Tuesday, 18 March 2014

[cobirds] HSR: Dinosaur Ridge (18 Mar 2014) Raptors

Dinosaur Ridge
Colorado, USA

Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 18, 2014
SpeciesDay's CountMonth TotalSeason Total
Black Vulture000
Turkey Vulture000
Osprey000
Bald Eagle01616
Northern Harrier000
Sharp-shinned Hawk011
Cooper's Hawk022
Northern Goshawk000
Red-shouldered Hawk000
Broad-winged Hawk000
Red-tailed Hawk03636
Rough-legged Hawk055
Swainson's Hawk000
Ferruginous Hawk055
Golden Eagle022
American Kestrel044
Merlin000
Peregrine Falcon011
Prairie Falcon044
Mississippi Kite000
Unknown Accipiter000
Unknown Buteo011
Unknown Falcon000
Unknown Eagle000
Unknown Raptor033
Total:08080


Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 12:00:00
Total observation time: 4 hours
Official CounterPaul Slingsby
Observers:



Visitors:
Two hikers and one mountain biker passed.

Weather:
Temperature ranged 31 to 33 deg. F with 100% cloud cover and visibility of about 1/2 mile. Snow flurries nearly all the time with none building up on the bare ground. Wind ranged 15 to 25 mph with gusts much higher.

Raptor Observations:
The local Prairie Falcon flew along the west side of Dinosaur ridge at 8:15 am, MST. The local Red-tailed Hawk was seen hunting along the east side of the ridge. With the wind at 20 mph and gusting the redtail could hold an even position while kiting. No migrating raptors to be seen.

Non-raptor Observations:
Few birds ventured out: Dark-eyed Juncos, 2; bluebirds, 9; Black-billed Magpies, 3; Mountain Chickadee, 1


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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