Dinosaur Ridge Colorado, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 04, 2011 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 0 8 15 Osprey 2 3 4 Bald Eagle 0 2 35 Northern Harrier 0 0 3 Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 2 14 Cooper's Hawk 1 2 15 Northern Goshawk 0 0 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 2 57 217 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 2 Swainson's Hawk 0 0 0 Ferruginous Hawk 0 0 10 Golden Eagle 0 1 13 American Kestrel 10 21 53 Merlin 0 0 1 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0 Prairie Falcon 0 2 11 Mississippi Kite 0 0 0 Unknown Accipiter 0 3 3 Unknown Buteo 2 5 19 Unknown Falcon 1 8 10 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 3 Total: 20 114 429 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 7 hours Official Counter: Lee Farrell Observers: Linda Farrell, Roger Rouch Visitors: There were no visitors today. Two hikers did stop by to ask what we were looking at. Weather: Almost an inch of snow had accumulated on the ridge from yesterday’s storm. It was cold and sunny with high winds while hiking up which resulted in our being pelted with snow and ice as it was blown from the trees and whipped up from the ground. Near the end of the first hour the wind calmed down to provide a beautiful sunny morning. The winds picked up again in the early afternoon just to make things a little more challenging. Raptor Observations: Whether local or migrating we observed very few raptors in a soaring mode today. Nearly all of the migrating birds passed either directly overhead or just the west of the ridge at an elevation ranging from no more than 100 ft above to 50 ft below the level of the observation deck. The Kestrels seemed to be particularly determined, headed north in rapid relatively level flight. Non-raptor Observations: Two to five Dark-eyed Juncos provided a source of entertainment as they hopped and flitted around on the ground between the two cedars just south of the platform. The Western Scrub Jay came by a couple of time just to pester them. Eight Western Bluebirds stayed close together as they moved around the ridge calling to each other for a couple of hours during the period of calm winds. Non-raptor highlight of the day was provided by the White-throated Swifts. We got a good view of two that came close heading north up the ridge. A while later, about the time the winds picked up from the north a flock of more than a hundred passed by overhead traveling down the ridge to the south. The finally was provided by four birds passing through the observation area not much more than head high. Elk, 4 bulls and 1 cow were noted by Roger and Linda on the ridge just below Two Pines. 5 Dark-eyed Junco, 8 Black-billed Magpies, 12 Common Raven, 1 Western Scrub Jay, 10 American Robin, 1 Meadowlark, 8 Northern Flicker, 8 Western Bluebirds, 2 Mountain Bluebirds, 2 American Crow, 100+ White-throated Swifts. Non-migrating raptors, 1 Golden Eagle, 5 Red-tailed Hawks, 2 American Kestrel. ======================================================================== 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.
