Tuesday, 22 March 2016

[cobirds] Dinosaur Ridge (22 Mar 2016) 9 Raptors

Dinosaur Ridge
Colorado, USA

Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 22, 2016
SpeciesDay's CountMonth TotalSeason Total
Black Vulture000
Turkey Vulture122
Osprey000
Bald Eagle088
Northern Harrier022
Sharp-shinned Hawk133
Cooper's Hawk333
Northern Goshawk000
Red-shouldered Hawk000
Broad-winged Hawk000
Red-tailed Hawk2138138
Rough-legged Hawk000
Swainson's Hawk000
Ferruginous Hawk022
Golden Eagle011
American Kestrel199
Merlin000
Peregrine Falcon011
Prairie Falcon033
Mississippi Kite000
Unknown Accipiter133
Unknown Buteo01010
Unknown Falcon044
Unknown Eagle000
Unknown Raptor022
Total:9191191


Observation start time: 07:45:00
Observation end time: 13:30:00
Total observation time: 5.75 hours
Official CounterRoger Rouch
Observers:



Visitors:
Kathie Moses provided excellent spotting skills during mid-day. Also, a fellow and his young son enjoying spring break stopped by for a short time.

Weather:
Partly cloudy with temperatures from the mid-40's to upper 50's. Wind was mostly from the SE at around 2 bft early and then mostly from the West at 4 bft the remainder of the day.

Raptor Observations:
Less activity than recent days with the majority of the count being accipiter rather than Red-tail. A couple or few probably local Red-tailed Hawks (along with crows and ravens) popped up and then down from behind the flanks of Mt. Morrison during mid-day. There was no real pattern for migration timing or elevation.

Non-raptor Observations:
Also seen or heard were Common Raven, American Crow, Black-billed Magpie, Western Scrub Jay, Western Meadowlark, Brown Creeper, American Robin, Townsend's Solitare, and chickadees.


Report submitted by Bird Conservancy of the Rockies (jeff.birek@birdconservancy.org)
Dinosaur Ridge information may be found at: http://www.birdconservancy.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 Bird Conservancy of the
Rockies from about 9 AM to around 3 PM from March 1st to May 7th.

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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