[cobirds] HSR: Dinosaur Ridge (15 Apr 2012) 9 Raptors

Dinosaur Ridge
Colorado, USA

Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 15, 2012
Species	Day's Count	Month Total	Season Total
Black Vulture	0	0	0
Turkey Vulture	2	44	45
Osprey	0	9	10
Bald Eagle	1	2	8
Northern Harrier	0	4	4
Sharp-shinned Hawk	0	10	13
Cooper's Hawk	1	27	35
Northern Goshawk	0	0	0
Red-shouldered Hawk	0	0	0
Broad-winged Hawk	0	0	0
Red-tailed Hawk	0	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	1	45	65
Merlin	0	2	4
Peregrine Falcon	1	1	4
Prairie Falcon	0	2	8
Mississippi Kite	0	0	0
Unknown Accipiter	0	16	20
Unknown Buteo	1	5	13
Unknown Falcon	2	3	4
Unknown Eagle	0	0	0
Unknown Raptor	0	2	6
Total:	9	229	459

Observation start time:	08:00:00
Observation end time:	12:00:00
Total observation time:	4 hours
Official Counter	Joyce Commercon
Observers:	Cynthia Madsen, Dave Hill

Visitors:
There were only two casual visitors today, a pair of hikers who arrived early to take in the view. Just before the weather began to turn, Cynthia Madsen and Dave Hill arrived for an hour with the Birds of Prey class (Colorado School of Mines K-12 Teacher Enhancement Program), led by Pam Batton.

Weather:
The morning started off partly-sunny, crisp and cool (6 C) with calm winds from the East and snow on the surrounding valleys and ridges. Visibility was good. The weather began to roll in just before 11 am MST, with increasing winds from the E and NE bringing snow squalls which reduced visibility to the South in Rooney Valley and East (Green Mt). At noon MST, snow (and wind) enveloped Dinosaur Ridge reducing visibility completely to the East and almost completely to the South and West.

Raptor Observations:
Migrants were steady until the weather arrived. Most were over Westridge. The treat of the day for the counter was a migrating Peregrine Falcon that passed going North at eye level just West of the Ridge. The local male American Kestrel and a local Red-Tail hunted on the East side of the Ridge. The local Prairie Falcon sat on the nearby power pole for a while. A likely Northern Harrier with long tail, lanky wings and strong wing-strokes was seen at the North end of Westridge, but showed no obvious signs of migrating. A local immature Golden Eagle was spotted near Cabrini.

Non-raptor Observations:
Other birds seen or heard (before the snow came) included Western Scrub-Jay, Black-billed Magpie, Spotted Towhee, American Crow, Common Raven, Northern Flicker and American Robin.

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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.