Dinosaur Ridge (06 May 2016) 12 Raptors
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rep...@hawkcount.org
May 6, 2016, 7:47:01 PM5/6/16
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Dinosaur Ridge
Colorado, USA
Visitors:
Various and sundry hikers, bikers and dog-walkers. A few stopped briefly, but most were on a mission.
Weather:
A very warm day on the Ridge except for times of cloud cover and wind that cooled things off. Temps from 19 degrees Celcius up to 26 C. Hawk Watch was called off at 2:22 p.m. MDT because of lightening.
Raptor Observations:
A surprisingly full day of raptors, both migrators and locals. Most of the activity was close to the Ridge, and hardly any over by Mount Morrison. While many were flying high, on both east and west sides of the Ridge or directly above, there were plenty who flew lower and the sight was amazing. Locals: Red Tails including a juvenile that is moulting quite a bit, Turkey Vultures, Kestrels, Coooper's Hawks including one with a moulting tail feather that hasn't fallen out; Sharp-Shin's, and of course the Peregrine.
Non-raptor Observations:
Also observed were: 2 Western Tanager; 2 Yellow Rumped Warbler; 5 Spotted Wing Towhee; 1 House Finch; 6 Meadowlark; 3 Scrub Jay; 12 White Throated Swift; 1 Tree Swallow; 1 Brown Headed Cowbird; 4 Chipping Sparrow; 2 Red Breasted Nuthatch; 2 Robin; 1 Plumbeous Vireo; 1 Mountain Chickadee; 4 Black Capped Chickadee; 1 Broad-tailed Hummingbird; 1 Cassin's Kingbird; 2 Blue Gray Gnatcatcher; 4 Blackbilled Magpie; 2 Rock Wren (who popped right up on the observation platform); 1 Common Raven; 2 American Crow; 2 Mourning Dove.
Predictions:
Hopefully another good day of migrators (considering it's the last day in the season). It was a wonderful year counting hawks on Dinosaur Ridge
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: May 06, 2016 | |||
| Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Turkey Vulture | 2 | 15 | 104 |
| Osprey | 0 | 4 | 14 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 4 | 14 | 58 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 3 | 8 | 57 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 0 | 4 | 254 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 2 | 2 | 9 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 4 | 42 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 1 | 11 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 2 | 14 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 1 | 3 | 28 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 0 | 17 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 2 | 10 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| Total: | 12 | 59 | 649 |
| Observation start time: | 09:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 13:30:00 |
| Total observation time: | 5 hours |
| Official Counter | Dave Hill |
| Observers: | Debbie James, Janet Shin, Richard Cuellar |
Visitors:
Various and sundry hikers, bikers and dog-walkers. A few stopped briefly, but most were on a mission.
Weather:
A very warm day on the Ridge except for times of cloud cover and wind that cooled things off. Temps from 19 degrees Celcius up to 26 C. Hawk Watch was called off at 2:22 p.m. MDT because of lightening.
Raptor Observations:
A surprisingly full day of raptors, both migrators and locals. Most of the activity was close to the Ridge, and hardly any over by Mount Morrison. While many were flying high, on both east and west sides of the Ridge or directly above, there were plenty who flew lower and the sight was amazing. Locals: Red Tails including a juvenile that is moulting quite a bit, Turkey Vultures, Kestrels, Coooper's Hawks including one with a moulting tail feather that hasn't fallen out; Sharp-Shin's, and of course the Peregrine.
Non-raptor Observations:
Also observed were: 2 Western Tanager; 2 Yellow Rumped Warbler; 5 Spotted Wing Towhee; 1 House Finch; 6 Meadowlark; 3 Scrub Jay; 12 White Throated Swift; 1 Tree Swallow; 1 Brown Headed Cowbird; 4 Chipping Sparrow; 2 Red Breasted Nuthatch; 2 Robin; 1 Plumbeous Vireo; 1 Mountain Chickadee; 4 Black Capped Chickadee; 1 Broad-tailed Hummingbird; 1 Cassin's Kingbird; 2 Blue Gray Gnatcatcher; 4 Blackbilled Magpie; 2 Rock Wren (who popped right up on the observation platform); 1 Common Raven; 2 American Crow; 2 Mourning Dove.
Predictions:
Hopefully another good day of migrators (considering it's the last day in the season). It was a wonderful year counting hawks on Dinosaur Ridge
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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