Dinosaur Ridge Colorado, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 30, 2012 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 0 112 113 Osprey 0 15 16 Bald Eagle 0 2 8 Northern Harrier 0 5 5 Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 22 25 Cooper's Hawk 1 60 68 Northern Goshawk 0 2 2 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk 0 12 12 Red-tailed Hawk 1 83 234 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 2 Swainson's Hawk 0 11 12 Ferruginous Hawk 0 0 2 Golden Eagle 0 3 10 American Kestrel 0 82 102 Merlin 0 3 5 Peregrine Falcon 0 8 11 Prairie Falcon 0 4 10 Mississippi Kite 0 0 0 Unknown Accipiter 2 35 39 Unknown Buteo 1 17 25 Unknown Falcon 0 6 7 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 10 14 Total: 6 492 722 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 7 hours Official Counter: Roger Rouch Observers: Bill Flowers, Bill Wuerthele Visitors: Two ladies stopped by and were interested in daily counts. We gave them the web address for hawkcount. Weather: Warm in morning getting very warm during the day with temperatures topping out at 24 C. Virtually cloudless day with a light wind generally from the E. Raptor Observations: Local Red-tail circled in nearly every direction from the site off and on during the day. Local Turkey Vultures circled near the Mt. Morrison Towers, west ridges, and Cabrini in the afternoon. Near day's end a Golden Eagle and an Osprey flew relatively low over the site travelling south. A slow day for migrating birds with a few over Dino Ridge and a few over the west ridges. Non-raptor Observations: A few first of the year for observers. Seen or heard as individuals or in small numbers were Ruby Crowned Kinglet, Blue-grey Gnatcatcher, Spotted Towhee, Bushtit, Western Meadow Lark, European Starling, Western Kingbird, Black-billed Magpie, Common Raven, White-throated Swift, Violet-green Swallow, Western Scrub Jay. A flight of eight Pelican were seen over Green Mountain and again south of the site. Predictions: Slow? ======================================================================== 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.
