Dinosaur Ridge - Bird Conservancy of the Rockies (17 Mar 2018) 5 Raptors
26 views
Skip to first unread message
rep...@hawkcount.org
Mar 17, 2018, 6:53:25 PM3/17/18
to cob...@googlegroups.com
Dinosaur Ridge - Bird Conservancy of the Rockies
Colorado, USA
Visitors:
A quite Saturday with a few hikers and bikers on the trail. I did have an interested women (Ally?) stop by to say that she reads the updates and is an avid bird watcher.
Weather:
Beautiful day with clear skies. There was a very consistent though light breeze coming from the east/southeast throughout the morning which gave the east side a very cold windchill.
Raptor Observations:
There was a flurry of active right after 9am when it seems the Locals and some migrants decided to take flight at the same time. The Accipiters moved very quickly and I spotted them right at or just North of the platform while the RTHs moved with purpose but didn't make it too difficult to spot them. The locals played to the east throughout the morning and at some points they were visible for 20+ minutes.
Non-raptor Observations:
A flock of Bluebirds was a nice highlight for the morning. There was a good amount of activity from the Robins, Scrub Jays, Magpies, and Chickadees who all seemed very busy. I am not 100% sure of this but out of the corner of my eye I thought I saw a Rock Wren.
Predictions:
Hopefully a good mix of birds will start moving through. It seems that today's action was earlier in the day. Not sure if that'll be a theme. Additionally, today they preferred the east slope with little active on the western hills. Have fun!
Report submitted by Bird Conservancy of the Rockies (jeff....@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: Mar 17, 2018 | |||
| 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 | 0 | 0 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 3 | 83 | 83 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total: | 5 | 95 | 95 |
| Observation start time: | 08:15:00 |
| Observation end time: | 11:45:00 |
| Total observation time: | 3.5 hours |
| Official Counter | Mitchell Blystone |
| Observers: |
Visitors:
A quite Saturday with a few hikers and bikers on the trail. I did have an interested women (Ally?) stop by to say that she reads the updates and is an avid bird watcher.
Weather:
Beautiful day with clear skies. There was a very consistent though light breeze coming from the east/southeast throughout the morning which gave the east side a very cold windchill.
Raptor Observations:
There was a flurry of active right after 9am when it seems the Locals and some migrants decided to take flight at the same time. The Accipiters moved very quickly and I spotted them right at or just North of the platform while the RTHs moved with purpose but didn't make it too difficult to spot them. The locals played to the east throughout the morning and at some points they were visible for 20+ minutes.
Non-raptor Observations:
A flock of Bluebirds was a nice highlight for the morning. There was a good amount of activity from the Robins, Scrub Jays, Magpies, and Chickadees who all seemed very busy. I am not 100% sure of this but out of the corner of my eye I thought I saw a Rock Wren.
Predictions:
Hopefully a good mix of birds will start moving through. It seems that today's action was earlier in the day. Not sure if that'll be a theme. Additionally, today they preferred the east slope with little active on the western hills. Have fun!
Report submitted by Bird Conservancy of the Rockies (jeff....@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.
Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages