HSR: Dinosaur Ridge (10 Apr 2015) 39 Raptors

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Dinosaur Ridge
Colorado, USA

Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 10, 2015
Species	Day's Count	Month Total	Season Total
Black Vulture	0	0	0
Turkey Vulture	8	45	45
Osprey	0	1	1
Bald Eagle	0	0	1
Northern Harrier	0	1	2
Sharp-shinned Hawk	5	9	15
Cooper's Hawk	7	17	20
Northern Goshawk	0	0	0
Red-shouldered Hawk	0	0	0
Broad-winged Hawk	0	0	0
Red-tailed Hawk	6	34	107
Rough-legged Hawk	0	0	1
Swainson's Hawk	0	0	0
Ferruginous Hawk	0	0	2
Golden Eagle	1	1	4
American Kestrel	12	50	69
Merlin	0	0	0
Peregrine Falcon	0	1	4
Prairie Falcon	0	0	2
Mississippi Kite	0	0	0
Unknown Accipiter	0	7	11
Unknown Buteo	0	4	7
Unknown Falcon	0	0	1
Unknown Eagle	0	0	0
Unknown Raptor	0	0	1
Total:	39	170	293

Observation start time:	08:30:00
Observation end time:	15:00:00
Total observation time:	6.5 hours
Official Counter	Dave Hill
Observers:	Debbie James, Heather Jackson, Janet Shin, Jim Schmoker, Joel Chapa

Visitors:
Observers included Janet Shin (6.5 hrs.), Jim Schmoker (3.8 hrs.), Debbie James (6.5 hrs.), Heather Jackson (3.5 hrs.), Jim Low (2.2 hrs.), Rob Reilly (2 hrs.), Colleen Dorczuk (1.8 hrs.), Joel Chapa (3.5 hrs.) and Dave Hill (6.5 hrs.).

Weather:
Temperature: 49-60 degrees Fahrenheit; Wind: 4-8 mph from the east/southeast; Sky: 40-90% clouds as a cold front moved through in the afternoon.

Raptor Observations:
Turkey Vulture: 13 (8 migrants, 5 local birds), Golden Eagle: 3 (1 migrant, 2 local), Sharp-shinned Hawk: 5 (All 5 migrants), Cooper's Hawk: 11 (7 migrants, 4 local), Red-tailed Hawk: 12 (6 migrants, 6 local), American Kestrel: 13 (12 Migrant, 1 local).

Non-raptor Observations:
White-throated Swift: 8, Northern Flicker: 1, Western Scrub-Jay: 3, Black-billed Magpie: 2, American Crow: 7, Common Raven: 5, Mountain Chickadee: 3, chickadee species: 1, Townsend's Solitaire: 1, American Robin: 2, Spotted Towhee: 2, Western Meadowlark: 3, House Finch: 1 Singing male.

Predictions:
Beautiful Spring Day ahead!

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Report submitted by Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory (jeff....@rmbo.org)
Dinosaur Ridge information may be found at: http://www.rmbo.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 the Rocky Mountain Bird
Observatory from about 9 AM to around 4 PM from the first week of March to the
first week of May.

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.