Dinosaur Ridge Colorado, USA Daily Raptor Counts: May 02, 2011 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 3 11 159 Osprey 0 1 30 Bald Eagle 0 0 38 Northern Harrier 0 0 14 Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 1 58 Cooper's Hawk 0 0 95 Northern Goshawk 0 0 3 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 28 Red-tailed Hawk 1 1 304 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 2 Swainson's Hawk 1 2 8 Ferruginous Hawk 0 0 11 Golden Eagle 0 0 15 American Kestrel 0 1 195 Merlin 0 0 7 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 3 Prairie Falcon 0 0 20 Mississippi Kite 0 0 0 Unknown Accipiter 0 0 26 Unknown Buteo 0 0 27 Unknown Falcon 0 0 21 Unknown Eagle 0 0 1 Unknown Raptor 0 0 13 Total: 5 17 1078 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 12:00:00 Total observation time: 4 hours Official Counter: Chuck Hundertmark Observers: Visitors: Two hikers stopped by early. Had question about Spotted Towhee. A couple stopped by and were interested in the information about hawk migration. Weather: Morning began with relatively clear skies, becoming heavily overcast by midmorning. Wind was southeast shifting east. Between 11-12 MST the wind shifted west. Light snow began after 10:00 a.m. at times reducing visibility with fine flakes. Haze early and snow later limited visibility. Raptor Observations: Even local raptor activity was minimal. The only migrants during the morning (5) moved through between 10-11 a.m. Ended count at noon due to low activity and reduced visibility. 1 local Turkey Vulture and 2 local Red-tails. Non-raptor Observations: 4 American White Pelicans over the west ridge were the highlight of the morning. Spotted Towhee (5), Mourning Dove (3), Western Scrub-jay (3), Western Meadowlark (3), Rock Wren (1 putting in multiple appearances), American Robin (1), Mountain Bluebird (4), Chipping Sparrow (1), Common Raven (2 including one beautiful display of acrobatic flying), Red-winged Blackbird (1), Say's Phoebe (1), American Goldfinch (1). ======================================================================== Report submitted by Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory (jeff.bi...@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. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en.
