Colorado, USA
| Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 23, 2012 | |||
| Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Turkey Vulture | 4 | 104 | 105 |
| Osprey | 1 | 12 | 13 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 2 | 8 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 1 | 16 | 19 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 2 | 53 | 61 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 2 | 9 | 9 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 4 | 74 | 225 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 1 | 9 | 10 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 3 | 10 |
| American Kestrel | 5 | 74 | 94 |
| Merlin | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 5 | 8 |
| Prairie Falcon | 1 | 4 | 10 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 3 | 31 | 35 |
| Unknown Buteo | 1 | 14 | 22 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 5 | 6 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Raptor | 1 | 7 | 11 |
| Total: | 26 | 430 | 660 |
| Observation start time: | 07:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 15:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 8 hours |
| Official Counter | Roger Rouch |
| Observers: | Bill Flowers, Bill Wuerthele, Tiffani Stout |
Visitors:
A good day for visitors who helped with spotting. Ann Price from the Raptor Education Foundation along with her daughter and daughter's friend. David Gulbenkian, a visitor to the site since the early days of the program. And Evan Vitale who helped with spotting last week. All stayed for around an hour each.
Weather:
Warm in the morning and very warm in the afternoon, with temperatures rising from 17 C to 26 C. Mostly clear with a bank of clouds over the west ridges much of the day. A light wind generally from the SE.
Raptor Observations:
More movement in the morning and later afternoon with a slow period mid-day. Height of flight was variable with raptors generally closer and over Dino ridge in the early day, and higher over Dino ridge and distant or very distant over the west ridges later. Local raptors included a small number of Red-tail. Several Turkey Vulture circled over the west ridge and around Mt. Morrison. A local Kestrel landed on the power line west of the ridge and another local Kestrel was harassed by a larger unidentified local falcon near Red Rocks.
Non-raptor Observations:
Western Meadow Lark, Black-billed Magpie, Spotted Towhee, Violet-green Swallow, and Red-winged Blackbird were heard or observed in smaller numbers. A noisy group of six or more Western Scrub Jay patrolled up and down the ridge near mid-day and were generally present in larger numbers than what has been typical. Numerous White-throated Swift were observed as individuals and in a few groups of about 10 to 25.
Predictions:
Similar to today? Plenty of water and sunscreen suggested.
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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