Colorado, USA
| Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 22, 2013 | |||
| Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Turkey Vulture | 1 | 125 | 134 |
| Osprey | 2 | 17 | 18 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 2 | 29 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 4 | 5 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 68 | 76 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 0 | 72 | 83 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 8 | 8 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 2 | 77 | 211 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 1 | 9 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 5 | 8 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 66 | 88 |
| Merlin | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 10 | 11 |
| Prairie Falcon | 2 | 3 | 17 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 2 | 25 | 29 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 21 | 30 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 9 | 12 |
| Total: | 9 | 525 | 786 |
| Observation start time: | 07:30:00 |
| Observation end time: | 10:30:00 |
| Total observation time: | 3 hours |
| Official Counter | Bill Flowers |
| Observers: | Claude Vallieres, Jennifer Hyypio, Rob Reilly |
Visitors:
We had three sets of visitors. A daughter and mother from Chicago (Lellie and Sandra) visited for a few minutes and asked several questions about the Hawk Watch procedures. Two women visited later and asked questions on what we were doing - at that time we were observing 14 American White Pelicans, so we pointed them out to the women. Another visitor, Mele, stayed with us for about 30 minutes. She was a birder and helped locate a couple Red-tailed Hawk migrants as well as a Ruby-crowned Kinglet that landed in one of the Ponderosa pines at the site.
Weather:
The day started warm and fairly clear with little wind - the temperature ranged from 12-16 C. About 11:00 MDT, the wind became a North wind and increased to 5 on the Buford scale, clouds moved in and it went to 100% cloud cover, with snow, and the visibility tumbled to less than 2 km with the ceiling at the Dinosaur Ridge level. The temperature tumbled to 0 C. We stopped at 11:30 MDT because of snow and low visibility.
Raptor Observations:
Initially raptors were high above Dinosaur Ridge, but as the weather worsen, the raptors were actually below our observation site. Most of the raptors followed the East side of the ridge, but one Prairie Falcon flew by on the West side. We observed local Red-tailed Hawks and Turkey Vultures mainly over West Ridge and Cabrini.
Non-raptor Observations:
We either heard or saw Mountain Chickadees, Townsend's Solitaires, Spotted Towhees, Black-billed Magpies, a Rock Wren, Common Ravens, American Crows, American Robins, Canada Geese, American White Pelicans, Western Scrub-jay, White-throated Swifts, and a Ruby-crowned Kinglet.
Predictions:
With the high probability of snow tomorrow, the capability to observe raptors will be limited. But, the migration seems to be in high gear, so if the weather cooperates, then it could be a good day - probably in the afternoon.
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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