Dinosaur Ridge (17 Mar 2017) 27 Raptors
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rep...@hawkcount.org
Mar 17, 2017, 7:27:05 PM3/17/17
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Dinosaur Ridge
Colorado, USA
Visitors:
Lots of cyclers and hikers today on the Ridge. One group spent some time at the station, they were on a leadership training for their activist group--and got to see a migrating Redtail--along with a local, which interested them.
Weather:
Hot, bone dry day up on the Ridge, which is under fire ban. Some haze to the west early on, then that haze blew away, leaving haze to the south.
Raptor Observations:
What a day! 7 local Redtail hawks were spotted, two appeared to be mating in the first hour. 2 local Kestrels. Had at least one migrating hawk every hour, with the 1000-1100 hour having 12! It was nice seeing Coopers and Sharp-shinned today. Some of the raptors were flying so high and far over West Ridge, that without a scope, we weren't able to identify the species.
Non-raptor Observations:
No mammals spotted today, but bird-wise there were 6 Black-billed Magpie; 44 American Crows; 3 American Robins; 2 Townsend's Solitaire; 2 Western Meadowlark; 3 Western Scrub Jay; 2 Chickadee (species) heard; 1 Flicker; 25 Bushtits; 1 Housefinch; 25 Rock Pidgeons; 1 Common Raven
Predictions:
Going to be a HOT one tomorrow. Hopefully hawks will find it as amenable to migrating as they did today.
Report submitted by Bird Conservancy of the Rockies (jeff....@birdconservancy.org)
Dinosaur Ridge information may be found at: http://www.birdconservancy.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 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, 2017 | |||
| 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 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 16 | 96 | 96 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| American Kestrel | 4 | 5 | 5 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Unknown Buteo | 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Raptor | 2 | 4 | 4 |
| Total: | 27 | 131 | 131 |
| Observation start time: | 09:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 15:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 6 hours |
| Official Counter | Debbie James |
| Observers: | David Prentice |
Visitors:
Lots of cyclers and hikers today on the Ridge. One group spent some time at the station, they were on a leadership training for their activist group--and got to see a migrating Redtail--along with a local, which interested them.
Weather:
Hot, bone dry day up on the Ridge, which is under fire ban. Some haze to the west early on, then that haze blew away, leaving haze to the south.
Raptor Observations:
What a day! 7 local Redtail hawks were spotted, two appeared to be mating in the first hour. 2 local Kestrels. Had at least one migrating hawk every hour, with the 1000-1100 hour having 12! It was nice seeing Coopers and Sharp-shinned today. Some of the raptors were flying so high and far over West Ridge, that without a scope, we weren't able to identify the species.
Non-raptor Observations:
No mammals spotted today, but bird-wise there were 6 Black-billed Magpie; 44 American Crows; 3 American Robins; 2 Townsend's Solitaire; 2 Western Meadowlark; 3 Western Scrub Jay; 2 Chickadee (species) heard; 1 Flicker; 25 Bushtits; 1 Housefinch; 25 Rock Pidgeons; 1 Common Raven
Predictions:
Going to be a HOT one tomorrow. Hopefully hawks will find it as amenable to migrating as they did today.
Report submitted by Bird Conservancy of the Rockies (jeff....@birdconservancy.org)
Dinosaur Ridge information may be found at: http://www.birdconservancy.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 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.
rep...@hawkcount.org
Mar 17, 2017, 7:27:28 PM3/17/17
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