Colorado, USA
| Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 22, 2019 | |||
| Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bald Eagle | 1 | 10 | 10 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| 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 | 5 | 63 | 63 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Total: | 7 | 86 | 86 |
| Observation start time: | 09:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 14:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 5 hours |
| Official Counter | Debbie James |
| Observers: | Barb Banks, Bill Schreitz, David Prentice, Jim Banks |
Visitors:
Lots of bikers and hikers. A woman came early to the platform and stopped to watch the Sharp-Shin migrate. It was wonderful having so many observers come up to help out today--more eyes means more can be seen.
Weather:
Mostly cloudy day with low winds. Extremely low cloud ceiling over West Ridge, which hawks kept disappearing into. A faint haze persisted all day. The Denver Basis was obscured by pollution, and Downtown Denver could not be seen. Temps ranged from 6 degrees C to 13 degrees in the middle of the day. Afternoon brought lower temps, increasing humidity and wind speeds as rain was coming in.
Raptor Observations:
One local Red Tail Hawk was hunting the Ridge first thing in the morning. Two more joined in over the day. There appeared to be courting behavior and territorial behavior. The 1st hour's Sharpie was very high over the Ridge, no flapping and sailing straight north. In the second hour a kettle of 5 Red Tail Hawks swirled just south of I-70 over west. Unfortunately they disappeared into the clouds and we could not tell if any migrated, although some probably did. None are in the count. Migrating adult Bald Eagle was directly over the Ridge very high. Later, two local Red Tails were attacking a Golden Eagle over Mother Cabrini.
Non-raptor Observations:
The trail is in good shape, and as Roger said yesterday, few patches of mud that can be avoided. A big motorcycle event was taking place on the course below on the east side, making a lot of racket. Other birds seen or heard: 4 Bushtit; 1 Rock Pidgeon; 4 Black-billed Magpie; 3 House Finch; 2 Blue Jay; 2 Northern Flicker; 1 Townsend's Solitaire; 1 Woodhouse's Scrub Jay; 3 American Crow; 1 Canyon Wren; 2 Dark-eyed Junco; 2 Chickadee (sp.) and 1 Mountain Chickadee; 8 Mountain Blue Bird.
Predictions:
The weather looks to be pleasant tomorrow, so probably can expect the same or more migrating hawks to go through. It's about time for Turkey Vultures to make their appearance.
Report submitted by Matthew Smith (matt.smith@birdconservancy.org)
Dinosaur Ridge - Bird Conservancy of the Rockies information may be found at: http://www.birdconservancy.org/
More information at hawkcount.org: [Site Profile] [Day Summary] [Month Summary]
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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