Colorado, USA
| Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 17, 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 | 1 | 16 | 16 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 1 | 36 | 36 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 5 | 5 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 5 | 5 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| American Kestrel | 1 | 4 | 4 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Prairie Falcon | 1 | 4 | 4 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Raptor | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| Total: | 6 | 80 | 80 |
| Observation start time: | 08:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 13:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 5 hours |
| Official Counter | Joyce Commercon |
| Observers: | Mary Fran O\'Connor, Pat Conner, Rob Reilly, Tom Dennehy |
Visitors:
Early in the morning, Gerard from Evergreen arrived, with his very well-behaved dog, to help watch. Sadly, there was little activity at the time. Tom Dennehy, a veteran HawkWatcher, who helped build the platform, stopped by and did some amazing spotting. A number of hikers and bikers were on the trail. A couple of ladies, who had been to HawkWatch many years ago in the early days, also visited.
Weather:
The day was sunny, partly cloudy, and warmed up nicely, reaching 18 C in the early afternoon. Winds were calm to fairly calm in the morning with occasional gusts from the West. Winds strengthened near noon, becoming steady and strong (beaufort 5) from the West. Good visibility.
Raptor Observations:
No migrants in the morning when the wind was calm. Migrants began to come through as the wind began to pick up, with most of them passing within about the 90 minute period before the wind became very strong from the West. Many passed overtop or near the Ridge. The highlights of the day included a Prairie Falcon that passed overtop the HawkWatch site and a Peregrine Falcon that passed high over Rooney Valley on its way North while being escorted by a local Red-tail. An adult Bald Eagle circling up then migrating North against the white clouds at the WestRidge horizon was also an enjoyable sight. A local Red-tail was observed enjoying a small rodent atop the wooden power pole north of the site.
Non-raptor Observations:
Also seen and heard were American Robin, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Black-billed Magpie, Townsend's Solitaire, Mountain Chickadee, Mountain Bluebird, Northern Flicker, Western Scrub-Jay, White-breasted Nuthatch, Common Raven, American Crow.
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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