[cobirds] HSR: Dinosaur Ridge (03 Apr 2013) 20 Raptors

Dinosaur Ridge
Colorado, USA

Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 03, 2013
Species	Day's Count	Month Total	Season Total
Black Vulture	0	0	0
Turkey Vulture	0	4	13
Osprey	0	1	2
Bald Eagle	0	1	28
Northern Harrier	0	1	2
Sharp-shinned Hawk	2	4	12
Cooper's Hawk	1	6	17
Northern Goshawk	0	0	0
Red-shouldered Hawk	0	0	0
Broad-winged Hawk	0	0	0
Red-tailed Hawk	2	19	153
Rough-legged Hawk	0	0	6
Swainson's Hawk	0	0	0
Ferruginous Hawk	0	1	9
Golden Eagle	0	1	4
American Kestrel	0	9	31
Merlin	0	0	0
Peregrine Falcon	0	0	1
Prairie Falcon	0	0	14
Mississippi Kite	0	0	0
Unknown Accipiter	0	2	6
Unknown Buteo	14	15	24
Unknown Falcon	0	0	0
Unknown Eagle	1	1	1
Unknown Raptor	0	0	3
Total:	20	65	326

Observation start time:	08:00:00
Observation end time:	14:00:00
Total observation time:	6 hours
Official Counter	Jennifer Hyypio
Observers:	Julia Auckland, Rob Reilly

Visitors:
Three hikers asked how the count was going just after I arrived. I pointed to all the fog and we shrugged in unison.

Weather:
First two hours of the day fog obscured the horizons in all directions. At 10:30am the Morrison towers to the west were visible. Temperatures rose steady from 38C to 52C. Winds were from the SSE throughout the day.

Raptor Observations:
Accipiters were the first to arrive as the fog lifted. A Sharp-shinned Hawk raced up Dino ridge from the south, through the trees passing over the stone steps of the observation site. The second Sharp-shined hawk sped along the east side of Dino ridge to the north. A juvenile Cooper's Hawk held the wind and coasted north on the east side of the ridge. The adult Re-tailed Hawks, flew the east and west side of Dino at eye level and below the ridge. The remaining Unidentified Buteos were seen riding high thermals over the West Ridge. Most were far away and high in the clouds over Two Pines. The Eagle traveled north just below the rim of West Ridge.

Non-raptor Observations:
Other birds: Townsend's Solitaire, Black-billed Magpie, Common Raven, American Crow, Northern Flicker, Western Meadowlark, Western Scrub-Jay, Mountain Chickadee, a flock of 10 Bushtits and a Downy Woodpecker.

Predictions:
I had expected more from April 3 due to following a full day of rain and having winds from the SSE. Perhaps April 4 will draw the migrants with another clear day.

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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.