Wednesday, 18 March 2015

[cobirds] HSR: Dinosaur Ridge (18 Mar 2015) Raptors

Dinosaur Ridge
Colorado, USA

Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 18, 2015
SpeciesDay's CountMonth TotalSeason Total
Black Vulture000
Turkey Vulture000
Osprey000
Bald Eagle011
Northern Harrier011
Sharp-shinned Hawk000
Cooper's Hawk011
Northern Goshawk000
Red-shouldered Hawk000
Broad-winged Hawk000
Red-tailed Hawk02323
Rough-legged Hawk011
Swainson's Hawk000
Ferruginous Hawk011
Golden Eagle022
American Kestrel022
Merlin000
Peregrine Falcon000
Prairie Falcon011
Mississippi Kite000
Unknown Accipiter011
Unknown Buteo000
Unknown Falcon000
Unknown Eagle000
Unknown Raptor000
Total:03434


Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 14:00:00
Total observation time: 6 hours
Official CounterRoger Rouch
Observers: Bill Wuerthele, T.C. Walker



Visitors:
None

Weather:
Mild temperatures rising from the upper 40's to the mid-60's. Wind was from the N and NE generally at 1 or 2 Bft. with periods slightly stronger at mid-afternoon. Partly and mostly cloudy with a light horizon haze in the afternoon.

Raptor Observations:
Conditions were apparently unfavorable for raptor activity today with only a few local Red-tailed Hawks and a distant local Golden Eagle over the western ridge line. No migrants were observed.

Non-raptor Observations:
Seen or heard were Western Meadowlark, Spotted Towhee, Northern Flicker, Mountain Chickadee, Western Scrub Jay, Bushtit, American Robin, Common Raven, Black-billed Magpie, and Townsend's Solitaire. Times are converted to MST. Weather data derived from Weather Underground KCOGOLDE25 (Lookout Pointe, Golden).

Predictions:
A possible rain-out with rain and rain showers predicted through noon. It might be reasonable to expect decent activity in the wake of the front on Friday.


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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