Colorado, USA
| Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 02, 2014 | |||
| Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Turkey Vulture | 3 | 5 | 8 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 0 | 25 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 2 | 6 | 11 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 4 | 4 | 19 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 6 | 13 | 143 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 1 | 8 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| American Kestrel | 1 | 3 | 17 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Total: | 16 | 35 | 267 |
| Observation start time: | 08:30:00 |
| Observation end time: | 15:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 6.5 hours |
| Official Counter | Roger Rouch |
| Observers: | Don Taves |
Visitors:
A couple of hikers, but none with more than passing interest in the watch.
Weather:
A low morning cloud ceiling obscured most of Mt. Morrison and slowly lifted to partially reveal the towers by early afternoon. A haze or light fog persisted through the day below the clouds, but horizontal visibility was half-decent at maybe 4 or 5 km in the AM and improving through the day. A light wind from the NE all day. A few flecks of falling snow throughout the morning with temperatures rising from the low 30's to the mid 40's
Raptor Observations:
Several mid-day accipiters appeared at tree level and proceeded north. Other migrants were mostly low fliers and over the ridge or to the east. Three Turkey Vulture cruised past at the last few minutes of the count. Many of the migrants appeared to be working hard to get north with few updrafts or thermals. Not a lot of local Red-tail activity, but in a couple instances local Red-tails were being actively harassed by a local male kestrel.
Non-raptor Observations:
Also see or heard: Western Meadow Lark, Mountain Bluebird, Western Scrub Jay, American Crow, Common Raven, Black-billed Magpie, Townsend's Solitaire.
Predictions:
??? Looks like some interesting weather over the next 24 hours.
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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