Colorado, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 06, 2014 | |||
Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Turkey Vulture | 1 | 33 | 36 |
Osprey | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Bald Eagle | 0 | 0 | 25 |
Northern Harrier | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Sharp-shinned Hawk | 1 | 8 | 13 |
Cooper's Hawk | 0 | 10 | 25 |
Northern Goshawk | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Red-tailed Hawk | 3 | 30 | 160 |
Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 2 | 9 |
Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 8 |
Golden Eagle | 0 | 1 | 8 |
American Kestrel | 0 | 8 | 22 |
Merlin | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Prairie Falcon | 0 | 1 | 6 |
Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Unknown Accipiter | 2 | 5 | 7 |
Unknown Buteo | 2 | 3 | 8 |
Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Unknown Raptor | 0 | 0 | 4 |
Total: | 9 | 103 | 335 |
Observation start time: | 09:00:00 |
Observation end time: | 16:00:00 |
Total observation time: | 6.5 hours |
Official Counter | Bill Wuerthele, Cyndy Johnson |
Observers: | Bill Wuerthele |
Visitors:
There were many visitors today at the ridge, some stopped to ask what we were doing and some showed great interest. From 11:00-13:00 we had a group of 7 teachers from the Colorado School of Mines, attending a class on birds of prey join us. There were 23 adults, 12 children, 4 dogs during the day that stopped at the site.
Weather:
The morning started out clear, but clouds built through out the day. By noon, cloud cover was 95% and remained so for he rest of the day. We had very light snow flakes during the noon hour for a few minutes. Winds started in the NW, to NE and then ended up coming from the E by the end of the day.
Raptor Observations:
1 local Peregrine falcon, 1 local American Kestrel and numerous Red-Tailed Hawks seen during the day. Several in courtship display flight, one perched on a power pole on the east side of the ridge towards the end of the day. Thank you Bill for all your help and explanations today!!!
Non-raptor Observations:
Western Meadowlark, Western Scrub Jay, American Robin, Black-billed Magpie, American Crow, Common Raven, White-throated Swift and Northern Flicker seen through out the day. 4 deer were seen crossing 93 at 9am.
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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