Dinosaur Ridge
Colorado, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 04, 2013
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 0 4 13
Osprey 1 2 3
Bald Eagle 0 1 28
Northern Harrier 0 1 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 4 12
Cooper's Hawk 0 6 17
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0
Red-tailed Hawk 5 24 158
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 6
Swainson's Hawk 0 0 0
Ferruginous Hawk 0 1 9
Golden Eagle 1 2 5
American Kestrel 3 12 34
Merlin 0 0 0
Peregrine Falcon 1 1 2
Prairie Falcon 0 0 14
Mississippi Kite 0 0 0
Unknown Accipiter 0 2 6
Unknown Buteo 1 16 25
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 1 1
Unknown Raptor 2 2 5
Total: 14 79 340
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Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 15:00:00
Total observation time: 7 hours
Official Counter: Roger Rouch
Observers: Bill Wuerthele, Claude Vallieres, Mitchell Blystone,
Rob Reilly
Visitors:
Bob Righter stopped by for a couple of hours and was especially helpful
with spotting and identifications. He has been visiting the ridge on
occasion for years. "Diz" also stopped by for a while. He has visited the
site a few times this year and is interested in learning more about
raptors.
Weather:
Warm with temperature rising from 12C to 17C. Generally light winds
ranging from 0 to 2 Bft from the SE. Only a few clouds during the day.
Raptor Observations:
The keen eyes of several observers and visitors were helpful in spotting
and identifying the generally distant migrating raptors along the west
ridges and overhead. A few interesting local raptors including Northern
Harrier(s) sighted twice below ridge line to the east and also flying east
to west, Cooper's Hawk, Kestrel, a solitary Turkey Vulture, and several
local Red-tailed Hawks.
Non-raptor Observations:
See or heard: Townsend's Solitaire, Black-billed Magpie, Common Raven,
American Crow, Northern Flicker, Western Meadowlark, Western Scrub-Jay,
Mountain Chickadee, Black-capped Chickadee, Bushtit, Dark-eyed Junco, and
Downy Woodpecker.
Predictions:
Another warm blue sky day may mean more high fliers and distant raptors?
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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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