Dinosaur Ridge - Bird Conservancy of the Rockies (08 Apr 2017) 12 Raptors
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Apr 9, 2017, 12:30:16 AM4/9/17
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Dinosaur Ridge - Bird Conservancy of the Rockies
Colorado, USA
Visitors:
A warm, pleasant Saturday brought a lot of activity to the ridge trail, with lots of hikers, bikers and family groups. Visitors Evelyn Paret and Lark Latch brought their binoculars and were a great help in spotting raptors during the morning’s active period. Lark stayed on for the remainder of what turned out to be a quiet afternoon for migrants.
Weather:
It was a warm, pleasant day on the ridge with temperatures ranging from 63 - 74F during the watch period. A steady, northeast wind increased from 2 Bft in the morning to 4 Bft by the end of the watch. Cloud cover also increased during the period, building from about 30% cover in the morning to 80% by early afternoon.
Raptor Observations:
Migrating Raptors: It was a good day for Cooper’s Hawks, with eight migrants counted within a fairly short period in the morning. The Cooper’s Hawks came up the ridge somewhat high (limit of unaided vision), then soared above the I-70 cut before peeling off to the north in a flap/glide. The two Red-tailed Hawk migrants and the unidentified Buteo moved along the West Ridge. After a fairly active morning, there were no migrants observed for the remainder of the watch. Non-Migrating Raptors: Local raptor activity was fairly light, with limited Red-tailed Hawk activity over the West Ridge and to the south of the observation point. A nicely marked juvenile Red-tailed soared south along the east side of the ridge, providing a close-in, below eye level look. A local Cooper’s Hawk soared briefly over the ridge before moving south. A Northern Harrier was seen moving north up the valley west of the ridge and was initially counted as a migrant, however, it was spotted later moving south along the same flight path. Two Turkey Vultures came up the ridge headed north but then turned south at the I-70 cut.
Non-raptor Observations:
Non-raptor Observations: The following species were seen or heard: Western Bluebird, Dark-eyed Junco (Gray-Headed), Black-billed Magpie, Spotted Towhee, Western Meadowlark, Common Raven, Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay, Canyon Wren, American Crow, Townsend’s Solitaire, and White-throated Swift (just two). Five elk were seen low on the east side of the ridge (unusual).
Predictions:
None
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/
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 08, 2017 | |||
| Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Turkey Vulture | 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Osprey | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 3 | 12 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 7 | 17 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 8 | 14 | 19 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 2 | 19 | 199 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 8 | 20 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| Unknown Buteo | 1 | 2 | 17 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 1 | 8 |
| Total: | 12 | 61 | 317 |
| Observation start time: | 08:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 14:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 6 hours |
| Official Counter | Bill Wuerthele |
| Observers: |
Visitors:
A warm, pleasant Saturday brought a lot of activity to the ridge trail, with lots of hikers, bikers and family groups. Visitors Evelyn Paret and Lark Latch brought their binoculars and were a great help in spotting raptors during the morning’s active period. Lark stayed on for the remainder of what turned out to be a quiet afternoon for migrants.
Weather:
It was a warm, pleasant day on the ridge with temperatures ranging from 63 - 74F during the watch period. A steady, northeast wind increased from 2 Bft in the morning to 4 Bft by the end of the watch. Cloud cover also increased during the period, building from about 30% cover in the morning to 80% by early afternoon.
Raptor Observations:
Migrating Raptors: It was a good day for Cooper’s Hawks, with eight migrants counted within a fairly short period in the morning. The Cooper’s Hawks came up the ridge somewhat high (limit of unaided vision), then soared above the I-70 cut before peeling off to the north in a flap/glide. The two Red-tailed Hawk migrants and the unidentified Buteo moved along the West Ridge. After a fairly active morning, there were no migrants observed for the remainder of the watch. Non-Migrating Raptors: Local raptor activity was fairly light, with limited Red-tailed Hawk activity over the West Ridge and to the south of the observation point. A nicely marked juvenile Red-tailed soared south along the east side of the ridge, providing a close-in, below eye level look. A local Cooper’s Hawk soared briefly over the ridge before moving south. A Northern Harrier was seen moving north up the valley west of the ridge and was initially counted as a migrant, however, it was spotted later moving south along the same flight path. Two Turkey Vultures came up the ridge headed north but then turned south at the I-70 cut.
Non-raptor Observations:
Non-raptor Observations: The following species were seen or heard: Western Bluebird, Dark-eyed Junco (Gray-Headed), Black-billed Magpie, Spotted Towhee, Western Meadowlark, Common Raven, Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay, Canyon Wren, American Crow, Townsend’s Solitaire, and White-throated Swift (just two). Five elk were seen low on the east side of the ridge (unusual).
Predictions:
None
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/
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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