[cobirds] Dinosaur Ridge - Bird Conservancy of the Rockies (26 Apr 2017) 8 Raptors

Dinosaur Ridge - Bird Conservancy of the Rockies
Colorado, USA

Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 26, 2017
Species	Day's Count	Month Total	Season Total
Black Vulture	0	0	0
Turkey Vulture	1	66	66
Osprey	0	8	8
Bald Eagle	0	5	14
Northern Harrier	0	2	2
Sharp-shinned Hawk	2	36	46
Cooper's Hawk	2	57	62
Northern Goshawk	0	0	0
Red-shouldered Hawk	0	0	0
Broad-winged Hawk	0	17	17
Red-tailed Hawk	2	77	257
Rough-legged Hawk	0	0	0
Swainson's Hawk	0	14	14
Ferruginous Hawk	0	3	8
Golden Eagle	0	1	4
American Kestrel	0	29	41
Merlin	0	0	0
Peregrine Falcon	0	7	9
Prairie Falcon	0	5	6
Mississippi Kite	0	0	0
Unknown Accipiter	0	7	11
Unknown Buteo	1	12	27
Unknown Falcon	0	5	8
Unknown Eagle	0	0	0
Unknown Raptor	0	16	23
Total:	8	367	623

Observation start time:	08:00:00
Observation end time:	13:00:00
Total observation time:	5 hours
Official Counter	Roger Rouch
Observers:

Visitors:
None.

Weather:
A cloudless start to the day with increasing clouds and becoming mostly cloudy by day's end. A dusting of snow on many of the surrounding ridges that melted quickly. There was a steady wind from the SE at around 2 Bft. early, then an abrupt shift at the third observation hour with wind from the NW at around 3 or 4 Bft. Temperatures from 40 F to 60 F.

Raptor Observations:
A few migrating raptors early, with local Turkey Vultures and Red tails sailing over the west ridges. When the wind shifted at 11:00 DST most locals disappeared and there were just a few migrating raptors the remainder of the day. The decreased raptor activity seemed to be related to the wind shift, but could have been coincidental. No other distinct flight pattern for the migrating birds.

Non-raptor Observations:
Seen or heard were: Spotted Towhee, American Robin, Common Raven, Western Meadowlark, Woodhouse's Scrub-jay, Canyon Wren, Broad-tailed Hummingbird, White-throated Swift, and a Mourning Dove.

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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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