[cobirds] HSR: Dinosaur Ridge (20 Mar 2013) 11 Raptors

Dinosaur Ridge
Colorado, USA

Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 20, 2013
Species	Day's Count	Month Total	Season Total
Black Vulture	0	0	0
Turkey Vulture	1	1	1
Osprey	0	0	0
Bald Eagle	0	19	19
Northern Harrier	0	0	0
Sharp-shinned Hawk	0	1	1
Cooper's Hawk	2	3	3
Northern Goshawk	0	0	0
Red-shouldered Hawk	0	0	0
Broad-winged Hawk	0	0	0
Red-tailed Hawk	7	61	61
Rough-legged Hawk	0	2	2
Swainson's Hawk	0	0	0
Ferruginous Hawk	0	7	7
Golden Eagle	0	0	0
American Kestrel	0	1	1
Merlin	0	0	0
Peregrine Falcon	0	0	0
Prairie Falcon	0	10	10
Mississippi Kite	0	0	0
Unknown Accipiter	0	1	1
Unknown Buteo	1	5	5
Unknown Falcon	0	0	0
Unknown Eagle	0	0	0
Unknown Raptor	0	1	1
Total:	11	112	112

Observation start time:	09:00:00
Observation end time:	15:00:00
Total observation time:	6 hours
Official Counter	Bill Wuerthele
Observers:	Jim Schmoker, Tom Ryon

Visitors:
We were happy to have Pearl Jordan, a DFO member; Don Pinegar, new to Colorado; and Rob Reilly, a JeffCo. Parks Volunteer stop by to help us spot migrants. Three hikers stopped to ask about Hawk Watch.

Weather:
Light winds from the east picked up somewhat (to 3B) in the afternoon and shifted to the northeast. There were high, scattered clouds in the morning, with cumulus clouds building in the afternoon: cloud cover increased to 100% by 3:00 pm. Visibility to the east and south decreased during the day due to air pollution. Temperatures ranged from 0 - 10 degrees C. All in all, it was a pleasant first day of Spring on the ridge.

Raptor Observations:
Migrating raptors: We observed 11 migrants: 7 Red-tailed Hawks, 2 Cooper's Hawks, 1 unidentified Buteo and 1 Turkey Vulture (first of the year for us). At mid-morning, migrants were fairly close to the Hawk Watch site. Later migrants moved high along the west ridge. Non-migrating raptors included: Red-tailed Hawks; several appearances by the local Prairie Falcon(s) and the local Golden Eagle(s); and an American Kestrel flying south along the ridge.

Non-raptor Observations:
The bird of the day was a lone Sandhill Crane soaring high above the ridge. We all agreed that a lone Sandhill Crane was a very unusual sight (no, it was not a GBH). We also observed or heard: Common Ravens, American Crows, Black-billed Magpies, Mountain Bluebirds, Northern Flickers and a Rock Pigeon.

Predictions:
The weather is expected to return to winter-like conditions as the weekend approaches.

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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.