Colorado, USA
| Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 26, 2014 | |||
| Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Turkey Vulture | 6 | 94 | 97 |
| Osprey | 2 | 11 | 11 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 2 | 27 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 1 | 33 | 38 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 1 | 56 | 71 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 2 | 112 | 242 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 2 | 9 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 1 | 9 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 4 | 11 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 63 | 77 |
| Merlin | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 2 | 7 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 20 | 22 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 19 | 24 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 4 | 8 |
| Total: | 12 | 438 | 670 |
| Observation start time: | 08:30:00 |
| Observation end time: | 14:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 5.5 hours |
| Official Counter | Lee Farrell |
| Observers: | Linda Farrell, Mitchell Blystone |
Visitors:
New hawkwatchers Jessica Scott and Peter Christensen came up and helped count birds for about an hour. Volunteer ranger Rob Reilly stopped by for a half-hour or so, on a training mission with Beth, a newly recruited open-space volunteer. Hikers and bikers who stopped by the station asked what we were doing, but none of them seemed to be particularly enthralled with bird watching.
Weather:
In the early morning, high, comparatively thin clouds covered most of the sky but gradually gave way to sunny skies. Temperatures in the 60s and 70s provided a pleasant day weather wise. Winds were out of the east at 0 to 2 bft throughout the morning. Around noontime the winds switched around to the west - southwest, and ranged from calm to 4 bft.
Raptor Observations:
The day started out well with twelve migrating raptors counted prior to 11:00 AM. Unfortunately that was the end of migrating raptors for the day, no other migrating raptors were observed following that. Similarly, local raptor activity also subsided significantly during the afternoon hours. Highlight of the day was a "committee" of six Turkey Vultures migrating north together in a strong glide. Local raptors observed included Red-tailed Hawks and Turkey Vultures.
Non-raptor Observations:
Aerial displays of the White-throated swifts provided the best entertainment of the day. Other species observed or heard included: American Robin, Black-billed Magpie, Spotted Towhee, Rock Wren, Brown Creeper, Broad-tailed Hummingbird, Western Scrub-Jay, American Crow, Common Raven and European Starling.
Predictions:
Tomorrow's weather prediction of rain and high winds does not bode well.
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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