Dinosaur Ridge Colorado, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 28, 2011 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 3 132 139 Osprey 1 27 28 Bald Eagle 0 5 38 Northern Harrier 0 10 13 Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 41 53 Cooper's Hawk 1 79 92 Northern Goshawk 0 2 3 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk 1 27 27 Red-tailed Hawk 3 139 299 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 2 Swainson's Hawk 0 6 6 Ferruginous Hawk 0 1 11 Golden Eagle 0 2 14 American Kestrel 1 161 193 Merlin 0 5 6 Peregrine Falcon 0 3 3 Prairie Falcon 0 11 20 Mississippi Kite 0 0 0 Unknown Accipiter 0 25 25 Unknown Buteo 0 13 27 Unknown Falcon 0 19 21 Unknown Eagle 0 1 1 Unknown Raptor 0 10 13 Total: 11 719 1034 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 09:00:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 6 hours Official Counter: Gary Rossmiller Observers: Cynthia Madsen Visitors: We had a great crew helping us out today. Joel Chapa, Chris Tremelling were on hand till early afternoon. Marvie came up at noon and spent the rest of the day. Weather: Gorgeous day, low winds, very warm, virtually no clouds. Falling barometer and humidity. Visibility to horizons but a light haze made observation of raptors difficult when they soared to heights. You would see them, lose them, see them again. Temps from 11 to 18 degree C. Raptor Observations: I guess the raptors don't like gorgeous days! Very slow day for migration and even local activity. A few TV, AK, Osprey, CH and a few RT's. Non-raptor Observations: Chickadee,Scrub Jay, Spotted Towhee, Broadtailed Hummingbird, Swifts and Meadowlarks seen or heard. Bees working the blossoms on the Mountain Mahogany. The rattlesnake down by the dead tree was an interesting diversion at the end of the day. Predictions: Weather should be starting to change tomorrow. Cooler temps and higher winds. Not sure which way the barometer will go. Keep alert in all directions. We've had them high and low the last couple of days. ======================================================================== 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.
