Dinosaur Ridge - Bird Conservancy of the Rockies (18 Mar 2018) 12 Raptors
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Mar 18, 2018, 8:14:22 PM3/18/18
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Dinosaur Ridge - Bird Conservancy of the Rockies
Colorado, USA
Visitors:
Several curious visitors to the platform today, but as the watch progressed and the east winds increased across the top of the ridge, most were mainly eager to get down.
Weather:
Watch cut short one hour due to incoming winter storm. Pleasant day and warm if standing on the west side of platform. Windchill on the east side was actually blowing my camera (6 lbs) hanging from a branch (sorry juniper!). (PWS: Solterra)
Raptor Observations:
Migrating Raptors: We had a flow of three Golden Eagles early, then a mix of Red-taileds, falcon and accipitor late. Morning Migrators: The GOEAs all followed the same flight plan: high and distant west at limit of unaided vision approaching Mt. Morrison, catching an apparent frequent thermal over the Saddle, continuing NNW and exiting view over Bare Slope or Apex. Afternoon Migrators: The afternoon migrating RTHAs took a different path, more east side of ridge and more directly north. Same with the Kestrel and Cooper's. However, the Cooper's Hawk took a path unseen before by this observer: Flying low east of the ridge to Golden, then turned south over to the apparent thermal above the Saddle, circled up high and then headed diligently northwest on the same flight plan as the morning GOEAs to beyond limit of binocs. Non-Migrating Raptors: One local Cooper's and three local Red-taileds, mostly east of ridge.
Non-raptor Observations:
Sandhill Cranes (2) over the western ridges; Woodhouse's Scrub-jays (2) alighted on the platform entry posts; Black-billed Magpies on the lower east side; a few American Crows; occassional migrator-escort Common Ravens; Bluebirds (unable to identify if Mountain or Western against the sun) in a flock of ~12 right overhead on the ridge; American Robins in a huge flock down ridge and to the north early (n=50); and our friends the TOSO's were back to spend the day with us. (all reported on eBird)
Predictions:
Winter storm early and clearing late morning. Expect spring storm wet trail conditions.
Report submitted by Bird Conservancy of the Rockies (jeff....@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 18, 2018 | |||
| Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bald Eagle | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 6 | 89 | 89 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Golden Eagle | 3 | 6 | 6 |
| American Kestrel | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total: | 12 | 107 | 107 |
| Observation start time: | 08:30:00 |
| Observation end time: | 13:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 4.5 hours |
| Official Counter | Mike Fernandez |
| Observers: | Carol Cwiklinski, Steve Small |
Visitors:
Several curious visitors to the platform today, but as the watch progressed and the east winds increased across the top of the ridge, most were mainly eager to get down.
Weather:
Watch cut short one hour due to incoming winter storm. Pleasant day and warm if standing on the west side of platform. Windchill on the east side was actually blowing my camera (6 lbs) hanging from a branch (sorry juniper!). (PWS: Solterra)
Raptor Observations:
Migrating Raptors: We had a flow of three Golden Eagles early, then a mix of Red-taileds, falcon and accipitor late. Morning Migrators: The GOEAs all followed the same flight plan: high and distant west at limit of unaided vision approaching Mt. Morrison, catching an apparent frequent thermal over the Saddle, continuing NNW and exiting view over Bare Slope or Apex. Afternoon Migrators: The afternoon migrating RTHAs took a different path, more east side of ridge and more directly north. Same with the Kestrel and Cooper's. However, the Cooper's Hawk took a path unseen before by this observer: Flying low east of the ridge to Golden, then turned south over to the apparent thermal above the Saddle, circled up high and then headed diligently northwest on the same flight plan as the morning GOEAs to beyond limit of binocs. Non-Migrating Raptors: One local Cooper's and three local Red-taileds, mostly east of ridge.
Non-raptor Observations:
Sandhill Cranes (2) over the western ridges; Woodhouse's Scrub-jays (2) alighted on the platform entry posts; Black-billed Magpies on the lower east side; a few American Crows; occassional migrator-escort Common Ravens; Bluebirds (unable to identify if Mountain or Western against the sun) in a flock of ~12 right overhead on the ridge; American Robins in a huge flock down ridge and to the north early (n=50); and our friends the TOSO's were back to spend the day with us. (all reported on eBird)
Predictions:
Winter storm early and clearing late morning. Expect spring storm wet trail conditions.
Report submitted by Bird Conservancy of the Rockies (jeff....@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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