Dinosaur Ridge (07 Apr 2016) 7 Raptors
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rep...@hawkcount.org
Apr 7, 2016, 7:33:35 PM4/7/16
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Dinosaur Ridge
Colorado, USA
Visitors:
Three or four mountain biker/hikers and "Gary" a volunteer ranger stopped to learn what we were up to. Mary Mouton came prepared with binoculars to help spot but did not stay long.
Weather:
Only a few clouds through the day with temperatures from the low to upper 50's and a slight breeze mostly from the east. A light or moderate horizon haze persisted through the day.
Raptor Observations:
Seems like there is an old fisherman's saying, "You should have been here yesterday." Migrating raptor counts were low and a sharp contrast to yesterday. There was a period of strong corvid and raptor activity over the western ridges from early to mid-afternoon but birds were distant and often vaporized, fading into the blue haze after a few spirals. A few migratory raptors were tallied (including an adult Bald Eagle) from this area, but other possibles were lost before a sense of north flight direction could be determined. Local Red-tailed Hawks were common, especially to the south and west. Only few local Turkey Vulture(s) and Kestrel(s) sightings.
Non-raptor Observations:
Seen or heard: Spotted Towhee, American Robin, Bushtit, Dark-eyed Junco, Western Scrub Jay, Western Meadowlark, Black-billed Magpie, White-throated Swift, Rock Pigeon, Common Raven, Mountain Chickadee, Black-capped Chickadee, Northern Flicker, and American Crow. Three elk were bedded down just west of the approach trail along with a few of deer. The elk were sighted later on the flat east of the ridge.
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 07, 2016 | |||
| Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Turkey Vulture | 2 | 33 | 48 |
| Osprey | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Bald Eagle | 1 | 3 | 12 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 8 | 17 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 0 | 14 | 21 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 1 | 42 | 224 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| American Kestrel | 1 | 12 | 25 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 2 | 5 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 3 | 8 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 1 | 5 | 15 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 2 | 15 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Raptor | 1 | 4 | 6 |
| Total: | 7 | 130 | 410 |
| Observation start time: | 07:45:00 |
| Observation end time: | 13:45:00 |
| Total observation time: | 6 hours |
| Official Counter | Roger Rouch |
| Observers: | Cliff Hendrick, Kathie Moss, Mitchell Blystone |
Visitors:
Three or four mountain biker/hikers and "Gary" a volunteer ranger stopped to learn what we were up to. Mary Mouton came prepared with binoculars to help spot but did not stay long.
Weather:
Only a few clouds through the day with temperatures from the low to upper 50's and a slight breeze mostly from the east. A light or moderate horizon haze persisted through the day.
Raptor Observations:
Seems like there is an old fisherman's saying, "You should have been here yesterday." Migrating raptor counts were low and a sharp contrast to yesterday. There was a period of strong corvid and raptor activity over the western ridges from early to mid-afternoon but birds were distant and often vaporized, fading into the blue haze after a few spirals. A few migratory raptors were tallied (including an adult Bald Eagle) from this area, but other possibles were lost before a sense of north flight direction could be determined. Local Red-tailed Hawks were common, especially to the south and west. Only few local Turkey Vulture(s) and Kestrel(s) sightings.
Non-raptor Observations:
Seen or heard: Spotted Towhee, American Robin, Bushtit, Dark-eyed Junco, Western Scrub Jay, Western Meadowlark, Black-billed Magpie, White-throated Swift, Rock Pigeon, Common Raven, Mountain Chickadee, Black-capped Chickadee, Northern Flicker, and American Crow. Three elk were bedded down just west of the approach trail along with a few of deer. The elk were sighted later on the flat east of the ridge.
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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