Friday, 22 April 2022

[cobirds] Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists (22 Apr 2022) 23 Raptors

Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists
Colorado, USA

Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 22, 2022
SpeciesDay's CountMonth TotalSeason Total
Black Vulture000
Turkey Vulture5310336
Osprey03638
Bald Eagle02154
Northern Harrier01925
Sharp-shinned Hawk05564
Cooper's Hawk6147158
Northern Goshawk057
Red-shouldered Hawk000
Broad-winged Hawk33232
Red-tailed Hawk1303718
Rough-legged Hawk003
Swainson's Hawk32121
Ferruginous Hawk0963
Golden Eagle0836
American Kestrel4281313
Merlin11115
Peregrine Falcon0714
Prairie Falcon029
Mississippi Kite000
Unknown Accipiter01212
Unknown Buteo0814
Unknown Falcon024
Unknown Eagle033
Unknown Raptor016
Total:2312931945


Observation start time: 07:30:00
Observation end time: 14:00:00
Total observation time: 6.5 hours
Official CounterEmma Riley, Steve Small
Observers: Carol Cwiklinski, Chris Gearhart, Dave Hill, Steve Small



Visitors:
Steve Small, Carol Cwiklinski, Dave Hill, and Chris Gearhart helped observe today. Steve and Carol started the count early at 0730 before Emma got to the ridge at 0900. We had 6 visitors at the ridge today.

Weather:
Winds were strong from the SE first thing in the morning, but died down after that until early afternoon. We had gusts all day but winds got worse at about 1330 MST causing us to end the count early. Wind direction was from the SE for most of the day but we often felt strong gusts from the direct W of us. A dust storm could be seen both south and east of us at the time we ended the count. Our counter lives in Fort Collins and reported a large dust storm all along the front range on her drive home.

Raptor Observations:
The morning started off with a quick push of raptors but then went all but silent. Movement stayed slow for the rest of the day, with our last migrant seen 2 hours before the wind pushed us off the ridge. The local TVs were seen all day along the western ridge often flying south.

Non-raptor Observations:
Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay, Say's Phoebe, White-throated Swift, Tree Swallow, Violet-green Swallow, and Stellar's Jay were seen today. Corvid activity and passerine activity was low. We are noticing that migrant passerine activity is low and potentially delayed.

Predictions:
Tomorrow is much cooler than the last two days with winds predicted from the NW with the potential to reach speeds of 40 mph or 65 km/h. Precipitation is expected to move in tomorrow night into Sunday. People all over the Front Range are starting to discuss the high number of strong wind days we are having this spring.


Report submitted by DAVID HILL ()
Dinosaur Ridge - Denver Field Ornithologists information may be found at: http://www.dfobirds.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 of any skill level are always welcome.
HawkWatch at Dinosaur Ridge is generally staffed by volunteers 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
southwest end of lot to the 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.
(Distance: 0.56 miles, Elevation gain: 259 feet)

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