Colorado, USA
| Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 25, 2013 | |||
| Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 23 | 23 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 0 | 84 | 84 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 1 | 4 | 4 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 8 | 8 |
| Golden Eagle | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 5 | 5 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 10 | 10 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 6 | 6 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Total: | 4 | 153 | 153 |
| Observation start time: | 08:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 16:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 8 hours |
| Official Counter | Bill Wuerthele |
| Observers: | Chris Tremilling, Claude Vallieres |
Visitors:
"Biz" paid a visit and was very inquisitive about birding and hawk watching along with providing sightings.
Weather:
Sunny and clear with early morning distant haze in East over the metro. Visibility 50Km. Wind speed 0 to 2. Temperature started at -7C and was later consistently at -5C. 0 precipitation.
Raptor Observations:
Migrating raptors: 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk along East side of ridge at eye level heading quickly due North. 1 Sub-adult Golden Eagle followed shortly thereafter by a stunningly bright 3 light points juvenile Golden Eagle. Both were on West side of ridge steadily spiralling high in same direction before entering into a glide in a NW direction just North of Cabrini Shrine. 1 Rough-legged Hawk circling over the ridge before heading East and landing in a gully on the West side of Green Mountain just below the antenna on G. Mt.. N.B.: Keep an eye out for possible re-sightings of R-LH as he was not migrating out.
Non-raptor Observations:
Other locals included: 1 Red-tailed Hawk, 1 Prairie Falcon, 2 Sharp-shinned Hawks both hunting and heading South one on each side of ridge, ravens, crows, magpies, a flock of robins, a flock of bushtits, a white-breasted nuthatch, a mountain chickadee, Townsend's solitaire and 2 white-throated swifts. Overall, the day was very quiet bird activity wise likely due to cold temperature.
Predictions:
Forecast calls for Sunny and temp in low 40sF. Expect icy trail in AM to slushy and muddy trail in PM.
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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