Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists Colorado, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 14, 2022 -------------------------------------------------------------------
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 1 3 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 3 3 11 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Swainson's Hawk 0 1 4 Ferruginous Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 0 0 2 Merlin 0 0 0 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0 Prairie Falcon 0 0 2 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: 3 5 22 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:45:00 Observation end time: 11:30:00 Total observation time: 3.75 hours Official Counter: Ajit Antony Observers: Weather: Today's wind forecast on earth.nullschool.net indicated there would be SSW winds and though this does not usually bode for a good flight I decided to come up anyway in case the West component of this wind could push any birds migrating over the Front Range toward Dinosaur Ridge. This morning the forecast on weather.gov which I have used for years suggested instead that the winds would be from the North changing to NE – quite a difference in the 2 forecasts – all the more reason for me to come up and check it out. As I came up the trail the wind was definitely from the South, as it was on the West side of the top of the ridge, however 15 feet to the East of the top of the ridge there was a ridge lift from the East at Level 2 changing the next hour to Level 4 on the Beaufort wind scale, which shifted in the last hour to SE, with nary a North wind for the time I was at the watch. There was excellent cloud cover which made easy to find distant birds. Clear visibility was up to North Table Mountain. Raptor Observations: The 1st migrant was an adult RT at 9:42 AM EST seen to the West over the ridge which initially seem to be circling and moving northward but because it kept flying higher with every circle I kept watching it and after about 3 minutes it closed its wings and glided South. Non-migrant raptors: At 10:05 AM I saw 3 dark birds in the valley south of "2 Trees" with dihedrals which I thought were TV through my binoculars and 1 of them vanished below the ridge. I was able to find the remaining 2 above the ridge with my scope and they soared rock-steady (TV would be rocking because of their lighter wing loading) and they had tan carpal bars on the dorsal (upperside) wings (which is seen in all ages of GE except juvenile), both of them flying north below the western ridge. RT 5, TV 3. Non-raptor Observations: Black-billed Magpie 1, American Robin 1, Barn Swallow 1, Common Raven 3, Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay 1, Black-capped Chickadee 1, House Finch 3. ======================================================================== Report submitted by DAVID HILL () Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists information may be found at: http://www.dfobirds.org More site information at hawkcount.org: https://hawkcount.org/siteinfo.php?rsite=123 Site Description: Dinosaur Ridge is the only regularly staffed hawk watch in Colorado and is the best place in the world to see migrating Ferruginous Hawks. Hawk watchers may see 17 species of migrating raptors; and it is an excellent site to see rare dark morph buteos including Broad-winged hawk, Swainson’s hawk, Ferruginous hawk, Rough-legged hawk and Red-tailed Hawk. Other raptors we see include Golden and Bald Eagles, Northern harrier, Osprey, Peregrine Falcons, Prairie Falcons, Cooper's and Sharp-shinned Hawks, American Kestrels, Merlin, and Turkey Vultures. Northern Goshawk is uncommon but also counted each season. Non-raptor species include Rock Wren, Bushtit, Western Bluebird, Sandhill Crane, White-throated Swift, American White Pelican, and Dusky Grouse. Birders of any skill level are always welcome. The hawk watch at Dinosaur Ridge is staffed by a Hawk Counter and volunteers from 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM from March 1st to May 14th, weather permitting. 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 southwest end of lot to the 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. (Distance: 0.56 miles, Elevation gain: 259 feet) -- -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en?hl=en * All posts should be signed with the poster's full name and city. Include bird species and location in the subject line when appropriate * Join Colorado Field Ornithologists https://cobirds.org/CFO/Membership/ --- 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 cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. 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