HSR: Dinosaur Ridge (14 Apr 2015) 6 Raptors
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Apr 15, 2015, 3:58:31 AM4/15/15
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Dinosaur Ridge
Colorado, USA
Visitors:
T.C. Walker from Ft. Collins returned to assist in observation. He was followed by Kacie Shopnitz, a first time observer, who has experience monitoring birds with the Southern Sierra Research. Rob Riley also spent time spotting raptors. Frank Ferrell (no relation to Lee F.) a long time birder from Morrison also assisted. Several visitors stopped by and inquired about what we were seeing. A couple who had read the recent article about the Hawk Watch in the Denver Post stopped by towards the end of the day. They related their experiences at Cape May and at Hawk Mountain after inquiring about the day's sightings.
Weather:
Sunny and clear until noon when cumulus clouds appeared in the west above the foothills and quickly increased to 65% coverage looking dark and ominous ahead of a front. Temperatures ranged from 10-20 C (50-66 F). Winds were mostly from the East and light 2-3 B scale with occasional stronger gusts. Visibility was at maximum throughout the day.
Raptor Observations:
Morning observations were at a minimum. Around noon we had a spurt of 5 migrants being: 1 Turkey Vulture north bound on the west side of Dinosaur Ridge. It was followed by a pair of adult Red-tailed Hawks that flew NW over the Cabrini Shrine. Shortly later an immature Sharp-shinned flew slightly overhead on the east side of the ridge heading north. A second adult Turkey Vulture flew north/northeast at eye level on the east side for the longest observation time.
Non-raptor Observations:
Lots of raptor teasing took place throughout the day. Numerous Turkey Vultures and Red-taileds appeared to be migrating but would turn around or fly into non-migratory directions. Some of this activity took place over the far western ridges. A Golden Eagle was seen near Look-out Mountain. 2 male American Kestrels were vying for the attentions of a female American Kestrel. One partial dark Red-tailed appeared heading east, then north and remained over South Table Mesa and was not counted as a migrant.
Predictions:
Forecast is for unsettled weather moving in Wednesday later in the day starting with rain then snow through Thursday into Friday. Wednesday will have cooler temperatures with winds ahead of the incoming front.
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 14, 2015 | |||
| Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Turkey Vulture | 2 | 62 | 62 |
| Osprey | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 1 | 12 | 18 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 0 | 27 | 30 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 3 | 46 | 119 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 58 | 77 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 2 | 5 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 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 | 0 | 4 | 5 |
| Total: | 6 | 233 | 356 |
| Observation start time: | 08:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 14:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 6 hours |
| Official Counter | Claude Vallieres |
| Observers: | Frank Ferrell, Kacie Shopnitz, Rob Riley, T.C. Walker |
Visitors:
T.C. Walker from Ft. Collins returned to assist in observation. He was followed by Kacie Shopnitz, a first time observer, who has experience monitoring birds with the Southern Sierra Research. Rob Riley also spent time spotting raptors. Frank Ferrell (no relation to Lee F.) a long time birder from Morrison also assisted. Several visitors stopped by and inquired about what we were seeing. A couple who had read the recent article about the Hawk Watch in the Denver Post stopped by towards the end of the day. They related their experiences at Cape May and at Hawk Mountain after inquiring about the day's sightings.
Weather:
Sunny and clear until noon when cumulus clouds appeared in the west above the foothills and quickly increased to 65% coverage looking dark and ominous ahead of a front. Temperatures ranged from 10-20 C (50-66 F). Winds were mostly from the East and light 2-3 B scale with occasional stronger gusts. Visibility was at maximum throughout the day.
Raptor Observations:
Morning observations were at a minimum. Around noon we had a spurt of 5 migrants being: 1 Turkey Vulture north bound on the west side of Dinosaur Ridge. It was followed by a pair of adult Red-tailed Hawks that flew NW over the Cabrini Shrine. Shortly later an immature Sharp-shinned flew slightly overhead on the east side of the ridge heading north. A second adult Turkey Vulture flew north/northeast at eye level on the east side for the longest observation time.
Non-raptor Observations:
Lots of raptor teasing took place throughout the day. Numerous Turkey Vultures and Red-taileds appeared to be migrating but would turn around or fly into non-migratory directions. Some of this activity took place over the far western ridges. A Golden Eagle was seen near Look-out Mountain. 2 male American Kestrels were vying for the attentions of a female American Kestrel. One partial dark Red-tailed appeared heading east, then north and remained over South Table Mesa and was not counted as a migrant.
Predictions:
Forecast is for unsettled weather moving in Wednesday later in the day starting with rain then snow through Thursday into Friday. Wednesday will have cooler temperatures with winds ahead of the incoming front.
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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