Sunday, 24 April 2016

[cobirds] Dinosaur Ridge (24 Apr 2016) 4 Raptors

Dinosaur Ridge
Colorado, USA

Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 24, 2016
SpeciesDay's CountMonth TotalSeason Total
Black Vulture000
Turkey Vulture07085
Osprey056
Bald Eagle0312
Northern Harrier003
Sharp-shinned Hawk13241
Cooper's Hawk04047
Northern Goshawk000
Red-shouldered Hawk000
Broad-winged Hawk033
Red-tailed Hawk165247
Rough-legged Hawk000
Swainson's Hawk177
Ferruginous Hawk002
Golden Eagle012
American Kestrel12134
Merlin000
Peregrine Falcon058
Prairie Falcon0712
Mississippi Kite000
Unknown Accipiter01424
Unknown Buteo0417
Unknown Falcon038
Unknown Eagle000
Unknown Raptor057
Total:4285565


Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 14:00:00
Total observation time: 6 hours
Official CounterGary Rossmiller
Observers: Justin Dee, Lee Farrell, Linda Farrell



Visitors:
Linda & Lee Farrell helped in the morning. Justin Dee helped the last hour. Lots of people passing thru the platform, a couple stopped to ask and learn more about the program.

Weather:
Calm to blustery B6-7, mostly cloudy, mid-day and end of day sunshine. 9 C increasing to 14 C, humidity 40% down to 29%, pressure dropped slightly 29.72" to 29.67". Horizons visible, clouds made sighting easier, what few there were.

Raptor Observations:
Ravens and local TV's first thing in high winds got my hopes up. Maybe 6, at most, local RT's all day. 2 local RT's after lunch, one with missing feathers on right wing. 4 migrants counted total, 2 of those could be discussed. Swainson's straight over ridge then NW, fairly high; RT on east side of ridge lower than us but soared and headed NW; SS very low on east side during high winds; AK just off west side of ridge working very, very hard going north.

Non-raptor Observations:
4 American Pelicans soaring extremely high over Green Mountain in the early afternoon, lost in the clouds. Spotted Towhee, Robins, N Flicker, Magpies, Meadowlark, lots of Swifts all day, and Western Bluebirds?

Predictions:
I predict a good time will be had by raptors and volunteers.


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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