HSR: Dinosaur Ridge (21 Apr 2015) 17 Raptors
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rep...@hawkcount.org
Apr 21, 2015, 10:53:09 PM4/21/15
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Dinosaur Ridge
Colorado, USA
Visitors:
Coming back for his fourth visit to assist was Jim Low from Wisconsin. His assistance and keen eyesight helped locating distant raptors was very much appreciated. He spent most of the day and spoke of his birding experiences in the mid-west and at Skyline Ridge Hawk site in Duluth, Minnesota. Three local visitors briefly stopped by asking what was being seen.
Weather:
Sunny and comfortable temperatures throughout the day 7-20C (45-65 F). Initially no cloud cover with gradual cloud build up later up to 85% with dark grey clouds and virga to the North and to the West at end of the day. Visibility was at maximum but diminished somewhat as haze formed throughout the day. Winds were 0-3 B. scale with occasional higher gusts from varying directions.
Raptor Observations:
This was the best Tuesday of this season with 17 migrating raptors seen. Observed were 2 adult Turkey Vultures, 1 Osprey, 2 high flying Sharp-shinned Hawks, 1 Cooper's Hawk, 1 intermediate juvenile Red-tailed Hawk, 3 American Kestrels (1-M, 2-F). The highlight was a very dark Pacific Merlin. Distance and flat lighting which made positive identification difficult also found migrating were 1 unidentified Accipiter, 2 unidentified Buteos and 3 unidentified Raptors. All flights were North bound on both sides and high above of the ridge.
Non-raptor Observations:
Other local raptor observations were: 1 Prairie Falcon low on East side of ridge, 2 American Kestrels also on East side, 3 Turkey Vultures who glided up and down both sides of the ridge, 1 adult Bald Eagle who came from the North on the East side and turned around heading towards Stanley Lake where a nesting pair is. Numerous Red-tailed sightings occurred throughout the day. 1 was a very close diving attack at a Black-billed Magpie right near the site. Others were in singles or in pairs at times diving or with legs extended towards each other. One observation had 5 Red-tailed who eventually separated and went separate ways. The dark intermediate Red-tailed that was observed yesterday was often seen today. Other birds heard or observed today were: Broad-tailed Hummingbirds, Mourning Doves, Common Grackle, Bushtit, Grey-headed Dark-eyed Juncos, Black-billed Magpies, Western Meadowlarks, Spotted Towhees, American Robins, Common Ravens, 1 very high flying Great Blue Heron, White-throated Swifts, Western Scrub Jays, Western Bluebirds, Townsend's Solitaire, Say's Phoebe, and Northern Flickers.
Predictions:
Expect muddy/wet trail as the patches of snow continue to melt and create water puddles and small streams on the trail. Forecast is for sunny and similar temperatures to today.
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 21, 2015 | |||
| Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Turkey Vulture | 2 | 80 | 80 |
| Osprey | 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 2 | 29 | 35 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 1 | 54 | 57 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 6 | 6 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 1 | 53 | 126 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 2 | 5 |
| American Kestrel | 3 | 80 | 99 |
| Merlin | 1 | 4 | 4 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 3 | 6 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 1 | 15 | 19 |
| Unknown Buteo | 2 | 7 | 10 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Raptor | 3 | 9 | 10 |
| Total: | 17 | 358 | 481 |
| Observation start time: | 07:30:00 |
| Observation end time: | 14:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 6.5 hours |
| Official Counter | Claude Vallieres |
| Observers: |
Visitors:
Coming back for his fourth visit to assist was Jim Low from Wisconsin. His assistance and keen eyesight helped locating distant raptors was very much appreciated. He spent most of the day and spoke of his birding experiences in the mid-west and at Skyline Ridge Hawk site in Duluth, Minnesota. Three local visitors briefly stopped by asking what was being seen.
Weather:
Sunny and comfortable temperatures throughout the day 7-20C (45-65 F). Initially no cloud cover with gradual cloud build up later up to 85% with dark grey clouds and virga to the North and to the West at end of the day. Visibility was at maximum but diminished somewhat as haze formed throughout the day. Winds were 0-3 B. scale with occasional higher gusts from varying directions.
Raptor Observations:
This was the best Tuesday of this season with 17 migrating raptors seen. Observed were 2 adult Turkey Vultures, 1 Osprey, 2 high flying Sharp-shinned Hawks, 1 Cooper's Hawk, 1 intermediate juvenile Red-tailed Hawk, 3 American Kestrels (1-M, 2-F). The highlight was a very dark Pacific Merlin. Distance and flat lighting which made positive identification difficult also found migrating were 1 unidentified Accipiter, 2 unidentified Buteos and 3 unidentified Raptors. All flights were North bound on both sides and high above of the ridge.
Non-raptor Observations:
Other local raptor observations were: 1 Prairie Falcon low on East side of ridge, 2 American Kestrels also on East side, 3 Turkey Vultures who glided up and down both sides of the ridge, 1 adult Bald Eagle who came from the North on the East side and turned around heading towards Stanley Lake where a nesting pair is. Numerous Red-tailed sightings occurred throughout the day. 1 was a very close diving attack at a Black-billed Magpie right near the site. Others were in singles or in pairs at times diving or with legs extended towards each other. One observation had 5 Red-tailed who eventually separated and went separate ways. The dark intermediate Red-tailed that was observed yesterday was often seen today. Other birds heard or observed today were: Broad-tailed Hummingbirds, Mourning Doves, Common Grackle, Bushtit, Grey-headed Dark-eyed Juncos, Black-billed Magpies, Western Meadowlarks, Spotted Towhees, American Robins, Common Ravens, 1 very high flying Great Blue Heron, White-throated Swifts, Western Scrub Jays, Western Bluebirds, Townsend's Solitaire, Say's Phoebe, and Northern Flickers.
Predictions:
Expect muddy/wet trail as the patches of snow continue to melt and create water puddles and small streams on the trail. Forecast is for sunny and similar temperatures to today.
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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