subscribe: Posts | Comments

RMERF counts, April 16

0 comments

Monday, April 16 Mount Lorette (Dan and Cindy Parliament). NO OBSERVATION (Weather). Dan and Cindy were at the site and at Lorette Ponds from 0730 to 1100 where the temperature was -3C winds were calm or very light and cloud cover was 100% low stratus with heavy snow that obscured all ridges. No observation was possible and the count was abandoned at 1100 when the forecast gave no indication that conditions would change. Birds seen were 7 Canada Geese, 6 Mallards 2 Northern Shovelers, 1 Common Goldeneye, 1 Common Merganser, 3 Killdeer, 2 California Gulls, 1 Northern Flicker, 1 Northern Shrike, 3 Common Ravens, 1 Varied Thrush, 21 American Robins, 20 European Starlings, 1 American Pipit and 4 Dark-eyed Juncos.

 

Monday, April 16 Beaver Mines [Day 50] 0900-1800 (Peter Sherrington). Heavy snow was forecast for the whole day but at 0900 the lower two-thirds of the ridge became visible and by 1015 the snow stopped leaving 15 cm of fresh snow on the ground. The ridge was completely clear to 1045 when the top again was obscured by cloud, but at 1230 it cleared again and remained clear for the rest of the day. The temperature at 0900 was 0C that rose to a high of 3.5C at 1600 and was still 3C when observation ceased at 1800. Winds were light and very variable in direction throughout, and cloud cover was 100% stratus all day with some cumulus developing between 1300 and 1500. A total of 5 migrant raptors were seen between 1245 and 1621 comprising 1 Osprey, 1 juvenile Bald Eagle and 3 Rough-legged Hawks (1 light, 2 dark). All birds moved low with much flapping flight. The resident pair of Red-tailed Hawks was in evidence after 1506.

9 hours (505.2) OSPR 1 (2), BAEA 1 (339), RLHA 3 (100) TOTAL 5 (2147)

 

Monday, April 16 Steeples [Day 35] 1630-1800 (Vance Mattson). Rain fell most of the day but it began to slightly clear at 1530 and the mountains became visible. Vance arrived at the site at 1630 when the temperature was 8C, which dropped to 7C by 1800, winds were strong S-SE and cloud cover was 90% stratus, altostratus and cumulus that partially obscured the ridges. Alternating light hail and rain fell throughout. No migrant raptors were seen and the only resident was a Turkey Vulture that soared high and headed to the west.

1.5 hours (150.5) TOTAL 0 (793)

 

 

 

SUMMARY COUNTS, SPRING 2018
MOUNT LORETTE March 1- BEAVER MINES   February 25- STEEPLES     March 1-
DAYS 42 49 35
HOURS 473.6 505.2 150.5
TURKEY VULTURE (TUVU) 0 0 12
OSPREY (OSPR) 1 2 0
BALD EAGLE (BAEA) 164 337 159
NORTHERN HARRIER (NOHA) 1 8 0
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (SSHA) 16 32 5
COOPER’S HAWK (COHA) 0 4 0
NORTHERN GOSHAWK (NOGO) 11 21 2
Accipiter sp. (UA) 1 0 0
BROAD-WINGED HAWK (BWHA) 2 10 0
SWAINSON’S HAWK (SWHA) 0 0 0
RED-TAILED HAWK (RTHA) 21 117 25
FERRUGINOUS HAWK (FEHA) 0 6 0
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (RLHA) 13 100 4
Buteo sp. (UB) 1 11 0
GOLDEN EAGLE (GOEA) 2209 1458 584
Eagle sp. (UE) 24 3 0
AMERICAN KESTREL (AMKE) 1 5 2
MERLIN (MERL) 1 12 0
GYRFALCON (GYRF) 7 8 0
PEREGRINE FALCON (PEFA) 1 7 0
PRAIRIE FALCON (PRFA) 2 3 0
Falco sp. (UF) 0 0 0
Unidentified Raptor (UU) 3 3 0
   
TOTALS 2480 2147 793

 


RMERF counts, April 15

0 comments

Sunday, April 15 Mount Lorette [Day 42] 0600-2015 (Bill Wilson, assisted by Cliff Hansen). The temperature at 0600 was -1C, the high was 9C at 1700 and it was 2C at the end of observation. Ground winds were SW 0-3 km/h to 1100 then SSW-SSE 0-10 gusting to 22 km/h to 1800 when the arrival of a cold front switched winds to N-NE 5-15 gusting to 37 km/h that brought light to moderate snow until the end of observation. Ridge winds were difficult to assess but were probably calm or light NNE to 1400 after which they were light and moderate after 1800. Light snow also fell to 0800 and all ridges were obscured to 0900. The east was 60-90% obscured to 1300 and was then clear to 1800 after which it was 60-100% obscured again. The west was 70-100% obscured to 1300, clear to 1800 and up to 90% obscured thereafter. Despite these unpromising conditions there was a fairly strong raptor movement, probably in anticipation of the passage of the cold front, with 74 migrants of 4 species moving between 1020 and 1855. The count was 5 Bald Eagles (2a, 3j), 4u Sharp-shinned Hawks, 1 adult dark morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk, 63 Golden Eagles (13a, 10sa, 22j, 18u) and 1 unidentified eagle. Only eight birds used the western route and the rest mainly moved low with much soaring against the face of the Fisher Range, or were initially located around Mount Lorette. Some birds also soared high above the centre of the valley before gliding to Mount Lorette. Only 6 birds moved before 1300 but then the pace gradually quickened and peaked at 24 between 1700 and 1800 just ahead of the passage of the front, and 7 more Golden Eagles migrated under deteriorating weather conditions between 1800 and 1855. Non-migrant or resident raptors were 3 Bald Eagles (1a, 2j), 1 adult Northern Goshawk and 2 or 3 Red-tailed Hawks. Non-raptor bird species recorded were a single flock of 70 Snow Geese that flew from behind Mount Lorette to the NE above the valley at 1102, 10 Canada Geese, 1 Mallard, 1 female goldeneye sp., 11 Common Mergansers, 2 Killdeer, the first Wilson’s Snipe of the season that was heard calling, 32 (probable) California Gulls that flew very high to the NE, 2 Hairy Woodpeckers, 1 Northern Flicker, 1 Belted Kingfisher, 2 adult Northern Shrikes that, as yesterday, often noisily interacted, 2 American Crows, 24 Common Ravens, 2 Black-capped Chickadees, 2 Mountain Chickadees, 1 American Dipper, 2 Mountain Bluebirds (male and female), 1 Varied Thrush, 75 American Robins, 4 European Starlings, 4 Bohemian Waxwings and 4 Common Redpolls. Twenty visitors made it to the site before the snow arrived.

14.25 hours (473.6) BAEA 5 (164), SSHA 2 (16), RTHA 1 (21), GOEA 63 (2209), UE 1 (25) TOTAL 74 (2480)

 

Sunday, April 15 Beaver Mines [Day 49] 0715-2015 (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Denise Cocciolone-Amatto and Monica Bartha). The temperature reached a high of 12C at 1300 from a morning low of 2C, and it was still 7C at 2015. Winds were very variable and light to 1330 after which they were mainly W-SW, 20-30 km/h to 1700 and then 5-15 km/h for the rest of the day. Cloud cover was 79-100% mainly cumulus and stratus all day which gave hazy sunshine and brief sunny periods and provided good observing conditions. Migration was slow and sporadic with only 33 migrants of 5 species seen between 0957 and 1848 that comprised 4 Bald Eagles (3a, 1sa), 2 adult Northern Harriers (1 male and 1 female), 1u Sharp-shinned Hawk, 2 calurus Red-tailed Hawks (1 light adult and 1u dark morph) and 24 Golden Eagles (14a, 3sa, 3j, 5u). The pace of movement quickened after 1500 under moderate W-SW winds when 24 birds were counted. Eleven occurred between 1700 and 1800 when Golden Eagles soared very high above the ridge before gliding to the north. The spring-like conditions finally produced the first swallows of the year: a Tree Swallow at 1723 and 2 Violet-green Swallows at 1845. With more snow forecast for tomorrow they might well regret their arrival!

13 hours (496.2) BAEA 4 (336), NOHA 2 (8), SSHA 1 (32), RTHA 2 (117), GOEA 24 (1458) TOTAL 33 (2142)

 

Sunday, April 15 Steeples [Day 34] 1300-1930 (Vance Mattson). The temperature reached a high of 11C, winds were moderate SW and cloud cover was 50-80% mainly cumulus cloud which provided excellent viewing conditions. Migration conditions were also good and a total of 30 migrants of 6 species moved between 1455 and 1905, 26 of which were seen after 1700. The count was 3 Turkey Vultures, 11 Bald Eagles (2a, 1sa, 8j), 2 adult Sharp-shinned Hawks, 4 calurus Red-tailed Hawks (4 light morphs (3a, 1j) and 1 rufous adult), 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk and 9 Golden Eagles (3a, 1sa, 5j). The high hourly counts were 12 (1700-1800) and 13 (1800-1900), and notable was the high percentage of juvenile birds of both eagle species. Once again non-migrant raptors were dominated by Turkey Vultures with soaring groups of 4 and 5 birds seen, and also present were 1 juvenile Bald Eagle, an adult Northern Goshawk, 1 hunting Red-tailed Hawk and the resident pair of Golden Eagles.

6.5 hours (149) TUVU 3 (12), BAEA 11 (159), SSHA 2 (5), RTHA 4 (25), RLHA 1 (4), GOEA 9 (584) TOTAL 30 (793)

 

 

 

SUMMARY COUNTS, SPRING 2018
MOUNT LORETTE March 1- BEAVER MINES   February 25- STEEPLES     March 1-
DAYS 42 48 34
HOURS 473.6 496.2 149
TURKEY VULTURE (TUVU) 0 0 12
OSPREY (OSPR) 1 1 0
BALD EAGLE (BAEA) 164 336 159
NORTHERN HARRIER (NOHA) 1 8 0
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (SSHA) 16 32 5
COOPER’S HAWK (COHA) 0 4 0
NORTHERN GOSHAWK (NOGO) 11 21 2
Accipiter sp. (UA) 1 0 0
BROAD-WINGED HAWK (BWHA) 2 10 0
SWAINSON’S HAWK (SWHA) 0 0 0
RED-TAILED HAWK (RTHA) 21 117 25
FERRUGINOUS HAWK (FEHA) 0 6 0
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (RLHA) 13 97 4
Buteo sp. (UB) 1 11 0
GOLDEN EAGLE (GOEA) 2209 1458 584
Eagle sp. (UE) 24 3 0
AMERICAN KESTREL (AMKE) 1 5 2
MERLIN (MERL) 1 12 0
GYRFALCON (GYRF) 7 8 0
PEREGRINE FALCON (PEFA) 1 7 0
PRAIRIE FALCON (PRFA) 2 3 0
Falco sp. (UF) 0 0 0
Unidentified Raptor (UU) 3 3 0
   
TOTALS 2480 2142 793

 


RMERF counts, April 14

0 comments

Saturday, April 14 Mount Lorette [Day 41] 0715-1200 and 1300-1800 (Jim Davis, assisted by Ruth Morrow). The temperature at 0715 was 1C, the high was 5C at 1500 and it was 3C at the end of observation. Ground winds were SW 5-15 gusting 20 km/h and ridge winds were strong SW all day. Cloud cover was 100% stratus with minor cumulus all day with the exception of 0900-0930 when it briefly reduced to 80%. Heavy snow fell in the valley all day, the western ridges were completely obscured, but the east was 30% clear between 1100 and 1200. Remarkably 7 migrant raptors were seen in the Hay Meadow vicinity, all low over the valley, between 0808 and 1100 that comprised 1 adult Northern Harrier, 2u Sharp-shinned Hawks, 1 adult Northern Goshawk, 1 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk and 2 Golden Eagles (1a, 1u). A resident pair of goshawks and a non-migrant Red-tailed Hawk were also present. The observers took a break between 1200 and 1300 before returning to the Hay Meadow where conditions had not improved, and between 1500 and 1800 moved to the Lusk Creek site where the foothills ridge was clear, cloud cover was 50% that became 90% after 1730 that brought rain which finally ended the day’s count. Lusk Creek produced a further 23 migrants that comprised 4 Bald Eagles (3 adults and 1 late subadult), 5 Red-tailed Hawks (4 calurus: 3 adult light and 1 juvenile dark, and 1 juvenile “Krider’s Hawk”), 13 Golden Eagles (5a, 3j, 1u) and 1 large unidentified raptor. Thirteen migrants moved between 1600 and 1700. The final combined count was 4 Bald Eagles (3a, 1sa), 1 adult female Northern Harrier, 2u Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1 adult Northern Goshawk, 6 Red-tailed Hawks, 15 Golden Eagles (6a, 3j, 6u) and 1 large unidentified raptor. Other birds seen near the Hay Meadow site were 2 Canada Geese, a pair of Barrow’s Goldeneye on the river, 7 Common Mergansers, 5 Killdeer, 1 Downy Woodpecker, 1 Northern Flicker, 1 female Pileated Woodpecker, 1 Northern Shrike, 22 Common Ravens, 4 Black-capped Chickadees, 2 Mountain Chickadees, 1 American Dipper, 1 male Mountain Bluebird, 1 Varied Thrush, 30 American Robins, 1 cismontanus Dark-eyed Junco, 1 Western Meadowlark (the first of the season: a still-warm dead bird that had apparently flown into a tree!), 1 singing male Pine Grosbeak and 1 Pine Siskin. There were 10 visitors to the Hay Meadow site and 2 at Lusk Creek.

9.75 hours (459.3) BAEA 4 (159), NOHA 1 (1), SSHA 2 (12), NOGO 1 (11), RTHA 6 (20), GOEA 15 (2146), UU 1 (3) TOTAL 30 (2406)

 

Saturday, April 14 Beaver Mines [Day 47] 0700-2015 (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Connie Simmons and Phil Hazelton). It was a warm day with a starting temperature of 3C, a high of 10C between 1200 and 1600 and 6C at 2015. Winds were mainly W-WSW all day 30-50 gusting to 70 km/h that dropped to 20-35 km/h after 1700. It was cloudless to 0915 after which it was variable 30-90% altostratus, cumulus, altocumulus and cirrus to 1600 and then 0-20% cumulus and cirrostratus for the rest of the day. Both migration and observing conditions were excellent and produced a total of 102 migrants of 13 species between 0920 and 2006. The count was 16 Bald Eagles (11a, 1sa, 4j), 1 adult female Northern Harrier, 7 Sharp-shinned Hawks (2a, 1j, 4u), 1u Cooper’s Hawk, 1 adult Northern Goshawk, 2 light morph Broad-winged Hawks (1a, 1j), 11 adult calurus Red-tailed Hawks (10 light, 1 dark), 4 light morph Rough-legged Hawks, 1 unidentified dark morph Buteo, 52 Golden Eagles (33a, 4sa, 15j), 2 columbarius Merlins (1 adult female and 1u male), 1 adult female grey morph Gyrfalcon, 1 adult male Peregrine Falcon, 1 Prairie Falcon and 1 small unidentified raptor. Only 2 birds were seen before 1100 but then movement was steady for the rest of the day with a maximum hourly count of 25 between 1200 and 1300. A pair of Greater Sandhill Cranes finally arrived back in the valley, about a month later than average.

13.25 (483.2) BAEA 16 (332), NOHA 1 (6), SSHA 7 (31), COHA 1 (4), NOGO 1 (21), BWHA 2 (10), RTHA 11 (115), RLHA 4 (97), UB 1 (11), GOEA 52 (1434), MERL 2 (12), GYRF 1 (8), PEFA 1 (7), PRFA 1 (3), UU 1 (1) TOTAL 102 (2109)

 

Saturday, April 14 Steeples [Day 33] 1300-1830 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 10C, winds were mainly strong SE and cloud cover was 70% cumulus that thickened to 100% dark cumulus and altostratus. Light rain fell between 1300 and 1315 and again between 1630 and 1635. The total of 10 migrants that moved between 1435 and 1745 comprised 5 Turkey Vultures that moved north at 1525, 1 juvenile Bald Eagle, 2 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks and 2 adult Golden Eagles. Non-migrant Turkey Vultures were widespread and 2 adult Bald Eagles were seen separately later in the day.

5.5 hours (142.5), TUVU 5 (9). BAEA 1 (148), RTHA 2 (21), GOEA 2 (575) TOTAL 10 (763)

 

 

 

 

 

 

SUMMARY COUNTS, SPRING 2018
MOUNT LORETTE March 1- BEAVER MINES   February 25- STEEPLES     March 1-
DAYS 41 47 33
HOURS 459.3 483.2 142.5
TURKEY VULTURE (TUVU) 0 0 9
OSPREY (OSPR) 1 1 0
BALD EAGLE (BAEA) 159 332 148
NORTHERN HARRIER (NOHA) 1 6 0
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (SSHA) 12 31 3
COOPER’S HAWK (COHA) 0 4 0
NORTHERN GOSHAWK (NOGO) 11 21 2
Accipiter sp. (UA) 1 0 0
BROAD-WINGED HAWK (BWHA) 2 10 0
SWAINSON’S HAWK (SWHA) 0 0 0
RED-TAILED HAWK (RTHA) 20 115 21
FERRUGINOUS HAWK (FEHA) 0 6 0
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (RLHA) 13 97 3
Buteo sp. (UB) 1 11 0
GOLDEN EAGLE (GOEA) 2146 1434 575
Eagle sp. (UE) 24 3 0
AMERICAN KESTREL (AMKE) 1 5 2
MERLIN (MERL) 1 12 0
GYRFALCON (GYRF) 7 8 0
PEREGRINE FALCON (PEFA) 1 7 0
PRAIRIE FALCON (PRFA) 2 3 0
Falco sp. (UF) 0 0 0
Unidentified Raptor (UU) 3 3 0
   
TOTALS 2406 2109 763

 


RMERF counts, April 13

0 comments

Friday, April 13 Mount Lorette [Day 40] 0720-2045 (Caroline Lambert, assisted by Rick Robb). The starting temperature was -3C, the high was 6C (1600-1800) and it was 4C at the end of observation. Ground winds were variable and light to 1100 after which they were constantly SW 5-10 gusting 30 km/h to 1800 after which they were 10-15 gusting 45 km/h; ridge winds were moderate to strong SW all day. Cloud cover was initially 40% cumulus, stratus and cirrostratus that became 100% at 1000 and 20% at 1200, after which it gradually thickened to 80% cumulus to 1800 and was then 100% cumulus stratus and cirrostratus for the rest of the day. The east ridges were clear all day, and the west was 20% obscured to 1200, clear to 1500 and then obscured by blowing snow as the velocity of the SW winds increased. A total of 38 migrant raptors of 7 species were recorded between 0810 and 1945 that comprised the season’s first Osprey at 1310, 2 subadult Bald Eagles, 2u Sharp-shinned Hawks, 1 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk, 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk, 30 Golden Eagles (8a, 2sa, 8j, 12u) and the season’s first American Kestrel. The first 3 Golden Eagles (0810-0900) were located over Olympic Summit and moved NW over Skogan Pass but the rest of the eagles glided very high above the Fisher Range to Mount Lorette with 7 eagles being initially located above Mount Lorette. Movement was very sporadic in the morning when only 6 migrants were seen, but became more persistent in the afternoon and peaked at 15 birds between 1500 and 1600. Only 2 eagles moved after 1800. Resident or non-migrant birds were 4 Bald Eagles (1 resident pair, and 1 adult and 1 subadult that flew to the south), 1 adult Northern Goshawk that was seen hunting north of the meadow, 2 apparent resident pairs of calurus Red-tailed Hawks (1 light pair and 1 rufous pair) and the resident pair of Golden Eagles that were mainly seen in the vicinity of Olympic Summit). Other birds recorded in the area were 8 Canada Geese, a pair of Northern Shovelers on the river (the first of the season), 3 Common Goldeneyes, 1 pair of Common Mergansers, 1 Ruffed Grouse, 4 Killdeer, 1 Northern Flicker, 1 Pileated Woodpecker, 1 Belted Kingfisher, 2 Northern Shrikes, 2 Grey Jays, 2 Black-billed Magpies, 5 Common Ravens, 2 Black-capped Chickadees, 4 Mountain Chickadees, 1 Boreal Chickadee, 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch, 3 Varied Thrushes, 20 American Robins, 1 American Dipper, 12 European Starlings, 1 American Pipit and 4 Dark-eyed Juncos. Four visitors were at the site today.

 

13.42 hours (449.6) OSPR 1 (1), BAEA 2 (155), SSHA 2 (10), RTHA 1 (14), RLHA 1 (13), GOEA 30 (2131), AMKE 1 (1) TOTAL 38 (2376)

 

Friday, April 13 Beaver Mines [Day 46] 0645-2015 (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Fred Calverley). The morning saw 12 cm of fresh snow on the ground. The temperature at 0645 was 0C, the high was 7C (1100-1300) and it was 2C at 2015. Winds were W all day 30-40 gusting 50 km/h and gusting to 70 km/h late in the day. Cloud cover was initially 70% altocumulus and cirrus which quickly dissipated leaving cloudless skies to 1230, after which 40-80% cumulus, altocumulus and altostratus persisted to 1800 and the last 2 hours was 100% cirrostratus and altocumulus. Observing conditions were excellent throughout the afternoon and contributed to a strong count of 75 migrant raptors of a season-high 13 species between 0758 and 1943. The count comprised the season’s first Osprey at 1438, 12 Bald Eagles (9a, 1sa, 2j), 1 adult male Northern Harrier, 3 Sharp-shinned Hawks (2a, 1u), 1u Cooper’s Hawk, 1 adult Northern Goshawk, 3 light morph Broad-winged Hawks (3a, 1j), 9 calurus Red-tailed Hawks (5 adult light morphs and 4 dark morphs (3a and 1j)), 1 adult dark morph Ferruginous Hawk, 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk, 2 light morph unidentified Buteos, 37 Golden Eagles (19a, 2sa, 15j, 1u), 1u American Kestrel and 1 adult male Peregrine Falcon. Only 2 migrants were seen before 1000 but then movement was generally steady with maximum hourly counts of 12 between 1200 and 1300, and again between 1800 and 1900. A Spotted Towhee and a Cabbage White butterfly were both firsts for the season.

13.5 hours (470) OSPR 1 (1), BAEA 12 (316), NOHA 1 (5), SSHA 3 (24), COHA 1 (3), NOGO 1 (20), BWHA 4 (8), RTHA 9 (104), FEHA 1 (6), RLHA 1 (93), UB 2 (10), GOEA 37 (1382), AMKE 1 (5), PEFA 1 (6) TOTAL 75 (2007)

 

Friday, April 13 Steeples [Day 32] 1200-1730 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 8C at 1200 and was 7C after 1500. Winds were strong S to SE which made it feel much colder, and cloud cover was 50% altostratus and cumulus that became 100% altostratus after 1500 that slightly obscured the ridges. Only 3 migrants were seen between 1254 and 1351: 1 subadult Bald Eagle and 2 adult Golden Eagles. Non-migrants were Turkey Vultures, seen throughout including a kettle of 7 birds at 1345, 3 Bald Eagles (1 adult pair and 1 juvenile), 1 adult Northern Goshawk and the resident pair of Golden Eagles. Vance summed up the day as: “Overall, a cold and miserable spring day!”

5.5 hours (137) BAEA 1 (147), GOEA 2 (573) TOTAL 3 (753)

 

 

 

 

 

 

SUMMARY COUNTS, SPRING 2018
MOUNT LORETTE March 1- BEAVER MINES   February 25- STEEPLES     March 1-
DAYS 40 46 32
HOURS 449.6 470 137
TURKEY VULTURE (TUVU) 0 0 4
OSPREY (OSPR) 1 1 0
BALD EAGLE (BAEA) 155 316 147
NORTHERN HARRIER (NOHA) 0 5 0
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (SSHA) 10 24 3
COOPER’S HAWK (COHA) 0 3 0
NORTHERN GOSHAWK (NOGO) 10 20 2
Accipiter sp. (UA) 1 0 0
BROAD-WINGED HAWK (BWHA) 2 8 0
SWAINSON’S HAWK (SWHA) 0 0 0
RED-TAILED HAWK (RTHA) 14 104 19
FERRUGINOUS HAWK (FEHA) 0 6 0
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (RLHA) 13 93 3
Buteo sp. (UB) 1 10 0
GOLDEN EAGLE (GOEA) 2131 1382 573
Eagle sp. (UE) 24 3 0
AMERICAN KESTREL (AMKE) 1 5 2
MERLIN (MERL) 1 10 0
GYRFALCON (GYRF) 7 7 0
PEREGRINE FALCON (PEFA) 1 6 0
PRAIRIE FALCON (PRFA) 2 1 0
Falco sp. (UF) 0 0 0
Unidentified Raptor (UU) 0 2 0
   
TOTALS 2376 2007 753

 


RMERF counts, April 12

0 comments

Thursday, April 12 Mount Lorette [Day 39] 1750-1900 (Blake Weis, assisted by Patrick Farley). The observers were at the Hay Meadow from 0715-1140 and at other sites in the study area, including Ribbon Creek, Lorette Ponds and Lusk Creek to 1330 when they left the area. The temperature was -2C to 1100 and then -1C for the rest of the day, ground winds were N-NE 0-10 gusting to 20 km/h and cloud cover was 100% stratocumulus that completely obscured all peaks and ridges. Moderate to heavy snow fell to 1330 when the observers left the area and were prepared to call it a non-observation day. A lightening in the sky, however, had them returning to the Mount Allan Viewpoint between 1750 and 1900 where the snowfall was now light and from where they could see part of the southwest ridge of Mount Lorette. At 1810 an adult Golden Eagle soared low above the ridge and drifted to the NW, and was considered to be a probable migrant. No other raptors were seen and the count was abandoned at 1900. Other birds recorded in the area were 7 Canada Geese, 6 Mallards (3 males, 3 females), 2 male Common Goldeneye, 1 pair of Barrow’s Goldeneye, 1 pair of Common Mergansers, 1 Ruffed Grouse drumming, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 1 Pileated Woodpecker, 5 Common Ravens, 1 Black-capped Chickadee, 1 Boreal Chickadee, 1 singing Pacific Wren (the first of the season), 3 Golden-crowned Kinglets, 2 Mountain Bluebirds (1 male, 1 female), 2 Varied Thrushes, 17 American Robins, 8 European Starlings, 18 Bohemian Waxwings, 2 Song Sparrows, 13 Dark-eyed Juncos and 4 Common Redpolls. Unsurprisingly, no visitors were recorded.

1.16 hours (436.1) GOEA 1 (2101) TOTAL 1 (2338)

 

Thursday, April 12 Beaver Mines (Peter Sherrington). NO OBSERVATION (Weather). Snow and fog all day completely obscured the ridge.

 

Thursday, April 12 Steeples (Vance Mattson). NO OBSERVATION (Weather). Rain all day with the mountains and valley totally obscured.

 

 

SUMMARY COUNTS, SPRING 2018
MOUNT LORETTE March 1- BEAVER MINES   February 25- STEEPLES     March 1-
DAYS 39 45 31
HOURS 435 456.5 131.5
TURKEY VULTURE (TUVU) 0 0 4
OSPREY (OSPR) 0 0 0
BALD EAGLE (BAEA) 153 304 146
NORTHERN HARRIER (NOHA) 0 4 0
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (SSHA) 8 21 3
COOPER’S HAWK (COHA) 0 2 0
NORTHERN GOSHAWK (NOGO) 10 19 2
Accipiter sp. (UA) 1 0 0
BROAD-WINGED HAWK (BWHA) 2 4 0
SWAINSON’S HAWK (SWHA) 0 0 0
RED-TAILED HAWK (RTHA) 13 95 19
FERRUGINOUS HAWK (FEHA) 0 5 0
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (RLHA) 12 92 3
Buteo sp. (UB) 1 8 0
GOLDEN EAGLE (GOEA) 2101 1345 571
Eagle sp. (UE) 24 3 0
AMERICAN KESTREL (AMKE) 0 4 2
MERLIN (MERL) 1 10 0
GYRFALCON (GYRF) 7 7 0
PEREGRINE FALCON (PEFA) 1 5 0
PRAIRIE FALCON (PRFA) 2 1 0
Falco sp. (UF) 0 0 0
Unidentified Raptor (UU) 0 2 0
   
TOTALS 2338 1932 750

 


RMERF counts, April 11

0 comments

Wednesday, April 11 Mount Lorette [Day 38] 0705-2015 (Blake Weis, assisted by Jose Sanchez). The starting temperature was -1C, the high was 8C at 1700 and 1800 and it was 4C at 2015. Ground winds were variable 0-3 gusting 10 km/h to 1100 after which they were SW 0-10 gusting 15-25 for the rest of the day, and ridge winds were light to moderate SW all day. Cloud cover was 90-100% altostratus and altocumulus to noon that gradually diminished throughout the afternoon to 20% altocumulus, altostratus and cirrus by the end of the day. Observing conditions in the afternoon were very good but there was another slightly disappointing raptor migration of 18 birds of 4 species between 1250 and 1932 that comprised 2 Bald Eagles (1a, 1j), 1 adult Northern Goshawk, 2 Rough-legged Hawks (1 light, 1 dark) and 13 Golden Eagles (8a, 1sa, 4j). Most of the birds moved from the Fisher Range to Lorette, with 5 Golden Eagles located over Lorette probably originating from Wasootch Creek. Only one bird glided high above the Fisher Range. Maximum movement was 5 birds (2 Bald and 3 Golden Eagles) between 1600 and 1700, and 4 Golden Eagles were seen between 1800 and 1900 and again between 1900 and 1932. A resident Red-tailed Hawk was harassed by a resident adult Northern Goshawk over Hummingbird Plume Hill, and resident adult Golden Eagles were seen displaying over Humming Bird Hill and Mount Old Baldy; a non-migrant subadult Golden Eagle also flew south above the Fisher Range. First seasonal bird arrivals were 1 probable Northern Rough-winged Swallow, 2 male Mountain Bluebirds and 1 American Pipit. Other birds recorded in the area were 20 Canada Geese that flew high to the NE over the Fisher Range, single male Common and Barrow’s Goldeneye at Lorette Ponds, 4 Killdeer, 1 Belted Kingfisher, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 2 Northern Flickers, 1 Pileated Woodpecker, 3 Grey Jays, 13 Common Ravens, 2 Black-capped Chickadees, 2 Mountain Chickadees, 2 Boreal Chickadees, 2 Red-breasted Nuthatches, 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet, 1 singing Townsend’s Solitaire, 4 singing Varied Thrushes, 30 American Robins, 1 European Starling, 250 Bohemian Waxwings, 1 singing Song Sparrow, 8 Dark-eyed Juncos and 3 Common Redpolls. Eight visitors came to the site today.

13.16 hours (435) BAEA 2 (153), NOGO 1 (10), RLHA 2 (12), GOEA 13 (2100) TOTAL 18 (2337)

 

Wednesday, April 11 Beaver Mines [Day 45] 0700-2015 (Peter Sherrington). The temperature at 0700 was 4C, the high was 8C at 1600 and 1700 and it was 5C at 2015. Winds were favourable W-WSW all day 20-40 km/h, gusting up to 60 km/h in mid-afternoon. Cloud cover was 80-90% altostratus that formed a Chinook Arch for most of the morning that moved to the east around noon. Between 1235 and 1330 and 1430 and 1450 snow showers swept down from the SW that obscured the ridge, but after 1450 cloud cover was 10-40% cumulus that provided sunshine and excellent observing conditions. There was again a fairly strong raptor movement of 62 birds of 7 species between 0752 and 1953 with 24 of the birds seen between 1400 and 1600. The count was 17 Bald Eagles (8a, 5sa, 4j), 2 adult male Northern Harriers, 5 Sharp-shinned Hawks (3a, 2u), 2 light morph Broad-winged Hawks (1a, 1u), 5 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks, 1 unidentified Buteo, 29 Golden Eagles (21a, 3sa, 5j) and 1 Prairie Falcon. The total Bald Eagle count of 304 equals last year’s previous spring high count for the site.

13.25 hours (456.5) BAEA 17 (304), NOHA 2 (4), SSHA 5 (21), BWHA 2 (4), RTHA 5 (95), UB 1 (8), GOEA 29 (1345), PRFA 1 (2) TOTAL 62 (1932)

 

Wednesday, April 11 Steeples [Day 30] 1530-1945 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 10C, winds were light to moderate S and cloud cover was 50-60% cumulus with cirrus developing late in the day. A total of 23 migrant raptors of 5 species generally moved high above the ridge between 1554 and 1930 and comprised 1 adult Turkey Vulture, 6 Bald Eagles (2a, 4j), 3 Sharp-shinned Hawks (2a, 1u), 6 calurus Red-tailed Hawks (3 adult light morphs and 2 adult and 1 juvenile dark morphs) and 7 Golden Eagles (1a, 5j, 1u). Thirteen of the birds were counted between 1800 and 1900 and only one was seen after 1900. Non-migrants were again dominated by Turkey Vultures with kettles of up to 9 birds seen. There was no detectable northern movement with gliding and soaring birds dispersing only to be seen later in soaring groups again. It is possible that some of these birds were migrants, but it was impossible to determine this based on their behaviour. Other non-migrants were a subadult Bald Eagle and a resident Red-tailed Hawk that was seen making a hunting stoop near the site.

4.25 (131.5) TUVU 1 (4), BAEA 6 (146), SSHA 3 (3), RTHA 6 (19), GOEA 7 (571) TOTAL 23 (750)

 

 

 

 

 

SUMMARY COUNTS, SPRING 2018
MOUNT LORETTE March 1- BEAVER MINES   February 25- STEEPLES     March 1-
DAYS 38 45 31
HOURS 435 456.5 131.5
TURKEY VULTURE (TUVU) 0 0 4
OSPREY (OSPR) 0 0 0
BALD EAGLE (BAEA) 153 304 146
NORTHERN HARRIER (NOHA) 0 4 0
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (SSHA) 8 21 3
COOPER’S HAWK (COHA) 0 2 0
NORTHERN GOSHAWK (NOGO) 10 19 2
Accipiter sp. (UA) 1 0 0
BROAD-WINGED HAWK (BWHA) 2 4 0
SWAINSON’S HAWK (SWHA) 0 0 0
RED-TAILED HAWK (RTHA) 13 95 19
FERRUGINOUS HAWK (FEHA) 0 5 0
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (RLHA) 12 92 3
Buteo sp. (UB) 1 8 0
GOLDEN EAGLE (GOEA) 2100 1345 571
Eagle sp. (UE) 24 3 0
AMERICAN KESTREL (AMKE) 0 4 2
MERLIN (MERL) 1 10 0
GYRFALCON (GYRF) 7 7 0
PEREGRINE FALCON (PEFA) 1 5 0
PRAIRIE FALCON (PRFA) 2 1 0
Falco sp. (UF) 0 0 0
Unidentified Raptor (UU) 0 2 0
   
TOTALS 2337 1932 750

 


« Previous Entries Next Entries »