Dinosaur Ridge Colorado, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 25, 2013 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 0 1 1 Osprey 0 0 0 Bald Eagle 0 23 23 Northern Harrier 0 0 0 Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 2 2 Cooper's Hawk 0 3 3 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 0 84 84 Rough-legged Hawk 1 4 4 Swainson's Hawk 0 0 0 Ferruginous Hawk 0 8 8 Golden Eagle 2 3 3 American Kestrel 0 5 5 Merlin 0 0 0 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0 Prairie Falcon 0 10 10 Mississippi Kite 0 0 0 Unknown Accipiter 0 3 3 Unknown Buteo 0 6 6 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 1 1 Total: 4 153 153 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 8 hours Official Counter: Bill Wuerthele Observers: Chris Tremilling, Claude Vallieres Visitors: "Biz" paid a visit and was very inquisitive about birding and hawk watching along with providing sightings. Weather: Sunny and clear with early morning distant haze in East over the metro. Visibility 50Km. Wind speed 0 to 2. Temperature started at -7C and was later consistently at -5C. 0 precipitation. Raptor Observations: Migrating raptors: 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk along East side of ridge at eye level heading quickly due North. 1 Sub-adult Golden Eagle followed shortly thereafter by a stunningly bright 3 light points juvenile Golden Eagle. Both were on West side of ridge steadily spiralling high in same direction before entering into a glide in a NW direction just North of Cabrini Shrine. 1 Rough-legged Hawk circling over the ridge before heading East and landing in a gully on the West side of Green Mountain just below the antenna on G. Mt.. N.B.: Keep an eye out for possible re-sightings of R-LH as he was not migrating out. Non-raptor Observations: Other locals included: 1 Red-tailed Hawk, 1 Prairie Falcon, 2 Sharp-shinned Hawks both hunting and heading South one on each side of ridge, ravens, crows, magpies, a flock of robins, a flock of bushtits, a white-breasted nuthatch, a mountain chickadee, Townsend's solitaire and 2 white-throated swifts. Overall, the day was very quiet bird activity wise likely due to cold temperature. Predictions: Forecast calls for Sunny and temp in low 40sF. Expect icy trail in AM to slushy and muddy trail in PM. ======================================================================== 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 unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
