Colorado, USA
| Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 29, 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 | 2 | 2 |
| 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 | 2 | 70 | 70 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| American Kestrel | 3 | 14 | 14 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Prairie Falcon | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total: | 7 | 105 | 105 |
| Observation start time: | 08:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 13:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 5 hours |
| Official Counter | Lee Farrell |
| Observers: | Mitchell Blystone |
Visitors:
A few visitors inquired as to what we were doing, with the cool breeze blowing, they did not stay long at the station.
Weather:
A beautiful cloudless day. Winds were steady out of the southeast all day at 2-3 BFT. Temperatures ranged from 9C to 15C.
Raptor Observations:
A fairly slow day for raptors, three local Red-tailed Hawks appeared on several occasions. One local Cooper's Hawk moved south along the ridge before soaring up and gliding away to the southwest. A Harlan's Hawk spent a good deal of time hunting on the ridge below Cabrini. As a non-summer resident species, it was counted as migrating.
Non-raptor Observations:
The brisk wind blowing on a Raven perched on the power poles revealed the base of its neck feathers to be very white, indicative of a Chihuahuan Raven. Other birds observed included, Black-billed Magpie, American Robin, Killdeer, Western Meadowlark, Common Raven and Spotted Towhee
Predictions:
A nice day is predicted. Winds are expected move around and be out of the north by early afternoon, conditions similar to last Friday which could be favorable to migration.
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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