Dinosaur Ridge - Bird Conservancy of the Rockies (14 Mar 2018) 3 Raptors
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Mar 14, 2018, 8:33:14 PM3/14/18
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Dinosaur Ridge - Bird Conservancy of the Rockies
Colorado, USA
Visitors:
Jim Banks arrived early, with binoculars and his leashed dog. Later in the morning, Pat Conner also came up to help with the watch. The day was not particularly busy, but Jim and Pat’s extra eyes were much appreciated. There was a lot of hiker and biker traffic on the trail today, including what appeared to be a class of grade-school students, accompanied by some adults, on a Dinosaur Ridge outing. Throughout the day, several people came onto the platform but mostly only for the view.
Weather:
It was a pleasant, partly-sunny watch with temperatures rising from 13 C to 16 C. Initially mild and southeasterly winds increased in strength to bft 3 and 4 and shifted early on to come mostly from the east. Cloud-cover increased from 70 % coverage (thin, mostly translucent clouds) to 90% coverage (smooth, mostly opaque clouds). Visibility was good.
Raptor Observations:
It was a slow day, with no particular pattern emerging from the paths of the three migrants. The Sharp-shinned Hawk passed near to the platform and is considered the highlight of the day. The local Red-tailed Hawks were rather active today, although they rarely came very near the Ridge. A lanky, juvenile Red-tailed Hawk made several appearances today, either alone or with one, of the usual three, adult Red-tailed Hawks. There was plenty of leg-dropping and also a few tussles during the day, but by the end of the watch, four Red-tailed Hawks were seen circling as two sets of companionable pairs over the western ridges, with one pair over Two Trees and the other pair at the forested northern end of WestRidge.
Non-raptor Observations:
Common Ravens (one apparent pair and a single raven) displayed their flight acumen. The single raven perched several times on the power pole north of the platform. A small flock of Bushtits moved up and down the Ridge near midday. Also seen or heard were Northern Flicker, Townsend’s Solitaire, American Robin, American Crow, Black-billed Magpie, bluebird species going north, Pink-sided Dark-eyed Junco, and Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay.
Report submitted by Bird Conservancy of the Rockies (jeff....@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.
Colorado, USA
| Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 14, 2018 | |||
| 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 | 0 | 0 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 1 | 62 | 62 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| 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 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Buteo | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total: | 3 | 69 | 69 |
| Observation start time: | 08:30:00 |
| Observation end time: | 14:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 5.5 hours |
| Official Counter | Joyce Commercon |
| Observers: | Jim Banks, Pat Conner |
Visitors:
Jim Banks arrived early, with binoculars and his leashed dog. Later in the morning, Pat Conner also came up to help with the watch. The day was not particularly busy, but Jim and Pat’s extra eyes were much appreciated. There was a lot of hiker and biker traffic on the trail today, including what appeared to be a class of grade-school students, accompanied by some adults, on a Dinosaur Ridge outing. Throughout the day, several people came onto the platform but mostly only for the view.
Weather:
It was a pleasant, partly-sunny watch with temperatures rising from 13 C to 16 C. Initially mild and southeasterly winds increased in strength to bft 3 and 4 and shifted early on to come mostly from the east. Cloud-cover increased from 70 % coverage (thin, mostly translucent clouds) to 90% coverage (smooth, mostly opaque clouds). Visibility was good.
Raptor Observations:
It was a slow day, with no particular pattern emerging from the paths of the three migrants. The Sharp-shinned Hawk passed near to the platform and is considered the highlight of the day. The local Red-tailed Hawks were rather active today, although they rarely came very near the Ridge. A lanky, juvenile Red-tailed Hawk made several appearances today, either alone or with one, of the usual three, adult Red-tailed Hawks. There was plenty of leg-dropping and also a few tussles during the day, but by the end of the watch, four Red-tailed Hawks were seen circling as two sets of companionable pairs over the western ridges, with one pair over Two Trees and the other pair at the forested northern end of WestRidge.
Non-raptor Observations:
Common Ravens (one apparent pair and a single raven) displayed their flight acumen. The single raven perched several times on the power pole north of the platform. A small flock of Bushtits moved up and down the Ridge near midday. Also seen or heard were Northern Flicker, Townsend’s Solitaire, American Robin, American Crow, Black-billed Magpie, bluebird species going north, Pink-sided Dark-eyed Junco, and Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay.
Report submitted by Bird Conservancy of the Rockies (jeff....@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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