Dinosaur Ridge (14 Mar 2017) 4 Raptors
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rep...@hawkcount.org
Mar 14, 2017, 7:28:22 PM3/14/17
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Dinosaur Ridge
Colorado, USA
Visitors:
A few people stopped momentarily on the platform.
Weather:
Overcast gave way to mostly sunny. Another windy day, gust up to bft 7 making it hard to track with 10x binoculars. Winds died down to bft 3-4 the last hour and a half. Wind mostly out of the W or NW. Slightly rising barometer 30.10 to 30.13. A lot of dust in the air, sun dog in the afternoon.
Raptor Observations:
Very slow day, a couple of pairs of local RT's worked both sides of the ridge actively. Locals would get my hopes up then turn around. Mystery buteo after 1pm, very rufeous chest but flew like a RT, will count him as a UB. Female kestrel just above the bushes on the west side late in the day.
Non-raptor Observations:
6 deer very close to the trail on the way up with 9 more lower on the west side of the hill. Scrubjays were fairly active early, a magpie, robin, and townsend solitaire were seen or heard. Otherwise, nothing. A solitary swift late in the afternoon getting buffeted.
Predictions:
Hopefully more active!!
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: Mar 14, 2017 | |||
| Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 6 | 6 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 2 | 78 | 78 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| American Kestrel | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Unknown Buteo | 1 | 4 | 4 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Total: | 4 | 99 | 99 |
| Observation start time: | 09:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 15:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 6 hours |
| Official Counter | Gary Rossmiller |
| Observers: |
Visitors:
A few people stopped momentarily on the platform.
Weather:
Overcast gave way to mostly sunny. Another windy day, gust up to bft 7 making it hard to track with 10x binoculars. Winds died down to bft 3-4 the last hour and a half. Wind mostly out of the W or NW. Slightly rising barometer 30.10 to 30.13. A lot of dust in the air, sun dog in the afternoon.
Raptor Observations:
Very slow day, a couple of pairs of local RT's worked both sides of the ridge actively. Locals would get my hopes up then turn around. Mystery buteo after 1pm, very rufeous chest but flew like a RT, will count him as a UB. Female kestrel just above the bushes on the west side late in the day.
Non-raptor Observations:
6 deer very close to the trail on the way up with 9 more lower on the west side of the hill. Scrubjays were fairly active early, a magpie, robin, and townsend solitaire were seen or heard. Otherwise, nothing. A solitary swift late in the afternoon getting buffeted.
Predictions:
Hopefully more active!!
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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