Dinosaur Ridge Colorado, USA Daily Raptor Counts: May 02, 2013 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 1 1 157 Osprey 0 0 22 Bald Eagle 0 0 29 Northern Harrier 0 0 6 Sharp-shinned Hawk 5 5 102 Cooper's Hawk 2 2 112 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 33 Red-tailed Hawk 2 2 233 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 6 Swainson's Hawk 1 1 7 Ferruginous Hawk 0 0 9 Golden Eagle 0 0 10 American Kestrel 1 1 152 Merlin 0 0 3 Peregrine Falcon 1 1 15 Prairie Falcon 0 0 17 Mississippi Kite 0 0 0 Unknown Accipiter 1 1 46 Unknown Buteo 1 1 34 Unknown Falcon 0 0 7 Unknown Eagle 0 0 1 Unknown Raptor 0 0 16 Total: 15 15 1017 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 7 hours Official Counter: Claude Vallieres Observers: Roger Rouch Visitors: No visitors and only 1 passer-by. Weather: Sunny with temperatures from -4 degrees C to +6 C and little wind. Early afternoon found snow moving in over Genessee but was short lived. Dinosaur Ridge was covered with 4-6" of new snow accompanied by snow drifts much of which melted during the day. Raptor Observations: A slow day for migrating raptors with only 15 coming through: 1 Turkey Vulture, 5 Sharp-shinned Hawks, 2 Cooper's Hawks, 1 Swainson's Hawk, 2 Red-tailed Hawks, 1 American Kestrel, 1 Peregrine Falcon, 1 Unidentified Accipiter, and 1 Unidentified Buteo. Most of the activity occured in the early morning with most flying below eye level on the East side of the ridge. Only 1 Red-tailed Hawk and the Kestrel were on the west side along with the 2 Unidentified who were along the far West ridge when the snow appeared. Local raptor actvity was minimal with 2 American Kestrels, 5 Turkey Vultures and 1 juvenile Sharp-shinned Hawk hunting the lower East side. Non-raptor Observations: Other bird activity included (seen or heard): 3 American Robins, numerous Townsend's Solitaire, Western Scrub Jay, Black-billed Magpie, 9 Nothern Flicker, Juncos, Spotted Towhee, Meadowlark, 6 Broad-tailed Hummingbirds, 1 Mourning Dove, 2 Eurasian-collared Doves, 1 Western Bluebird, several White-throated Swifts and 2 Ruby-crowned Kinglets. Of note was a Hermit Thrush followed by a Swainson's Thrush who explored the watch site and provided a good viewing opportunity about 5 feet from this recorder. Predictions: Forecast is for warmer temperatures in the 50s-F. Expect muddy wet trail. Watch site is clear of snow. ======================================================================== 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.
