Dinosaur Ridge
Colorado, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 24, 2011
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 7 101 108
Osprey 2 24 25
Bald Eagle 0 5 38
Northern Harrier 0 9 12
Sharp-shinned Hawk 4 31 43
Cooper's Hawk 4 68 81
Northern Goshawk 0 2 3
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0
Broad-winged Hawk 0 21 21
Red-tailed Hawk 0 126 286
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 2
Swainson's Hawk 0 5 5
Ferruginous Hawk 0 1 11
Golden Eagle 0 2 14
American Kestrel 1 152 184
Merlin 0 5 6
Peregrine Falcon 1 3 3
Prairie Falcon 1 9 18
Mississippi Kite 0 0 0
Unknown Accipiter 1 22 22
Unknown Buteo 0 11 25
Unknown Falcon 3 19 21
Unknown Eagle 0 1 1
Unknown Raptor 0 10 13
Total: 24 627 942
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Observation start time: 07:00:00
Observation end time: 14:00:00
Total observation time: 7 hours
Official Counter: Joyce Commercon
Observers: Bill Wuerthele, Cyndy Johnson, Cynthia Madsen,
Francis Commercon
Visitors:
We had several hikers who passed through. One gentleman was curious about a
couple of large dark birds he had seen near the ridge. Per his
description, the birds were likely Turkey Vultures.
Weather:
Sky was 100% overcast all day. Day started out hazy; tops of Green Mt and
Mt Morrison were obscured. Visibility improved throughout the day,
especially to the East. Heavy clouds West of Mt. Morrison and Westridge all
day, although we could finally see Mt Morrison Towers by noon. Temperature
was 1.5 °C but rose to 6 °C by afternoon. A snow shower hit us around
12:30 pm. The wind was light and from the north and northeast.
Raptor Observations:
At 11:55 am MST, we had a beautiful Adult Broad-winged Hawk fly directly
over the ridge, (height of flight 1), but it was heading SOUTH, so we did
not count it as a migrant. We did not see it again. We also saw a
Red-tail, a Sharp-shinned Hawk and a Golden Eagle that were determined to
be locals by behavior. Seven local Turkey Vultures rose south along the
ridge in a kettle near 1:00 pm and headed west behind Mt. Morrison
Non-raptor Observations:
We saw several Western Bluebirds, three Northern Flickers, the local Rock
Wren, an American Robin, Common Ravens, Black-capped and Mountain
Chickadees and a Townsend's Solitaire. We heard Spotted Towhees and Western
Meadowlarks on both sides of the ridge. Early in the morning, six Rock
Pigeons were seen heading north and a few hours later six Mourning Doves
were also seen flying north. Mule deer were seen on the West side of the
ridge below us. A group of Elk were spotted on the West side of the ridge
up the valley somewhat East of Cabrini Shrine.
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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.
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