Dinosaur Ridge Colorado, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 15, 2014 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 5 58 61 Osprey 1 2 2 Bald Eagle 0 0 25 Northern Harrier 0 2 2 Sharp-shinned Hawk 3 21 26 Cooper's Hawk 3 30 45 Northern Goshawk 0 1 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 3 70 200 Rough-legged Hawk 0 2 9 Swainson's Hawk 0 0 0 Ferruginous Hawk 0 1 9 Golden Eagle 0 3 10 American Kestrel 1 50 64 Merlin 2 4 4 Peregrine Falcon 0 1 3 Prairie Falcon 0 1 6 Mississippi Kite 0 0 0 Unknown Accipiter 0 12 14 Unknown Buteo 0 8 13 Unknown Falcon 0 1 1 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 2 6 Total: 18 269 501 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 7 hours Official Counter: Claude Vallieres Observers: Paul Slingsby, Tom Dennehy Visitors: Gisela Billmayer, a Jeffco Open Space Nest Monitoring volunteer, was accompanied by Don Milsten arrived with Tom Dennehy whom the had met on the hike up. All spent the afternoon with us. Weather: Morning weather was cool with temperatures in 30s to 40s F. with heavy cloud cover in 90%-100% range throughout the day. At noon the sun shed its light through the clouds bringing warmth and rising temperatures to the low 60s F. Little to no wind in a.m. Around noon light winds from the S/SE brought out a thaw in migrating activity. Raptor Observations: Cool morning temperatures kept migrators grounded except for 2 Merlins during the first hour, flying the same flight line within 10-15 minutes of each other. Around noon favorable S/SE winds and warming temperature brought a flurry of 7 migrating raptors which included 1 Osprey, 1 Turkey Vulture, 3 cooper's Hawks and 2 Red-tailed Hawks. Other migrants included 3 Sharp-shinned Hawks one of which caught prey close by the observation sight, 1 female American Kestrel and 4 additional TVs,one being a juvenile, and 1 additional Red-tailed for a day's total of 18 migrants. Non-raptor Observations: The usual array of local raptors and other regular birds were seen and included: 1 male American Kestrel, 1 female American Kestrel, several TVs, Sharp-shinned Hawks, Cooper's Hawks and several Red-tailed Hawks, many displaying extended talons and aerial dives before coming to an abrupt sailing/still position in the wind. 2 migrating Great Blue Herons soared above the ridge for a period of time before flying North. Most notably was a lone Crane, presumably a Sandhill, flew around & beyond Mt Morrison, heading South. Other birds included White- throated Swifts, Violet-green Swallows, Mt. Chickadees, Juncos, Black-billed Magpies, Northern Flickers, Mt. Bluebirds, Western Meadowlarks, Spotted Towhees, Ravens, Townsend's Solitaire and Western Scrub Jays. Elk were on the Cabrini Ridge and a lone Mule deer fed on the Dino Ridge. Predictions: Cooler temperature and winds are predicted for tomorrow with late day rain/snow showers will likely have an impact on migration. ======================================================================== 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. 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