[cobirds] Dinosaur Ridge - Bird Conservancy of the Rockies (03 May 2017) 6 Raptors

Dinosaur Ridge - Bird Conservancy of the Rockies
Colorado, USA

Daily Raptor Counts: May 03, 2017
Species	Day's Count	Month Total	Season Total
Black Vulture	0	0	0
Turkey Vulture	0	1	70
Osprey	1	3	12
Bald Eagle	0	1	15
Northern Harrier	0	0	2
Sharp-shinned Hawk	1	13	61
Cooper's Hawk	3	5	68
Northern Goshawk	0	0	0
Red-shouldered Hawk	0	0	0
Broad-winged Hawk	0	0	19
Red-tailed Hawk	0	0	263
Rough-legged Hawk	0	0	0
Swainson's Hawk	0	0	14
Ferruginous Hawk	0	0	8
Golden Eagle	0	0	4
American Kestrel	0	3	45
Merlin	0	0	0
Peregrine Falcon	0	1	11
Prairie Falcon	0	0	6
Mississippi Kite	0	0	0
Unknown Accipiter	0	4	15
Unknown Buteo	0	1	28
Unknown Falcon	0	0	8
Unknown Eagle	0	0	0
Unknown Raptor	1	1	25
Total:	6	33	674

Observation start time:	09:00:00
Observation end time:	14:00:00
Total observation time:	5 hours
Official Counter	Roger Rouch
Observers:

Visitors:
None.

Weather:
Observation was started an hour later than usual (10:00 DST) due to adverse weather predictions. Snow and sleet all morning with visibility about a mile at best and only about a hundred yards at times. Weather gradually improved in the afternoon and the sun finally peeked through during the last hour. Morning wind at about 2 or 3 Bft. from the NE and relatively calm in the afternoon. Temperatures rose from the mid-thirties to mid-forties.

Raptor Observations:
No raptors were seen in the morning and most migrating raptors were tallied during the 13:00 to 14:00 hours (DST) and generally overhead at the limit of unaided vision. Just a few local Red-tailed Hawks and two local Turkey vultures.

Non-raptor Observations:
American Robin, Common Raven, chickadee, Western Meadowlark, and Woodhouse's Scrub-jay.

Predictions:
Maybe migration season is winding down, but it might be reasonable to expect some post storm catch-up migration in the next few warm and sunny days.

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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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