Colorado, USA
| Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 29, 2012 | |||
| Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Turkey Vulture | 1 | 112 | 113 |
| Osprey | 1 | 15 | 16 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 2 | 8 |
| Northern Harrier | 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 1 | 21 | 24 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 2 | 59 | 67 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 1 | 12 | 12 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 3 | 82 | 233 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 11 | 12 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 3 | 10 |
| American Kestrel | 1 | 82 | 102 |
| Merlin | 0 | 3 | 5 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 2 | 8 | 11 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 4 | 10 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 33 | 37 |
| Unknown Buteo | 1 | 16 | 24 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 6 | 7 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Raptor | 1 | 10 | 14 |
| Total: | 15 | 486 | 716 |
| Observation start time: | 07:30:00 |
| Observation end time: | 14:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 6.5 hours |
| Official Counter | Joyce Commercon |
| Observers: | Cynthia Madsen, Dave Hill, Francis Commercon, Heidi Seeland, Jeff Birek, Robert Hill, Tim Smart |
Visitors:
A Denver Field Ornithologist (DFO) field trip, led by Tim Smart, got started early on the Ridge, and included Jayne and George James as well as Robert Hill. A little later in the morning, an Audubon Society of Greater Denver (ASGD) field trip of fifteen, led by Dave Hill and Cynthia Madsen, arrived to learn about hawk identification and HawkWatch from RMBO biologist Jeff Birek. As usual, a number of hikers stopped by for the view; some of them curious about hawk-watching.
Weather:
The day was sunny and partly cloudy with minimal cloud cover (hugging the North and West horizons) early on, increasing to about 50 percent coverage scattered over the sky later in the day. Cool, level 2 B winds came from the East and Northeast. The temperature rose from 12 C to 15 C. There was reasonably good visibility but with noticeable haze to the South and Southeast.
Raptor Observations:
The best bird of the day was the adult Broad-winged Hawk that migrated directly over the Ridge mid-morning. A local Swainson's Hawk passed (going South) close by the Broad-wing, which made for a nice comparison of species. One of the local nesting Peregrines aggressively drove one and then another of two migrating Peregrines out of its territory early in the morning. There was a lot of local Cooper's Hawk activity, including some territorial flight displays, which were pointed out by Jeff Birek. Some local Turkey Vultures spent the day passing back and forth North and South from behind Mt. Morrison to Cabrini.
Non-raptor Observations:
Four American White Pelicans were spotted well South of the Ridge headed further South. Eight Common Ravens spiraled up over WestRidge and went South over Mt. Morrison. A group of about five Violet-green Swallows flitted about near the Ridge late in the afternoon. Other birds seen or heard included Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Mourning Dove, Black-billed Magpie, Spotted Towhee, White-throated Swift, Bushtit, Yellow-Rumped Warbler, Broad-tailed Hummingbird, Western Scrub-Jay, Barn Swallow, and American Robin.
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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