Dinosaur Ridge Hawkwatch Day

My Dad and I went to the Dinosaur Ridge Hawkwatch near Morrison, Colorado yesterday, Wednesday, March 26. I had been a couple of times in the past, but many years ago, including once with a full class of kids, and I don’t remember much except that one guy up there was arrogant and would just call out the birds with very little information on where he was seeing them or how he was identifying them. It was a gorgeous day and much more-low key than my past experience/memory. There were four guys there at 9:30, with only 5 birds counted so far. There was sporadic activity, usually over the west ridge, but we really only saw a Red-tail and a Bald Eagle that were deemed migrants (based on flight style and direction) and not just residents, of which we saw numerous RTs, a couple of eagles and a falcon harassing one of the eagles high in the sky. Dad and I thought we saw more raptors (mostly RTs and some Kestrels) on the way down and again on the way home than we did at the site.
Here is the link to the daily Dinosaur Ridge report from the lead volunteer on hand (includes season total also):  https://groups.google.com/forum/#!msg/cobirds/J9Nqr4vsaEM/_vos3kiv8pkJ

Our best sighting of the day was probably the falcon we I spied cruising the ridge right outside of Morrison. It perched on a snag at the top of the ridge, but the light was behind it so we could not get an ID, even with the scope; both Prairie and Peregrine are residents of the area, and my gut was Prairie as it had fairly thin-looking wings and just didn’t appear that dark.

 On our way home we searched for a supposed Bald Eagle nest somewhere near 168th and York (according to one of the guys on the Ridge), but we never saw it. We did find two RT nests near Holly, one east on North side of 168th, and another west of Holly on the south side. We also checked out the RT nest in Erie just west of County Line Road at Evans in Erie and then my GHO nest off Rothman Open Space (I will update notes on this nest in the box at left). As I left my parents’ house there was a probable eagle soaring high above Waneka Lake.

Then, when I set out for my afternoon walk with the dogs, I saw two raptors flying in the wind at a distance that kind of looked like Swainson’s (thinner wings, flight style and glimpse of possible two-tone underwings), but it was difficult to see with naked eye and they were gone fast.

Ten raptors in five minutes and other early Spring notes

Ten raptors, five species in less than five minutes: Sunday, March 23 was a little breezy and when we went outside to walk the dogs, I immediately spied a soaring raptor that didn’t appear to be an RT; upon closer look (of course no binocs, otherwise it wouldn’t have been there) I am pretty sure from the winds and flight that it was my first osprey of the year (if it was for a “lifer”, I am not sure I could count it).  Seconds after the probable Osprey cruised away toward Waneka (another clue leaning to the fisherbird) a RT seemingly followed him with the wind.  As we walked down the trail an accipiter, most likely one of the local Cooper’s Hawks, whizzed overhead going from south to north. As that disappeared into the trees of my development, I looked back south to see the resident male Kestrel hovering over the field.  Above and beyond him were three raptors soaring high in the sky and then a fourth, much closer and lower flew into the view.  As I scanned the high skies there was an eagle soaring way above it all.  We continued east towards another RT.  As that one flew off on the wind, it calmed a bit and the sky was clear except for a few crows and LBJs; I didn’t see another raptor the rest of walk.

The next morning, the first official day of Spring Break, I took the dogs on an extra-long walk out to check out how the Red-tailed nest was doing.  I had definitely seen them working on it a few weeks ago and it was quite built up and visible, although I hadn’t specifically noticed one near it since.  As I approached, there appeared to be a head sticking out of the nest, but it was still obscured with branches.  So I kept going to get a better view.  When I got a little closer and focused the binoculars I chuckled out loud at the sight of two pointy ears and a Great Horned Owl sitting on the nest instead of the smaller Red-tailed Hawk head I was expecting.  This solved one mystery, as I had been wondering where the GHOs were nesting, since many of us had seen and heard them frequently in the area; however, now I have no idea where that RT pair has chosen to nest.  There are a few nests I am aware of closer to Erie and one off 95^th and Baseline, but I believe there has to be one closer to Rothman and home.

The first spring sightings are coming in.  In addition to my probable first Osprey of the season, the first report of a Colorado Turkey Vulture I am aware of was posted on Cobirders on March 23, flying over Colorado Springs. Burrowing Owls are starting to pop up on the Eastern prairie dog fields where they have been spotted in the past.  I also read that the open spaces northeast 75^th and Lookout have been closed, and I am assuming it is because of the possibility that the owls will return there as I know they were present three years ago (but I am not sure about the last two years). Next, it will be the Swainson’s Hawks returning.

My Dad and I are headed to the Dinosaur Ridge Hawkwatch tomorrow (Wednesday, March 26).  On decent weather days they had been getting over 20 migrating birds a day, plus around 10 local birds, including a Prairie Falcon that shows up daily.  However, poor weather days have only resulted in single digit birds.  As of now the unpredictable, ever-changing Colorado March weather is forecast to be cloudy but nice Wednesday (I have seen everything predicted from sunny and 70 to snowing).  Maybe I can spy that Ferruginous that has been eluding me this year, but my greatest hope would be get a lifer in a Broad-winged Hawk or a Northern Goshawk.

Late Winter Notes

Well, it appears that the Winter Raptoring period is drawing to a close and I was never able to positively identify a Ferruginous Hawk this Winter, although one was spotted and photographed within Lafayette only a few blocks from where I live.  I did see the greatest number of Rough-legged Hawks I have witnessed in my lifetime.  Both of these species should be heading North as the temperatures rise here.  Nor have I seen a Prairie Falcon or Merlin, nor a Northern Harrier since the turn of the year, all usually more common in Winter. I did hear tales of Snowy Owls and even a Gyrfalcon over the winter, but nothing so extravagant for me.  There did seem to be a lot of Short and Long-eared sightings East, that I will have to follow-up on sometime.

Another sign of spring, the first Burrowing Owls, and even a Broad-winged Hawk, have been spotted on the Eastern Plains.  I did get the first sighting of my neighborhood Cooper's a few mornings ago, putting my 2014 Raptor count at 6 (RT, BE, RL, AK, GHO). Also, "my" Red Tails appear to have taken their nest back, just a little later this year.  Bald Eagles have also been abundant and the Hygiene and many other nests in the area are active.

Unfortunately, my student group's Saturday trip got snowed out March 1.  However, soon the Osprey, Swainson's Hawks and Turkey Vultures will be back so we hope to see all of those on our reschedule in April.

I have really enjoyed watching the local Red Tails fly in and with the wind lately.  I have witnessed a lot of a technique or style lately that is neither hovering nor kiting, but just sitting flat staring right into the wind and staying almost still in mid-air.

I am planning a trip to Dinosaur Ridge with my dad to hang out during the Hawkwatch over my spring Break, so maybe we will notch something cool like a Northern Goshawk or Broad-winged Hawk, or at least a couple of birds I haven't seen yet this year.