[cobirds] HSR: Dinosaur Ridge (04 May 2014) 7 Raptors

Dinosaur Ridge
Colorado, USA

Daily Raptor Counts: May 04, 2014
Species	Day's Count	Month Total	Season Total
Black Vulture	0	0	0
Turkey Vulture	3	7	110
Osprey	0	2	17
Bald Eagle	0	0	27
Northern Harrier	0	0	3
Sharp-shinned Hawk	1	3	41
Cooper's Hawk	1	6	77
Northern Goshawk	0	0	2
Red-shouldered Hawk	0	0	0
Broad-winged Hawk	1	2	3
Red-tailed Hawk	0	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	0	2	80
Merlin	0	0	4
Peregrine Falcon	0	1	5
Prairie Falcon	0	0	7
Mississippi Kite	0	0	0
Unknown Accipiter	1	1	23
Unknown Buteo	0	2	26
Unknown Falcon	0	0	3
Unknown Eagle	0	0	0
Unknown Raptor	0	0	8
Total:	7	33	717

Observation start time:	08:30:00
Observation end time:	15:30:00
Total observation time:	7 hours
Official Counter	Bill Wuerthele
Observers:	Karen Fernandez, Mike Fernandez, Roger Rouch

Visitors:
A warm Sunday brought many hikers/bikers/joggers/families to the Ridge. A few stopped by to talk and ask questions.

Weather:
It was a very warm day with a high temperature of 82 F. A constant breeze, out of the west and northwest, varied from a low of 2 bft (4 - 7 mph) to a high of 5 bft (18 - 24 mph), with gusts in the afternoon to 6 bft (25 - 30 mph). High, thin clouds moved in and out during the day, with cloud cover varying from 20% to 80%.

Raptor Observations:
Migrating Raptors: It was another slow day on the Ridge for migrating raptors, with a total of seven counted - three Turkey Vultures, a Cooper's Hawk, a Sharp-shinned Hawk, a Broad-winged Hawk and an unidentified Accipiter. Non-migrating Raptors: There were numerous sightings of local Red-tailed Hawks and local Turkey Vultures. One adult Red-tailed Hawk, carrying a small rodent, landed on a power pole behind the site. Other local raptors seen included a Cooper's Hawk, a Sharp-shinned Hawk and an American Kestrel.

Non-raptor Observations:
Non-Raptor Observations included the following species: Common Raven, Black-billed Magpie, Western Scrub-Jay, Western Meadowlark, American Robin, Broad-tailed Hummingbird, White-throated Swift, Violet-green Swallow, Spotted Towhee, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Chipping Sparrow, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, and a Great Blue Heron, soaring over the Ridge.

Predictions:
Another warm day, with predicted southwest winds, hopefully will bring some late season movement.

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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.