Dinosaur Ridge (05 Mar 2016) 13 Raptors
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rep...@hawkcount.org
Mar 5, 2016, 4:43:04 PM3/5/16
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Dinosaur Ridge
Colorado, USA
Visitors:
Typical Saturday with people enjoying the nice weather.
Weather:
Day started sunny and with little to no wind but throughout the day the wind picked up to 10mph intermittently and cloud cover become 90 to 100%.
Raptor Observations:
Many raptors early in the day and all seemed to be in a serious hurry! Lots of continuous flapping seen with some of the Red Tails as well as a Bald eagle that at first glance seemed to be corvids. In late morning we got some great aerial territorial battles that made for easy counting with who lives here and who's passing through.
Non-raptor Observations:
Lots of Chickadees, robins, and Townsend's Solitaires and a handful of Juncos. We did see in the distance what looked like a flock of Bluebirds but couldn't confidently ID them.
Predictions:
If it's a trend with the nicer weather, start early. We had 6 birds in the first hour and all were heading north.
Report submitted by Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory (jeff....@rmbo.org)
Dinosaur Ridge information may be found at: http://www.rmbo.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 the Rocky Mountain Bird
Observatory from about 9 AM to around 4 PM from the first week of March to the
first week of May.
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 05, 2016 | |||
| Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bald Eagle | 2 | 4 | 4 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 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 | 7 | 25 | 25 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Unknown Buteo | 1 | 4 | 4 |
| Unknown Falcon | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Total: | 13 | 39 | 39 |
| Observation start time: | 08:30:00 |
| Observation end time: | 14:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 5.5 hours |
| Official Counter | Mitchell Blystone |
| Observers: | John Krueger, Mike Fernandez |
Visitors:
Typical Saturday with people enjoying the nice weather.
Weather:
Day started sunny and with little to no wind but throughout the day the wind picked up to 10mph intermittently and cloud cover become 90 to 100%.
Raptor Observations:
Many raptors early in the day and all seemed to be in a serious hurry! Lots of continuous flapping seen with some of the Red Tails as well as a Bald eagle that at first glance seemed to be corvids. In late morning we got some great aerial territorial battles that made for easy counting with who lives here and who's passing through.
Non-raptor Observations:
Lots of Chickadees, robins, and Townsend's Solitaires and a handful of Juncos. We did see in the distance what looked like a flock of Bluebirds but couldn't confidently ID them.
Predictions:
If it's a trend with the nicer weather, start early. We had 6 birds in the first hour and all were heading north.
Report submitted by Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory (jeff....@rmbo.org)
Dinosaur Ridge information may be found at: http://www.rmbo.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 the Rocky Mountain Bird
Observatory from about 9 AM to around 4 PM from the first week of March to the
first week of May.
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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