Dinosaur Ridge
Colorado, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 19, 2011
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 0 0 0
Osprey 0 0 0
Bald Eagle 1 26 26
Northern Harrier 1 1 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk 3 7 7
Cooper's Hawk 1 6 6
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0
Red-tailed Hawk 5 100 100
Rough-legged Hawk 1 1 1
Swainson's Hawk 0 0 0
Ferruginous Hawk 0 9 9
Golden Eagle 0 12 12
American Kestrel 1 4 4
Merlin 0 1 1
Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0
Prairie Falcon 0 6 6
Mississippi Kite 0 0 0
Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0
Unknown Buteo 0 10 10
Unknown Falcon 0 1 1
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 2 2
Total: 13 186 186
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Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 14:00:00
Total observation time: 6 hours
Official Counter: Scott Severs
Observers: Jim Schmoker, Joe Lupfer, Karen Clark, Lee Farrell,
Nathan Berry, Pete Plage
Visitors:
Volunteer Gary Rossmiller and friend Lise Neer also stopped at watch. Park
volunteer also helped. Five hikers throughout the day stopped and asked
questions.
Weather:
Times corrected for MST. First three hours were calm and mostly clear above
with hazy conditions at ground level and light winds out of ESE. At hour
four wind shifted to SW and increased to 4 on the Beaufort scale (13-17
mph)and high clouds moved in throughout count. Last two hours winds were
steady at 5-6 B (18-30 mph).
Raptor Observations:
Thirteen total migrants seen. An adult dark morph Rough-legged Hawk was
seen below eye level east of the ridge as well as an adult Bald Eagle. At
one point 6 raptors were in the air west of the ridge including 4 local
Red-tailed Hawks, a juv. Northern Harrier, and a Sharp-shinned Hawk. Local
highlights included an adult male Prairie Falcon perched on the utility
pole just north of the watch, and a dog flight between a Red-tailed Hawk
and a Golden Eagle overhead. The Red-tailed stooped on the eagle which
proceeded to barrel roll in self defense. Wind during hour 5 and 6 was
strong out of west and migrant raptor movements were not detected after
1200 MST. Did not continue count after 1400 MST.
Non-raptor Observations:
American Robin 15, Pine Siskin 1, Dark-eyed Junco 6 (several singing),
Spotted Towhee 2 (singing), W. Meadowlark 2, W. Scrub-Jay 4, Black-billed
Magpie 2, Black-capped Chickadee 2, Bushtit 3, American Crow 74 (many
migrating), House Finch 2, N. Flicker 1, Downy Woodpecker 1, Mountain
Chickadee 2, Mountain Bluebird 32, Bluebird sp. 3, Horned Lark 1, Common
Raven 10, Rock Pigeon 3, Townsend's Solitaire 1.
Predictions:
Strong west winds predicted. Flight may be best early.
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Report submitted by Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory ([email protected])
Dinosaur Ridge information may be found at:
http://www.rmbo.org/
Site Description:
Dinosaur Ridge is the only regularly staffed hawkwatch in Colorado and is
the best place in the world to see migrating Ferruginous Hawks. Dinosaur
Ridge may be the best place in the country to see the rare dark morph of
the Broad-winged Hawk (a few are seen each spring). Hawkwatchers who linger
long enough may see resident Golden Eagles, Red-tailed Hawks and Prairie
Falcons, in addition to migrating Swainson's, Cooper's and Sharp-shinned
Hawks, American Kestrels and Turkey Vultures. Peregrine Falcons and
Ferruginous Hawks are uncommon; Northern Goshawk is rare but regular.
Non-raptor species include Rock Wren, and sometimes Bushtit, Western
Bluebird, Sandhill Crane, White-throated Swift, American White Pelican or
Dusky Grouse. Birders are always welcome.
The hawkwatch is generally staffed by volunteers from the Rocky Mountain
Bird Observatory from about 9 AM to around 4 PM from the first week of
March to the first week of May.
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 small signs from
the south side of lot to hawkwatch 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, head through
the gate, and walk to the clearly-visible, flat area at the crest of the
ridge.
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