Colorado, USA
| Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 07, 2013 | |||
| Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Turkey Vulture | 7 | 21 | 30 |
| Osprey | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 1 | 28 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 5 | 13 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 3 | 22 | 33 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 0 | 34 | 168 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 1 | 9 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 2 | 5 |
| American Kestrel | 3 | 21 | 43 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 3 | 4 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 1 | 15 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 3 | 7 |
| Unknown Buteo | 1 | 18 | 27 |
| Unknown Falcon | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 5 | 8 |
| Total: | 15 | 142 | 403 |
| Observation start time: | 08:15:00 |
| Observation end time: | 14:15:00 |
| Total observation time: | 6 hours |
| Official Counter | Joyce Commercon |
| Observers: | Francis Commercon |
Visitors:
Pam Batton's Birds-of-Prey class from the Colorado School of Mines spent several hours on the Ridge learning about Raptors. They were very good at helping us spot migrants. "Diz" also shared some time with us on the Ridge. The day brought many more visitors as usual. Most were interested to know about the HawkWatch and what we were doing. Many already knew about HawkWatch. Some even brought binoculars and stayed for a while.
Weather:
The day started sunny and fairly calm with mild winds from the East and minimal cloud cover. By mid-morning, the winds had shifted to come from the West and cloud cover eventually increased to about 70%. Mid-afternoon winds increased to 4 B with gusts to 5 B, which seemingly pushed the heavy gray cloud mass East over Green Mountain, where it appeared to rain; blue sky opened up to the West. Temperatures rose from about 12 C to 19 C but dropped back to 15 C with the strong winds. Visibility was good.
Raptor Observations:
The first several migrants in the morning were far to the West and high; thereafter it was variable as to where the migrants passed, but most were still fairly high. Two migrating American Kestrels, one female and later one male, did pass very close to the Ridge, giving observers a good view. A local Prairie Falcon created some excitement by streaking northward overtop of the Ridge, but continued observation, after it passed the HawkWatch site, revealed that it slowed, turned and began to drift southward again. The highlight of the day was the local Northern Goshawk which flew South overtop of the HawkWatch site and eventually headed West.
Non-raptor Observations:
Also seen or heard were: American Crow, Common Raven, Western Scrub-Jay, Bushtit, Black-capped Chickadee, Black-billed Magpie, Northern Flicker, American Robin, Spotted Towhee, White-breasted Nuthatch, and White-throated Swift.
Predictions:
This Monday may well be a good day for migrants as the weather should still be good, unless the expected blizzard conditions blow in early...
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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