Colorado, USA
| Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 19, 2012 | |||
| 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 | 6 | 6 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 0 | 6 | 6 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 1 | 49 | 49 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| American Kestrel | 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Merlin | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 5 | 5 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Total: | 2 | 85 | 85 |
| Observation start time: | 08:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 14:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 6 hours |
| Official Counter | Roger Rouch |
| Observers: | Bill Flowers |
Visitors:
Eight hikers stopped very briefly at the sight.
Weather:
Mid-thirties in the early morning warming only slightly to the mid-forties during the day. Partly cloudy with a slight haze along the west ridges. Light winds generally from the east turning to a cold wind from the north at day's end.
Raptor Observations:
Only two migrating raptors, near mid-day, a red-tail and kestrel. About 20 red-tail sightings and a few distant unknown buteo sightings circled along the west ridge throughout the day, most likely a few red-tail being re sighted. A resident prairie landed on the power pole just north of the site. Shortly after his departure a local kestrel landed on the power pole. A local golden eagle was sighted near Mt. Morrison early in the day.
Non-raptor Observations:
A group of 6 or 8 magpie played along the lower areas of the Dino ridge. One Western Scrub Jay. About 5 solitaire and a similar number of robin flitted among the juniper mostly in the AM. Several raven were sighted and probably re sighted along the west ridge through the day. Approximately eighteen elk and twelve deer along the ridges near Cabrini. And a rabbit on the hiking trail.
Predictions:
A cold looking front with wind and distant rain in the NW late in the day along with more settled weather in the forecast tomorrow may offer a hope of higher counts?
Report submitted by Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory (jeff.birek@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.
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