Dinosaur Ridge - Bird Conservancy of the Rockies (11 Mar 2019) 9 Raptors
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Mar 11, 2019, 9:38:29 PM3/11/19
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Dinosaur Ridge - Bird Conservancy of the Rockies
Colorado, USA
Visitors:
Many hikers and bikers were on the trail. Several came up for the view. One asked if anything had been seen and was pleased to hear that a Bald Eagle had migrated past early in the morning.
Weather:
The mostly cloudy day started completely overcast but eventually developed occasional blue-sky patches, which often were still covered with translucent clouds. Visibility was good up to 10 km but somewhat hazy farther in the southern valleys. A probable snow squall far south on Dinosaur Ridge obscured Warren Peak for a while in the morning. Early winds were from the west but by 10 am MST the winds came from the east. Winds were mild at 1-2 bft. Temperatures rose from 5 C to 10 C during the watch period. Snow still covered large patches of the western ridges and the valley but very little snow remained on Green Mountain and in Rooney Valley.
Raptor Observations:
It was an eagle day with six, including one Unidentified Eagle, being counted. Two adult and two immature Bald Eagles were seen heading steadily northwards. The first migrant of the day was a probable sub-adult IV Bald Eagle, with a white head and tail but with a few traces of white still visible in the wings. The last migrant of the day, followed as it disappeared northwest, was a sub-adult-III-type Bald Eagle that had a dark eye-stripe visible on its grayish-white head, a heavily mottled black-and-white tail, a nice and even trailing edge to its flight feathers, a solid dark belly and a small white patch on its back. Two Golden Eagles were spotted in the morning thanks to the pesky local Red-tailed Hawks who were not happy to see them; the local Golden retreated east while the migrant hastily continued northwards to escape the harassment. At least four local Red-tailed Hawks spent the day circling together and apart, usually far to the west; eventually at least one pair (a male and female given their respective size) flew together amiably over the western valley by the afternoon.
Non-raptor Observations:
Also seen or heard were Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay, American Crow, Mountain Chickadee, Townsend's Solitaire, American Robin, Black-billed Magpie, Canada Goose, Common Raven, Rock Pigeon, Dark-eyed Junco, and Northern Flicker.
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: Mar 11, 2019 | |||
| Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bald Eagle | 4 | 6 | 6 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 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 | 3 | 21 | 21 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Golden Eagle | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Eagle | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total: | 9 | 30 | 30 |
| Observation start time: | 08:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 14:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 6 hours |
| Official Counter | Joyce Commercon |
| Observers: |
Visitors:
Many hikers and bikers were on the trail. Several came up for the view. One asked if anything had been seen and was pleased to hear that a Bald Eagle had migrated past early in the morning.
Weather:
The mostly cloudy day started completely overcast but eventually developed occasional blue-sky patches, which often were still covered with translucent clouds. Visibility was good up to 10 km but somewhat hazy farther in the southern valleys. A probable snow squall far south on Dinosaur Ridge obscured Warren Peak for a while in the morning. Early winds were from the west but by 10 am MST the winds came from the east. Winds were mild at 1-2 bft. Temperatures rose from 5 C to 10 C during the watch period. Snow still covered large patches of the western ridges and the valley but very little snow remained on Green Mountain and in Rooney Valley.
Raptor Observations:
It was an eagle day with six, including one Unidentified Eagle, being counted. Two adult and two immature Bald Eagles were seen heading steadily northwards. The first migrant of the day was a probable sub-adult IV Bald Eagle, with a white head and tail but with a few traces of white still visible in the wings. The last migrant of the day, followed as it disappeared northwest, was a sub-adult-III-type Bald Eagle that had a dark eye-stripe visible on its grayish-white head, a heavily mottled black-and-white tail, a nice and even trailing edge to its flight feathers, a solid dark belly and a small white patch on its back. Two Golden Eagles were spotted in the morning thanks to the pesky local Red-tailed Hawks who were not happy to see them; the local Golden retreated east while the migrant hastily continued northwards to escape the harassment. At least four local Red-tailed Hawks spent the day circling together and apart, usually far to the west; eventually at least one pair (a male and female given their respective size) flew together amiably over the western valley by the afternoon.
Non-raptor Observations:
Also seen or heard were Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay, American Crow, Mountain Chickadee, Townsend's Solitaire, American Robin, Black-billed Magpie, Canada Goose, Common Raven, Rock Pigeon, Dark-eyed Junco, and Northern Flicker.
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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