Colorado, USA
| Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 05, 2014 | |||
| Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Turkey Vulture | 24 | 32 | 35 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 0 | 25 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 1 | 7 | 12 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 3 | 10 | 25 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 8 | 27 | 157 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 1 | 2 | 9 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| Golden Eagle | 1 | 1 | 8 |
| American Kestrel | 5 | 8 | 22 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Prairie Falcon | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 1 | 3 | 5 |
| Unknown Buteo | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Total: | 46 | 94 | 326 |
| Observation start time: | 08:30:00 |
| Observation end time: | 15:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 6.5 hours |
| Official Counter | Scott Severs |
| Observers: | Joe Lupfer, Karen Lupfer, Mitchell Blystone |
Visitors:
We visited with 5 people about the hawkwatch. Trail had large numbers of hikers and mountain bikers. Trail was moderately muddy.
Weather:
Wind averaged 6-11 km/h, shifting from W to SE to N at end of day. Temperate averaged around 12ºC throughout day. Visibility was good, around 30 km with little haze. Mostly cloudy increasing from 40% to nearly 100% at end of count.
Raptor Observations:
Excellent help today from Mitchell Blyston, and Joe and Karen Lupfer. Bulk of migration observations occurred between 0900 and 1200 with 40 birds seen (over half were Turkey Vultures). Only 6 additional migrant raptors were seen after 1200. Eight species were seen. Local raptors observed included Red-tailed Hawks, American Kestrels, Sharp-shinned Hawk, and Turkey Vulture. Most birds were observed west of ridge.
Non-raptor Observations:
Other species observed in order of detection included: Spotted Towhee, Black-billed Magpie, Western Meadowlark, House Finch, American Robin, Dark-eyed Junco, Townsend's Solitaire, Western Scrub-Jay, Northern Flicker, Eurasian Collard-Dove, Common Raven, Mountain Chickadee, American Crow, White-throated Swift, Mountain Bluebird, Rock Wren, Violet-green Swallow, Western Bluebird, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Black-capped Chickadee, and Bushtit.
Predictions:
Cool conditions and scattered showers may hamper thermal creation and limit raptor migration. Expect increasing numbers of migrant raptors daily as we approach the peak for Dinosaur Ridge in mid to late April.
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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