Dinosaur Ridge - Bird Conservancy of the Rockies (12 Apr 2019) 88 Raptors
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Apr 12, 2019, 7:16:22 PM4/12/19
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Dinosaur Ridge - Bird Conservancy of the Rockies
Colorado, USA
Visitors:
Two women visited the station in the next to the last hour, asking what we were doing. After explaining about Hawk Watch, one said she is a volunteer for Jeffco Open Space, and last year was treated to a canyon to view nesting Golden Eagles, and many other raptors.
Weather:
Temps ranged from a brisk -1 to 5 Celcius for a high, with high humidity. Winds were low. Mt. Morrison had fog 1/3 way down first hour of the morning, and then it slowly lifted over the day. All but the last hour was completely overcast. Had a sprinkle of snow in the 2nd and 3rd hours.
Raptor Observations:
Migrating raptors were observed in all locations, except the West Ridge while fog was present, which makes me very glad that Carol and Steve were there to see over all the miles of range--they are terrific spotters. Throughout the day migrators could be seen from Green Mountain on the East, on the east side of the Ridge, overhead, and also on the west side of Ridge. Height of flights were various, but many were very high, at range of bins. Locals: 5 Red-Tailed Hawks; 2 male American Kestrels; 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk; and 1 Turkey Vulture.
Non-raptor Observations:
The trail was muddy and slick going up, but by this afternoon it was in good shape. Other birds seen or heard: 2 American Robin; 1 Townsend's Solitaire; 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet; 10 Black-billed Magpie; 15 House Finch; 3 Woodhouse's Scrub Jay; 4 American Crow; 4 Common Raven; 2 Chickadee (sp.); 5 Bushtit; and 1 Rock Pidgeon.
Predictions:
Saturday looks to have similar weather to today, so hopefully the migrator count will still be high.
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: Apr 12, 2019 | |||
| Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Turkey Vulture | 21 | 64 | 65 |
| Osprey | 2 | 11 | 11 |
| Bald Eagle | 1 | 2 | 14 |
| Northern Harrier | 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 4 | 29 | 38 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 19 | 53 | 59 |
| Northern Goshawk | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 24 | 194 | 287 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 2 | 6 | 10 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 5 | 8 |
| American Kestrel | 11 | 40 | 45 |
| Merlin | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 7 | 10 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 3 | 8 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 2 | 5 |
| Total: | 88 | 432 | 579 |
| Observation start time: | 09:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 14:30:00 |
| Total observation time: | 5.5 hours |
| Official Counter | Debbie James |
| Observers: | Carol Cwiklinski, Steve Small |
Visitors:
Two women visited the station in the next to the last hour, asking what we were doing. After explaining about Hawk Watch, one said she is a volunteer for Jeffco Open Space, and last year was treated to a canyon to view nesting Golden Eagles, and many other raptors.
Weather:
Temps ranged from a brisk -1 to 5 Celcius for a high, with high humidity. Winds were low. Mt. Morrison had fog 1/3 way down first hour of the morning, and then it slowly lifted over the day. All but the last hour was completely overcast. Had a sprinkle of snow in the 2nd and 3rd hours.
Raptor Observations:
Migrating raptors were observed in all locations, except the West Ridge while fog was present, which makes me very glad that Carol and Steve were there to see over all the miles of range--they are terrific spotters. Throughout the day migrators could be seen from Green Mountain on the East, on the east side of the Ridge, overhead, and also on the west side of Ridge. Height of flights were various, but many were very high, at range of bins. Locals: 5 Red-Tailed Hawks; 2 male American Kestrels; 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk; and 1 Turkey Vulture.
Non-raptor Observations:
The trail was muddy and slick going up, but by this afternoon it was in good shape. Other birds seen or heard: 2 American Robin; 1 Townsend's Solitaire; 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet; 10 Black-billed Magpie; 15 House Finch; 3 Woodhouse's Scrub Jay; 4 American Crow; 4 Common Raven; 2 Chickadee (sp.); 5 Bushtit; and 1 Rock Pidgeon.
Predictions:
Saturday looks to have similar weather to today, so hopefully the migrator count will still be high.
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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