Colorado, USA
| Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 26, 2016 | |||
| Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 74 | 89 |
| Osprey | 0 | 5 | 6 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 3 | 12 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 34 | 43 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 1 | 41 | 48 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 0 | 66 | 248 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 24 | 37 |
| 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 | 0 | 4 | 17 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 3 | 8 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 6 | 8 |
| Total: | 1 | 298 | 578 |
| Observation start time: | 08:15:00 |
| Observation end time: | 11:30:00 |
| Total observation time: | 3.25 hours |
| Official Counter | Bill Wuerthele |
| Observers: |
Visitors:
Other than a trail crew, there were few people on the trail. No one stopped by the observation platform.
Weather:
Dark clouds covered 70% of the sky at the beginning of the watch, and by late morning cloud cover was 100%, with a steady rain/sleet mix falling. Precipitation began as light graupel showers, gradually becoming a rain/sleet mix. Visibility decreased from about 10 km in the morning to 1 km by noon, with the tops of Mt. Morrison, West Ridge and Cabrini obscured by low clouds. The temperature dropped from a high of 47 F in the morning to 41 F by noon. Wind was out of the east and then northeast at a steady 4 Bft. After an hour of steady rain/sleet mix with no letup in sight and no birds in the air, the watch was ended at 12:30 MDT.
Raptor Observations:
Migrating Raptors: A very slow day with just one migrating raptor counted - an immature Cooper's Hawk passing just east of the observation platform. Non-migrating Raptors: A slow day for locals as well, with an adult Cooper's Hawk passing very close to the Ridge, going south; an adult Red-tailed Hawk displaying some fancy undulating flight; and two Turkey Vultures moving south along the Ridge.
Non-raptor Observations:
The following species were seen or heard: Black-billed Magpie, Western Meadowlark, Common Raven, Spotted Towhee, Western Scrub-Jay, White-throated Swift (just one), Townsend's Solitaire, Northern Flicker, American Crow, and Blue-gray Gnatcatcher.
Predictions:
The trail was fine on the way up, but very muddy on the way down. Expect mud.
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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