[cobirds] HSR: Dinosaur Ridge (15 Mar 2014) 11 Raptors

Dinosaur Ridge
Colorado, USA

Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 15, 2014
Species	Day's Count	Month Total	Season Total
Black Vulture	0	0	0
Turkey Vulture	0	0	0
Osprey	0	0	0
Bald Eagle	0	15	15
Northern Harrier	0	0	0
Sharp-shinned Hawk	0	1	1
Cooper's Hawk	1	2	2
Northern Goshawk	0	0	0
Red-shouldered Hawk	0	0	0
Broad-winged Hawk	0	0	0
Red-tailed Hawk	6	29	29
Rough-legged Hawk	1	5	5
Swainson's Hawk	0	0	0
Ferruginous Hawk	0	4	4
Golden Eagle	0	1	1
American Kestrel	1	2	2
Merlin	0	0	0
Peregrine Falcon	0	0	0
Prairie Falcon	1	2	2
Mississippi Kite	0	0	0
Unknown Accipiter	0	0	0
Unknown Buteo	1	1	1
Unknown Falcon	0	0	0
Unknown Eagle	0	0	0
Unknown Raptor	0	1	1
Total:	11	63	63

Observation start time:	08:30:00
Observation end time:	14:00:00
Total observation time:	5.25 hours
Official Counter	Lee Farrell
Observers:	Dave Spates, Linda Farrell, Roger Rouch

Visitors:
Hearty runners and mountain bikers were out getting their exercise on the trails today. A Boy Scout Troop stopped by the station while on their 5 mile hike. We discussed the migration count and birding in general with some of the troop leaders.

Weather:
Overcast skies, high winds and cool temperatures made for a challenging day on the hill. Winds of 20 MPH and more were out of the northwest for most of the morning. Around noontime they switched around to the north-northeast while remaining strong. Throughout the day a moderately high cloud layer was present over most of the sky. Around noon, a line of lower cumulus clouds developed over the metro area to the west, later dropping rain and snow to the southeast. Temperatures remained in the low 40s(F) throughout the day.

Raptor Observations:
High winds kept most of the migrating birds relatively close to the ridge today. Determination of resident vs migrating birds was occasionally complicated by the high winds. Local Red-tailed Hawks traveled up and down the ridge area, at times performed mating displays.

Non-raptor Observations:
Other bird species observed today included: House Finch, American Crow, Common Raven, Black-billed Magpie, Mountain Bluebird, American Robin, Townsend’s Solitaire, and Western Scrub Jay.

Predictions:
No telling how the birds might react, but the predicted clear skies, low winds and warmer temperatures should be favorable to good birdwatching.

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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.