Colorado, USA
| Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 16, 2015 | |||
| Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 2 | 22 | 22 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total: | 2 | 33 | 33 |
| Observation start time: | 08:30:00 |
| Observation end time: | 13:30:00 |
| Total observation time: | 5 hours |
| Official Counter | Joyce Commercon |
| Observers: |
Visitors:
Although there were many hikers and bikers on the dry trail this day, only a few ventured onto the HawkWatch platform. Two ladies stayed a short while in the morning to ask about the migration; they inquired if any eagles had been seen, and were curious as to why it is that raptors often prefer to move along ridges. One mentioned that she had seen a Bald Eagle over by McLellan Reservoir. Another man who visited briefly in the afternoon was quite interested to know what species had been seen migrating in the past weeks.
Weather:
The dead blue sky was sunny with only small amounts of cloud cover at the northern and southern horizons. Contrails dissipated quickly. The sky was broken only by a pale, thin, waning moon that moved slowly westward. The day began warm (18 C or 64 F) and became warmer (24 C or 75 F). Visibility was good. Winds started strong at bft 3 with gusts of 4, coming from the northwest, but then the winds dropped and it became practically calm. Near 10:30 am MST, the winds shifted to come from the east and northeast, becoming periodically strong and gusty.
Raptor Observations:
All observed raptor activity today involved Red-tailed Hawks. Two migrants passed fairly high in the hour before noon. An adult Red-tail circled up high over WestRidge and disappeared to the northwest. Another adult Red-tail came north high over the Ridge and continued on without deviation. Local adult Red-tailed Hawks (a pair) moved back and forth between the Ridge, Mount Morrison and WestRidge. One was seen circling low and slow on the shelf below Mount Morrison. It seemed that each time an easterly or northeasterly wind picked up strength, one or both of this local pair would appear in Rooney Valley to kite or ride the wind in a stoop.
Non-raptor Observations:
A flock of about 15 Mountain Bluebirds were seen migrating north along the Ridge early in the morning. Twelve American Crows were also observed moving north beside the Ridge, but at a more leisurely pace. Also seen or heard were Bushtit, Black-billed Magpie, Common Raven, American Robin, Western Scrub-Jay, and Townsend's Solitaire. A herd of about 20 Elk were seen briefly just east of Cabrini but then moved northward out of sight. Two paragliders went south over the valley to the west of the Ridge: the earlier one moved along WestRidge and Mount Morrison eventually reaching Red Rocks; the later one rose very high near Mount Morrison.
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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