Colorado, USA
| Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 14, 2013 | |||
| Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bald Eagle | 2 | 16 | 16 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 5 | 33 | 33 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 5 | 5 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 8 | 8 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Raptor | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total: | 8 | 67 | 67 |
| Observation start time: | 08:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 14:15:00 |
| Total observation time: | 6.25 hours |
| Official Counter | Roger Rouch |
| Observers: | Claude Vallieres, Mitchell Blystone |
Visitors:
Duane Nelson stopped for about an hour. Duane participated in the initial site selection for the program, helped in the program start up, and worked as counter. He had some interesting insights into the program history and early counts, offered some speculation on the perceived count declines, and provided some spotting tips. He expressed appreciation in the continuation of the program.
Weather:
Warm with a light breeze from the SE and few clouds.
Raptor Observations:
A adult Bald Eagle was sighted circling near Cabrini and continued in slow circles working north and out of sight, and counted as a migrant. A second migrating Bald Eagle followed a more typical path south to north along the west ridges. Migrating raptors generally increased elevation and were more westerly in the afternoon. Local Red-tailed Hawks were observed on the power poles to the east, distant down ridge, and near Mt. Morrison. A Prairie Falcon (or Falcons) made two forays up and down the distance of the Dino Ridge.
Non-raptor Observations:
An interesting non-raptor day. Several small flights of Mountains Bluebirds, Robins and identified passerines flew along the ridge going south to north. Also sighted/heard were Black-capped Chickadee, Bushtit, Townsend's Solitaire, Western Scrub-Jay, Black-billed Magpie, Common Raven, Red-winged Blackbird, American Crow (one larger flock), and Dark-eyed Junco. The Cabrini elk herd plus two deer just east of Dino Ridge. A mystery call coming from the brush south of the site had the closest match with the Sibley's app to a Chipping Sparrow.
Predictions:
Similar? As per Duane's suggestions, warm cloudless afternoons often mean high flying raptors, a field or fields above horizon.
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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