HSR: Dinosaur Ridge (05 Apr 2015) 19 Raptors
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rep...@hawkcount.org
Apr 5, 2015, 10:56:18 PM4/5/15
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Dinosaur Ridge
Colorado, USA
Visitors:
A number of very pleasant individuals inquired as to what we were doing, they seemed interested and appreciative, but not likely to take up the cause. And, as has become the norm this year, there were an equal number of people, oblivious to what was taking place, getting in the way, occupying our immediate space, making hawk watching more difficult than it might be otherwise.
Weather:
A warm sunny day with limited cloud cover, winds were variable and ranged in strength from calm to 3 BFT
Raptor Observations:
Most of the migrating birds were observed at the limit of binoculars and west of the ridge. Birds were for the most part circling up in thermals and gliding away to the north. Only the Kestrels passed close to the station. Mid-morning a Peregrine circled up south of the station, then glided away directly north at a high rate of speed until it was out of sight, it was counted as a migrator. The two local Peregrines appeared mid-afternoon circling for a period of time above the station. A number of local Red-tailed Hawks were seen throughout the day, several non-migrating Turkey Vultures were observed along west ridge.
Non-raptor Observations:
Other bird species seen included: Mountain Bluebird, Black-capped Chickadee, Mountain Chickadee, American Crow, Northern Flicker, Western Scrub-Jay, Black-billed Magpie, Western Meadowlark, Common Raven, American Robin, White-throated Swift, and Spotted Towhee.
Predictions:
Looks like a another nice day tomorrow with strong winds out of the south and west, only the birds know for sure.
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.
Colorado, USA
| Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 05, 2015 | |||
| Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Turkey Vulture | 3 | 22 | 22 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Northern Harrier | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 4 | 10 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 2 | 8 | 11 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 10 | 23 | 96 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| American Kestrel | 2 | 8 | 27 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 4 | 8 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 3 | 6 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Total: | 19 | 74 | 197 |
| Observation start time: | 08:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 14:30:00 |
| Total observation time: | 6.5 hours |
| Official Counter | Lee Farrell |
| Observers: | Kathanne Lynch |
Visitors:
A number of very pleasant individuals inquired as to what we were doing, they seemed interested and appreciative, but not likely to take up the cause. And, as has become the norm this year, there were an equal number of people, oblivious to what was taking place, getting in the way, occupying our immediate space, making hawk watching more difficult than it might be otherwise.
Weather:
A warm sunny day with limited cloud cover, winds were variable and ranged in strength from calm to 3 BFT
Raptor Observations:
Most of the migrating birds were observed at the limit of binoculars and west of the ridge. Birds were for the most part circling up in thermals and gliding away to the north. Only the Kestrels passed close to the station. Mid-morning a Peregrine circled up south of the station, then glided away directly north at a high rate of speed until it was out of sight, it was counted as a migrator. The two local Peregrines appeared mid-afternoon circling for a period of time above the station. A number of local Red-tailed Hawks were seen throughout the day, several non-migrating Turkey Vultures were observed along west ridge.
Non-raptor Observations:
Other bird species seen included: Mountain Bluebird, Black-capped Chickadee, Mountain Chickadee, American Crow, Northern Flicker, Western Scrub-Jay, Black-billed Magpie, Western Meadowlark, Common Raven, American Robin, White-throated Swift, and Spotted Towhee.
Predictions:
Looks like a another nice day tomorrow with strong winds out of the south and west, only the birds know for sure.
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.
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