Dinosaur Ridge Colorado, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 31, 2011 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 2 7 7 Osprey 0 1 1 Bald Eagle 0 33 33 Northern Harrier 1 3 3 Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 12 12 Cooper's Hawk 0 13 13 Northern Goshawk 0 1 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 9 160 160 Rough-legged Hawk 1 2 2 Swainson's Hawk 0 0 0 Ferruginous Hawk 0 10 10 Golden Eagle 0 12 12 American Kestrel 11 32 32 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 1 14 14 Unknown Falcon 0 2 2 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 1 3 3 Total: 27 315 315 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 7.67 hours Official Counter: Cyndy Johnson, Gary Rossmiller Observers: Cynthia Madsen, Gary Rossmiller, Paul Slingsby Visitors: none Thanks, to all the observers that came up today! Weather: Strong WNW to NNW wind gusts all day today. Skys were clear. A lot of birds were eye level and close to the ridge today, very nice! Raptor Observations: Migrants: Several American Kestrels close to the ridge today. One of the migrating Red-tailed Hawks in the 9-10 hour had quite a few feathers missing from his right wing, he migrated on through. 10-11 we had a very nice juvenile Red-tailed hawk fly directly overhead. 11-12 we had a dark phase Rough-legged fly through, thanks to Paul for seeing the detail in the tail! A sharpy flew close to the ridge on the west side late in the afternoon. Locals: We had several Red-tailed hawks today hunting extremely close for us to see. Also couples of Red-tailed displaying for us during 10-12 hour time frame. Non-raptor Observations: Black-billed Magpie (4), Western Meadowlark heard(1), Western Scrub-jay (2), Common Raven (7), American Crow (7), Northern Flicker (1), Migrating Bluebirds (12), White-throated Swift (17). 1 coyote 5 mule deer by Rooney Road ======================================================================== 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.
