Dinosaur Ridge Colorado, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 26, 2012 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 0 0 0 Osprey 0 1 1 Bald Eagle 0 6 6 Northern Harrier 0 0 0 Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 3 3 Cooper's Hawk 0 7 7 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 6 128 128 Rough-legged Hawk 0 2 2 Swainson's Hawk 0 1 1 Ferruginous Hawk 0 2 2 Golden Eagle 0 7 7 American Kestrel 0 15 15 Merlin 0 2 2 Peregrine Falcon 0 2 2 Prairie Falcon 0 5 5 Mississippi Kite 0 0 0 Unknown Accipiter 0 3 3 Unknown Buteo 2 6 6 Unknown Falcon 0 1 1 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 4 4 Total: 8 195 195 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:30:00 Observation end time: 14:00:00 Total observation time: 6.5 hours Official Counter: Roger Rouch Observers: Bill Flowers, Bill Wuerthele Visitors: Two hikers stopped for a brief talk. Weather: Warm with temperatures topping in the mid-seventies. Partly cloudy early, clearing during the day with a dusty haze over the eastern plains in the afternoon. Calm early in the day with increasing winds generally from the southwest. Very windy in the afternoon with gusts greater than 30 mph. Raptor Observations: Migrating raptors were seen both over the west and Green Mountain ridges, generally at long distances. Local red-tails observed over Green Mountain and Cabrini in the morning. Two quick looks at local unidentified falcons. Raptor sightings decreased significantly in the afternoon, possibly due to the high winds. Non-raptor Observations: Single or few numbers of birds that were heard or observed in the morning included black-billed magpie, chickadee, solitaire, western meadow lark, spotted towhee, and robin. A group of 6 crows. A few raven braved the afternoon winds. About ten elk grazed on a ridge near Cabrini. Predictions: Possibly a return to the higher counts of the past few days with more normal wind speeds? ======================================================================== 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.
