Dinosaur Ridge Colorado, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 27, 2011 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 12 129 136 Osprey 0 26 27 Bald Eagle 0 5 38 Northern Harrier 1 10 13 Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 40 52 Cooper's Hawk 4 78 91 Northern Goshawk 0 2 3 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk 2 26 26 Red-tailed Hawk 6 136 296 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 2 Swainson's Hawk 1 6 6 Ferruginous Hawk 0 1 11 Golden Eagle 0 2 14 American Kestrel 0 160 192 Merlin 0 5 6 Peregrine Falcon 0 3 3 Prairie Falcon 0 11 20 Mississippi Kite 0 0 0 Unknown Accipiter 1 25 25 Unknown Buteo 2 13 27 Unknown Falcon 0 19 21 Unknown Eagle 0 1 1 Unknown Raptor 0 10 13 Total: 31 708 1023 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:30:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 8.5 hours Official Counter: Chuck Hundertmark, Gary Rossmiller Observers: Gary Rossmiller, Rob Reilly Visitors: A dozen hikers stopped by early to adjust gear and discuss the migration. Weather: Partly cloudy all day with storm clouds hanging over the ridges to the south of the site from midmorning through most of the day. Winds intermittent, rarely gusting to 10-11 mph. Wind direction shifting from west, to east, south-southeast, then northerly, and finally west again. Haze over lowland south of the observation site most of the day. Raptor Observations: Morning movement primarily to the west with birds frequently first appearing over the west ridge or even near Mother Cabrini, suggesting movement may have been on the west side of Mt Morrison. Afternoon birds came low to the east of the observation platform or overhead. Locals included 1 immature Bald Eagle, 1 Peregrine Falcon, and 7 observations of local Red-tails. Non-raptor Observations: Vesper Sparrow along lower trail. Western Meadowlarks and Spotted Towhees singing below. American Robin 4, Chipping Sparrow 3, Broad-tailed Hummingbird 2, Western Scrub-jay 2, Common Raven 10, White-throated Swift 22,Black-capped Chickadee 2, Mountain Chickadee 2, American Crow 2 (including 1 over Mt Morrison repeatedly attacking a pair of ravens), Northern Flicker 2. A group of 29 American White Pelicans gave us a great showing flying north through the valley west of the site. Later, we saw 35 circling above Cabrini. Predictions: Weather south of the site may have been holding up some birds. Will be interesting to see if there is a bigger push on Thursday. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory (jeff.bi...@rmbo.org) 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 cobirds@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en.
