[cobirds] HSR: Dinosaur Ridge (29 Mar 2014) 16 Raptors

Dinosaur Ridge
Colorado, USA

Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 29, 2014
Species	Day's Count	Month Total	Season Total
Black Vulture	0	0	0
Turkey Vulture	0	1	1
Osprey	0	0	0
Bald Eagle	1	25	25
Northern Harrier	0	0	0
Sharp-shinned Hawk	1	5	5
Cooper's Hawk	3	13	13
Northern Goshawk	0	0	0
Red-shouldered Hawk	0	0	0
Broad-winged Hawk	0	0	0
Red-tailed Hawk	11	123	123
Rough-legged Hawk	0	7	7
Swainson's Hawk	0	0	0
Ferruginous Hawk	0	7	7
Golden Eagle	0	6	6
American Kestrel	0	13	13
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	5	5
Unknown Falcon	0	0	0
Unknown Eagle	0	0	0
Unknown Raptor	0	4	4
Total:	16	217	217

Observation start time:	09:00:00
Observation end time:	15:30:00
Total observation time:	6.5 hours
Official Counter	Lee Farrell
Observers:	Jim Banks, Joe Lupfer, Karen Clark, Linda Farrell, Matt Stickel, Mitchell Blystone

Visitors:
Good weather brought out a good number of people to the trail system. A few of the individuals visiting the station expressed interest, a couple of them being bird watchers stated that they would be up again armed with their binoculars.

Weather:
A nice sunny day with high temperatures in the low 60s (F) and comparatively low winds around 2 (BFT) provided an enjoyable day on the ridge. A high thin cloud layer covered much of the sky until midafternoon. Percentages of cloud cover reported are areas of high but thicker, denser, cloud cover.

Raptor Observations:
A total of 16 migrating raptors were observed with the large majority of activity occurring between 10:00 AM and noon. The number of local Red-tailed Hawks observed seemed to be diminished as compared to prior weeks, perhaps they are now spending more time sitting on nests. Local raptors included perhaps two male American Kestrels, Red-tailed Hawks and Peregrine Falcons.

Non-raptor Observations:
A couple of species of butterfly were seen today, most notably the Mourning Cloak. Deer were seen grazing below the station at the eastern slope of the ridge. Other bird species seen or heard included: Canada Geese, American Crow, Common Raven, Dark-eyed Junco, Townsend’s Solitaire, American Robin, Spotted Towhee, Western Scrub Jay, Black-billed Magpie, Western Meadowlark, and Northern Flicker.

Predictions:
More of the same is as a good of a prediction as any, only the birds know for sure.

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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.