Dinosaur Ridge - Bird Conservancy of the Rockies (04 Mar 2019) Raptors
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Mar 4, 2019, 6:37:39 PM3/4/19
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Dinosaur Ridge - Bird Conservancy of the Rockies
Colorado, USA
Visitors:
No visitors and no one on the trail.
Weather:
The sunny day was cold and extra bright, given the snow blanketing the mountains and valleys. Minimal cloud-cover was located primarily near the horizons. Brown haze from the Denver-basin dominated to the north and spilled southward east of Green Mountain where the orange-tinged brown met a general whitish haze (snow evaporating in the sun?) visible to the south and west. Visibility was somewhat reduced from normal, with the Needle (Mt Lindo) not visible to the naked eye and Mount Morrison appearing slightly hazy. Luckily, the winds from the north and east were mild (never above bft 2) since the temperature stayed near -5 C during the watch.
Raptor Observations:
No migrants were seen on this low "thermal" day, even though the snow made it very easy to detect any movement. Two adult Red-tailed Hawks were observed, one in Rooney Valley and one in the West-side Valley. Each appeared to spend most of the watch perched but both were seen at least once flying low (probably hunting) in the valleys before re-perching.
Non-raptor Observations:
It was also a quiet day for non-raptors. One Townsend’s Solitaire, one Black-billed Magpie, one Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay and one Common Raven were seen. A coyote was seen hunting in Matthews/Winters Park.
Predictions:
Hopefully as the weather warms mid-week, some migrants may start to pass through.
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 04, 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 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 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 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 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 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total: | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Observation start time: | 11:15:00 |
| Observation end time: | 14:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 2.75 hours |
| Official Counter | Joyce Commercon |
| Observers: |
Visitors:
No visitors and no one on the trail.
Weather:
The sunny day was cold and extra bright, given the snow blanketing the mountains and valleys. Minimal cloud-cover was located primarily near the horizons. Brown haze from the Denver-basin dominated to the north and spilled southward east of Green Mountain where the orange-tinged brown met a general whitish haze (snow evaporating in the sun?) visible to the south and west. Visibility was somewhat reduced from normal, with the Needle (Mt Lindo) not visible to the naked eye and Mount Morrison appearing slightly hazy. Luckily, the winds from the north and east were mild (never above bft 2) since the temperature stayed near -5 C during the watch.
Raptor Observations:
No migrants were seen on this low "thermal" day, even though the snow made it very easy to detect any movement. Two adult Red-tailed Hawks were observed, one in Rooney Valley and one in the West-side Valley. Each appeared to spend most of the watch perched but both were seen at least once flying low (probably hunting) in the valleys before re-perching.
Non-raptor Observations:
It was also a quiet day for non-raptors. One Townsend’s Solitaire, one Black-billed Magpie, one Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay and one Common Raven were seen. A coyote was seen hunting in Matthews/Winters Park.
Predictions:
Hopefully as the weather warms mid-week, some migrants may start to pass through.
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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