Colorado, USA
| Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 18, 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 | 0 | 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 | 6 | 54 | 54 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| American Kestrel | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Prairie Falcon | 1 | 10 | 10 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Total: | 9 | 101 | 101 |
| Observation start time: | 07:45:00 |
| Observation end time: | 14:15:00 |
| Total observation time: | 6.5 hours |
| Official Counter | Roger Rouch |
| Observers: | Claude Vallieres, Jennifer Hyypio |
Visitors:
Pat Connor, a Jeffco Open Space volunteer who does bird census surveys for them stopped for a couple of hours and added a pair of good observation eyes.
Weather:
Cool with temperatures rising from 1C to 6C. Moderate winds ranging from 2 to 4 Bft. with some stronger gusts. Mostly sunny.
Raptor Observations:
Migrating raptors were mostly along Dino Ridge, but no strong trend for time of day. A Rough-legged came from the Green Mountain direction, perched on the power poles to the east of the ridge and moved on after being harassed by a local Red-tailed Hawk. We got some fun photos of this which will be posted later. Local raptors observed were Golden Eagle, Prairie Falcon, and Red-tailed Hawk.
Non-raptor Observations:
Seen or heard were White-throated Swift, Mountain Chickadee, Western Scrub-Jay, Black-billed Magpie, Western Meadowlark, Bushtits, Common Raven, Townsend's Solitaire, Mountain Bluebird, Western Bluebird, Northern Flicker, and American Robin. Mountain Bluebirds entertained observers throughout the day as they foraged in the bush to the east of the ridge and made several fly-bys.
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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