Dinosaur Ridge Colorado, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 25, 2011 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 0 0 0 Osprey 1 1 1 Bald Eagle 0 29 29 Northern Harrier 0 2 2 Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 8 8 Cooper's Hawk 1 7 7 Northern Goshawk 1 1 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 9 119 119 Rough-legged Hawk 0 1 1 Swainson's Hawk 0 0 0 Ferruginous Hawk 1 10 10 Golden Eagle 0 12 12 American Kestrel 8 12 12 Merlin 0 1 1 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0 Prairie Falcon 0 7 7 Mississippi Kite 0 0 0 Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0 Unknown Buteo 1 13 13 Unknown Falcon 1 2 2 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 2 2 Total: 24 227 227 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:30:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 6.5 hours Official Counter: Cynthia Madsen Observers: Dave Hill, Michael Kiessig, Pete Plage Visitors: Pete Plage assisted us from noon to one (DST). We also had 6 hikers stop by. Weather: The day began with perfect conditions of light winds coming from the southeast and minimal cloud cover. By noon(MST) the winds shifted from northeast at 14 mph and the cloud cover increased to 90 percent. Raptor Observations: Our numbers today did not match our count for last Friday, but we did have a nice variety. Almost all of the American Kestrels were eye level or lower on the east side of the ridge moving very rapidly. We had a group of 3 local Red-tailed Hawks that appeared multiple times above the west ridge. We also saw another pair that spent time on the east and south sides of the ridge. Non-raptor Observations: We were thrilled to see a flock of 6 White-throated Swifts fly right over the ridge. Another one flew over by itself at the end of the day. We also had 2 Scrub Jays, 2 Bushtits, 3 American Robins, 1 Northern Flicker, 2 Black-billed Magpies, 12 Common Ravens, a Mountain Chickadee, and a Gray-headed Dark-eyed Junco. The Red Rocks Prairie Falcon perched on the telephone pole behind us and then proceeded to fly out and come back to each of the other two poles. I think it is becoming a watcher of the HawkWatchers! Predictions: Just a note to tomorrow's HawkWatchers to be alert for passing raptors on the east side of the ridge. When they are low, they blend in with the background...very easy to miss. ======================================================================== 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. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en.
