Colorado, USA
| Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 17, 2012 | |||
| Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 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 | 2 | 32 | 40 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 0 | 57 | 208 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 2 | 9 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 51 | 71 |
| Merlin | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 3 | 6 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 2 | 8 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 17 | 21 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 7 | 15 |
| Unknown Falcon | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 2 | 6 |
| Total: | 5 | 252 | 482 |
| Observation start time: | 09:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 15:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 6 hours |
| Official Counter | Paul Slingsby |
| Observers: | Art Hudak, Jim Schmoker |
Visitors:
We had 5 visitors who were interested in hawks. One, from Minnesota, stayed for about an hour.
Weather:
Sunny until 2pm MST when clouds covered the western sky. Visibility was unlimited all day. Temperature ranged 14 deg. to 19.5 deg C. Wind was about 8 to 12 mph. It was nice. Because of thin, high clouds the light was flat causing difficulty seeing details.
Raptor Observations:
About 1/2 of raptors passed near Dinosaur Ridge, the other half passed along Mt. Morrison ridge. Non-migrating birds were the most interesting. A Goshawk flew from the west side of Dinosaur Ridge toward Power Line gap (Identified by its impressive size, straight wings, long tail with slight point - colors were not noticeable in flat light, so I suppose this is not a firm ID). A local Cooper's Hawk appeared 3 separate times. A mystery bird flew from near Dinosaur Ridge toward Bear Creek Lake Park. It appeared most like a very large nighthawk - erratic flight as for bug catching and pointed, falcon-like wings, with wing strokes pretty constant and reaching 45 deg. both up and down. Again, no idea of coloration. Our closest idea of this bird,first suggested by Jim Schmoker, was Mississippi Kite, but we had inadequate information and nerve for such a reach. It didn't seem to be a gull. Oddly, we saw no American Kestrels or Prairie Falcons.
Non-raptor Observations:
Raptors were few and other birds also were fewer than normal: Western Meadowlarks 2, Black-billed Magpies 7, Common Ravens 4, Mountain Chickadees 3, White-throated Swifts 5, Double-crested Cormorant 1. One of the 2 Western Scrub Jays was seen by Art Hudak to be carrying nest material.
Predictions:
More hawks.
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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