HSR: Dinosaur Ridge (11 Apr 2014) 25 Raptors
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rep...@hawkcount.org
Apr 12, 2014, 12:04:19 AM4/12/14
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Dinosaur Ridge
Colorado, USA
Visitors:
Several people inquired about our sightings including 5 hikers and 1 biker. Edie Israel, a birder, stopped by to see if we were having a good hawk day.
Weather:
The day was sunny but hazy with only 5-15% cloud cover and light winds (8-12 mph) from the SE most of the day. During the last hour the wind changed direction coming from the NE.
Raptor Observations:
A few of the 25 migrating raptors came up the ridge over our heads, but the majority migrated over the west ridge. We had 5 Turkey Vultures, 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk, 6 Cooper's Hawks, 7 Red-tailed Hawks, and 3 American Kestrels. We picked up 3 "unidentified buteos" racing north over I-70 and Cabrini, but too late to identify them. Today's hazy conditions made spotting and identification difficult over the west ridge. There was quite a bit of local raptor activity with a pair of Red-tails sky dancing over Cabrini, another pair over the west ridge, and another Red-tail who perched on a power pole below us on the east side of the ridge. The local kestrel flew below us on the west side of the ridge; a Bald Eagle headed south low on the east side of the ridge; a Northern Goshawk hunted over the west ridge, a Cooper's Hawk flew up to escort a migrating Cooper's out of its territory, and a Northern Harrier hunted low near I-70. A Turkey Vulture also made its way back and forth over the west ridge several times during the day.
Non-raptor Observations:
Non-raptors included 12 White-throated Swifts, a Northern Flicker, 2 Western Scrub-Jays, 4 Black-billed Magpies, 8 American Crows, 11 Common Ravens, 2 Mountain Chickadees, 2 Bushtits, 1 Rock Wren, 1 Townsend's Solitaire, a flock of 11 American Robins, 2 Spotted Towhees, 2 Western Meadowlarks, 2 House Finches, and our bird of the day, a male Broad-tailed Hummingbird that flew whirring over the observation platform. Several butterflies also made an appearance: a sulfur, a white, a Painted Lady, a fritillary, and a Mourning Cloak. A herd of 9 deer grazed near the power poles on the west ridge, and a herd of 12 grazed near Cabrini. Spring Beauties were in full bloom as was the small yellow mustard.
Predictions:
Hopefully, tomorrow will be a great raptor day with many raptors migrating ahead of the next snow storm.
Report submitted by Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory (jeff....@rmbo.org)
Dinosaur Ridge information may be found at: http://www.rmbo.org/
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 the Rocky Mountain Bird
Observatory from about 9 AM to around 4 PM from the first week of March to the
first week of May.
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: Apr 11, 2014 | |||
| Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Turkey Vulture | 5 | 50 | 53 |
| Osprey | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 0 | 25 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 1 | 15 | 20 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 6 | 26 | 41 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 7 | 63 | 193 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 2 | 9 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 1 | 8 |
| American Kestrel | 3 | 42 | 56 |
| Merlin | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 9 | 11 |
| Unknown Buteo | 3 | 8 | 13 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| Total: | 25 | 224 | 456 |
| Observation start time: | 08:45:00 |
| Observation end time: | 15:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 6 hours |
| Official Counter | Cynthia Madsen |
| Observers: | Dave Hill, Debbie James, Janet Shin, Jim Schmoker |
Visitors:
Several people inquired about our sightings including 5 hikers and 1 biker. Edie Israel, a birder, stopped by to see if we were having a good hawk day.
Weather:
The day was sunny but hazy with only 5-15% cloud cover and light winds (8-12 mph) from the SE most of the day. During the last hour the wind changed direction coming from the NE.
Raptor Observations:
A few of the 25 migrating raptors came up the ridge over our heads, but the majority migrated over the west ridge. We had 5 Turkey Vultures, 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk, 6 Cooper's Hawks, 7 Red-tailed Hawks, and 3 American Kestrels. We picked up 3 "unidentified buteos" racing north over I-70 and Cabrini, but too late to identify them. Today's hazy conditions made spotting and identification difficult over the west ridge. There was quite a bit of local raptor activity with a pair of Red-tails sky dancing over Cabrini, another pair over the west ridge, and another Red-tail who perched on a power pole below us on the east side of the ridge. The local kestrel flew below us on the west side of the ridge; a Bald Eagle headed south low on the east side of the ridge; a Northern Goshawk hunted over the west ridge, a Cooper's Hawk flew up to escort a migrating Cooper's out of its territory, and a Northern Harrier hunted low near I-70. A Turkey Vulture also made its way back and forth over the west ridge several times during the day.
Non-raptor Observations:
Non-raptors included 12 White-throated Swifts, a Northern Flicker, 2 Western Scrub-Jays, 4 Black-billed Magpies, 8 American Crows, 11 Common Ravens, 2 Mountain Chickadees, 2 Bushtits, 1 Rock Wren, 1 Townsend's Solitaire, a flock of 11 American Robins, 2 Spotted Towhees, 2 Western Meadowlarks, 2 House Finches, and our bird of the day, a male Broad-tailed Hummingbird that flew whirring over the observation platform. Several butterflies also made an appearance: a sulfur, a white, a Painted Lady, a fritillary, and a Mourning Cloak. A herd of 9 deer grazed near the power poles on the west ridge, and a herd of 12 grazed near Cabrini. Spring Beauties were in full bloom as was the small yellow mustard.
Predictions:
Hopefully, tomorrow will be a great raptor day with many raptors migrating ahead of the next snow storm.
Report submitted by Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory (jeff....@rmbo.org)
Dinosaur Ridge information may be found at: http://www.rmbo.org/
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 the Rocky Mountain Bird
Observatory from about 9 AM to around 4 PM from the first week of March to the
first week of May.
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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