Dinosaur Ridge Colorado, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 13, 2011 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 0 37 44 Osprey 0 3 4 Bald Eagle 0 3 36 Northern Harrier 0 1 4 Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 9 21 Cooper's Hawk 0 28 41 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 6 48 80 Merlin 0 0 1 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0 Prairie Falcon 0 3 12 Mississippi Kite 0 0 0 Unknown Accipiter 1 12 12 Unknown Buteo 0 10 24 Unknown Falcon 0 11 13 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 3 Total: 9 252 567 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 09:00:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 6 hours Official Counter: Gary Rossmiller Observers: Cynthia Madsen Visitors: Lise Neer at noon Weather: Overcast and chilly all day, clouds on top of Mt. Morrison and Sleeper House until early afternoon. Increasingly dark to the south as the day progressed. Light winds out of the NE most of the day, calm at times. Fairly steady temp, humidity and barometer. Horizons visible but hazy. Raptor Observations: Raptors directly overhead or below ridge to the east. Beautiful osprey flew directly over us, circled and headed south then east. Local goshawk overhead soaring midday but due to other raptors appearing at same time his direction wasn't noted. The accipiters were just above the brush early in the day, coming up to slightly above eye level later. Several local TV sighted. Kestrels and accipters slow but consistent today. 2 local RT. Non-raptor Observations: Many of the local deer on the Ridge are not does but young bucks with emerging buds. 6 Mtn. Bluebirds, Ravens, 7 magpies heading north, pair of Townsend Solitaire sighted. Predictions: More cool moist weather, another slow day? ======================================================================== 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.
