Colorado, USA
| Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 28, 2017 | |||
| Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Turkey Vulture | 2 | 68 | 68 |
| Osprey | 0 | 8 | 8 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 5 | 14 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 37 | 47 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 1 | 58 | 63 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 17 | 17 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 4 | 81 | 261 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 14 | 14 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 3 | 8 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| American Kestrel | 1 | 30 | 42 |
| 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 | 0 | 12 | 27 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 5 | 8 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 16 | 23 |
| Total: | 8 | 376 | 632 |
| Observation start time: | 09:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 14:15:00 |
| Total observation time: | 5.25 hours |
| Official Counter | Debbie James |
| Observers: |
Visitors:
Quiet day--only one man and his dog who were looking to find dinosaur tracks.
Weather:
The day started sunny and clear skies, then second hour winds began gusting, and all bird activity came to a halt. The slow-moving storm began coming in about noon, it was fascinating watching it develop. At 3:00 MDT heavy low clouds boiled across Green Mountain, then slogged over the south end of the Ridge. Cloud ceiling dropped steadily, and it didn't take more than several minutes for Rooney Valley to be filled with clouds and snow starting. By the time I walked down off the mountain, visibility was no more than 200 feet, and a brisk blizzard was blowing in from the north.
Raptor Observations:
Had 3 local Red Tail Hawks, and they only made brief appearances. Migrating Red Tail Hawks preferred the east side of the Ridge. Interesting to see two of them facing high winds at north end of Ridge, turn tail to the wind, kite in place, then maybe when gust let up, they'd roll over and fly on north. The two TV's came across from West, flew to Ridge and then continued on north--didn't want to count them, but they went on north until I couldn't see--past Golden. The one Cooper's Hawk was hugging the west side of the Ridge, flying very low.
Non-raptor Observations:
Lots of butterflies on the way up, :-( to think of them in the snow. We have a Rock Wren who hopped right up at the station. I watched her exploring nooks and crannies in rocks on West side of station, then at some point she was up on the East side of station--didn't seem to be too bothered with me. Other birds--2 Black-billed Magpie; 1 American Robin; 1 House Finch; 3 Woodhouse's Scrub Jay; 4 White Throated Swift; 1 Spotted Towhee; 3 Meadowlark; 3 Common Raven; 1 Swallow (species); 1 Broad-tailed Hummingbird; 1 American Crow.
Predictions:
Tomorrow doesn't look good with snow predicted, but I'll bet Hawks will be on the move on Sunday.
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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