Dinosaur Ridge
Colorado, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 29, 2012
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 1 112 113
Osprey 1 15 16
Bald Eagle 0 2 8
Northern Harrier 1 5 5
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 21 24
Cooper's Hawk 2 59 67
Northern Goshawk 0 2 2
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0
Broad-winged Hawk 1 12 12
Red-tailed Hawk 3 82 233
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 2
Swainson's Hawk 0 11 12
Ferruginous Hawk 0 0 2
Golden Eagle 0 3 10
American Kestrel 1 82 102
Merlin 0 3 5
Peregrine Falcon 2 8 11
Prairie Falcon 0 4 10
Mississippi Kite 0 0 0
Unknown Accipiter 0 33 37
Unknown Buteo 1 16 24
Unknown Falcon 0 6 7
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 1 10 14
Total: 15 486 716
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Observation start time: 07:30:00
Observation end time: 14:00:00
Total observation time: 6.5 hours
Official Counter: Joyce Commercon
Observers: Cynthia Madsen, Dave Hill, Francis Commercon, Heidi Seeland,
Jeff Birek, Robert Hill, Tim Smart
Visitors:
A Denver Field Ornithologist (DFO) field trip, led by Tim Smart, got
started early on the Ridge, and included Jayne and George James as well as
Robert Hill. A little later in the morning, an Audubon Society of Greater
Denver (ASGD) field trip of fifteen, led by Dave Hill and Cynthia Madsen,
arrived to learn about hawk identification and HawkWatch from RMBO
biologist Jeff Birek. As usual, a number of hikers stopped by for the view;
some of them curious about hawk-watching.
Weather:
The day was sunny and partly cloudy with minimal cloud cover (hugging the
North and West horizons) early on, increasing to about 50 percent coverage
scattered over the sky later in the day. Cool, level 2 B winds came from
the East and Northeast. The temperature rose from 12 C to 15 C. There was
reasonably good visibility but with noticeable haze to the South and
Southeast.
Raptor Observations:
The best bird of the day was the adult Broad-winged Hawk that migrated
directly over the Ridge mid-morning. A local Swainson's Hawk passed (going
South) close by the Broad-wing, which made for a nice comparison of
species. One of the local nesting Peregrines aggressively drove one and
then another of two migrating Peregrines out of its territory early in the
morning. There was a lot of local Cooper's Hawk activity, including some
territorial flight displays, which were pointed out by Jeff Birek. Some
local Turkey Vultures spent the day passing back and forth North and South
from behind Mt. Morrison to Cabrini.
Non-raptor Observations:
Four American White Pelicans were spotted well South of the Ridge headed
further South. Eight Common Ravens spiraled up over WestRidge and went
South over Mt. Morrison. A group of about five Violet-green Swallows
flitted about near the Ridge late in the afternoon. Other birds seen or
heard included Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Mourning Dove, Black-billed Magpie,
Spotted Towhee, White-throated Swift, Bushtit, Yellow-Rumped Warbler,
Broad-tailed Hummingbird, Western Scrub-Jay, Barn Swallow, and American
Robin.
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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.
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