Dinosaur Ridge (20 Mar 2017) 5 Raptors
24 views
Skip to first unread message
rep...@hawkcount.org
Mar 20, 2017, 10:24:36 PM3/20/17
to cob...@googlegroups.com
Dinosaur Ridge
Colorado, USA
Visitors:
Hadi Soetrisno, a HawkWatcher from the early days of Dinosaur Ridge’s HawkWatch, spent the morning on the Ridge. His conversation and his help, in spotting the few raptors that happened by, were very much appreciated. Most other visitors to the Ridge were there only for the view or had lost the path descending to the parking lot. One couple, however, that was met on the trail in the early morning, was interested to know about the raptor monitoring, and was curious to know if we were seeing Golden Eagles, Bald Eagles and Turkey Vultures yet.
Weather:
The day was very warm with temperatures rising from 17 C to about 26 C during the watch. Winds were initially mild from the east and southeast, but became stronger (bft 3-4) and shifted to come from the west just before noon MST. Cloud cover increased from 40 to over 90 percent. Thicker, often grayer, clouds eventually replaced the patchy mix of flat cumulus and thin cirrus clouds that paraded during the morning hours. Visibility was very good.
Raptor Observations:
It was a slow day for migrating raptors. The highlight was an adult Bald Eagle (spotted fairly high over Rooney Valley) that migrated northwest past Bare Slope and Lookout Mountain. A good view of a northward-bound male American Kestrel in the afternoon was also appreciated. Also in the afternoon, a local adult Golden Eagle passed north of the HawkWatch site as it moved eastward from West Ridge to Green Mountain and beyond. The local Red-tailed Hawks were scarce early in the morning but became much more active as the day progressed. Mostly, only one was seen at a time: hovering, kiting, hunting—up and down the valleys, over Green Mountain and the western ridges from Mount Morrison to Cabrini. Near the end of the watch, one of the pair was observed to circle up from the trees along Mount Vernon creek at Matthews/Winters Park. With a full crop, it headed northwest, leisurely performing some shallow roller-coastering along the way. Shortly afterward, the second of this presumed pair was seen still hunting in the same valley; it soon also headed northwest.
Non-raptor Observations:
A Canyon Wren was heard twice today. A pair of Common Ravens rode the increased winds near noon; one displayed its prowess by doing several backflips. One of the many American Crows spotted today appeared to have small white patches near its carpals. Also seen or heard were Spotted Towhee, Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay, Townsend’s Solitaire, Rock Pigeon, House Finch, Western Meadowlark, Black-billed Magpie, Dark-eyed Junco, Northern Flicker, and Western Bluebird.
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 20, 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 | 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 2 | 107 | 107 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| American Kestrel | 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 9 | 9 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Total: | 5 | 149 | 149 |
| Observation start time: | 08:15:00 |
| Observation end time: | 14:30:00 |
| Total observation time: | 6.25 hours |
| Official Counter | Joyce Commercon |
| Observers: | Hadi Soetrisno |
Visitors:
Hadi Soetrisno, a HawkWatcher from the early days of Dinosaur Ridge’s HawkWatch, spent the morning on the Ridge. His conversation and his help, in spotting the few raptors that happened by, were very much appreciated. Most other visitors to the Ridge were there only for the view or had lost the path descending to the parking lot. One couple, however, that was met on the trail in the early morning, was interested to know about the raptor monitoring, and was curious to know if we were seeing Golden Eagles, Bald Eagles and Turkey Vultures yet.
Weather:
The day was very warm with temperatures rising from 17 C to about 26 C during the watch. Winds were initially mild from the east and southeast, but became stronger (bft 3-4) and shifted to come from the west just before noon MST. Cloud cover increased from 40 to over 90 percent. Thicker, often grayer, clouds eventually replaced the patchy mix of flat cumulus and thin cirrus clouds that paraded during the morning hours. Visibility was very good.
Raptor Observations:
It was a slow day for migrating raptors. The highlight was an adult Bald Eagle (spotted fairly high over Rooney Valley) that migrated northwest past Bare Slope and Lookout Mountain. A good view of a northward-bound male American Kestrel in the afternoon was also appreciated. Also in the afternoon, a local adult Golden Eagle passed north of the HawkWatch site as it moved eastward from West Ridge to Green Mountain and beyond. The local Red-tailed Hawks were scarce early in the morning but became much more active as the day progressed. Mostly, only one was seen at a time: hovering, kiting, hunting—up and down the valleys, over Green Mountain and the western ridges from Mount Morrison to Cabrini. Near the end of the watch, one of the pair was observed to circle up from the trees along Mount Vernon creek at Matthews/Winters Park. With a full crop, it headed northwest, leisurely performing some shallow roller-coastering along the way. Shortly afterward, the second of this presumed pair was seen still hunting in the same valley; it soon also headed northwest.
Non-raptor Observations:
A Canyon Wren was heard twice today. A pair of Common Ravens rode the increased winds near noon; one displayed its prowess by doing several backflips. One of the many American Crows spotted today appeared to have small white patches near its carpals. Also seen or heard were Spotted Towhee, Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay, Townsend’s Solitaire, Rock Pigeon, House Finch, Western Meadowlark, Black-billed Magpie, Dark-eyed Junco, Northern Flicker, and Western Bluebird.
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.
Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages