Colorado, USA
| Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 16, 2012 | |||
| Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Turkey Vulture | 2 | 46 | 47 |
| Osprey | 0 | 9 | 10 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 2 | 8 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 10 | 13 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 3 | 30 | 38 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 2 | 57 | 208 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 2 | 9 |
| American Kestrel | 6 | 51 | 71 |
| Merlin | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 2 | 8 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 1 | 17 | 21 |
| Unknown Buteo | 2 | 7 | 15 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 3 | 4 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 2 | 6 |
| Total: | 18 | 247 | 477 |
| Observation start time: | 08:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 16:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 8 hours |
| Official Counter | Roger Rouch |
| Observers: | Bill Flowers, Bill Wuerthele |
Visitors:
A gentleman and his young son stopped by for the last half-hour of the day and helped spot. He was interested in returned at another time this season.
Weather:
Cool with a mix of clouds and sun. Temperatures ranged from 7 C in the morning to 13 C in the mid-afternoon. Only a mild breeze generally from the SE.
Raptor Observations:
A push of migrating raptors in the early morning and late afternoon, with some far and over the west ridge and others close to or over Dino ridge. A peregrine was observed in the morning along the east side of the ridge and another in the afternoon along the west side of the ridge, both with dedicated south to north flight. Local TVs circled over the west ridge and I-70 much of the day. An odd trio of one male and two female local kestrels landed on the power pole behind the site. Also, several local red-tail and a local cooper's were observed.
Non-raptor Observations:
Black-billed Magpie, Western Meadow Lark, Common Raved, Violet-green Swallow, White-throated Swift, Say's Pheobe, Spotted Towhee,American Robin, and Bushtit were heard or sighted.
Predictions:
It still seems like a general pattern to have distant migrating raptors over the west ridge, with a few naked eye birds along and over the ridge?
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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