Dinosaur Ridge Colorado, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 08, 2015 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 4 37 37 Osprey 0 1 1 Bald Eagle 0 0 1 Northern Harrier 0 1 2 Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 4 10 Cooper's Hawk 2 10 13 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 3 28 101 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 1 Swainson's Hawk 0 0 0 Ferruginous Hawk 0 0 2 Golden Eagle 0 0 3 American Kestrel 29 38 57 Merlin 0 0 0 Peregrine Falcon 0 1 4 Prairie Falcon 0 0 2 Mississippi Kite 0 0 0 Unknown Accipiter 2 7 11 Unknown Buteo 0 4 7 Unknown Falcon 0 0 1 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 1 Total: 40 131 254 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:45:00 Observation end time: 14:00:00 Total observation time: 6.25 hours Official Counter: Roger Rouch Observers: Visitors: Reporter Kieran Nicholson and photographer Joe Amon from the Denver Post visited and took notes and photographs for a potential newspaper article. Also an observer from the 1990's, Greg Thomas. He and his wife helped with spotting and for a couple of hours. Weather: Mostly or partly cloudy all day with a horizon haze that limited distant spotting. SE winds were mild in the morning at about 1 Bft., but shifted to the NE at about 2 to 3 Bft. and in the afternoon. Temperatures warmed from the low 40's to the low 50's Raptor Observations: Raptor migration was highlighted by an afternoon push of 29 low flying American Kestrels. Other migrating raptors were Red-tailed Hawk, Turkey Vultures, and accipiters (Cooper's and some unidentified). Migration flight was very generally lower altitude and near the ridge line. Local activity included a few Turkey Vultures, Red-tails, Cooper's Hawks and what was most likely the Red Rocks Peregrine. Non-raptor Observations: Also seen or heard were Spotted Towhee, American Robin, Townsend's Solitaire, Black-Billed Magpie, Common Raven, American Crow, Western Meadow Lark, Western Scrub Jay, Northern Flicker, and a pair of high flying Great Blue Heron. Predictions: Unsettled weather could bode for another good day. ======================================================================== 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/20150408231541.26626.qmail%40taiga.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
