount Zion. Cloud cover at 90% helped
with raptor spotting. This cloud cover was largely gone by 11 AM MDT. The
usual western winds became eastern winds as the clouds disappeared and the
ground heated up. We had strong gusts coming from the East and Southeast.
Almost blew over the scopes! Many lenticular clouds were present. Ajit and
I spotted two very far east, past Denver. Lenticular clouds are formed by
the western winds blowing over the tops of the Front Range. The far eastern
lenticular clouds that we viewed were the same clouds made of the Front
Range, but moved very far due to downstream wave propagation.
Raptor Observations:
A rather slow day, but a busy start. Between 10:30 AM MDT and 11 AM MDT, we
had 5 migrants! The fast-moving Merlin was a treat to see. These birds move
with purpose. The adult BE was seen near Green Mountain before heading
southeast. Most migrants were spotted near Green Mountain today. Only one
bird (CH) was spotted in the Kestrel Channel. Non-migratory raptors: 1 GE,
2 RT.
Non-raptor Observations:
Full eBird list for today found here:
https://ebird.org/checklist/S401472737. We only had one WTSW today. It
seems like these lovely birds have moved on. Mount Zion Hawk Watch is
currently a good place to see and hear many Townsend's Solitaires.
Predictions:
Tomorrow will be a sunny day at Mount Zion. Reaching high 70s, we can
expect zero rain, and southward winds up to 11mph. Be prepared for strong
gusts. Migrant raptor numbers seem to be declining.
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Report submitted by Zak Hepler (<zakhepler...>)
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