Dinosaur Ridge (18 Apr 2016) 5 Raptors
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rep...@hawkcount.org
Apr 18, 2016, 10:28:11 PM4/18/16
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Dinosaur Ridge
Colorado, USA
Visitors:
There were no visitors today. No one was seen on the trail, but hikers were noticed on the trails in Matthews Winters Park and on Green Mountain.
Weather:
Complete snow cover on the ground along the ridges and neighboring valleys made the chilly, overcast morning surprisingly bright. Mount Morrison and the western ridge south of it were obscured by low clouds for most of the watch; visibility beneath the solidly gray-white sky was fairly good to about 6 km. The 100% cloud-cover finally began to break up near 1 pm MST, revealing some blue sky to the north. Temperatures ranged from 0 to 5 C (32 to 41 F). Winds from the east were mild to non-existent (bft 0-1).
Raptor Observations:
A local Sharp-shinned Hawk was disturbed from its perch near the HawkWatch platform upon my arrival in the morning and flew south down the Ridge, but in general, all raptor activity was slow during the early part of the day. The migrants were predominately accipiters, with two Sharp-shinned Hawks passing within 5 minutes of each other late in the watch. All were adults that passed close to the Ridge, at or near eyelevel. The highlight of the afternoon was an adult Peregrine Falcon, beautifully lit on all sides by sun and snow as it sped north; it was not seen to turn back and was counted as a migrant. The local Rooney Valley Red-tailed Hawk pair made a few, quiet appearances. Local adult Turkey Vultures, often in groups of 3, repeatedly wandered far and wide over the ridges and valleys.
Non-raptor Observations:
The morning was very still and quiet for the most part with respect to other avian species as well, but eventually a number of birds began to reveal themselves: American Robin, Northern Flicker, House Finch, Common Raven, Black-billed Magpie, Western Meadowlark, Gray-headed Dark-eyed Junco, Townsend’s Solitaire, Western Scrub-Jay, Broad-tailed Hummingbird, and Mountain Bluebird. Seven Mule deer were seen on the north end of Green Mountain. About fifty Elk (in roughly two groups) gathered near the western ridge-top below Sub Peak and near Two Pines.
Predictions:
Tomorrow should be more conducive to migration through the area than the past few days have been… The trail may be icy in the morning, but it will certainly be muddy as the day warms.
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: Apr 18, 2016 | |||
| Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 51 | 66 |
| Osprey | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 3 | 12 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 3 | 15 | 24 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 1 | 22 | 29 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 0 | 53 | 235 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 13 | 26 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 1 | 3 | 6 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 6 | 11 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 7 | 17 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 3 | 16 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 5 | 7 |
| Total: | 5 | 187 | 467 |
| Observation start time: | 09:15:00 |
| Observation end time: | 14:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 4.75 hours |
| Official Counter | Joyce Commercon |
| Observers: |
Visitors:
There were no visitors today. No one was seen on the trail, but hikers were noticed on the trails in Matthews Winters Park and on Green Mountain.
Weather:
Complete snow cover on the ground along the ridges and neighboring valleys made the chilly, overcast morning surprisingly bright. Mount Morrison and the western ridge south of it were obscured by low clouds for most of the watch; visibility beneath the solidly gray-white sky was fairly good to about 6 km. The 100% cloud-cover finally began to break up near 1 pm MST, revealing some blue sky to the north. Temperatures ranged from 0 to 5 C (32 to 41 F). Winds from the east were mild to non-existent (bft 0-1).
Raptor Observations:
A local Sharp-shinned Hawk was disturbed from its perch near the HawkWatch platform upon my arrival in the morning and flew south down the Ridge, but in general, all raptor activity was slow during the early part of the day. The migrants were predominately accipiters, with two Sharp-shinned Hawks passing within 5 minutes of each other late in the watch. All were adults that passed close to the Ridge, at or near eyelevel. The highlight of the afternoon was an adult Peregrine Falcon, beautifully lit on all sides by sun and snow as it sped north; it was not seen to turn back and was counted as a migrant. The local Rooney Valley Red-tailed Hawk pair made a few, quiet appearances. Local adult Turkey Vultures, often in groups of 3, repeatedly wandered far and wide over the ridges and valleys.
Non-raptor Observations:
The morning was very still and quiet for the most part with respect to other avian species as well, but eventually a number of birds began to reveal themselves: American Robin, Northern Flicker, House Finch, Common Raven, Black-billed Magpie, Western Meadowlark, Gray-headed Dark-eyed Junco, Townsend’s Solitaire, Western Scrub-Jay, Broad-tailed Hummingbird, and Mountain Bluebird. Seven Mule deer were seen on the north end of Green Mountain. About fifty Elk (in roughly two groups) gathered near the western ridge-top below Sub Peak and near Two Pines.
Predictions:
Tomorrow should be more conducive to migration through the area than the past few days have been… The trail may be icy in the morning, but it will certainly be muddy as the day warms.
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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