[cobirds] Dinosaur Ridge - Bird Conservancy of the Rockies (02 May 2020) 10 Raptors

Dinosaur Ridge - Bird Conservancy of the Rockies
Colorado, USA

Daily Raptor Counts: May 02, 2020
Species	Day's Count	Month Total	Season Total
Black Vulture	0	0	0
Turkey Vulture	4	4	52
Osprey	1	1	21
Bald Eagle	0	0	15
Northern Harrier	0	0	1
Sharp-shinned Hawk	0	0	42
Cooper's Hawk	0	0	57
Northern Goshawk	0	0	1
Red-shouldered Hawk	0	0	0
Broad-winged Hawk	0	0	95
Red-tailed Hawk	0	0	112
Rough-legged Hawk	0	0	0
Swainson's Hawk	1	1	9
Ferruginous Hawk	1	1	1
Golden Eagle	0	0	6
American Kestrel	0	0	57
Merlin	0	0	7
Peregrine Falcon	0	0	7
Prairie Falcon	0	0	2
Mississippi Kite	0	0	0
Unknown Accipiter	1	1	3
Unknown Buteo	2	2	8
Unknown Falcon	0	0	0
Unknown Eagle	0	0	0
Unknown Raptor	0	0	4
Total:	10	10	500

Observation start time:	09:15:00
Observation end time:	11:15:00
Total observation time:	2 hours
Official Counter	Mitchell Blystone
Observers:

Visitors:
A steady day on the trail though few visitors came up to the landing. A busy day at the gun range and Motor cross track.

Weather:
A drizzly, foggy, start to the morning with very low cloud cover. The fog gave way around 10:00am and the clouds lifted though not higher the Mt. Morrison. On very rare occasions the sun broke through.

Raptor Observations:
A good mix of Raptors seen through the morning. On two occasions the bird, while flying north, rose into the cloud bank and was not seen again. An Osprey gave a great up close fly-by and the day ended with a Ferruginous hawk.

Non-raptor Observations:
Many Scrub Jays, Magpies, American crows, Black-capped Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, as well as a Raven, and a Blue Jay. One solitary Great Blue Heron flew north over the landing.

Predictions:
Hopefully better weather!

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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]

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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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