Colorado, USA
| Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 29, 2014 | |||
| Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 95 | 98 |
| Osprey | 1 | 12 | 12 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 2 | 27 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 33 | 38 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 0 | 56 | 71 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 2 | 114 | 244 |
| 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 | 64 | 78 |
| 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: | 3 | 443 | 675 |
| Observation start time: | 08:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 14:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 6 hours |
| Official Counter | Paul Slingsby |
| Observers: |
Visitors:
Collin visited for more than an hour and was helpful in spotting the three migrating birds.
Weather:
Windy, about 20 mph, becoming more calm, between 5 and 10 mph, mid-day. Temperature ranged from 45 deg. F to 49 deg. F. No rain but constant clouds. Much higher wind began at 14:00 hr. MST with darker clouds. Time to leave.
Raptor Observations:
The local Sharp-shinned Hawk flew over the ridge on its way to Green Mountain. A pair of imature Red-tailed Hawks flew by twice. One of the two has an obviously missing 1st or second left wing primary and a center tail feather. The local redtails don't seem to be disturbed by these youngsters' presence. A local redtail was seen often, low on the east side of Dinosaur Ridge.
Non-raptor Observations:
A Hermit Thrush was seen in the juniper brush NE of our platform.
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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