Dinosaur Ridge Colorado, USA Daily Raptor Counts: May 03, 2011 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 4 15 163 Osprey 0 1 30 Bald Eagle 0 0 38 Northern Harrier 0 0 14 Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 1 58 Cooper's Hawk 1 1 96 Northern Goshawk 0 0 3 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 28 Red-tailed Hawk 0 1 304 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 2 Swainson's Hawk 0 2 8 Ferruginous Hawk 0 0 11 Golden Eagle 0 0 15 American Kestrel 0 1 195 Merlin 0 0 7 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 3 Prairie Falcon 1 1 21 Mississippi Kite 0 0 0 Unknown Accipiter 3 3 29 Unknown Buteo 0 0 27 Unknown Falcon 0 0 21 Unknown Eagle 0 0 1 Unknown Raptor 0 0 13 Total: 9 26 1087 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:30:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 5.5 hours Official Counter: Gary Rossmiller Observers: Visitors: Rob Price from Jeffco at lunchtime. A guy from New Zealand with a local girlfriend. Weather: Blue morning with light clouds on the horizon. Winds increased to level 4 by mid-morning, decreasing to calm at noon, slight breezes in the afternoon. Clouds increased to 100% by midday, dark to the north, then clearing later. Dropping barometer from 30.17" to 30.06". Very warm from 12.3 C to 17.3 C. Raptor Observations: Good day for local RT and TV in all directions. Migrating raptors low and to the east, a few over the West Ridge. Beautiful male AK on pole with food at lunchtime. A few nibbles then glided low and to the south. Non-raptor Observations: Normal suspects: scrub jay, magpie, N. flicker, swifts, rock wren, chickadee, meadowlark, ravens and a mourning dove. 10 elk to the right of Cabrini, 4 deer to the east, 10 deer to the west. Baby bunny directly below our site. 2 black & yellow butterflies intermingling while they traveled north. Predictions: Seems like we're getting to the right end of the bell curve. Still some good sightings. ======================================================================== 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.
