Dinosaur Ridge
Colorado, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 30, 2014
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 1 2 2
Osprey 0 0 0
Bald Eagle 0 25 25
Northern Harrier 0 0 0
Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 5 5
Cooper's Hawk 2 15 15
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0
Red-tailed Hawk 6 129 129
Rough-legged Hawk 0 7 7
Swainson's Hawk 0 0 0
Ferruginous Hawk 1 8 8
Golden Eagle 0 6 6
American Kestrel 1 14 14
Merlin 0 0 0
Peregrine Falcon 0 2 2
Prairie Falcon 0 5 5
Mississippi Kite 0 0 0
Unknown Accipiter 1 2 2
Unknown Buteo 0 5 5
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 4 4
Total: 12 229 229
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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: Bill Wuerthele, Bob Holmes, Francis Commercon,
Jeanette Strom, Nathan Berry, Rob Reilly
Visitors:
A number of visitors stopped by the station and inquired as to what we were
doing and about the HawkWatch. Bea Slingsby stopped by briefly to check on
our progress.
Weather:
An overcast day with mild temperatures and low winds during the morning and
early afternoon provided a tolerable day weather wise. High clouds covering
the sky in the morning were relatively thin, condensation trails of jet
airliners passing above could be seen through the clouds. The cloud layer
thickened to heavier overcast around noontime. Comparatively light winds
were variable in direction until the 1:00 PM hour when they picked up to 3
and then 4 (bft) out of the northwest.
Raptor Observations:
The 10:00 AM hour provided 5 migrating raptors, no other hour of the day
had more than 2. During the morning hours most of the migrants were at or
below the elevation of the station. Later in the day both migrants and
residents soared very high in the sky, often at or beyond binocular range
where their paths seemed to inevitably find the sun. This often required a
significant effort and arm strength to discern migrating birds. A
Ferruginous Hawk and early migrating Turkey Vulture provided the highlights
of the day.
Local raptors observed included: Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel and
Peregrine Falcon.
Non-raptor Observations:
A Great Horned Owl was heard on the way up the trail in the morning. Other
bird species seen or heard included: American Crow, Common Raven, Dark-eyed
Junco, Townsend's Solitaire, American Robin, Spotted Towhee,
White-throated Swift, Mountain Chickadee, Western Scrub Jay, Black-billed
Magpie, Western Meadowlark, and Northern Flicker.
Predictions:
The high winds predicted for tomorrow should help to keep whatever
migrating birds there might be down close to the elevation of the station
and in a determined flight pattern to the north.
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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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