Colorado, USA
| Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 20, 2014 | |||
| Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Turkey Vulture | 3 | 82 | 85 |
| Osprey | 6 | 8 | 8 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 2 | 27 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 5 | 30 | 35 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 8 | 45 | 60 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 9 | 90 | 220 |
| 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 | 57 | 71 |
| Merlin | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 4 | 19 | 21 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 10 | 15 |
| Unknown Falcon | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 3 | 7 |
| Total: | 36 | 366 | 598 |
| Observation start time: | 09:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 16:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 7 hours |
| Official Counter | Lee Farrell |
| Observers: | Bill Wuerthele, Francis Commercon, Joe Elliott, Joe Lupfer, Karen Clark, Karen Fernandez, Linda Farrell, Mike Fernandez |
Visitors:
A number of hikers inquired as to what we were doing, a few of them were interested and conversed with several of us on the subject of migration.
Weather:
A nice day on the ridge with a generally light breeze, 1 to 2 bft, and temperatures in the 50s and 60s F. A partly cloudy to mostly cloudy day, high somewhat thin clouds provided skies friendly to observing high flying migrators.
Raptor Observations:
A good count today with 36 migrating raptors. Birds were migrating at all levels, some close on both sides of the ridge while others were observed at long distance high above and most often to the west. Observations at a distance provided for the 4 unknown accipiters reported. With only two Ospreys counted prior, seeing six Ospreys today was an interesting surprise. Shortly after 2:00 PM a Peregrine Falcon circled up and passed close to the station on the east side of the ridge in what appeared at first to be migrating behavior. North of I-70 the bird soared for quite some time sharing a thermal with a migrating Osprey in what then appeared to be hunting behavior. The Peregrine grew tired of the Osprey after a period of time and dove on it, driving it off to the north. The Peregrine was considered a resident and not counted as migrating. Other resident raptors observed included an American Kestrel and three or more Turkey Vultures.
Non-raptor Observations:
The first Violet-green Swallows of the season passed by the station. A dozen or more White-throated Swifts entertained with their impressive flight displays and three American White Pelicans passed to the north of the station. Other species seen or heard included, Spotted Towhee, Western Meadowlark, Northern Flicker, Broad-tailed Hummingbird, Western Scrub-Jay, Black-billed Magpie, Barn Swallow, Black-capped Chickadee, American Robin, Common Grackle and House Finch.
Predictions:
Tomorrow's weather forecast for is for a day similar to today, and hopefully a similar or better day of migrating raptors.
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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