Dinosaur Ridge (23 Mar 2017) 5 Raptors
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rep...@hawkcount.org
Mar 23, 2017, 8:21:47 PM3/23/17
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Dinosaur Ridge
Colorado, USA
Visitors:
Expert New York hawk watchers Liza and Ajit Antony (Mount Peter Hawkwatch site in Warwick, NY) were on the hill from 8:00 to 11:00 MST and provided numerous sitings. Former hawk watch volunteer Mary O'Connor came up at 12:30 MST and observed for an hour and a half. A visiting couple from Massachusetts took a break from training for the Continental Divide Trail and reported seeing lots of BAEA flying west along the I-70 corridor.
Weather:
Strong, sporadic wind gusts from the west all day. Otherwise, sunny and clear with minimal high cloud cover.
Raptor Observations:
Local RTHA observed throughout the day on both sides of the ridge. A local PEFA soared with a Red-Tailed Hawk above the platform. A migrant BAEA was "escorted" by a pair of local RTHA from Green Mountain to Cabrini.
Non-raptor Observations:
Limited bird activity on the ridge today, perhaps due to wind. Observed were American Crow, Common Raven, Townsend's Solitaire, Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay, American Robin, Black-billed Magpie, and Northern Flicker.
Predictions:
Rain or snow should have an impact on migration. Or not.
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: Mar 23, 2017 | |||
| 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 | 8 | 8 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 1 | 4 | 4 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 2 | 138 | 138 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| American Kestrel | 1 | 10 | 10 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 10 | 10 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 6 | 6 |
| Total: | 5 | 193 | 193 |
| Observation start time: | 08:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 13:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 5 hours |
| Official Counter | Mike Fernandez |
| Observers: | Karen Fernandez, Mary Fran O\'Connor |
Visitors:
Expert New York hawk watchers Liza and Ajit Antony (Mount Peter Hawkwatch site in Warwick, NY) were on the hill from 8:00 to 11:00 MST and provided numerous sitings. Former hawk watch volunteer Mary O'Connor came up at 12:30 MST and observed for an hour and a half. A visiting couple from Massachusetts took a break from training for the Continental Divide Trail and reported seeing lots of BAEA flying west along the I-70 corridor.
Weather:
Strong, sporadic wind gusts from the west all day. Otherwise, sunny and clear with minimal high cloud cover.
Raptor Observations:
Local RTHA observed throughout the day on both sides of the ridge. A local PEFA soared with a Red-Tailed Hawk above the platform. A migrant BAEA was "escorted" by a pair of local RTHA from Green Mountain to Cabrini.
Non-raptor Observations:
Limited bird activity on the ridge today, perhaps due to wind. Observed were American Crow, Common Raven, Townsend's Solitaire, Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay, American Robin, Black-billed Magpie, and Northern Flicker.
Predictions:
Rain or snow should have an impact on migration. Or not.
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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