Colorado, USA
| Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 23, 2016 | |||
| Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Turkey Vulture | 13 | 70 | 85 |
| Osprey | 0 | 5 | 6 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 3 | 12 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 3 | 31 | 40 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 1 | 40 | 47 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 0 | 64 | 246 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 6 | 6 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 20 | 33 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 5 | 8 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 7 | 12 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 14 | 24 |
| Unknown Buteo | 1 | 4 | 17 |
| Unknown Falcon | 1 | 3 | 8 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 5 | 7 |
| Total: | 22 | 281 | 561 |
| Observation start time: | 08:15:00 |
| Observation end time: | 14:30:00 |
| Total observation time: | 6.25 hours |
| Official Counter | Mike Fernandez |
| Observers: | Mitchell Blystone |
Visitors:
We enjoyed conversing with Mountain Biker - Birder rare species Dominic. Many visitors to The Hill today, asking questions and lifting binocs.
Weather:
A blustery day, starting out with SE winds and 100% high bright cloud cover and cool temps, then a brief mid day calm with thin clouds and a heat up before gusty winds and heavy clouds and virga moved in from the southwest.
Raptor Observations:
The migrating raptors appeared mostly during the early cooler cloud covered hours and then the locals took over as the weather heated up and conditions calmed. As the storm moved in from the west, all raptor activity came to a halt. Mitchell noted that the raptors were tacking into the south wind to gain elevation and then drive north, making a pattern like the frosting on a Hostess cupcake. A local RTHA "couple" flew up to great heights and then stoop down at each other repeatedly. Unidentified Buteo first hour is likely BTHA, but unconfirmed.
Non-raptor Observations:
Other bird species: American Robins (3); Black Billed Magpies (7); Local Red-Tailed Hawks (4); White-Throated Swifts (dozens, they appeared often in our binocs while eying raptors; two swifted by at eye level on the platform); American Kestrel (1 on the Rooney side); Mourning Dove (2); Dark-Eyed Junco (2); seasonally local Turkey Vultures (9), Western Meadowlark (heard 3), Chicadee (1, too brief to identify), Common Raven (2). Possible Tree Swallow (1) late, and Cassin's Vireo (1) early.
Predictions:
Rain seemed disappointing, so conditions on the trail will probably dry out. No elk on the ridge today, but maybe on Sunday. Keep an eye out on the way up.
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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