HSR: Dinosaur Ridge (13 Apr 2015) 19 Raptors
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Apr 14, 2015, 10:17:25 AM4/14/15
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Dinosaur Ridge
Colorado, USA
Visitors:
Today there were plenty of interested HawkWatch visitors, some of whom had visited the site previously. Jim Low arrived fairly early and was very good at scanning the skies to spot possible migrants. Jim was a tremendous help in keeping track when there were multiple raptors to follow. Greg, Gordon, Lisa and Steph showed up armed with binoculars, very interested in what had been seen and eager to see whatever might happen by, having been impressed with the kestrel surge last week. Sharp-eyed Richard Cuellar joined us for a little while mid-day and remarked a second migrating Swainson's Hawk that nearly slipped by the site. Kyle Medina also came up to the Ridge in the afternoon hoping to capture some photos of passing raptors and was good company.
Weather:
The day was sunny and mild with temperatures ranging from 13 to 16 C (55 to 61 F). Cloud cover was 20 percent, along the southern horizon in the morning then forming as a mix of thin and cumulus scattered about the sky (mostly to the south and west) later in the day. Visibility was good, but a light smoky haze had developed in the valleys to the south by mid-day. Winds were consistently from the east, usually at beaufort level 2.
Raptor Observations:
The majority of today's migrants passed on the west side of Dinosaur Ridge, with most being fairly high and distant, over WestRidge. The three Ospreys headed north with about an hour interval between each of them. Two adult Swainson's Hawks, separated by a few hours, went north over Rooney Valley. Both Cooper's Hawks passed just to the east of the Ridge and were the closest migrants of the day. A Prairie Falcon, spotted high overhead near a local adult Golden Eagle (that eventually headed west), was the only migrant seen to pass north directly over the Ridge. The local adult Red-tailed Hawks were reasonably active and the local juvenile Red-tailed Hawk made a number of appearances as well. At least three local Turkey Vultures made the rounds up and down the Ridge. In the morning, south of the HawkWatch site, one of these three was briefly observed to do a single, quick dive toward the other two. A local male American Kestrel perched on a power-line west of the HawkWatch site in the afternoon and was later seen hunting and hovering over Rooney Valley.
Non-raptor Observations:
During the morning, one of pair of ravens alighted on the power pole north of the HawkWatch site. The breeze revealed a whitish base to the neck feathers of this bird, similar to what was detailed in the March 29, 2015 HawkWatch Ridge report. The voices of these two ravens, with their wedge-shaped tails, as they called to each other seemed more similar in pitch to that of crows—indicating possible Chihuahuan Ravens. Also seen or heard were Black-billed Magpie, Western Meadowlark, Northern Flicker, American Robin, Common Raven (flip-flying over WestRidge), American Crow, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Western Scrub-Jay, White-throated Swift, Spotted Towhee, Mountain Chickadee and Townsend's Solitaire.
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 13, 2015 | |||
| Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Turkey Vulture | 2 | 60 | 60 |
| Osprey | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 11 | 17 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 2 | 27 | 30 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 4 | 43 | 116 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| American Kestrel | 1 | 58 | 77 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 2 | 5 |
| Prairie Falcon | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 8 | 12 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 4 | 7 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Raptor | 4 | 4 | 5 |
| Total: | 19 | 227 | 350 |
| Observation start time: | 08:30:00 |
| Observation end time: | 14:30:00 |
| Total observation time: | 6 hours |
| Official Counter | Joyce Commercon |
| Observers: |
Visitors:
Today there were plenty of interested HawkWatch visitors, some of whom had visited the site previously. Jim Low arrived fairly early and was very good at scanning the skies to spot possible migrants. Jim was a tremendous help in keeping track when there were multiple raptors to follow. Greg, Gordon, Lisa and Steph showed up armed with binoculars, very interested in what had been seen and eager to see whatever might happen by, having been impressed with the kestrel surge last week. Sharp-eyed Richard Cuellar joined us for a little while mid-day and remarked a second migrating Swainson's Hawk that nearly slipped by the site. Kyle Medina also came up to the Ridge in the afternoon hoping to capture some photos of passing raptors and was good company.
Weather:
The day was sunny and mild with temperatures ranging from 13 to 16 C (55 to 61 F). Cloud cover was 20 percent, along the southern horizon in the morning then forming as a mix of thin and cumulus scattered about the sky (mostly to the south and west) later in the day. Visibility was good, but a light smoky haze had developed in the valleys to the south by mid-day. Winds were consistently from the east, usually at beaufort level 2.
Raptor Observations:
The majority of today's migrants passed on the west side of Dinosaur Ridge, with most being fairly high and distant, over WestRidge. The three Ospreys headed north with about an hour interval between each of them. Two adult Swainson's Hawks, separated by a few hours, went north over Rooney Valley. Both Cooper's Hawks passed just to the east of the Ridge and were the closest migrants of the day. A Prairie Falcon, spotted high overhead near a local adult Golden Eagle (that eventually headed west), was the only migrant seen to pass north directly over the Ridge. The local adult Red-tailed Hawks were reasonably active and the local juvenile Red-tailed Hawk made a number of appearances as well. At least three local Turkey Vultures made the rounds up and down the Ridge. In the morning, south of the HawkWatch site, one of these three was briefly observed to do a single, quick dive toward the other two. A local male American Kestrel perched on a power-line west of the HawkWatch site in the afternoon and was later seen hunting and hovering over Rooney Valley.
Non-raptor Observations:
During the morning, one of pair of ravens alighted on the power pole north of the HawkWatch site. The breeze revealed a whitish base to the neck feathers of this bird, similar to what was detailed in the March 29, 2015 HawkWatch Ridge report. The voices of these two ravens, with their wedge-shaped tails, as they called to each other seemed more similar in pitch to that of crows—indicating possible Chihuahuan Ravens. Also seen or heard were Black-billed Magpie, Western Meadowlark, Northern Flicker, American Robin, Common Raven (flip-flying over WestRidge), American Crow, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Western Scrub-Jay, White-throated Swift, Spotted Towhee, Mountain Chickadee and Townsend's Solitaire.
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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