Colorado, USA
| Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 23, 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 | 2 | 21 | 21 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 1 | 4 | 4 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 18 | 81 | 81 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| Golden Eagle | 3 | 5 | 5 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 6 | 6 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 5 | 5 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Total: | 28 | 150 | 150 |
| Observation start time: | 08:15:00 |
| Observation end time: | 15:15:00 |
| Total observation time: | 7 hours |
| Official Counter | Lee Farrell |
| Observers: | Bob Holmes, Dave Spates, Francis Commercon, Jeanette Strom, Joyce Commercon, Karen Fernandez, Linda Farrell, Mike Fernandez, Walt Combs |
Visitors:
Several hikers inquired as to what we were doing, those interested in hawks and the hawkwatch were directed to the HawkCount and RMBO websites.
Weather:
Sunny skies throughout the day allowed a cold brisk morning to become a very nice afternoon. Winds in the early morning were out of the northwest at about 3 bft and calmed to about 1 bft by noontime, winds did pick up again late in the day. Temperatures ranged from 19F to 59F.
Raptor Observations:
A good day on the ridge with a majority of the migrating birds passing north between 11:00AM and 1:00PM. Thirteen Red-tailed Hawks were counted in the 11:00 O’clock hour. A great group of 10 hawkwatchers really helped in finding, identifying and verifying migrating birds today. A substantial amount of territorial behavior among a variety of species was the theme for today. A group of six to eight Common Ravens pestered whatever they could get close to, a Red-tail chased after a Golden Eagle, and Kestrels chased after Red-tails. A day of Peregrines, a large falcon, what appeared to be a non-migrating Peregrine Falcon was seen hunting and stooping on prey south of the ridge both in the morning and in the afternoon. A Peregrine clearly displaying migrating behavior flew directly north over the station in the 9:00 o’clock hour. Just after noon, two Peregrines appeared to be migrating north over the ridge, then while circling up directly over the station they were engaged by a group of ravens. An exciting encounter went on for several minutes with each species taking swipes at the other. Tired of the ravens, the Peregrines finally stooped rapidly away toward Green Mountain to the east. We counted them as migrating birds, however, if it is discovered in the near future that the local pair has returned to Red-rocks, it may be prudent to remove them from today’s count. Local raptors included Prairie Falcon, a male and female Kestrel, and six or more Red-tailed Hawks. A local first year Red-tail has been seen with some regularity the last few weekends.
Non-raptor Observations:
A group of Western Scrub-Jay briefly surrounded the station scolding us as though we did not belong there. Other species seen or heard on the ridge today included: Western Meadowlark, Black-billed Magpie, Mountain Bluebird, Northern Flicker, Spotted Towhee, Townsend's Solitaire, American Robin, American Crow and Common Raven.
Predictions:
The prediction of a sunny day with mild temperatures and light winds could bode for a similar day of migration.
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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