Dinosaur Ridge - Bird Conservancy of the Rockies (17 Mar 2019) 3 Raptors

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Dinosaur Ridge - Bird Conservancy of the Rockies
Colorado, USA

Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 17, 2019
Species	Day's Count	Month Total	Season Total
Black Vulture	0	0	0
Turkey Vulture	0	0	0
Osprey	0	0	0
Bald Eagle	0	6	6
Northern Harrier	0	0	0
Sharp-shinned Hawk	0	0	0
Cooper's Hawk	0	0	0
Northern Goshawk	0	0	0
Red-shouldered Hawk	0	0	0
Broad-winged Hawk	0	0	0
Red-tailed Hawk	2	34	34
Rough-legged Hawk	0	0	0
Swainson's Hawk	0	0	0
Ferruginous Hawk	1	2	2
Golden Eagle	0	1	1
American Kestrel	0	0	0
Merlin	0	0	0
Peregrine Falcon	0	0	0
Prairie Falcon	0	0	0
Mississippi Kite	0	0	0
Unknown Accipiter	0	0	0
Unknown Buteo	0	0	0
Unknown Falcon	0	0	0
Unknown Eagle	0	1	1
Unknown Raptor	0	0	0
Total:	3	44	44

Observation start time:	07:30:00
Observation end time:	12:30:00
Total observation time:	5 hours
Official Counter	Mike Fernandez
Observers:

Visitors:
Two couples with young kids had lunch and asked great questions. Sally Waterhouse, from Buena Vista - Salida area and an avid birder who follows the watch, stopped by to visit the site with family and friends. Hawkwatch Info Cards handed out today: 2

Weather:
Brilliant lighting with bright sun, a crystal clear blue sky, and snow covered landscape. Haze thickened to the SSE towards end of watch. Wind was consistently from the north, which does create an updraft along the east side of the ridge, but were minimal. Winds started to pick up at the end of the watch at about 12:30 pm MST. PWS: Idledale

Raptor Observations:
Migrating Raptors: FEHA (1), RTHA (2). Non-Migrating Raptors: RTHA (3), GOEA (1) (4/5 yr old).

Non-raptor Observations:
TOSO (1), HOFI (1), BBMA (5), MOCH (1), CORA (2).

Predictions:
Trail conditions are slippery and sloppy “SLUD” (slush and mud). North winds started to pick up late in watch. If wind pattern repeats might be best to do a later shift.

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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]

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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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