Dinosaur Ridge (08 Apr 2016) 10 Raptors

[rep...@hawkcount.org]

Dinosaur Ridge
Colorado, USA

Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 08, 2016
Species	Day's Count	Month Total	Season Total
Black Vulture	0	0	0
Turkey Vulture	4	37	52
Osprey	0	1	2
Bald Eagle	0	3	12
Northern Harrier	0	0	3
Sharp-shinned Hawk	1	9	18
Cooper's Hawk	3	17	24
Northern Goshawk	0	0	0
Red-shouldered Hawk	0	0	0
Broad-winged Hawk	0	0	0
Red-tailed Hawk	0	42	224
Rough-legged Hawk	0	0	0
Swainson's Hawk	1	1	1
Ferruginous Hawk	0	0	2
Golden Eagle	0	1	2
American Kestrel	0	12	25
Merlin	0	0	0
Peregrine Falcon	0	2	5
Prairie Falcon	1	4	9
Mississippi Kite	0	0	0
Unknown Accipiter	0	5	15
Unknown Buteo	0	2	15
Unknown Falcon	0	0	5
Unknown Eagle	0	0	0
Unknown Raptor	0	4	6
Total:	10	140	420

Observation start time:	09:00:00
Observation end time:	15:00:00
Total observation time:	6 hours
Official Counter	Dave Hill
Observers:	Debbie James, Jim Schmoker, Mike McAteer

Visitors:
Sheri Hoffman and Jonnie McFarland observed with us for 90 minutes. Bikers, Hikers, Runners and Walkers... several hang gliders

Weather:
Sky: Hazy with 70-80% clouds throughout the observation period; Temperature: 55-63 deg. F.; Wind: South to southeast @ 0-5 mph.

Raptor Observations:
8 Turkey Vulture (4 migrants); 2 Golden Eagle (1 juvenile bird, 1 second-year bird); 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk (Migrant); 4 Cooper's Hawk (3 migrants, 1 local bird); 1 Bald Eagle (Adult missing feathers on left wing); 1 Swainson's Hawk (Migrant) 8 Red-tailed Hawk; 1 American Kestrel; 1 Prairie Falcon (Migrant;

Non-raptor Observations:
25 White-throated Swift (Flock flight directly over the ridge at tree height); 2 Western Scrub-Jay; 4 Black-billed Magpie; 5 American Crow; 7 Common Raven; 1 swallow sp.; 2 Black-capped Chickadee; 1 Mountain Chickadee; 2 Bushtit; 2 Red-breasted Nuthatch; 9 American Robin; 2 Dark-eyed Junco; 2 Spotted Towhee; 3 Western Meadowlark; 5 House Finch

Predictions:
A good day! :-)

---

Report submitted by Bird Conservancy of the Rockies (jeff....@birdconservancy.org)
Dinosaur Ridge information may be found at: http://www.birdconservancy.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 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.