Colorado, USA
| Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 24, 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 | 0 | 10 | 10 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 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 | 1 | 67 | 67 |
| 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 | 2 | 4 | 4 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Total: | 3 | 92 | 92 |
| Observation start time: | 08:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 11:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 3 hours |
| Official Counter | Mike Fernandez |
| Observers: |
Visitors:
No visitors with inquiries. A couple of cyclists mentioned they witnessed a hang glider fall to the ground last week in the Rooney Valley and later found out he was only injured.
Weather:
A sunny morning with few clouds and a light BFT-2 breeze: This seemingly favorable weather did not bring with it a lot of migrators. A year ago on this Sunday, we had 7 species, 31 individuals, fly by. Conditions were almost the same, except two: the breeze was southerly (it was from the north today) and there were two observers (versus only one today). PWS: WU-Idledale.
Raptor Observations:
Migrating Raptors: Red-tailed Hawks (one appeared seemingly from the heavens high above Table Mountain, got entangled with a local escort (currently missing a tail feather or two), and then disappeared to the north beyond Golden. Non-Migrating Raptors: RTHA - Local Red-tailed Hawks were active today. On arrival at the platform, I watched a local circle above Two Pines; later I followed one (perhaps the same one) stooping from Bare Slope downward and southward almost to Red Rocks; moments later one escorted a migrating Red-tailed beyond Table Mountain and then rose in elevation to stoop south into the Rooney Valley and Green Mountain area. Local RTHAs became more active starting 9:30 MST, as temperatures rose and the wind picked up and shifted slightly east. One pair showed courting type behaviors, including dropped legs. GOEA - The local 4/5-year old Golden Eagle appeared twice today, first at south end of ridge, circling up very high and ending up in the Rooney Valley against the Green Mountain backdrop. Buteos and GOEA - Close to 11 MST, seven raptors appeared against the gathering dark clouds from the west, circled very high overhead at Two Pines: One was a local Golden Eagle again, four were local Buteos, and two were Buteos who navigated through the high flying crowded sky to continue on northward. This gang of seven were barely visible at 8x.
Non-raptor Observations:
Also seen or heard: Woodhouse's Scrub Jay (1), Townsend's Solitaire (2), Common Raven (3), Black-billed Magpie (1), Spotted Towhee (1), and Mountain Chicadee (1, who almost flew right into me on the platform!). Reported on eBird.
Predictions:
Winds shifting to coming from the west and south might help for a time with lifting birds over the ridge. Trail conditions are mostly dry.
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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