Colorado, USA
| Daily Raptor Counts: May 05, 2019 | |||
| Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 14 | 119 |
| Osprey | 0 | 2 | 27 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 0 | 18 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 4 | 59 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 0 | 3 | 97 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 0 | 7 | 323 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 1 | 10 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 1 | 12 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 3 | 59 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| Total: | 0 | 35 | 805 |
| Observation start time: | 08:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 12:30:00 |
| Total observation time: | 4.5 hours |
| Official Counter | Mike Fernandez |
| Observers: |
Visitors:
A busy trail today, with most hiking and biking and exchanging hellos. One solo hiker asked if I'd seen any hawks yet. A group of three friendly bikers stopped for a few minutes and asked about HawkWatch.
Weather:
Slightly breezy from the east and mostly sunny and warm all day today. Cloud Cover varied quite a bit during the watch. (PWS: Idledale).
Raptor Observations:
Migrating Raptors: None. I was so intent on spotting a migrator, that once I spotted something flying north in my binoculars only to realize it was a northbound gnat right in front of me. Non-Migrating Raptors: Four Turkey Vultures kettled over the saddle (HOF 5), plus one (HOF 1) low on the west side of the ridge (10:30 mst). Two more Turkey Vultures spiraled and departed west over two pines. Two local Red-tailed Hawks appeared from below the north end of the ridge, interacting closely with each other, one rollercoastered over table mountain, then both disappeared below horizon. A local American Kestrel repeatedly dive bombed a local Red-tailed Hawk in the Rooney Valley (11:30 mst). The two reappeared 10 minutes later directly above the platform (HOF 3), but by then their roles were reversed.
Non-raptor Observations:
An aerial peloton of 30+ Canada Geese vectored toward Castle Rock at quite a height (HOF 3). A group of six White-throated Swifts burst on the scene directly overhead (there were more all around today, hard to count). Broad-tailed Hummingbirds (at least 5) wing-whistled nearby all watch. Also seen or heard: Common Grackle (7), Spotted Towhee (3), Western Meadowlark (2), American Crow (1), Common Raven (1), House Finch (1), Rock Wren (1), Black-billed Magpie (2), Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon) (2), Barn Swallow (1), Woodhouse's Scrub-jay (3), and American Robin (1).
Predictions:
On this, my last watch this season I had to keep reminding myself that zero migration is useful data too. I also want to echo Roger's comments about the 2019 season. It almost feels as if the team has been spending the time together on the hill just from reading those great reports, and knowing our handful of committed HawkWatchers behind the reports. It's still a team, even if it's a tag team.
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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