Colorado, USA
| Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 21, 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 | 18 | 18 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 15 | 62 | 62 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| American Kestrel | 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 5 | 5 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Buteo | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Total: | 22 | 118 | 118 |
| Observation start time: | 08:15:00 |
| Observation end time: | 15:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 6.75 hours |
| Official Counter | Dave Hill |
| Observers: | Cynthia Madsen, Debbie James, Janet Shin, Jim Schmoker |
Visitors:
Several hikers and bikers used the trail below the HawkWatch lookout site. Four visitors actually came up to look.
Weather:
Pleasant conditions prevailed on Dinosaur Ridge. The cloud cover intensified throughout the day as snow precipitation is expected for tomorrow (Saturday.) Temperatures ranged from 37-42 deg. F with winds primarily from the east at 3-12 mph. The 40% cloud cover at 9:00 AM MST increased to 95% by 3:00 PM MST.
Raptor Observations:
The bird of the day was a richly-dressed young male American Kestrel. He perched on a wire just below the HawkWatch site for 45 minutes giving us looks that would "kill." ...preening, stretching his wings, spreading his tail feathers and becoming more handsome with each look. As he examined the ground for prey we noticed his remarkable ability to maintain his head at a fixed point in space as his wind-blown wire perch, and body, gently swayed with the wind. Well-dressed and coordinated, energetic Mr. Kestrel looked ready to work the ways of the world.
Non-raptor Observations:
We observed our first of season Tree Swallow, an active caterpillar, 19 mule deer and flowering at the ridge's summit. Non-raptors included: Northern Flicker 1 Western Scrub-Jay 6 Black-billed Magpie 9 American Crow 7 Common Raven 9, (3 pairs were cavorting on a "social.") Tree Swallow 1 Mountain Chickadee 2 Western Bluebird 12 Mountain Bluebird 1 Townsend's Solitaire 5 American Robin 16 Dark-eyed Junco 2 Western Meadowlark 1 House Finch 3
Predictions:
Brace for snow!
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.
No comments:
Post a Comment