Dinosaur Ridge
Colorado, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 12, 2013
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 16 76 85
Osprey 2 4 5
Bald Eagle 0 1 28
Northern Harrier 0 1 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 11 19
Cooper's Hawk 8 37 48
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0
Red-tailed Hawk 4 47 181
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 6
Swainson's Hawk 0 0 0
Ferruginous Hawk 0 1 9
Golden Eagle 1 3 6
American Kestrel 2 47 69
Merlin 0 0 0
Peregrine Falcon 0 5 6
Prairie Falcon 0 1 15
Mississippi Kite 0 0 0
Unknown Accipiter 1 6 10
Unknown Buteo 0 19 28
Unknown Falcon 1 4 4
Unknown Eagle 0 1 1
Unknown Raptor 0 5 8
Total: 36 269 530
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Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 15:00:00
Total observation time: 6.22 hours
Official Counter: Dave Hill
Observers: Adam Jack, Cynthia Madsen, Ed Holub, Janet Shin,
Julia Auckland, Nelson Ford
Visitors:
11 observers added to today's effort. They included David Hill, Cynthia
Madsen, Janet Shin, Ed Holub, Nelson Ford, Adam Jack, Julia Auckland, David
Gulbenkian, Ralph and Jane Geuder and John Hoffman.
Also, 10 bikers, 15 hikers, 7 runners and 6 dogs were observed along the
trail.
Weather:
The temperatures ranged from 40 deg. F. at 8:00 AM MST to 56 deg. F. at
15:00 MST. The first 4 hours of HawkWatch showed relatively mild winds.
>From noon the wind speed increased throughout the afternoon averaging high
teens to low 20's. Significantly, during the last hour winds averaged in
the 20 mph range with gusts to near 40 mph! Additionally, during this
horrific north wind we observed 8 raptor migrants, over 31 White-throated
Swift and 15 American Robin Two Red-tailed Hawk were observed trying to
make northerly progress and being swept backward as they tried!!
Eventually, this pair arced to the south in retreat of the gale.
Raptor Observations:
36 Raptors (7 species) were observed in migration. These included: 16
Turkey Vultures, 2 Osprey, 1 Golden Eagle, 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk, 8 Cooper's
Hawk, 4 Red-tailed Hawk and 2 American Kestrel (female.) Unidentified were
1 falcon species and 1 accipiter species.
Non-raptor Observations:
Non-raptor related species included 1 Great Blue Heron, 31 White-throated
Swift, 2 Northern Flicker, 2 Western Scrub-Jay, 3 Black-billed Magpie, 11
American Crow, 7 Common Raven, 2 Mountain Chickadee, 15 Bushtit, 3
Townsend's Solitaire, 21 American Robin, 3 Dark-eyed Junco, 2 Western
Meadowlark and 1 singing House Finch.
5 mule deer grazed in the morning along the lower west side of the ridge.
Predictions:
The slippery, muddy path is drying! Warmer weather coming. Tomorrow
should be mostly sunny, with a high near 65. Good luck with the wind! It
could bring surprises?????
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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.
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