Dinosaur Ridge Colorado, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 16, 2012 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 2 46 47 Osprey 0 9 10 Bald Eagle 0 2 8 Northern Harrier 0 4 4 Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 10 13 Cooper's Hawk 3 30 38 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 2 57 208 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 51 71 Merlin 0 2 4 Peregrine Falcon 2 3 6 Prairie Falcon 0 2 8 Mississippi Kite 0 0 0 Unknown Accipiter 1 17 21 Unknown Buteo 2 7 15 Unknown Falcon 0 3 4 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 2 6 Total: 18 247 477 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 8 hours Official Counter: Roger Rouch Observers: Bill Flowers, Bill Wuerthele Visitors: A gentleman and his young son stopped by for the last half-hour of the day and helped spot. He was interested in returned at another time this season. Weather: Cool with a mix of clouds and sun. Temperatures ranged from 7 C in the morning to 13 C in the mid-afternoon. Only a mild breeze generally from the SE. Raptor Observations: A push of migrating raptors in the early morning and late afternoon, with some far and over the west ridge and others close to or over Dino ridge. A peregrine was observed in the morning along the east side of the ridge and another in the afternoon along the west side of the ridge, both with dedicated south to north flight. Local TVs circled over the west ridge and I-70 much of the day. An odd trio of one male and two female local kestrels landed on the power pole behind the site. Also, several local red-tail and a local cooper's were observed. Non-raptor Observations: Black-billed Magpie, Western Meadow Lark, Common Raved, Violet-green Swallow, White-throated Swift, Say's Pheobe, Spotted Towhee,American Robin, and Bushtit were heard or sighted. Predictions: It still seems like a general pattern to have distant migrating raptors over the west ridge, with a few naked eye birds along and over the ridge? ======================================================================== 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.
