Dinosaur Ridge (02 Apr 2016) 8 Raptors
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rep...@hawkcount.org
Apr 2, 2016, 10:02:06 PM4/2/16
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Dinosaur Ridge
Colorado, USA
Visitors:
Tom, a birder from Steamboat, stopped by with binocs in hand and gave us much appreciated encouragement. We talked about the success of Carpenter Ranch in Hayden, near Steamboat. Two guys from Portugal stopped by looking for dinosaur prints (might be a need for better signage in the Stego lot), but also asked questions about our activity.
Weather:
A brilliant day on the hill. Visibility was striking. With lightly breezy and sometimes gusty winds from the east, we hoped we'd see more birds surfing the updrafts on the Rooney Road side of the ridge. The dozens of crows did not disappoint. The scent of juniper was drinkable.
Raptor Observations:
It was local entertainment day today‒and it was X-rated! Copulating Kestrels started early, a synchronized crow couple did barrel rolls all day, and red-tailed romance gained elevation from low over the fields along Rooney Road up into the skies above Green Mountain.
Non-raptor Observations:
Again, elk near the trail up the west side of the ridge in the morning. In the afternoon we spotted a group of four elk close by on the east side of the ridge. A turkey vulture lolly-gagged end of ridge, then rode up and headed north overhead in haste, only to stop and do a u-turn at I-70 and head back south, not to be seen again. Could be a "seasonal local." (Thanks Karen for the terminology.) Other locals hung around: red-tailed hawks (~4), american kestrels (2), black-billed magpies (~5), western meadowlarks (~2), american robin (1), western scrub-jay (1), common ravens (~7), northern flickers (~4), mountain chickadees (2), a pine tree full of bushtits at the back of the platform, townsend's solitaires (~3), white-breasted nuthatch (1), american crows (~25).
Predictions:
Expect mud. Bring sunscreen and water! Weather looks to be the same Sunday as it was Saturday. And don't look too hard for Sandhill Cranes.
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 02, 2016 | |||
| Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Turkey Vulture | 3 | 8 | 23 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 4 | 13 | 195 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 13 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Unknown Buteo | 1 | 1 | 14 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Total: | 8 | 23 | 303 |
| Observation start time: | 08:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 14:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 6 hours |
| Official Counter | Mike Fernandez |
| Observers: | Karen Fernandez, Mitchell Blystone |
Visitors:
Tom, a birder from Steamboat, stopped by with binocs in hand and gave us much appreciated encouragement. We talked about the success of Carpenter Ranch in Hayden, near Steamboat. Two guys from Portugal stopped by looking for dinosaur prints (might be a need for better signage in the Stego lot), but also asked questions about our activity.
Weather:
A brilliant day on the hill. Visibility was striking. With lightly breezy and sometimes gusty winds from the east, we hoped we'd see more birds surfing the updrafts on the Rooney Road side of the ridge. The dozens of crows did not disappoint. The scent of juniper was drinkable.
Raptor Observations:
It was local entertainment day today‒and it was X-rated! Copulating Kestrels started early, a synchronized crow couple did barrel rolls all day, and red-tailed romance gained elevation from low over the fields along Rooney Road up into the skies above Green Mountain.
Non-raptor Observations:
Again, elk near the trail up the west side of the ridge in the morning. In the afternoon we spotted a group of four elk close by on the east side of the ridge. A turkey vulture lolly-gagged end of ridge, then rode up and headed north overhead in haste, only to stop and do a u-turn at I-70 and head back south, not to be seen again. Could be a "seasonal local." (Thanks Karen for the terminology.) Other locals hung around: red-tailed hawks (~4), american kestrels (2), black-billed magpies (~5), western meadowlarks (~2), american robin (1), western scrub-jay (1), common ravens (~7), northern flickers (~4), mountain chickadees (2), a pine tree full of bushtits at the back of the platform, townsend's solitaires (~3), white-breasted nuthatch (1), american crows (~25).
Predictions:
Expect mud. Bring sunscreen and water! Weather looks to be the same Sunday as it was Saturday. And don't look too hard for Sandhill Cranes.
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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