Dinosaur Ridge
Colorado, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 01, 2012
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 4 4 5
Osprey 1 1 2
Bald Eagle 0 0 6
Northern Harrier 0 0 0
Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 0 3
Cooper's Hawk 0 0 8
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0
Red-tailed Hawk 4 4 155
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 2
Swainson's Hawk 0 0 1
Ferruginous Hawk 0 0 2
Golden Eagle 1 1 8
American Kestrel 1 1 21
Merlin 0 0 2
Peregrine Falcon 0 0 3
Prairie Falcon 0 0 6
Mississippi Kite 0 0 0
Unknown Accipiter 0 0 4
Unknown Buteo 1 1 9
Unknown Falcon 0 0 1
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 0 4
Total: 12 12 242
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Observation start time: 08:15:00
Observation end time: 14:15:00
Total observation time: 6 hours
Official Counter: Francis Commercon
Observers: Cyndy Johnson, Joyce Commercon, Marianne Batchelder,
Maureen Blackford
Visitors:
Visitors were very frequent, even more than the birds. A friend of Cyndy
Johnson, Maureen Blackford, was up for most of the day and helped make many
valuable observations. Another, quiet hiker came up to the ridge for an
hour at the end and watched. Many families with young children and dogs
came. In the last hour, a woman talked about the Kestrels in her yard, a
man said he'd taken birdwatching classes in college, and another told us
all about the Walk the Wetlands program at Chatfield. The public seemed
very interested by birding matters today.
Weather:
The day was very calm and warm. The wind was slight, but blew from the
northeast. At about 2:00, the wind picked up rather ferociously for a short
period. The sky was generally devoid of clouds and by midday nearly no
clouds were seen.
Raptor Observations:
A modest number of migrating Red Tailed hawks, though many local Red Tailed
Hawks were spotted flying in various directions in pairs close to Mt.
Morrison, West Ridge, and Cabrini Shrine. The Local Kestrels made a pass
about midday, and a local immature Golden Eagle passed overhead twice. At
about 2:00 MST a local Red Tailed Hawk stopped on a power pole on the east
side of the ridge to snack on a snake. yum. Migrating Turkey Vultures were
as common as the migrating Red Tailed hawks. The migrant highlight of the
day was an osprey that flew directly over the ridge.
Non-raptor Observations:
The songbirds seemed quieter today than usual. Townsend's Solitaires made
frequent appearances and Western scrub Jays were common. One Gray Headed
Junco showed itself, and Western meadowlarks sang periodically. A possible
Western Fence Lizard (possibly good Roadrunner food) scrambled over the
rocks. It had a characteristic turquoise underbelly.
Predictions:
Tomorrow may be a tough day for those hardy souls who decide to brave the
comparatively cold weather that is predicted. Hawks may be fewer due to
decreasing temperatures.
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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.
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