Dinosaur Ridge Colorado, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 10, 2015 -------------------------------------------------------------------
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 1 1 Northern Harrier 0 0 0 Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 0 0 Cooper's Hawk 0 0 0 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 0 10 10 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Swainson's Hawk 0 0 0 Ferruginous Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 2 2 American Kestrel 0 0 0 Merlin 0 0 0 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0 Prairie Falcon 0 1 1 Mississippi Kite 0 0 0 Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0 Unknown Buteo 0 0 0 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 0 Total: 0 14 14 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:30:00 Observation end time: 14:00:00 Total observation time: 5.5 hours Official Counter: Claude Vallieres Observers: T.C. Walker Visitors: First time observer was T.C. Walker from Ft. Collins who has previous experience as bird point counter in Colorado. 7 visitors stopped at the observation cite with no interest coming from them. The usual array of hikers, joggers and 1 bicyclist passed by. Weather: Clear skies throughout the day with a slight "brown cloud" haze developing throughout the day with no visibility impact. Visibility at 50km. Temperature range was 10-13 degrees Celsius. Wind ranges were 1 to 4 on Beaufort scale from variable directions primarily from the East, SE. Despite warming temperatures the wind made it feel cooler than indicated. Raptor Observations: No Migrating raptors were seen today. Only Red-tailed Hawks and 2 American Kestrels all locals were observed. Non-raptor Observations: 4 serious Red-tailed Hawks contenders for migrants were side-tracked or turned around. One of these was a Dark morph Red-tailed who was rebuffed by another Red-tailed. The Dark one then flew Southwest (not the airline). Another RT managed to determinately fly through a gauntlet of 3 attacking RTs but turned around at I-70 and glided past the East side of our cite. Numerous other Red-tailed were seen primarily between 11 a.m. to 1:30. Many were observed diving each other and performing aerobatics. The RTs were of various plumage. An American Kestrel was seen with prey only to lose it to an aggressive Black-billed Magpie. This scene was later repeated with the Kestrel maintaining its prey and being hounded by another Kestrel. Otherwise no other raptors were seen. Despite low bird activity few other birds were seen with the notable absence of some regular birds. Seen were 1 Townsend's Solitaire, 1 American Robin, 3 Eurasian Collared-Doves, 3 European Starlings, 1 Western Scrub Jay,5 Dark-eyed Juncos, 5 Black-billed Magpies. The only migrants of the day were 2 flocks of Mountain Bluebirds totaling 15. Predictions: Weather prediction indicates a similar day as today with warming temperatures. Hopefully the warmth and thermals will bring some migrants through. ======================================================================== 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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