[cobirds] HSR: Dinosaur Ridge (02 May 2014) 18 Raptors

Dinosaur Ridge
Colorado, USA

Daily Raptor Counts: May 02, 2014
Species	Day's Count	Month Total	Season Total
Black Vulture	0	0	0
Turkey Vulture	4	7	110
Osprey	0	0	15
Bald Eagle	0	0	27
Northern Harrier	0	0	3
Sharp-shinned Hawk	0	0	38
Cooper's Hawk	4	4	75
Northern Goshawk	0	0	2
Red-shouldered Hawk	0	0	0
Broad-winged Hawk	1	1	2
Red-tailed Hawk	7	10	255
Rough-legged Hawk	0	0	9
Swainson's Hawk	0	0	0
Ferruginous Hawk	0	0	9
Golden Eagle	0	0	11
American Kestrel	1	1	79
Merlin	0	0	4
Peregrine Falcon	1	2	6
Prairie Falcon	0	0	7
Mississippi Kite	0	0	0
Unknown Accipiter	0	0	22
Unknown Buteo	0	2	26
Unknown Falcon	0	0	3
Unknown Eagle	0	0	0
Unknown Raptor	0	0	8
Total:	18	27	711

Observation start time:	08:30:00
Observation end time:	15:00:00
Total observation time:	6.5 hours
Official Counter	Dave Hill
Observers:	Cynthia Madsen, Debbie James, Janet Shin, Rob Raker

Visitors:
Several couples who were enjoying the delightful day on Dinosaur Ridge stopped to talk and ask questions.

Weather:
Temperatures ranged from 64 to 74 deg. F. ; North winds 4 to 11 mph with gusts to 18 mph; Visibility was unlimited with 40% to 25% cloud cover.

Raptor Observations:
Turkey Vulture 12 4 migrants, 8 non-migrants A kette of 5 local birds was spotted flying over the west ridge. Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 1 Local, non-migrant Cooper's Hawk 5 4 Migrants, 1 Non-migrant Broad-winged Hawk 1 1 Migrant Red-tailed Hawk On our walk up to our lookout point we noticed both a Great Blue Heron and a juvenile Red-tailed Hawk circling up (gaining elevation) together. At the The Red-tailed Hawk migrated to the north and the heron glided off to the south. 7 Migrants (2 Immature, 5 Adult) 6 Non-migrant (local) birds, all Adults American Kestrel 1 A Migrant Peregrine Falcon 1 A Migrant

Non-raptor Observations:
Plant species observed: Wild Parsley Golden Banner, in bloom Yellow Wild Violet Chickweed Larkspur, in bloom Chiming Bells Western Wallflower Serviceberry, in bloom Wax Current, in bloom Butterfly species observed: White Sulfur Swallowtail Non-raptor Species include: Great Blue Heron 1 White-throated Swift 31 Broad-tailed Hummingbird 4 Western Scrub-Jay 2 Black-billed Magpie 2 Common Raven 7 Tree Swallow 1 Violet-green Swallow 2 Black-capped Chickadee 2 House Wren 1 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 6 Spotted Towhee 2 Western Meadowlark 2 House Finch 4

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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.