Colorado, USA
| Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 24, 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 | 21 | 21 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 0 | 81 | 81 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 5 | 5 |
| American Kestrel | 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 5 | 5 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Total: | 3 | 150 | 150 |
| Observation start time: | 08:30:00 |
| Observation end time: | 11:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 2.5 hours |
| Official Counter | Bill Flowers |
| Observers: |
Visitors:
No visitors.
Weather:
The morning was cold, overcast with snow flurries and wind. The snow flurries started about 9:30 and increased until the time this hawk watcher decided to leave. The clouds lowered to cover the top of Mount Morrison. The visibility decreased to less than two miles for most of the morning.
Raptor Observations:
Three raptors (2 American Kestrels and 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk) were seen before the snow flurries started. They all flew at ridge height on the east side of Dinosaur Ridge. No raptors and very little other bird activity occurred once the snow flurries started.
Non-raptor Observations:
A few birds that were seen or heard included Common Raven, Western Meadowlark, Townsend's Solitaire, Black-billed Magpie, and Western Scrub-Jay. Two mule deer were seen on the West side of Dinosaur Ridge with one of the deer having a Black-billed Magpie on its shoulder probably looking for ticks or insects. Eleven mule deer fed on the East side of the Ridge. Two elk were seen near the Cabrini Shrine.
Predictions:
If the weather forecasters are more accurate tomorrow than today, then there should be more raptors migrating.
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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