Dinosaur Ridge
Colorado, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 07, 2012
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 5 12 13
Osprey 1 2 3
Bald Eagle 0 1 7
Northern Harrier 0 0 0
Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 2 5
Cooper's Hawk 3 6 14
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0
Red-tailed Hawk 14 27 178
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 2
Swainson's Hawk 0 0 1
Ferruginous Hawk 0 0 2
Golden Eagle 0 2 9
American Kestrel 6 8 28
Merlin 0 0 2
Peregrine Falcon 0 0 3
Prairie Falcon 0 0 6
Mississippi Kite 0 0 0
Unknown Accipiter 2 3 7
Unknown Buteo 0 1 9
Unknown Falcon 0 0 1
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 0 4
Total: 33 64 294
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Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 15:00:00
Total observation time: 7 hours
Official Counter: Scott Severs
Observers: Bill Schmoker, Jim Schmoker, Joe Lupfer, Karen Clark,
Lee Farrell, Roger Rouch
Visitors:
Twenty-one folks stopped by and inquired about the hawk watch. Mostly
hikers and some mountain bikers. Park volunteer Joe also stopped by and
helped spot raptors.
Weather:
Mostly sunny with some haze, wind 1-3 B mostly ESE, temps ranged from 7 to
13 C. Excellent team of hawk watchers today: Lee Farrell, Roger Rouch, Jim
and Bill Schmoker, Karen Clark and Joe Lupfer, and David Gulbenkian (who
had helped count raptors since the inception of the hawk watch in the
1980s).
Raptor Observations:
Six migratory species seen today and 33 individuals. Six local species
observed. Most migrants seen west of the hawk watch, and mostly along the
west ridge. Many distant views required spotting scopes. Nice naked eye
views of presumed local pair of Peregrines soared just down ridge and east
of site. Good views of migratory and local Cooper's Hawks.
Non-raptor Observations:
A Killdeer and a pair of light-headed gulls traced the leading line of the
ridge. Numerous White-throated Swifts. A distant group of three American
White Pelicans. A Rock Wren called on the east side of ridge. We observed a
comma butterfly species, and Painted Lady butterfly. Elk and mule deer
grazed on Mt. Cabrini. Plus many of the other local resident bird species
present during spring.
Predictions:
Warm, sunny conditions and light winds may put many migrant raptors at
limits of optical observation. Scopes recommended. Careful attention to
horizons and far ridgelines may yield the best results.
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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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