[cobirds] Dinosaur Ridge (24 Mar 2016) 2 Raptors

Dinosaur Ridge
Colorado, USA

Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 24, 2016
Species	Day's Count	Month Total	Season Total
Black Vulture	0	0	0
Turkey Vulture	0	2	2
Osprey	0	0	0
Bald Eagle	0	8	8
Northern Harrier	0	2	2
Sharp-shinned Hawk	0	4	4
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	140	140
Rough-legged Hawk	0	0	0
Swainson's Hawk	0	0	0
Ferruginous Hawk	0	2	2
Golden Eagle	0	1	1
American Kestrel	0	9	9
Merlin	0	0	0
Peregrine Falcon	0	1	1
Prairie Falcon	0	3	3
Mississippi Kite	0	0	0
Unknown Accipiter	0	3	3
Unknown Buteo	0	10	10
Unknown Falcon	0	4	4
Unknown Eagle	0	0	0
Unknown Raptor	0	2	2
Total:	2	193	193

Observation start time:	08:30:00
Observation end time:	13:00:00
Total observation time:	4.5 hours
Official Counter	Roger Rouch
Observers:

Visitors:
None.

Weather:
Clear in the morning with increasing clouds and mostly cloudy by day's end. Temperatures from the upper 30's to mid 40's with a light (1-2 Bft) breeze mostly from the NW. Snow covered landscape and deep drifts along the trail (see Next Day's Predictions for more).

Raptor Observations:
Two migrating Red-tailed Hawks near mid-day and little other raptor activity.

Non-raptor Observations:
Also seen were Black-billed Magpie, American Robin (numerous), Western Scrub Jay, Townsend's Solitare, Black-capped Chickadee, Mountain Chickadee, Northern Flicker, and Common Raven.

Predictions:
The morning walk up was a post-holing aerobic workout, however melting and compacting during the day made trail conditions slightly better. There will probably be addition melting, but at the end of the watch there were still long stretches with mid-calf high snow and other than myself and a few deer, no trail breakers. The site itself is mostly just muddy. Discretion is advised for people thinking of going up tomorrow. Gators or snow pants recommended. Some good post storm raptor activity might be possible in the next few days?

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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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