Colorado, USA
| Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 14, 2012 | |||
| Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Turkey Vulture | 7 | 42 | 43 |
| Osprey | 2 | 9 | 10 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 1 | 7 |
| Northern Harrier | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 5 | 10 | 13 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 7 | 26 | 34 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 4 | 55 | 206 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 2 | 9 |
| American Kestrel | 20 | 44 | 64 |
| Merlin | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 2 | 8 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 7 | 16 | 20 |
| Unknown Buteo | 1 | 4 | 12 |
| Unknown Falcon | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 2 | 6 |
| Total: | 58 | 220 | 450 |
| Observation start time: | 08:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 15:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 7 hours |
| Official Counter | Bill Wuerthele |
| Observers: | Lee Farrell, Scott Severs |
Visitors:
Celia Greenman spent four hours on the Ridge helping us with spotting and identifying raptors. A number of hikers and bikers stopped by and inquired about Hawk Watch (one group visiting from Alaska). Several were very interested to learn they could follow the seasonal raptor count for Dinosaur Ridge and other sites at www.hawkcount.org. One group of hikers asked if there had been any recent Roadrunner sightings.
Weather:
A mostly sunny morning gave way to a very cloudy afternoon (cloud cover 100% by 2:00 p.m.). No rain at the site, but it appeared to be raining to the northwest and southwest as we left. Light easterly winds shifted to the northeast in the early afternoon and became steadily stronger. By 2:00 p.m. the winds were a steady 5 B (22 mph), with gusts to 6 B (30 mph). Temperatures ranged from 9.4 to 12.7 C. Temperature and humidity data are from the Weather Underground station at Rooney Road. No BP data are available from that station.
Raptor Observations:
Migrating raptors: In the morning and early afternoon, many of the migrating raptors were moving along the west ridge, requiring spotting scopes for identification. As the wind shifted to the northeast, we seemed to get more birds coming close to the ridge with a number of nice naked-eye views. Especially nice was a very close-in view of an adult Cooper's Hawk below eye level. Eight migratory species were seen today with 58 individuals counted. American Kestrels and Accipiters were the most prevalent. Non-migrating raptors included: an Osprey, a Bald Eagle, a Golden Eagle, a Peregrine Falcon, Red-tailed Hawks, American Kestrels, Cooper's Hawks and Turkey Vultures. The odd event - a male and two female local American Kestrels landed on a power line and perched quite close together for a time before the male finally chased off one of the females.
Non-raptor Observations:
Non-raptors included: Barn Swallows, White-throated Swifts, Yellow-rumped Warblers, Spotted Towhees, Western Meadowlarks, Common Ravens, American Crows, Western Scrub-Jays, American Robins, Black-billed Magpies, a Rock Pigeon, a Say's Phoebe, and a male Broad-tailed Hummingbird winging by the west side of the observation site.
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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