Saturday, 31 March 2012

[cobirds] HSR: Dinosaur Ridge (31 Mar 2012) 3 Raptors

Dinosaur Ridge
Colorado, USA

Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 31, 2012
SpeciesDay's CountMonth TotalSeason Total
Black Vulture000
Turkey Vulture011
Osprey011
Bald Eagle066
Northern Harrier000
Sharp-shinned Hawk033
Cooper's Hawk188
Northern Goshawk000
Red-shouldered Hawk000
Broad-winged Hawk000
Red-tailed Hawk1151151
Rough-legged Hawk022
Swainson's Hawk011
Ferruginous Hawk022
Golden Eagle077
American Kestrel12020
Merlin022
Peregrine Falcon033
Prairie Falcon066
Mississippi Kite000
Unknown Accipiter044
Unknown Buteo088
Unknown Falcon011
Unknown Eagle000
Unknown Raptor044
Total:3230230


Observation start time: 08:30:00
Observation end time: 15:00:00
Total observation time: 5.5 hours
Official CounterGary Rossmiller
Observers: Joe Lupfer, Karen Clark



Visitors:
3 ladies stopped by over the noon hour with binoculars. A raven over Green Mountain was the only bird sighted while they were there. Mentioned hawkcount.org for daily updates.

Weather:
Beautiful day and sky; light, thin cloud cover. Very sunny, hazy, horizons visible. 15 deg C up to 25 deg C, slightly falling barometer 29.67" to 29.51". Light variable breeze all day from the E or SE between 2 & 3 B with an occasional gust to 4.

Raptor Observations:
Very few birds of any kind today. Only a few ravens during the day, UB's by Mt. Morrison a few times during the day. Migrating raptors fairly close to ridgeline but high except for RT.

Non-raptor Observations:
Very light trail use today, mostly runners and hikers.

Predictions:
More than today


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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