Colorado, USA
| Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 01, 2014 | |||
| Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Turkey Vulture | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 0 | 25 |
| Northern Harrier | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 4 | 4 | 9 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 7 | 7 | 137 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 1 | 1 | 8 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| American Kestrel | 2 | 2 | 16 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Total: | 19 | 19 | 251 |
| Observation start time: | 08:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 15:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 7 hours |
| Official Counter | Claude Vallieres |
| Observers: | Paul Slingsby |
Visitors:
Chris Tremel who had previously visited the sight returned for 2 hours to assist in observations. Over 12 people stopped by with only two expressing interest, a lady from Summit County shared her mountain observations of raptors, and a second visitor helped point out sightings during his brief visit.
Weather:
The first three hours were pleasant with sunshine and little wind. From 12-2 pm the front was upon us with only a few snow flurries occurring. At 2 pm the sun glazed through the clouds causing a warm up and a small surge in raptor migration. Temperatures ranged from 32-41 F with winds 0-2 on the Beaufort Scale and occasional gusts up to 20 mph. Cloud cover range was from 10 % to 100%.
Raptor Observations:
The 19 migrating raptors were: 7 Red-tailed Hawks, one of which joined 3 local R-Ts soaring over the far western ridge before splitting from the others into a strong glide Northwards, 1 Rough-legged Hawk accompanied by a Turkey Vulture, later a second Turkey Vulture came from the far SE migrating in a NW direction, 4 Sharp-shinned Hawks,2 American Kestrels, 2 Unidentified Accipiters to far away for specific identification, and 1 very high flying Northern Harrier (FOS) who had been seen going back and forth E to W and back again before finally deciding to migrate North.
Non-raptor Observations:
The local raptors consisted of the ubiquitous Red-tailed Hawks being very active with 20 plus sightings and only 2 American Kestrel sightings. Other bird sightings were not as numerous included, Western Scrub Jays, Black-billed Magpies, a singing Western Meadowlark, Common Ravens, American Crows, a few small flocks of Mt. Bluebirds, a calling Northern Flicker, Townsend's Solitaire, Eurasian Collared Doves, a White Rock Dove, 2 Mountain Chickadees and a possible Unidentified Wren who to briefly appeared to be identified. 15 Elk were on the Cabrini ridge and 6 Mule Deer along the East side of Dinosaur Ridge.
Predictions:
Cooler temperatures with a rain/snow forecasted for next two days.
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