Colorado, USA
| Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 28, 2013 | |||
| Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 144 | 153 |
| Osprey | 0 | 21 | 22 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 2 | 29 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 5 | 6 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 82 | 90 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 2 | 95 | 106 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 5 | 33 | 33 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 0 | 86 | 220 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 5 | 5 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 1 | 9 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 6 | 9 |
| American Kestrel | 18 | 120 | 142 |
| Merlin | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 12 | 13 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 3 | 17 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 1 | 32 | 36 |
| Unknown Buteo | 1 | 24 | 33 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 12 | 15 |
| Total: | 27 | 694 | 955 |
| Observation start time: | 07:30:00 |
| Observation end time: | 14:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 6.5 hours |
| Official Counter | Joyce Commercon |
| Observers: |
Visitors:
Frank and his son, Sean, both of whom had visited HawkWatch last year, spent the morning helping to spot migrants and were a great aid to the counter. Frank was pleased to be able to see some Broad-wings and Sean enjoyed watching the Ruby-crowned Kinglets, although he would really like to see some Golden-crowned Kinglets. Dan Baird, Jeff. Co. Parks Volunteer stopped by briefly to find out what we were seeing. There were a number of other passersby who came to take in the view, mostly in the afternoon. Some were interested to hear about the migrant tally and offered their own raptor sightings and stories. Mother and son, Lori and Ben Sampson, searched the Ridge before finally finding HawkWatch. They were keen to know what had been seen today and what buteos are normally seen migrating here. Ben was also curious about a bird he had seen on the Ridge; it was very likely a Townsend's Solitaire, given his detailed description. Julia Auckland also arrived with her young son, who was happy to have his visit to HawkWatch. P.S. Red hoodie jacket left at site.
Weather:
Sunny with scattered clouds and warm with temperatures ranging from 17 C to 25 C. Visibility was good, although it became a bit hazy far to the South in the afternoon. Fairly constant winds of 2 and 3 B from the West and WestNorthWest all morning, calming to 1 B for a while at mid-afternoon then picking up again but shifting to come from the North and NorthEast.
Raptor Observations:
It was the day of the American Kestrel, with one seeming to pass every few minutes. Interestingly, the AMKE migrants were predominantly male earlier in the day but were predominantly female by mid-day. All passed along Dinosaur Ridge, usually very closely. Several light-morph adult Broad-winged Hawks were also observed migrating. The first one of the day was spotted about 30 minutes after Chatfield State Park/RMBO bird-bandng volunteer Francis Commercon called to say a Broad-winged had been seen there and was heading north. Two migrating Cooper's Hawks, one adult and one juvenile, flew near the Ridge, giving good views. There was minimal local Red-tailed Hawk and Turkey Vulture activity. However, a local adult Cooper's Hawk was very active most of the day along the Ridge and to the West. Eventually, it even perched briefly down below the HawkWatch site on the East side.
Non-raptor Observations:
White-throated Swifts zoomed about all day, often shaving across the Ridge. Also seen or heard were Dark-eyed Junco, including one Slate-colored, Spotted Towhee, Black-billed Magpie, Western Bluebird, Townsend's Solitaire, Bushtit, Western Scrub-Jay, Western Meadowlark, Common Raven, Mountain Chickadee, Broad-tailed Hummingbird, Violet-green Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Cliff Swallow, White-breasted Nuthatch, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Rock Wren, Pine Siskin, Northern Flicker and American Robin. Eleven mule deer were spotted below on the East side of the Ridge.
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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