Dinosaur Ridge Colorado, USA Daily Raptor Counts: May 03, 2012 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 3 5 120 Osprey 0 0 16 Bald Eagle 0 0 8 Northern Harrier 0 0 6 Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 0 26 Cooper's Hawk 1 2 72 Northern Goshawk 0 0 2 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 12 Red-tailed Hawk 2 6 240 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 2 Swainson's Hawk 1 1 15 Ferruginous Hawk 0 0 2 Golden Eagle 0 0 10 American Kestrel 1 2 104 Merlin 0 0 5 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 11 Prairie Falcon 0 0 10 Mississippi Kite 0 0 0 Unknown Accipiter 1 2 43 Unknown Buteo 0 0 25 Unknown Falcon 0 0 7 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 14 Total: 9 18 750 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:00:00 Observation end time: 13:00:00 Total observation time: 6 hours Official Counter: Roger Rouch Observers: Joel Chapa Visitors: Two gentlemen from Florida stopped to talk but seemed more interested in fossils than birds. A large group of school children visited the sight, but did not talk with the observers. Weather: Warm in the morning to very warm with a high of 27 C. Clear in the morning increasing to mostly cloudy by end of watch. Generally light winds from the SE. Raptor Observations: Slow for migrating raptors with more counts earlier. Local raptors included several Red-tail Hawks. Local Turkey Vultures circled and soared over the western ridges. A Peregrine Falcon landed on "dead pine" south of the sight and then proceeded due north out of sight and was considered a local raptor. Non-raptor Observations: Seen or heard in smaller numbers were Western Scrub Jay, Blue-grey Gnatcatchers, Black-billed Magpie, Common Raven, White-throated Swift, Spotted Towhee, Western Meadow Lark, and swallows. A Great Blue Heron traveled from the southeast to the northwest across the ridge early and a flight of three American White Pelican traveled a similar route. Predictions: Similar to today? ======================================================================== 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.
