Dinosaur Ridge Colorado, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 11, 2011 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 2 37 44 Osprey 0 3 4 Bald Eagle 0 3 36 Northern Harrier 0 1 4 Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 7 19 Cooper's Hawk 1 27 40 Northern Goshawk 0 0 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 0 86 246 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 2 Swainson's Hawk 0 0 0 Ferruginous Hawk 0 0 10 Golden Eagle 0 1 13 American Kestrel 1 42 74 Merlin 0 0 1 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0 Prairie Falcon 0 3 12 Mississippi Kite 0 0 0 Unknown Accipiter 0 11 11 Unknown Buteo 0 10 24 Unknown Falcon 0 11 13 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 3 Total: 4 242 557 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:30:00 Observation end time: 15:30:00 Total observation time: 7 hours Official Counter: Bill Wuerthele Observers: Jim Schmoker Visitors: David Mendosa spent several hours on the ridge with us. Weather: Clear, sunny day with a constant, light wind (level 2 and 3) from the east/southeast throughout the day. High, thin clouds later in the day, but no more than 5% cover. Somewhat hazy far to the south. High of 62 degrees F. Raptor Observations: Very quiet day on the ridge. No migrating raptors until about 2:00 (MST), when an immature Turkey Vulture sailed right over the observation point (I was beginning to think I might be the first to record a zero migrant day). In the next hour and a half, three more migrants showed (another TV, an Am. Kestrel and a Cooper's Hawk) for a total of four migrants on the day. The resident Red-tailed Hawks were largely absent for much of the day as well (pair seen in courtship behavior late in the day). Three TVs and an unidentified accipiter were seen moving south. Non-raptor Observations: Very quiet day for non-raptors as well - several local Scrub-Jays, Black-billed Magpies, N. Flickers, W. Meadowlarks (below), and White-throated Swifts. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory (jeff.bi...@rmbo.org) 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 post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en.