Dinosaur Ridge Colorado, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 19, 2011 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 7 76 83 Osprey 0 14 15 Bald Eagle 0 4 37 Northern Harrier 0 4 7 Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 20 32 Cooper's Hawk 1 54 67 Northern Goshawk 1 2 3 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk 0 11 11 Red-tailed Hawk 5 111 271 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 2 Swainson's Hawk 0 1 1 Ferruginous Hawk 0 0 10 Golden Eagle 0 1 13 American Kestrel 2 144 176 Merlin 0 3 4 Peregrine Falcon 0 1 1 Prairie Falcon 1 7 16 Mississippi Kite 0 0 0 Unknown Accipiter 0 19 19 Unknown Buteo 0 10 24 Unknown Falcon 0 11 13 Unknown Eagle 0 1 1 Unknown Raptor 1 4 7 Total: 18 498 813 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:30:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 6.5 hours Official Counter: Gary Rossmiller Observers: Cynthia Madsen Weather: Beautiful spring morning after an overnight rain. Trail was tacky with clay mud on the way up. Warm sunny breeze at first. Storm clouds to the west and departing storm to the east. Light showers moved in from the north over the noon hour and departed to the south with a clearing afternoon. Rising barometer. Moderate winds. Temps warming to 12deg C. Raptor Observations: A lot of low flights to the west side of Dino Ridge, a few directly overhead and a few over the ridge to the west. A local Cooper's Hawk seemed to go between our site and Two Pines several times. Lots of activity near Two Humps by local raptors. Most flights early to mid-day. By 2pm no more flights even though skies overhead were clear. Non-raptor Observations: 6-7 deer on east side of ridge during the day, large elk herd north of I-70. Meadowlarks very active in song, Scrub Jays around all day, Rock Wren visited our site multiple times during the afternoon, very large number of Swifts (over 50?) between 1-2pm. Spotted Towhee, Chickadees and a Broad Tailed Hummingbird spotted by Cynthia. Predictions: Warmer, less moisture. Hopefully a banner day for migration and observers. ======================================================================== 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.
