Colorado, USA
| Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 20, 2013 | |||
| Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Turkey Vulture | 9 | 120 | 129 |
| Osprey | 2 | 15 | 16 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 2 | 29 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 4 | 5 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 18 | 65 | 73 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 13 | 70 | 81 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 4 | 6 | 6 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 9 | 69 | 203 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 1 | 9 |
| Golden Eagle | 1 | 5 | 8 |
| American Kestrel | 5 | 65 | 87 |
| Merlin | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 2 | 8 | 9 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 1 | 15 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 6 | 20 | 24 |
| Unknown Buteo | 1 | 21 | 30 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 5 | 8 |
| Total: | 70 | 486 | 747 |
| Observation start time: | 07:45:00 |
| Observation end time: | 15:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 7.25 hours |
| Official Counter | Lee Farrell |
| Observers: | Bill Wuerthele, David Gubenkaian, Linda Farrell, Pat Conner |
Visitors:
The trail is at maximum muddy lessening the traditional number of weekend trail users, only a few hikers came up to the station. One side benefit of maximum muddy, apparently it can be too muddy for dirt bikes, the track was quiet all day long.
Weather:
Winds were variable throughout much of the day, both in direction and speed, predominate winds out of the NE and NW ranging between calm and gusts of 3 bft. High clouds covered 90% or more of the sky over the entire day. Temperatures were mild ranging from 5 to 12 degrees C.
Raptor Observations:
A good number of migrating raptors observed at all flight heights. Birds traveled up the east side valley, above the ridge and along the western ridge. Highlight of the day was four Broad-winged Hawks seen in a single hour. Instances of local raptors accompanying or accosting migrating rapters were observed and included Turkey Vultures accompanying migrating Turkey Vultures and Red-tailed Hawk. A migrating Red-tailed was accosted by a local Red-tailed Hawk.
Non-raptor Observations:
An entertaining day included the constant presence of a good number of Townsend's Solitaires. White-throated Swifts were over the ridge throughout most of the day. A flock of a dozen or more Western Bluebirds landed in the pine to the SE of the station. A squadron of perhaps 20 American White Pelicans passed over the west ridge in the area of two humps. And, a large flock of American Robins passed through the station. There were several occasions where passerines were nervous and moving around with the passing of raptors. Other non-raptor species seen or heard included Black-billed Magpie, Black-capped Chickadee, Western Meadowlark, White-breasted Nuthatch, Spotted Towhee, Western Scrub-jay, American Crow, Common Raven.
Predictions:
Hopefully another good day with some more Broad-winged Hawks. Weather prediction is for a day similar to today in front of changing weather on Monday-Tuesday. Be careful on the trail, mud and snow creates some slippery conditions in a few locations.
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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