Dinosaur Ridge
Colorado, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 08, 2014
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 0 0 0
Osprey 0 0 0
Bald Eagle 2 3 3
Northern Harrier 0 0 0
Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 0 0
Cooper's Hawk 0 0 0
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0
Red-tailed Hawk 6 8 8
Rough-legged Hawk 2 2 2
Swainson's Hawk 0 0 0
Ferruginous Hawk 1 2 2
Golden Eagle 0 0 0
American Kestrel 0 0 0
Merlin 0 0 0
Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0
Prairie Falcon 0 0 0
Mississippi Kite 0 0 0
Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0
Unknown Buteo 0 0 0
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 0 0
Total: 11 15 15
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Observation start time: 09:15:00
Observation end time: 15:00:00
Total observation time: 5.75 hours
Official Counter: Lee Farrell
Observers: Bob Holmes, Jeanette Strom, Linda Farrell,
Mitchell Blystone
Visitors:
Foot traffic on the trails was seemingly lighter than usual today with only
a few individuals walking up to the station, none of which seemed to be
bird enthusiasts.
Weather:
A beautiful bright sunny day, with few clouds and almost no wind, it
doesn't get any nicer than this on ridge in March. Very light breezes
were out of the north in the early morning, switching around to the east
and southeast before 11:00 AM. Temperatures remained in the low 40's (F)
throughout the day.
Last night's snowstorm had left several inches of snow covering the
ground and hanging in the trees creating a pleasantly picturesque hike up
the hill in the morning. The snow melted throughout the day, but still
covered the ground at day's end.
Raptor Observations:
With 11 migrating raptors observed a good count for this early in the
season. Migrating birds seemed to have difficulty finding good thermals on
which to gain attitude. Perhaps the snow covered ground limited thermal
activity. Several hawks were seen traveling low along the east side of the
ridge. Initially we questioned whether they were migrating. It appeared
that the light breeze pushing up against the ridge was providing just
enough lift at that elevation to allow them to glide northward. There was
very little activity at the west side of the ridge, and virtually no birds
were seen at the far west ridge. All of the migrating birds moved directly
and purposely north, local hawks were comparatively easy to discern.
Two adult Bald Eagles were observed about a half hour apart. Both of them
circled well south of the ridge attempting to gain altitude with much wing
flapping. Achieving an altitude slightly above that of the station, they
then flew directly north, almost continuously flapping their wings to move
forward.
At least 6 different local Red-tailed Hawks were observed throughout the
day, with coming and going, it was hard to differentiate exactly how many
different birds there may have been. Early in the morning two Red-tails sat
side-by-side on the cross bar of a wooden transmission line tower at
Matthews/Winters open space. Just prior to 3:00 PM we were treated to a
wonderful mating display directly above the station by two very similar
looking light/intermediate Red-tailed Hawks. The local male American
kestrel hunted from perch on the power lines at the west side of the
ridge.
Non-raptor Observations:
Also observed, American Robin, Dark-eyed Junco, Townsend's Solitaire,
Black-capped Chickadee, Black-billed Magpie, House Finch and a single
Western Scrub Jay. In the early part of the day, a small herd of Mule Deer
passed the station low on the east slope of the ridge
Predictions:
Another slightly warmer sunny day with light winds is predicted. It will be
interesting to see if better thermals and slightly more wind will provide
even better migration numbers than today.
The lower half of the trail is at maximum muddy, the upper half is wet but
much more manageable.
========================================================================
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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