Dinosaur Ridge Colorado, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 10, 2014 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 4 45 48 Osprey 0 1 1 Bald Eagle 0 0 25 Northern Harrier 1 2 2 Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 14 19 Cooper's Hawk 0 20 35 Northern Goshawk 0 1 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 8 56 186 Rough-legged Hawk 0 2 9 Swainson's Hawk 0 0 0 Ferruginous Hawk 0 0 8 Golden Eagle 0 1 8 American Kestrel 13 39 53 Merlin 1 2 2 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 2 Prairie Falcon 0 1 6 Mississippi Kite 0 0 0 Unknown Accipiter 1 9 11 Unknown Buteo 1 5 10 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 1 5 Total: 29 199 431 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:30:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 7.5 hours Official Counter: Roger Rouch Observers: Claude Vallieres Visitors: Birders John Dwyer and Sharon Kermiet provided great company and spotting help through the much of the afternoon. Thanks! Weather: A very pleasant day with temperatures warming from the mid 40's to the mid 60's. Mostly clear in the morning to partly cloudy in the afternoon with a light haze on the southern horizons all day. A mild breeze averaging 2 bft. from the east and north east. Raptor Observations: Generally morning raptors were higher in elevation with an afternoon American Kestrel push close to the ridge, but a diverse mix of elevations and directions. Highlights were a Merlin that bombed down the ridge in mid-afternoon and a dark or intermediate migrating Red-tail. A relatively smaller number of local Red-tail sightings. Non-raptor Observations: Also sighted or heard: White-throated Swift, Violet-green Swallow, Spotted Towhee, Northern Flicker, Common Raven, House Finch, Mountain Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch, Western Meadow Lark, Western Scrub Jay, Black-billed Magpie, Townsend's Solitaire, American Robin. Predictions: Continued peak season double digit counts with more late migrating species showing up? ======================================================================== 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]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/20140411013452.23066.qmail%40taiga.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
