Colorado, USA
| Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 17, 2014 | |||
| Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 73 | 76 |
| Osprey | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 0 | 25 |
| Northern Harrier | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 23 | 28 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 1 | 33 | 48 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 1 | 78 | 208 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 2 | 9 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 1 | 9 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 3 | 10 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 55 | 69 |
| Merlin | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 1 | 13 | 15 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 8 | 13 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 3 | 7 |
| Total: | 4 | 305 | 537 |
| Observation start time: | 07:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 13:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 6 hours |
| Official Counter | Claude Vallieres |
| Observers: | David Gubenkaian, Pat Conner, Roger Rouch |
Visitors:
Only 2 visitors passed through to view the scenery.
Weather:
Sunny with excellent visibility throughout the day. Clear skies dominated with numerous con-trails with high thin clouds and later scattered clouds during the last hour. Temperatures ranged 8-15 % C. Few winds at first and were 1-2 on the Beaufort scale with occasional gusts up to 10 MPH during the last 2 hours.
Raptor Observations:
Given the good weather it was thought we'd have a good migration day. However only 4 migrants showed up and were a female Northern Harrier, a Coopers Hawk, a Red-tailed Hawk and 1 unidentified Accipiter. Local raptors were a Kestrel, Turkey Vultures, and Red-tailed Hawks showing off their aerial maneuvers.
Non-raptor Observations:
Many usual local birds appeared or were heard but not as many species as on other days. The 2 highlight species were 6 White Pelicans and (only heard) a Broad-tailed Hummingbird. Other birds were: Black-billed Magpies, Ravens, singing Spotted Towhees and Meadow Larks, both Black-capped and Mountain Chickadees, Bushtits, Townsend's Solitaire, Western Scrub Jays, White-throated Swifts and a fleeting Thrush believed to be a Hermit Thrush seen further south on the trail.
Predictions:
Hopefully the forecasted continued good weather and higher temperatures will bring in more migrants including the anticipated Broad-winged Hawk...?
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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