Dinosaur Ridge - Bird Conservancy of the Rockies Colorado, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 18, 2018 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 0 0 0 Osprey 0 0 0 Bald Eagle 1 1 1 Northern Harrier 0 0 0 Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 1 1 Cooper's Hawk 1 2 2 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 6 89 89 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Swainson's Hawk 0 0 0 Ferruginous Hawk 0 1 1 Golden Eagle 3 6 6 American Kestrel 1 1 1 Merlin 0 0 0 Peregrine Falcon 0 1 1 Prairie Falcon 0 0 0 Mississippi Kite 0 0 0 Unknown Accipiter 0 2 2 Unknown Buteo 0 3 3 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 0 Total: 12 107 107 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:30:00 Observation end time: 13:00:00 Total observation time: 4.5 hours Official Counter: Mike Fernandez Observers: Carol Cwiklinski, Steve Small Visitors: Several curious visitors to the platform today, but as the watch progressed and the east winds increased across the top of the ridge, most were mainly eager to get down. Weather: Watch cut short one hour due to incoming winter storm. Pleasant day and warm if standing on the west side of platform. Windchill on the east side was actually blowing my camera (6 lbs) hanging from a branch (sorry juniper!). (PWS: Solterra) Raptor Observations: Migrating Raptors: We had a flow of three Golden Eagles early, then a mix of Red-taileds, falcon and accipitor late. Morning Migrators: The GOEAs all followed the same flight plan: high and distant west at limit of unaided vision approaching Mt. Morrison, catching an apparent frequent thermal over the Saddle, continuing NNW and exiting view over Bare Slope or Apex. Afternoon Migrators: The afternoon migrating RTHAs took a different path, more east side of ridge and more directly north. Same with the Kestrel and Cooper's. However, the Cooper's Hawk took a path unseen before by this observer: Flying low east of the ridge to Golden, then turned south over to the apparent thermal above the Saddle, circled up high and then headed diligently northwest on the same flight plan as the morning GOEAs to beyond limit of binocs. Non-Migrating Raptors: One local Cooper's and three local Red-taileds, mostly east of ridge. Non-raptor Observations: Sandhill Cranes (2) over the western ridges; Woodhouse's Scrub-jays (2) alighted on the platform entry posts; Black-billed Magpies on the lower east side; a few American Crows; occassional migrator-escort Common Ravens; Bluebirds (unable to identify if Mountain or Western against the sun) in a flock of ~12 right overhead on the ridge; American Robins in a huge flock down ridge and to the north early (n=50); and our friends the TOSO's were back to spend the day with us. (all reported on eBird) Predictions: Winter storm early and clearing late morning. Expect spring storm wet trail conditions. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Bird Conservancy of the Rockies ([email protected]) Dinosaur Ridge - Bird Conservancy of the Rockies information may be found at: http://www.birdconservancy.org/ More site information at hawkcount.org: http://hawkcount.org/siteinfo.php?rsite=123 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 Bird Conservancy of the Rockies from about 9 AM to around 3 PM from March 1st to May 7th. 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. 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