Dinosaur Ridge (05 Apr 2016) 9 Raptors
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rep...@hawkcount.org
Apr 5, 2016, 5:59:29 PM4/5/16
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Dinosaur Ridge
Colorado, USA
Visitors:
A group of about 15 hikers from the Colorado Mountain Club stopped for a visit. They said they always like to stop on their spring hikes through the area to see how the raptors were doing.
Weather:
A clear and calm morning changing to partly cloudy with blustery winds to 5 bft. and threatening storm clouds to the north by day's end. Winds were mostly from the NW with temperatures from the upper 50's to mid-60's.
Raptor Observations:
Migrating raptors were at various elevations with even some high fliers early and a little more activity in the 10:00 to 11:00 hour (daylight savings time). A few local Red-tailed Hawk and Turkey Vulture sightings throughout the day. Local Turkey Vulture(s) occasionally ranged north past the towers on Lookout Mountain as if migrating, only to return south.
Non-raptor Observations:
Also seen or heard were Townsend's Solitaire, Spotted Towhee, Bushtit, White-throated Swift, Common Raven, American Crow (numerous), American Robin (numerous), and Black-billed Magpie. Interesting sightings were a group of about 8 Red-winged Blackbirds and also a Belted Kingfisher flying north over the Matthews/Winters valley.
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 05, 2016 | |||
| Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Turkey Vulture | 2 | 13 | 28 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 2 | 11 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 2 | 4 | 13 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 0 | 3 | 10 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 3 | 26 | 208 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 6 | 19 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 1 | 11 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 2 | 15 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Raptor | 1 | 3 | 5 |
| Total: | 9 | 62 | 342 |
| Observation start time: | 07:30:00 |
| Observation end time: | 12:30:00 |
| Total observation time: | 5 hours |
| Official Counter | Roger Rouch |
| Observers: | Kathie Moss |
Visitors:
A group of about 15 hikers from the Colorado Mountain Club stopped for a visit. They said they always like to stop on their spring hikes through the area to see how the raptors were doing.
Weather:
A clear and calm morning changing to partly cloudy with blustery winds to 5 bft. and threatening storm clouds to the north by day's end. Winds were mostly from the NW with temperatures from the upper 50's to mid-60's.
Raptor Observations:
Migrating raptors were at various elevations with even some high fliers early and a little more activity in the 10:00 to 11:00 hour (daylight savings time). A few local Red-tailed Hawk and Turkey Vulture sightings throughout the day. Local Turkey Vulture(s) occasionally ranged north past the towers on Lookout Mountain as if migrating, only to return south.
Non-raptor Observations:
Also seen or heard were Townsend's Solitaire, Spotted Towhee, Bushtit, White-throated Swift, Common Raven, American Crow (numerous), American Robin (numerous), and Black-billed Magpie. Interesting sightings were a group of about 8 Red-winged Blackbirds and also a Belted Kingfisher flying north over the Matthews/Winters valley.
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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