Dinosaur Ridge (12 Apr 2016) 5 Raptors
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rep...@hawkcount.org
Apr 12, 2016, 5:55:16 PM4/12/16
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Dinosaur Ridge
Colorado, USA
Visitors:
None officially but I encountered a gentlemen with binoculars named Reston on his way up as I was leaving and recognized him from other seasons.
Weather:
A pleasant day with temperatures rising from the mid-50's to mid-60's and a light wind from the SE at 1 to 2 Bft. A bank of billowy white/grey horizon clouds to the south illuminated by over head sun gradually expanded through the day providing an excellent contrast for incoming raptor spotting (although migrating birds were sparse). Darker clouds to the north and west, but decent visibility and blue sky overhead with puffy white clouds drifting past by days end.
Raptor Observations:
A daily of count of five migrating raptors with three being Turkey Vultures. Moderate activity from local Red-tailed Hawks in virtually all directions as singles, pairs, threesomes and foursomes throughout the day. Local Turkey Vultures patrolled the ridge a few times but may have numbered as few as four individuals. A high flying Prairie Falcon followed the path of C-470 south to north, but turned sharply east at the south end of Green Mountain ridge and was not counted. Also a local Cooper's and a local male Kestrel.
Non-raptor Observations:
Seen or heard were Bushtit, Spotted Towhee, Townsend’s Solitaire, American Robin, Western Meadowlark, Black-billed Magpie, Common Raven, Mountain Chickadee, White-throated Swift, Northern Flicker and six or eight noisy Western Scrub-jay. Also possibly the first Broad-tailed Hummingbird of the season.
Predictions:
Sunscreen and Speedos? Probably about the time of year to watch for snakes. It seems like we are due for a pulse or two of Kestrels some day soon?
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.
Colorado, USA
| Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 12, 2016 | |||
| Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Turkey Vulture | 3 | 49 | 64 |
| Osprey | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 3 | 12 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 10 | 19 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 1 | 20 | 27 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 1 | 49 | 231 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 13 | 26 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 2 | 5 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 6 | 11 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 7 | 17 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 2 | 15 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 5 | 7 |
| Total: | 5 | 171 | 451 |
| Observation start time: | 07:30:00 |
| Observation end time: | 12:45:00 |
| Total observation time: | 5.25 hours |
| Official Counter | Roger Rouch |
| Observers: |
Visitors:
None officially but I encountered a gentlemen with binoculars named Reston on his way up as I was leaving and recognized him from other seasons.
Weather:
A pleasant day with temperatures rising from the mid-50's to mid-60's and a light wind from the SE at 1 to 2 Bft. A bank of billowy white/grey horizon clouds to the south illuminated by over head sun gradually expanded through the day providing an excellent contrast for incoming raptor spotting (although migrating birds were sparse). Darker clouds to the north and west, but decent visibility and blue sky overhead with puffy white clouds drifting past by days end.
Raptor Observations:
A daily of count of five migrating raptors with three being Turkey Vultures. Moderate activity from local Red-tailed Hawks in virtually all directions as singles, pairs, threesomes and foursomes throughout the day. Local Turkey Vultures patrolled the ridge a few times but may have numbered as few as four individuals. A high flying Prairie Falcon followed the path of C-470 south to north, but turned sharply east at the south end of Green Mountain ridge and was not counted. Also a local Cooper's and a local male Kestrel.
Non-raptor Observations:
Seen or heard were Bushtit, Spotted Towhee, Townsend’s Solitaire, American Robin, Western Meadowlark, Black-billed Magpie, Common Raven, Mountain Chickadee, White-throated Swift, Northern Flicker and six or eight noisy Western Scrub-jay. Also possibly the first Broad-tailed Hummingbird of the season.
Predictions:
Sunscreen and Speedos? Probably about the time of year to watch for snakes. It seems like we are due for a pulse or two of Kestrels some day soon?
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.
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