[cobirds] HSR: Dinosaur Ridge (21 Apr 2014) 14 Raptors

Dinosaur Ridge
Colorado, USA

Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 21, 2014
Species	Day's Count	Month Total	Season Total
Black Vulture	0	0	0
Turkey Vulture	1	83	86
Osprey	0	8	8
Bald Eagle	0	2	27
Northern Harrier	0	3	3
Sharp-shinned Hawk	0	30	35
Cooper's Hawk	0	45	60
Northern Goshawk	0	2	2
Red-shouldered Hawk	0	0	0
Broad-winged Hawk	0	0	0
Red-tailed Hawk	10	100	230
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	1	2	4
Prairie Falcon	0	1	6
Mississippi Kite	0	0	0
Unknown Accipiter	1	20	22
Unknown Buteo	0	10	15
Unknown Falcon	0	3	3
Unknown Eagle	0	0	0
Unknown Raptor	1	4	8
Total:	14	380	612

Observation start time:	09:00:00
Observation end time:	15:30:00
Total observation time:	6.5 hours
Official Counter	Bill Flowers
Observers:	David Smith, Doug Smith

Visitors:
A few hikers and some mountain bike riders were seen. One of the mountain bike riders asked what I was doing and I said Hawk Watching – she indicated that was “cool”.

Weather:
The day was a nice day for Hawk Watching, although the raptors did not cooperate. The day started sunny then clouds moved in in the afternoon with a rain cell moving in just South of Mount Morrison, which affected the migration for a couple hours (12:00-14:00). The temperature ranged from 12-16 C (53-60 F). The wind was light and generally from the East with some periods from the South East.

Raptor Observations:
A few raptors were observed migrating during the times when it was not raining to the South. These included 10 Red-tailed Hawks, 1 Turkey Vulture, and 1 Peregrine Falcon. In the morning the raptors flew low above Dinosaur Ridge or just to the East of the Ridge. In the afternoon raptors flew very high over Dinosaur and West Ridges. Resident Red-tailed Hawks, Sharp-shinned Hawks, American Kestrels, and Turkey Vultures were observed during the day.

Non-raptor Observations:
Other birds seen or heard included Western Meadowlark, Spotted Towhee, Black-billed Magpie, Western Scrub-jay, Common Raven, American Robin, House Finch, Dark-eyed Junco, White-throated Swift, and Broad-tailed Hummingbird. A lizard was also seen at the Hawk Watch site.

Predictions:
As the weather warms, migration may increase. Tomorrow could be better than today.

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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.