Dinosaur Ridge - Bird Conservancy of the Rockies (11 Apr 2020) 6 Raptors
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rep...@hawkcount.org
Apr 11, 2020, 7:10:13 PM4/11/20
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Dinosaur Ridge - Bird Conservancy of the Rockies
Colorado, USA
Visitors:
EXTREMELY BUSY DAY. I ended up wearing my mask the majority of the day due to the amount of visitors that where not practicing safe distance.
Weather:
A very sunny though windy morning. Little cloud cover to the north making for a blue sky day.
Raptor Observations:
There were several locals sighted through the morning with the occasional migrator. I did get a great view of a local RTH carrying a larger prey (squirrel?) towards I-70. All sightings were on the western side of ridge.
Non-raptor Observations:
The wind may have kept some birds low but I did observe Crows, Ravens, Magpies, Solitaires, Scrub jays, Black-Caped Chickadees, and even a Rock wren.
Predictions:
Stay warm and bring your mask!
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 11, 2020 | |||
| Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Turkey Vulture | 2 | 7 | 9 |
| Osprey | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 1 | 4 | 9 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 1 | 3 | 9 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 2 | 8 | 91 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 9 | 14 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Total: | 6 | 35 | 169 |
| Observation start time: | 08:45:00 |
| Observation end time: | 11:45:00 |
| Total observation time: | 3 hours |
| Official Counter | Mitchell Blystone |
| Observers: |
Visitors:
EXTREMELY BUSY DAY. I ended up wearing my mask the majority of the day due to the amount of visitors that where not practicing safe distance.
Weather:
A very sunny though windy morning. Little cloud cover to the north making for a blue sky day.
Raptor Observations:
There were several locals sighted through the morning with the occasional migrator. I did get a great view of a local RTH carrying a larger prey (squirrel?) towards I-70. All sightings were on the western side of ridge.
Non-raptor Observations:
The wind may have kept some birds low but I did observe Crows, Ravens, Magpies, Solitaires, Scrub jays, Black-Caped Chickadees, and even a Rock wren.
Predictions:
Stay warm and bring your mask!
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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