Dinosaur Ridge Colorado, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 27, 2011 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 0 1 1 Osprey 0 1 1 Bald Eagle 1 33 33 Northern Harrier 0 2 2 Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 9 9 Cooper's Hawk 0 11 11 Northern Goshawk 0 1 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 6 143 143 Rough-legged Hawk 0 1 1 Swainson's Hawk 0 0 0 Ferruginous Hawk 0 10 10 Golden Eagle 0 12 12 American Kestrel 0 18 18 Merlin 0 1 1 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0 Prairie Falcon 0 9 9 Mississippi Kite 0 0 0 Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0 Unknown Buteo 0 13 13 Unknown Falcon 0 2 2 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 2 2 Total: 7 269 269 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 7 hours Official Counter: Cynthia Madsen Observers: Bill Wuerthele, Joe Lupfer, Karen Clark, Marvie Pacheco Visitors: Today we welcomed one of our new HawkWatch Volunteers to the ridge, Marvie Pacheco, who assisted us from noon on. Janine Palmer, visiting from Katy, TX, was a very helpful spotter from 1:30 until we finished. We had over 20 hikers/bikers today, most of whom learned something about the HawkWatch Project. Weather: Times are adjusted for MST. There were brief flurries between 9 and 10. Otherwise, a fairly nice day with winds from the E and ESE for the majority of the time which shifted from the NNW at the end. Raptor Observations: There were not many migrating raptors today...6 Red-tailed Hawks and one Bald Eagle. During the day we had 3, possibly 4, local Red-tailed Hawks over Green Mountain, 3 over the West Ridge, and 2 south of the ridge. Some of these could be repeats. The highlight of the day was lunch with the local Prairie Falcon...literally. Just as we were eating ours, we noticed the Prairie Falcon on the pole devouring a bird. It even slurped down the feet. Non-raptor Observations: Other birds seen today were 2 Western Meadowlarks, 1 Dark-eyed Junco, 2 Scrub Jays, 3 Black-billed Magpies, 2 American Robins, 1 White-throated Swift, 1 Western Bluebird, 11 Common Ravens, 2 Bushtits, 1 House Finch, 1 White-breasted Nuthatch, and 2 Mountain Chickadees. Predictions: We had one first-year adult Red-tailed Hawk with the white crescent at the tip of the wing in front of the primaries and one adult Red-tailed Hawk who is missing many of the primary feathers on the right wing and some in its tail. They were flying together on the west side of the ridge going toward the north. We counted them as migrants, but if other HawkWatchers notice these birds again, please make note of it in the report and we will change the data. ======================================================================== 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.
