Colorado, USA
| Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 01, 2012 | |||
| Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Turkey Vulture | 4 | 4 | 5 |
| Osprey | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 4 | 4 | 155 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Golden Eagle | 1 | 1 | 8 |
| American Kestrel | 1 | 1 | 21 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Unknown Buteo | 1 | 1 | 9 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Total: | 12 | 12 | 242 |
| Observation start time: | 08:15:00 |
| Observation end time: | 14:15:00 |
| Total observation time: | 6 hours |
| Official Counter | Francis Commercon |
| Observers: | Cyndy Johnson, Joyce Commercon, Marianne Batchelder, Maureen Blackford |
Visitors:
Visitors were very frequent, even more than the birds. A friend of Cyndy Johnson, Maureen Blackford, was up for most of the day and helped make many valuable observations. Another, quiet hiker came up to the ridge for an hour at the end and watched. Many families with young children and dogs came. In the last hour, a woman talked about the Kestrels in her yard, a man said he'd taken birdwatching classes in college, and another told us all about the Walk the Wetlands program at Chatfield. The public seemed very interested by birding matters today.
Weather:
The day was very calm and warm. The wind was slight, but blew from the northeast. At about 2:00, the wind picked up rather ferociously for a short period. The sky was generally devoid of clouds and by midday nearly no clouds were seen.
Raptor Observations:
A modest number of migrating Red Tailed hawks, though many local Red Tailed Hawks were spotted flying in various directions in pairs close to Mt. Morrison, West Ridge, and Cabrini Shrine. The Local Kestrels made a pass about midday, and a local immature Golden Eagle passed overhead twice. At about 2:00 MST a local Red Tailed Hawk stopped on a power pole on the east side of the ridge to snack on a snake. yum. Migrating Turkey Vultures were as common as the migrating Red Tailed hawks. The migrant highlight of the day was an osprey that flew directly over the ridge.
Non-raptor Observations:
The songbirds seemed quieter today than usual. Townsend's Solitaires made frequent appearances and Western scrub Jays were common. One Gray Headed Junco showed itself, and Western meadowlarks sang periodically. A possible Western Fence Lizard (possibly good Roadrunner food) scrambled over the rocks. It had a characteristic turquoise underbelly.
Predictions:
Tomorrow may be a tough day for those hardy souls who decide to brave the comparatively cold weather that is predicted. Hawks may be fewer due to decreasing temperatures.
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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