Colorado, USA
| Daily Raptor Counts: May 03, 2014 | |||
| Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Turkey Vulture | 1 | 4 | 107 |
| Osprey | 2 | 2 | 17 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 0 | 27 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 2 | 2 | 40 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 5 | 5 | 76 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 4 | 7 | 252 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 0 | 11 |
| American Kestrel | 2 | 2 | 80 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| 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: | 17 | 26 | 710 |
| Observation start time: | 08:15:00 |
| Observation end time: | 15:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 6.75 hours |
| Official Counter | Lee Farrell |
| Observers: | Joe Lupfer, Karen Clark, Linda Farrell, Mitchell Blystone |
Visitors:
Only a few visitors to the station today, a very few were interested in what we were doing, none of them were interested beyond having their curiosity satisfied.
Weather:
A nice day on the ridge was provided by high moderately thin overcast skies with temperatures in the 70s and calm to light winds ranging from 0 to 2 bft.
Raptor Observations:
The best day we’ve have had in a week with 17 migrating raptors. Activity for both resident and migrating raptors was significantly greater in the morning between 9:00 am and noon. Birds were observed at a variety of heights and locations. A Broad-winged Hawk soared up from the west valley not too far from the station, crossed over the ridge then soaring to great height over Green Mountain before moving north. A Bald Eagle was spotted a significant distance north of the station. Observed in a soaring mode for quite some time, it did not move north and was not counted. Other local raptors observed included Red-tailed Hawks and Turkey vultures.
Non-raptor Observations:
Full into migration now a good assortment of passerines showed up on the ridge today, believed to be new observations on the hill this year, Western Kingbird, Green-tailed Towhee and Say’s Phoebe. A group of six or more Western Scrub-Jays loudly made their presence known. Two Rock Wrens could very well be nesting adjacent to the station. A large number of White-throated Swifts were present throughout the day, prevalent and visible in all parts of the sky they were a constant distraction to HawkWatching efforts. Other birds seen or heard included Bushtit, Black-capped Chickadee, American Robin, Great Blue Heron, Blue Jay, Broad-tailed Hummingbird, Black-billed Magpie, and Western Meadowlark.
Predictions:
Similar weather, perhaps a little more wind, hopefully the same or better results.
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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