Dinosaur Ridge - Bird Conservancy of the Rockies (15 Apr 2018) 7 Raptors
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Apr 15, 2018, 5:48:13 PM4/15/18
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Dinosaur Ridge - Bird Conservancy of the Rockies
Colorado, USA
Visitors:
Erin Cockroft, a young photographer and bird entusiast, visited the site (from Colorado Springs) for the first time and helped with spotting from 10-11 (MST). She found out about us searching the internet for places to see hawks. Gave her our business card so she can check on our reports and learn more. At the same time, a dozen middle-school aged mountain bikers and adult leader took a lunch break on the platform (didn't ask any questions).
Weather:
Nice weather all count today. Slight breeze shifted from north to southeast. A little hazy all day. (WU PWS Solterra)
Raptor Observations:
Migrating Raptors: A slow day. Busy early and late. Three species passed close over the ridge at 8:00 MST (Coopers, Swainson's and TUVU). Then it was mostly empty skies rest of the day. Non-Migrating Raptors: Several kettles of Turkey Vultures most of the afternoon over the area from Flat Ridge to Mt Morrison, but I never saw a single one go north from there beyond West Ridge.
Non-raptor Observations:
Herd of 16 mule deer at base of bare slope. Non Raptors seen or heard: White-throated Swift (n=16), Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay (3), Black-billed Magpie (2), American Crow (2), Mountain Chickadee (15), Brown Creeper (2), Mountain Bluebird (1), Townsend's Solitaire (2), Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) (2), Spotted Towhee (1), Western Meadowlark (1), House Finch (1). Mountain Chickadees: A series of pairs moved quickly north on the ridge, pausing in the junipers, then continuing, in a group of about 12. Swifts: Flew over in small groups all day, close to the ridge. Reported on eBird.
Predictions:
Like Mitchell suggested, no point in predictions. Today seemed like ideal conditions, from a personal and land-based species perspective.
Report submitted by Matthew Smith (matt....@birdconservancy.org)
Dinosaur Ridge - Bird Conservancy of the Rockies information may be found at: http://www.birdconservancy.org/
More information at hawkcount.org: [Site Profile] [Day Summary] [Month Summary]
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 15, 2018 | |||
| Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Turkey Vulture | 3 | 61 | 63 |
| Osprey | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 2 | 5 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 8 | 12 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 1 | 18 | 26 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 1 | 38 | 206 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 1 | 9 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 7 | 21 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 4 | 8 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 5 | 10 |
| Unknown Falcon | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 5 | 6 |
| Total: | 7 | 162 | 386 |
| Observation start time: | 08:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 13:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 5 hours |
| Official Counter | Mike Fernandez |
| Observers: |
Visitors:
Erin Cockroft, a young photographer and bird entusiast, visited the site (from Colorado Springs) for the first time and helped with spotting from 10-11 (MST). She found out about us searching the internet for places to see hawks. Gave her our business card so she can check on our reports and learn more. At the same time, a dozen middle-school aged mountain bikers and adult leader took a lunch break on the platform (didn't ask any questions).
Weather:
Nice weather all count today. Slight breeze shifted from north to southeast. A little hazy all day. (WU PWS Solterra)
Raptor Observations:
Migrating Raptors: A slow day. Busy early and late. Three species passed close over the ridge at 8:00 MST (Coopers, Swainson's and TUVU). Then it was mostly empty skies rest of the day. Non-Migrating Raptors: Several kettles of Turkey Vultures most of the afternoon over the area from Flat Ridge to Mt Morrison, but I never saw a single one go north from there beyond West Ridge.
Non-raptor Observations:
Herd of 16 mule deer at base of bare slope. Non Raptors seen or heard: White-throated Swift (n=16), Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay (3), Black-billed Magpie (2), American Crow (2), Mountain Chickadee (15), Brown Creeper (2), Mountain Bluebird (1), Townsend's Solitaire (2), Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) (2), Spotted Towhee (1), Western Meadowlark (1), House Finch (1). Mountain Chickadees: A series of pairs moved quickly north on the ridge, pausing in the junipers, then continuing, in a group of about 12. Swifts: Flew over in small groups all day, close to the ridge. Reported on eBird.
Predictions:
Like Mitchell suggested, no point in predictions. Today seemed like ideal conditions, from a personal and land-based species perspective.
Report submitted by Matthew Smith (matt....@birdconservancy.org)
Dinosaur Ridge - Bird Conservancy of the Rockies information may be found at: http://www.birdconservancy.org/
More information at hawkcount.org: [Site Profile] [Day Summary] [Month Summary]
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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