Dinosaur Ridge (11 Apr 2016) 11 Raptors
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rep...@hawkcount.org
Apr 11, 2016, 10:30:48 PM4/11/16
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Dinosaur Ridge
Colorado, USA
Visitors:
Only a handful of hikers came up to the site, but most seemed to show some interest in the raptor watch.
Weather:
The day started out 100% overcast, gray and a bit chilly. The low cloud-cover concealed the tops of the ridges to the west, with the clouds just revealing a dusting of snow along the tops of those same ridges. Visibility below the cloud ceiling was still very good, if a little hazy, but soon improved to usual levels. Winds were variable, being early on from the east, then switching to the southwest and west, then returning to come from the east. Wind speeds were also variable but always mild from bft 0 to 2. Temperatures ranged from 9 to 11 C (48 to 52 F). After Noon MST, the solid cloud mass slowly broke open allowing scattered patches of blue to appear, making for a pleasant semi-sunny afternoon. Cloud-cover decreased to 50% and nearly all snow atop the western ridges melted by the end of the watch.
Raptor Observations:
Highlights of the day included an Osprey moving north over the west-side valley as well as an afternoon migrant Prairie Falcon, headed steady north over Rooney Valley. Also enjoyable was a nice view of a juvenile Cooper’s Hawk migrant, which journeyed past relatively close and near eyelevel to the east. The local Red-tailed Hawks, all four of them, were out and about later in the day with quite a number of parabolic display flights, some leg-dropping and at least one altercation between the two pairs. One of the local Rooney Valley pair had a successful hunt in the afternoon; it was seen headed south, low in the valley, carrying what was likely a small rodent. A local, female American Kestrel also was spotted on the west side of the Ridge. Overall, today’s migrants passed equally on either side of the Ridge; however, early in the morning they appeared to favor the east side somewhat. Average height-of-flight increased slightly as the day warmed.
Non-raptor Observations:
In the early morning, a Great Blue Heron flew south over the HawkWatch site; (likely) the same heron was seen not long afterward returning north over Rooney Valley. About 20 elk were spotted on Bare Slope (east of Cabrini Shrine). At least one elk was seen on the east flank of Dinosaur Ridge below the HawkWatch site. Also seen or heard were Bushtit, Spotted Towhee, Townsend’s Solitaire, American Robin, Western Meadowlark, Black-billed Magpie, American Crow, Common Raven, Mountain Chickadee (a pair), House Finch, White-throated Swift, and Violet-green Swallow.
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 11, 2016 | |||
| Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Turkey Vulture | 3 | 46 | 61 |
| Osprey | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 3 | 12 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 1 | 10 | 19 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 1 | 19 | 26 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 2 | 48 | 230 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 13 | 26 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 2 | 5 |
| Prairie Falcon | 1 | 6 | 11 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 2 | 7 | 17 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 2 | 15 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 5 | 7 |
| Total: | 11 | 166 | 446 |
| Observation start time: | 08:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 14:30:00 |
| Total observation time: | 6.5 hours |
| Official Counter | Joyce Commercon |
| Observers: | Heather Jackson, Richard Cuellar |
Visitors:
Only a handful of hikers came up to the site, but most seemed to show some interest in the raptor watch.
Weather:
The day started out 100% overcast, gray and a bit chilly. The low cloud-cover concealed the tops of the ridges to the west, with the clouds just revealing a dusting of snow along the tops of those same ridges. Visibility below the cloud ceiling was still very good, if a little hazy, but soon improved to usual levels. Winds were variable, being early on from the east, then switching to the southwest and west, then returning to come from the east. Wind speeds were also variable but always mild from bft 0 to 2. Temperatures ranged from 9 to 11 C (48 to 52 F). After Noon MST, the solid cloud mass slowly broke open allowing scattered patches of blue to appear, making for a pleasant semi-sunny afternoon. Cloud-cover decreased to 50% and nearly all snow atop the western ridges melted by the end of the watch.
Raptor Observations:
Highlights of the day included an Osprey moving north over the west-side valley as well as an afternoon migrant Prairie Falcon, headed steady north over Rooney Valley. Also enjoyable was a nice view of a juvenile Cooper’s Hawk migrant, which journeyed past relatively close and near eyelevel to the east. The local Red-tailed Hawks, all four of them, were out and about later in the day with quite a number of parabolic display flights, some leg-dropping and at least one altercation between the two pairs. One of the local Rooney Valley pair had a successful hunt in the afternoon; it was seen headed south, low in the valley, carrying what was likely a small rodent. A local, female American Kestrel also was spotted on the west side of the Ridge. Overall, today’s migrants passed equally on either side of the Ridge; however, early in the morning they appeared to favor the east side somewhat. Average height-of-flight increased slightly as the day warmed.
Non-raptor Observations:
In the early morning, a Great Blue Heron flew south over the HawkWatch site; (likely) the same heron was seen not long afterward returning north over Rooney Valley. About 20 elk were spotted on Bare Slope (east of Cabrini Shrine). At least one elk was seen on the east flank of Dinosaur Ridge below the HawkWatch site. Also seen or heard were Bushtit, Spotted Towhee, Townsend’s Solitaire, American Robin, Western Meadowlark, Black-billed Magpie, American Crow, Common Raven, Mountain Chickadee (a pair), House Finch, White-throated Swift, and Violet-green Swallow.
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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