Colorado, USA
| Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 28, 2014 | |||
| Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Turkey Vulture | 1 | 95 | 98 |
| Osprey | 0 | 11 | 11 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 2 | 27 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 33 | 38 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 0 | 56 | 71 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 0 | 112 | 242 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 2 | 9 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 1 | 9 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 4 | 11 |
| American Kestrel | 1 | 64 | 78 |
| Merlin | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 2 | 7 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 20 | 22 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 19 | 24 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 4 | 8 |
| Total: | 2 | 440 | 672 |
| Observation start time: | 08:30:00 |
| Observation end time: | 13:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 4.5 hours |
| Official Counter | Joyce Commercon |
| Observers: |
Visitors:
The only visitor was a man, with his dog, who stopped briefly for the view and commented on the wind.
Weather:
The day was mostly sunny with spotty cloud cover. The wind, mostly from the northwest, was unrelenting at bft 5 with gusts reaching bft 6 and calmer moments at bft 4. Visibility was generally good except for a periodic brown haze that would hang in front of Mt. Morrison due to dirt and dust blown up from many places, including the quarry. There appeared at times to be some light rain further south along the Ridge as well as along the top of Green Mountain.
Raptor Observations:
The two migrants, a female American Kestrel and an adult Turkey Vulture, came early and at about the same time. Both travelled close to the Ridge. There was a fair amount of local raptor activity in spite of the wind. A local Cooper's Hawk was observed over the valley to the West of the Ridge. Local Turkey Vultures traversed West Ridge and Mt. Morrison. Local Red-tailed Hawks were observed over both valleys from WestRidge to Green Mountain. A local Peregrine Falcon and much later a local immature Golden Eagle were seen high to the south over the Ridge. A local Prairie Falcon was seen a few of times, northwest of the platform to high to the south. Later in the morning, a local male American Kestrel fought the wind to fly west, dropping low below Mt. Morrison perhaps to hunt.
Non-raptor Observations:
Approximately 40 White-throated Swifts passed the HawkWatch site heading north, seemingly not bothered much by the wind; about 10 or so appeared to be staying in the area. Also seen and heard were Yellow-rumped Warbler, Violet-green Swallow, Broad-tailed Hummingbird, Black-billed Magpie, American Robin, Western Meadowlark, American Crow, Common Raven, and Mourning Dove.
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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