Colorado, USA
| Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 12, 2013 | |||
| Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Turkey Vulture | 16 | 76 | 85 |
| Osprey | 2 | 4 | 5 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 1 | 28 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 1 | 11 | 19 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 8 | 37 | 48 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 4 | 47 | 181 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 1 | 9 |
| Golden Eagle | 1 | 3 | 6 |
| American Kestrel | 2 | 47 | 69 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 5 | 6 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 1 | 15 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 1 | 6 | 10 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 19 | 28 |
| Unknown Falcon | 1 | 4 | 4 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 5 | 8 |
| Total: | 36 | 269 | 530 |
| Observation start time: | 08:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 15:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 6.22 hours |
| Official Counter | Dave Hill |
| Observers: | Adam Jack, Cynthia Madsen, Ed Holub, Janet Shin, Julia Auckland, Nelson Ford |
Visitors:
11 observers added to today's effort. They included David Hill, Cynthia Madsen, Janet Shin, Ed Holub, Nelson Ford, Adam Jack, Julia Auckland, David Gulbenkian, Ralph and Jane Geuder and John Hoffman. Also, 10 bikers, 15 hikers, 7 runners and 6 dogs were observed along the trail.
Weather:
The temperatures ranged from 40 deg. F. at 8:00 AM MST to 56 deg. F. at 15:00 MST. The first 4 hours of HawkWatch showed relatively mild winds. From noon the wind speed increased throughout the afternoon averaging high teens to low 20's. Significantly, during the last hour winds averaged in the 20 mph range with gusts to near 40 mph! Additionally, during this horrific north wind we observed 8 raptor migrants, over 31 White-throated Swift and 15 American Robin Two Red-tailed Hawk were observed trying to make northerly progress and being swept backward as they tried!! Eventually, this pair arced to the south in retreat of the gale.
Raptor Observations:
36 Raptors (7 species) were observed in migration. These included: 16 Turkey Vultures, 2 Osprey, 1 Golden Eagle, 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk, 8 Cooper's Hawk, 4 Red-tailed Hawk and 2 American Kestrel (female.) Unidentified were 1 falcon species and 1 accipiter species.
Non-raptor Observations:
Non-raptor related species included 1 Great Blue Heron, 31 White-throated Swift, 2 Northern Flicker, 2 Western Scrub-Jay, 3 Black-billed Magpie, 11 American Crow, 7 Common Raven, 2 Mountain Chickadee, 15 Bushtit, 3 Townsend's Solitaire, 21 American Robin, 3 Dark-eyed Junco, 2 Western Meadowlark and 1 singing House Finch. 5 mule deer grazed in the morning along the lower west side of the ridge.
Predictions:
The slippery, muddy path is drying! Warmer weather coming. Tomorrow should be mostly sunny, with a high near 65. Good luck with the wind! It could bring surprises?????
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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