Dinosaur Ridge - Bird Conservancy of the Rockies Colorado, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 03, 2019 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 0 0 0 Osprey 0 0 0 Bald Eagle 0 0 0 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 0 0 0 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Swainson's Hawk 0 0 0 Ferruginous Hawk 0 0 0 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: 0 0 0 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 12:00:00 Observation end time: 13:00:00 Total observation time: 1 hours Official Counter: Mike Fernandez Observers: Visitors: No visitors. Weather: On arrival at platform, sky 100% cloud cover but some hint of blue showing through and very light snow. By end of 1-hr watch, snow increased, temperature dropped 5 degrees F, wind increased, snowfall increased, and complete white out above. Able to see Mt Morrison and Green Mountain at first but both not visible an hour later. Snow fell entire watch, with 3-4 inches of snow on the ground, increasing intensity over the hour. No tracks in the snow except two coyotes who used the trail from near the Stego lot all the way to the platform and beyond. (PWS: Solterra) Raptor Observations: Migrating Raptors: NONE Non-Migrating Raptors: Falcon species flew directly south over the ridge. Visible as narrow profile from behind only. But at end of ridge did a complex barrel roll, seemingly to shake the snow off its upper wings, which gave a view of wing shape that suggested Falcon species. Non-raptor Observations: Common Raven (1), Black-billed Magpie (1), Dark-eyed Junco - Oregon (1), Black-capped Chickadee (2). Predictions: Unpredictable, but last year this time we had several Red-tailed Hawks and Golden Eagles. Trail is covered with 3-6 inches of snow and with current temperature predictions that will be the status on Monday as well. Keep an eye out and be ready for coyotes. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Matthew Smith ([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. 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/cfda11ca49230eadbb328bf209d8e0de%40hawkcount.org. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
