Wednesday 29 March 2017

[cobirds] Dinosaur Ridge - Bird Conservancy of the Rockies (29 Mar 2017) 14 Raptors

Dinosaur Ridge - Bird Conservancy of the Rockies
Colorado, USA

Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 29, 2017
SpeciesDay's CountMonth TotalSeason Total
Black Vulture000
Turkey Vulture000
Osprey000
Bald Eagle199
Northern Harrier000
Sharp-shinned Hawk31010
Cooper's Hawk055
Northern Goshawk000
Red-shouldered Hawk000
Broad-winged Hawk000
Red-tailed Hawk9170170
Rough-legged Hawk000
Swainson's Hawk000
Ferruginous Hawk044
Golden Eagle033
American Kestrel01212
Merlin000
Peregrine Falcon022
Prairie Falcon011
Mississippi Kite000
Unknown Accipiter044
Unknown Buteo01313
Unknown Falcon033
Unknown Eagle000
Unknown Raptor177
Total:14243243


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



Visitors:
None.

Weather:
Low clouds obscured Mt. Morrison and the west ridges and mostly cloudy early, but the clouds quickly lifted turning to a partly cloudy (or partly sunny) day. A brisk wind of about 3 Bft. from the NE all day. Temperatures from 40 F to the mid- 50's.

Raptor Observations:
Most migration was straight north flight at the "eye level to 30 meter" elevation and just east of the ridge, leading one to think ridge lift from the NE wind and lack of good thermals influenced the flight pattern. A Bald Eagle was a nice highlight. I will post a photo for comment or correction, but I believe it was a 4th year sub-adult. A distant raptor high and beyond the west ridges had Golden Eagle clues but was recorded as an unidentified raptor. Other than the local Red-tailed pairs there was little activity over the western ridges.

Non-raptor Observations:
A dozen Western Bluebird landed in the dead pine just SE of the platform. A few other smaller groups of 1 to 4 flew by and all seemed to have a northern direction to their flight. Also seen or heard, Black-billed Magpie, Townsend's Solitaire, Common Raven, American Robin, Woodhouse's Scrub-jay, Western Meadowlark, Spotted Towhee.

Predictions:
Optimistically, it is near peak season and maybe a little post storm make-up migration, so a good day? In spite of last night's rain and snow the trail is just fine.


Report submitted by Bird Conservancy of the Rockies (jeff.birek@birdconservancy.org)
Dinosaur Ridge - Bird Conservancy of the Rockies 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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