Saturday, 16 March 2013

[cobirds] HSR: Dinosaur Ridge (15 Mar 2013) 6 Raptors

Dinosaur Ridge
Colorado, USA

Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 15, 2013
SpeciesDay's CountMonth TotalSeason Total
Black Vulture000
Turkey Vulture000
Osprey000
Bald Eagle11717
Northern Harrier000
Sharp-shinned Hawk111
Cooper's Hawk011
Northern Goshawk000
Red-shouldered Hawk000
Broad-winged Hawk000
Red-tailed Hawk33636
Rough-legged Hawk011
Swainson's Hawk000
Ferruginous Hawk166
Golden Eagle000
American Kestrel000
Merlin000
Peregrine Falcon000
Prairie Falcon088
Mississippi Kite000
Unknown Accipiter011
Unknown Buteo011
Unknown Falcon000
Unknown Eagle000
Unknown Raptor011
Total:67373


Observation start time: 08:45:00
Observation end time: 15:00:00
Total observation time: 6.25 hours
Official CounterDave Hill
Observers: Cynthia Madsen, Janet Shin, Jim Banks, Jim Schmoker, Mary Cay Burger, Mary Geder



Visitors:
Bikers: 29 Hikers: 44 Runners: 8 Dogs: 8 A family of 4 came up to talk with us. I gave them an RMBO brochure.

Weather:
Temperatures ranged from 61°F in the morning to 71°F in the afternoon. Winds ranged from calm to 25 mph gusts. In all, it was another wonderful day on Dinosaur Ridge.

Raptor Observations:
We observed six migrants today: 1 Bald Eagle 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk 3 Red-tailed Hawk 1 Ferruginous Hawk. Non-migrating, local raptors included: 1 Cooper's Hawk 5 Red-tailed Hawk (1 Red-tailed Hawk was a Harlan's - soon to migrate) 1 Golden Eagle 2 Prairie Falcon.

Non-raptor Observations:
Non raptor related species included: 8 Western Scrub-Jay 3 Black-billed Magpie 17 American Crow 13 Common Raven 1 Mountain Chickadee 4 Bushtit 1 Townsend's Solitaire 1 American Robin 5 Cedar Waxwing 6 Dark-eyed Junco ( several singing) 2 House Finch

Predictions:
Rain expected!


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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