Wednesday 27 March 2013

[cobirds] HSR: Dinosaur Ridge (26 Mar 2013) 2 Raptors

Dinosaur Ridge
Colorado, USA

Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 26, 2013
SpeciesDay's CountMonth TotalSeason Total
Black Vulture000
Turkey Vulture011
Osprey000
Bald Eagle02323
Northern Harrier000
Sharp-shinned Hawk022
Cooper's Hawk033
Northern Goshawk000
Red-shouldered Hawk000
Broad-winged Hawk000
Red-tailed Hawk28383
Rough-legged Hawk055
Swainson's Hawk000
Ferruginous Hawk088
Golden Eagle033
American Kestrel077
Merlin000
Peregrine Falcon000
Prairie Falcon01010
Mississippi Kite000
Unknown Accipiter033
Unknown Buteo066
Unknown Falcon000
Unknown Eagle000
Unknown Raptor011
Total:2155155


Observation start time: 09:00:00
Observation end time: 16:30:00
Total observation time: 7.5 hours
Official CounterKathanne Lynch, Paul Slingsby
Observers: George Mayfield, Joel Chapa, Kathanne Lynch



Visitors:
None

Weather:
A beautiful, mostly sunny day of about 10 deg. C. Wind, 0 to 5 mph, visibility unlimited. Several inches of snow covered the ground.

Raptor Observations:
Only 2 migrating raptors passed and during the day only one bird, a migrating RTHa was observed soaring. Local birds, including ravens, never soared. With snow on the ground and no significant wind only powered flight via flapping was possible, it seemed.

Non-raptor Observations:
A flock of at least 30 robins moved around on the ridge all day. Bushtits visited 3 times but now in a group of only 3 or 4, perhaps a nesting group. Others: Townsend's Solitaire 3, Black-billed Magpie 4, Scrub Jay 3, Common Raven 4, Mountain Chickadee 1, American Crow 7

Predictions:
Will forecast wind bring migrants?


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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