Colorado, USA
| Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 17, 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 | 19 | 19 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 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 | 8 | 48 | 48 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Prairie Falcon | 1 | 9 | 9 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Unknown Buteo | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Total: | 14 | 92 | 92 |
| Observation start time: | 08:15:00 |
| Observation end time: | 14:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 5.75 hours |
| Official Counter | Joyce Commercon |
| Observers: | Francis Commercon, Heather Jackson |
Visitors:
We were happy to have Rob Reilly, Jeff. Co. Parks Volunteer, stop by for a while to help us spot migrants. There were many hikers and bikers today, perhaps because the trails were nice and dry. Several stopped by to ask what we were doing and were interested to know which raptors we had seen. Some were interested enough to inquire when the peak of migration occurred and how we managed to scan for migrants in the distance, while others offered that they too enjoyed watching raptors.
Weather:
The day was warm and mostly sunny with temperatures of 10 to 12 C. The wind picked up mid-morning and blew steadily and strongly thereafter from the West reaching 4 B with gusts up to 5 B. Cloud cover decreased from about 90% to 10% by afternoon.
Raptor Observations:
More than half of the migrants passed to the East of Dinosaur Ridge along Green Mountain or high above it. The rest were split evenly between those passing near the Ridge or well to the West over WestRidge. An immature Bald Eagle migrant, probably a first or second year, passed close to the HawkWatch site. A local Golden Eagle was spotted early in the morning. A number of local Red-tailed Hawks, at least three, were seen "escorting" migrants, as well as circling up and down the Ridge and its valleys. One was seen dropping its legs in flight. The highlight of the day was a pair of local Prairie Falcons that came from the West and circled together briefly over top of the HawkWatch site while giving their shrill kik-kik call.
Non-raptor Observations:
Also seen or heard were White-throated Swift, Mountain Chickadee, Slate-colored Junco, Western Scrub-Jay, Black-billed Magpie, Western Meadowlark, American Crow, Bushtits, House Finch, Common Raven, Townsend's Solitaire and Mountain Bluebird.
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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