Dinosaur Ridge Colorado, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 08, 2011 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 2 29 36 Osprey 0 3 4 Bald Eagle 0 2 35 Northern Harrier 0 1 4 Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 7 19 Cooper's Hawk 3 24 37 Northern Goshawk 0 0 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 1 83 243 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 2 Swainson's Hawk 0 0 0 Ferruginous Hawk 0 0 10 Golden Eagle 0 1 13 American Kestrel 2 35 67 Merlin 0 0 1 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0 Prairie Falcon 0 3 12 Mississippi Kite 0 0 0 Unknown Accipiter 0 7 7 Unknown Buteo 0 9 23 Unknown Falcon 0 10 12 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 3 Total: 10 214 529 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:30:00 Observation end time: 14:00:00 Total observation time: 5.5 hours Official Counter: Cynthia Madsen Observers: Dave Hill, Michael Kiessig, Pete Plage Visitors: Pete Plage assisted us on his lunch hour. We also had 3 hikers and 2 bikers visit. Weather: Times are adjusted for MST. The day started out with light winds from the south, a promise of a good raptor migration day. However, as the day progressed, the winds increased and shifted multiple times which may have accounted for the low number of raptors today. There was a layer of haze that covered the ground to the north and to the southeast, although we were still able to see the horizon. Raptor Observations: All the migrating raptors were observed between 9:00 and noon. No others were seen from noon on. We did observe 2 local Red-tailed Hawks, one over the west ridge and one heading toward Green Mountain, high overhead. We also saw 2 Turkey Vultures off the south ridge who may be taking up residency here because they never headed north. Non-raptor Observations: We had 4 American Robins, 2 Western Meadowlarks, 4 Black-billed Magpies, 2 Scrub Jays, 6 Common Ravens, 1 White-breasted Nuthatch, 8 Western Bluebirds, 1 Spotted Towhee, 1 Northern Flicker, 1 Black-capped Chickadee, 12 migrating White-throated Swifts, and 4 local White-throated Swifts who, again and again, entertained us with their amazing aerial maneuvers. We decided the insects didn't stand a chance against them! Also seen was a Steller's Jay, a real surprise for me because it was the first time I have seen one on the ridge in my two seasons of HawkWatch. Below Mother Cabrini were 19 elk. ======================================================================== 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.
