Colorado, USA
| Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 18, 2013 | |||
| Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Turkey Vulture | 3 | 102 | 111 |
| Osprey | 1 | 13 | 14 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 2 | 29 |
| Northern Harrier | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 6 | 43 | 51 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 6 | 51 | 62 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 6 | 59 | 193 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 1 | 9 |
| Golden Eagle | 1 | 4 | 7 |
| American Kestrel | 8 | 61 | 83 |
| Merlin | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 6 | 7 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 1 | 15 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 8 | 14 | 18 |
| Unknown Buteo | 1 | 20 | 29 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 5 | 8 |
| Total: | 41 | 394 | 655 |
| Observation start time: | 08:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 15:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 7 hours |
| Official Counter | Roger Rouch |
| Observers: | Bill Wuerthele, Claude Vallieres |
Visitors:
Thanks to John Trinkle, who stopped for a couple of hours mid-day and helped spot a number of raptors during a particularly active time. Little trail activity.
Weather:
A beautiful crisp day with fresh snow on trees and landscape. Winds generally from the E or SE at a steady 1 Bft. Temperatures rising from -5C to 0C. A blue sky morning giving way to partial clouds.
Raptor Observations:
A diverse mix of migrating raptors in a generally steady stream through the day. A Golden Eagle observed early in the day followed a direct south to north route and was counted as migrating, though a couple subsequent Golden Eagle sightings were obviously local. High or distant accipiters seemed to offer identification challenges today and resulted in several unidentified accipiters reported. Raptors were generally over the ridge and to the east at varying heights and several were sighted at power line height in the valley between Green Mountain and the ridge. Non-migrating raptors observed were Prairie Falcon, Golden Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, Osprey, and Turkey Vulture.
Non-raptor Observations:
Seen or heard: Northern Flicker, Townsend's Solitaire, Spotted Towhee, American Robin, Black-billed Magpie, Western Scrub-jay, Bushtit, White-breasted Nuthatch, Common Raven, and Western Meadowlark.
Predictions:
Hopefully the good migration activity will continue. At least today there were several migrating raptors sighted at power line height just west of C-470, which is a slightly unusual area to expect activity. Sloppy, snowy, and muddy trail conditions.
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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