[cobirds] HSR: Dinosaur Ridge (24 Mar 2015) 1 Raptors

Dinosaur Ridge
Colorado, USA

Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 24, 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	1	1
Cooper's Hawk	0	2	2
Northern Goshawk	0	0	0
Red-shouldered Hawk	0	0	0
Broad-winged Hawk	0	0	0
Red-tailed Hawk	0	36	36
Rough-legged Hawk	0	1	1
Swainson's Hawk	0	0	0
Ferruginous Hawk	0	2	2
Golden Eagle	0	3	3
American Kestrel	0	2	2
Merlin	0	0	0
Peregrine Falcon	1	1	1
Prairie Falcon	0	1	1
Mississippi Kite	0	0	0
Unknown Accipiter	0	2	2
Unknown Buteo	0	1	1
Unknown Falcon	0	0	0
Unknown Eagle	0	0	0
Unknown Raptor	0	0	0
Total:	1	54	54

Observation start time:	08:00:00
Observation end time:	13:30:00
Total observation time:	5.5 hours
Official Counter	Claude Vallieres
Observers:	Kathleen Stewart, T.C. Walker

Visitors:
Kathleen Stewart joined us to observe for a few hours. 2 visitors from Virginia asked about our activity and about identifying some of the birds they were seeing. they both were in Colorado for a Chemist convention. Several other visitors passed through the site but made no inquiries other than ask about trail directions.

Weather:
Sunny all day with increasing high thin clouds gradually increasing as the day progressed. Visibility was at maximum with a slight haze. Temperature between 38-61F but felt cooler due to constant winds with gusts up to 30mph/ Beaufort scale 3 & 4s with gusts up to 7.

Raptor Observations:
Another minimal migration day likely due to constant winds ahead of a changing front. 1 adult Peregrine Falcon popped up suddenly on the West side of the ridge about 30 ft. away at eye level flying strongly straight North.

Non-raptor Observations:
Other local raptors included only Red-tailed hawks with about a dozen sightings and 1 Sharp-shinned hawk gliding South on the East side of the ridge. Other birds seen or heard were Spotted Towhees, American Ravens, American Robins, Western Meadowlarks, Mt. Chickadees, Black-billed Magpies, Townsend's Solitaire, 4 Western Bluebirds, 1 Rock Wren and Western Scrub Jay.

Predictions:
Forecast calls for cooler temperatures with continued winds in advance of a weather change which is expected to bring rain Wednesday afternoon.

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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.