Colorado, USA
| Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 07, 2019 | |||
| Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Turkey Vulture | 2 | 40 | 41 |
| Osprey | 0 | 5 | 5 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 3 | 4 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 16 | 25 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 1 | 20 | 26 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 4 | 155 | 248 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 4 | 8 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 3 | 6 |
| American Kestrel | 2 | 17 | 22 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Prairie Falcon | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 5 | 8 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 3 | 8 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Total: | 10 | 278 | 425 |
| Observation start time: | 08:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 14:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 5.5 hours |
| Official Counter | Mike Fernandez |
| Observers: | David Gubenkaian, Pam Batton |
Visitors:
David Gubenkaian, 930-1030 mst, helped spot for an hour. David started doing HawkWatch in its first year, 30+ years ago, before the platform was built. He had some great stories to share. Pam Batton (longtime Dinosaur Ridge HawkWatcher), led a group of six secondary school teachers taking a continuing education class on raptors through the School of Mines. Pam & her class put more eyes on the skies from 1030-1200. Had quite a few hikers stop to ask questions, most had some familiarity with what we were doing. Handed out one HawkWatch info card. The trail was VERY busy today.
Weather:
It was a warm, dry and breezy day on the ridge. Fairly windy (from NE) early, settled down to breezy later. All day we had mostly cloudless skies. (PWS: Idledale)
Raptor Observations:
Migrating Raptors: Most migrators were at a low height of flight and close to the ridge. One migrating Red-tailed appeared likely a Harlan's. It was a promising early watch followed by a long lull in migratory and local activity. Non-Migrating Raptors: A local Red-tailed Hawk (missing a tail feather) hovered right above platform motionless into the wind for a long time and then stooped south, only to return to dive at migrating Red-tailed. Local Red-taileds numbered 3-4 as best I could tell. A local American Kestrel flew a zig-zaggy course over Matthews-Winters park. A local Red-tailed couple performed courtship behaviors above Mt Morrison. Locals seemed to take the high ground most of the day, over the foothills, often at the limit of 8x binoculars.
Non-raptor Observations:
Also seen or heard: Spotted Towhee (1), Black-billed Magpie (3), Dark-eyed Junco (8, not able to further identify), American Crow (2), Common Raven (1), Western Meadowlark (1), Woodhouse's Scrub-jay (1), Townsend's Solitiare (1), Bushtit (2), and (my favorite of the day) a Canyon Wren (1). Also spotted a lone deer on the western slope of the ridge.
Predictions:
Great weather continues. May your numbers be high and your time go quickly.
Report submitted by Matthew Smith (matt.smith@birdconservancy.org)
Dinosaur Ridge - Bird Conservancy of the Rockies information may be found at: http://www.birdconservancy.org/
More information at hawkcount.org: [Site Profile] [Day Summary] [Month Summary]
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 Bird Conservancy of the
Rockies from about 9 AM to around 3 PM from March 1st to May 7th.
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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