[cobirds] Dinosaur Ridge (08 Mar 2017) 16 Raptors

Dinosaur Ridge
Colorado, USA

Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 08, 2017
Species	Day's Count	Month Total	Season Total
Black Vulture	0	0	0
Turkey Vulture	0	0	0
Osprey	0	0	0
Bald Eagle	0	6	6
Northern Harrier	0	0	0
Sharp-shinned Hawk	0	0	0
Cooper's Hawk	0	0	0
Northern Goshawk	0	0	0
Red-shouldered Hawk	0	0	0
Broad-winged Hawk	0	0	0
Red-tailed Hawk	14	28	28
Rough-legged Hawk	0	0	0
Swainson's Hawk	0	0	0
Ferruginous Hawk	0	0	0
Golden Eagle	1	1	1
American Kestrel	0	0	0
Merlin	0	0	0
Peregrine Falcon	0	1	1
Prairie Falcon	0	0	0
Mississippi Kite	0	0	0
Unknown Accipiter	0	0	0
Unknown Buteo	1	3	3
Unknown Falcon	0	0	0
Unknown Eagle	0	0	0
Unknown Raptor	0	0	0
Total:	16	39	39

Observation start time:	08:45:00
Observation end time:	14:00:00
Total observation time:	5.25 hours
Official Counter	Roger Rouch
Observers:

Visitors:
None.

Weather:
A mild partly cloudy day with temps from 35 to 51 F. Calmer than the gale force type winds of the past days, but still a steady wind mostly from the NW around 3 and 4 Bft. through the day.

Raptor Observations:
Possibly a migration catch-up after the recent high winds, with several migrating Red-tailed plus an adult American Golden Eagle. The time between 10:30 and 11:30 was especially active for both migrating and local Red-tailed Hawks, with some locals travelling well past I-70 either as escorts for migrants or on their own, only to return south. The migration route was almost exclusively along the valley between Mt. Morrison and the Ridge at various elevations including eye level. Speculation was that this provided some wind protection or other favorable flight in the NW winds.

Non-raptor Observations:
Also seen were Western Scrub Jay, Black-capped Chickadee, Mountain Chickadee, Common Raven, American Robin, Townsend's Solitaire.

Predictions:
Possibly similar to today?

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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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