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Mount Lorette and Beaver Mines, April 16

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April 16 [Day 45] (Bill Wilson, assisted by Caroline Lambert) 0620-2050. The temperature reached a high of 9C at 1700 and 1800 from a starting low of -3C and it was 3C when observation ceased at 2050. Ground winds were variable 0-3 km/h to 1000, SW 5-10 gusting 28 km/h to 1800 after which they were again variable 2-5 km/h for the rest of the day; ridge winds were moderate to strong W for most of the day. Cloud cover was 30% cirrus and altostratus to 0800, 5-10% altocumulus to 1700 and 90% cirrus for the rest of the day. There was a fairly strong raptor movement of 51 birds of 5 species dominated by 39 Golden Eagles which is the highest count for the species here since March 31. Birds were seen between 1048 and 1953, 23 of which (1 Bald Eagle, 1 Red-tailed Hawk and 21 Golden Eagles) moved between 1700 and 1800 and all but one of these birds used the western route. Overall, very few birds were seen above the Fisher Range and most birds that were not located to the west were first seen over Mount Lorette. The count was 1 juvenile Bald Eagle, 3u Sharp-shinned Hawks, 3u Northern Goshawks, 5 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks and 39 Golden Eagles (14a, 1sa, 17j, 7u). This is the first day that juveniles have dominated the Golden Eagle count. Resident birds were 1 adult Northern Goshawk, a pair of Red-tailed Hawks and a pair of Golden Eagles seen just south of Olympic Summit where the male displayed. Other birds near the site included a Great Horned Owl heard shortly after arrival, 1 Northern Pygmy-Owl singing in the morning, 1 male Belted Kingfisher, a pair of Pileated Woodpeckers, 1 Northern Shrike, 3 Tree Swallows, 2 Ruby-crowned Kinglets, 5 Mountain Bluebirds, 1 singing Song Sparrow and 4 Common Redpolls. Six Bighorn Sheep were on Olympic Summit, and 33 visitors enjoyed both the weather and the birds,

14.5 hours (519.1) BAEA 1 (209), SSHA 3 (10), NOGO 3 (22), RTHA 5 (42), GOEA 39 (2192), TOTAL 51 (2541)

 

Beaver Mines [Day 50] (Peter Sherrington) 0800-1800. The temperature at 0800 was -3C under a blanket of thick fog; by 0900 the fog had lifted above the valley floor and the ridge finally emerged at 1025 revealing a cloudless sky. The temperature rose to a high of 11C at 1500 and was 7C at 1800 when observation ended. Winds were light E-SE to 1400 after which they were E-ESE 20-35 km/h, and cloud cover after 1130 was 30-60% cumulus except at 1800 when it increased to 80% cumulus, altocumulus and cirrus. Observing conditions after 1130 were excellent but, as usual, the easterly winds were not conducive to raptor movement and the day only produced 4 migrants: 1subadult Golden Eagle at 1042, 1 adult female Northern Harrier at 1121, 1 adult Sharp-shinned Hawk at 1152 and 1 unaged light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk at 1707. The resident Red-tailed Hawks often soared to considerable heights in the afternoon but were only seen to the NE of the ridge. The day did have one highlight, however, as a Whooping Crane flew low and slowly to the NE above the centre of the valley below the base of the fog bank at 0913. Brown feathering on its scapulars and wing coverts of an otherwise all-white bird with conspicuous black wing tips showed it to be in its second year. This is only the second record of the species for the area, the first being last year on April 12 when an adult bird migrated over the site to the NNW.

10 hours (446.3) NOHA 1 (32), SSHA 1 (49), RTHA 1 (165), GOEA 1 (1028) TOTAL 4 (1783)

 

Steeples (Vance Mattson) No observation.

 

 

MOUNT LORETTE SUMMARY COUNT (March 1 to April 22)

 

DAYS 45

HOURS 519.1

 

TURKEY VULTURE (TUVU) 0

OSPREY (OSPR) 0

BALD EAGLE (BAEA) 209

NORTHERN HARRIER (NOHA) 3

SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (SSHA) 10

COOPER’S HAWK (COHA) 4

NORTHERN GOSHAWK (NOGO) 22

Accipiter sp. (UA) 0

BROAD-WINGED HAWK (BWHA) 3

SWAINSON’S HAWK (SWHA) 0

RED-TAILED HAWK (RTHA) 42

FERRUGINOUS HAWK (FEHA) 0

ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (RLHA) 22

Buteo sp. (UB) 3

GOLDEN EAGLE (GOEA) 2192

Eagle sp. (UE) 13

AMERICAN KESTREL (AMKE) 3

MERLIN (MERL) 4

GYRFALCON (GYRF) 2

PEREGRINE FALCON (PEFA) 4

PRAIRIE FALCON (PRFA) 1

Falco sp. (UF) 2

Unidentified Raptor (UU) 2

 

TOTAL 2541


Mount Lorette and Beaver Mines, April 15

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April 15 [Day 44] (Jim Davis, assisted by Ruth Morrow) 0800-1900. The temperature high was 5C at 1300 and 1400, and it was 1C at both the start and end of observation. Ground winds were 10-22 gusting to 35 km/h, SW to 1400 then W for the rest of the day, while ridge winds were strong all day and reflected the ground wind directions. Cloud cover was 70-90% cumulus and stratus to noon and 100% stratus for the rest of the day that produced light snow from 0900 to 1100 and moderate snow after 1400. The western ridges were 80-100% obscured all day and the east was completely obscured after 1400. Despite the conditions 15 migrant raptors were seen between 0858 and 1502, 5 of which moved from the northern end of the Fisher Range to Mount Lorette while the rest were seen flying low near the site and either continued low down the valley to the N or flew to the NW across Skogan Pass. The count, which involved 7 species, was 2 Cooper’s Hawks (1a, 1j), 1 adult Northern Goshawk, 2 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks, 6 Golden Eagles (3a, 1sa, 1j, 1u), 2 female American Kestrels, one of which hunted the meadow for 10 minutes before flying to the north, 1u columbarius Merlin and 1 dark morph Gyrfalcon. Resident birds were a pair of Red-tailed Hawks that soared over Hummingbird Plume Hill, and an adult Golden Eagle that flew to the south above the Fisher Range. Other birds recorded included 1 Trumpeter Swan that above the river at 1000, 5 drumming Ruffed Grouse, 7 Mountain Bluebirds (5m, 2f), 5 American Robins, 1 Varied Thrush and 200 Dark-eyed Juncos, most of which were “slate-coloured” morphs, that fed in the meadow with a single European Starling for much of the day. The last hour of the day was spent at the Lusk Creek site where the clouds hovered just above the ridge, but the only birds seen were a single flock of 75 Canada Geese flying north. Surprisingly, considering the weather, 33 visitors made it to the Hay Meadow site.

11 hours (504.6) COHA 2 (4), NOGO 1 (19), RTHA 2 (37), GOEA 6 (2153), AMKE 2 (3), MERL 1 (4), GYRF 1 (2) TOTAL 15 (2490)

 

Beaver Mines [Day 49] (Peter Sherrington) 0800-1800. It was 0C at 0800, rose to a high of 7C at 1600 and it was 5C when observation ended at 1800. Winds were strong W-WSW all day 40-50 gusting to 70 km/h, and cloud cover was 70-100 % altostratus and cumulus for most of the day apart from 0830-1030 when it cleared to 10% cumulus, and 1600-1730 when it was 20-30% cumulus and altostratus. There were persistent light snow flurries to 1400, after which observing conditions improved considerably. There was a steady movement of 36 raptors of a season-high 12 species between 0833 and 1734, of which 7 birds were seen between 0833 and 0857 which raised the expectation of a significant movement. The final total, however, only equaled the highest count for the month so far and comprised 2 Ospreys, 2 adult Bald Eagles, 6 Sharp-shinned Hawks (2a, 2u), 2 adult Northern Goshawks, 1 dark morph adult Swainson’s Hawk, 5 adult Red-tailed Hawks (4 light calurus and 1 dark harlani), 1 light adult Ferruginous Hawk, 1 dark morph Rough-legged Hawk, 1 unidentified light morph Buteo, 11 Golden Eagles (8a, 1sa, 2j), 1 male American Kestrel, 1 grey morph adult male Gyrfalcon and 2 Peregrine Falcons (1a male, 1u). The 2 resident pairs of Red-tailed Hawks were mainly seen hunting between 0838 and 1743. And only 1 brief display flight was observed.

10 hours (436.3) OSPR 2 (7), BAEA 2 (290), SSHA 6 (48), NOGO 2 (62), SWHA 1 (2), RTHA 5 (164), FEHA 1 (5), RLHA 1 (65), UB 1 (14), GOEA 11 (1027), AMKE 1 (4), GYRF 1 (5), PEFA 2 (7) TOTAL 36 (1779)

 

Steeples (Vance Mattson) No observation.

 

 

 

MOUNT LORETTE SUMMARY COUNT (March 1 to April 22)

 

DAYS 44

HOURS 504.6

 

TURKEY VULTURE (TUVU) 0

OSPREY (OSPR) 0

BALD EAGLE (BAEA) 208

NORTHERN HARRIER (NOHA) 3

SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (SSHA) 7

COOPER’S HAWK (COHA) 4

NORTHERN GOSHAWK (NOGO) 19

Accipiter sp. (UA) 0

BROAD-WINGED HAWK (BWHA) 3

SWAINSON’S HAWK (SWHA) 0

RED-TAILED HAWK (RTHA) 37

FERRUGINOUS HAWK (FEHA) 0

ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (RLHA) 22

Buteo sp. (UB) 3

GOLDEN EAGLE (GOEA) 2153

Eagle sp. (UE) 13

AMERICAN KESTREL (AMKE) 3

MERLIN (MERL) 4

GYRFALCON (GYRF) 2

PEREGRINE FALCON (PEFA) 4

PRAIRIE FALCON (PRFA) 1

Falco sp. (UF) 2

Unidentified Raptor (UU) 2

 

TOTAL 2490


Mount Lorette and Beaver Mines, April 14

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April 14 [Day 43] (George Halmazna, assisted by Diane Stinson) 0630-1815. The temperature rose to a high of 6.5C at 1500 and 1600 from a morning low of -1C, and was 4.5C at the end of observation. Ground winds were SW 2-5 km/h in the morning, SSW 5-25 km/h to 1700 after which they were again SW 2-10 km/h; ridge winds were strong SW all day. Cloud cover was 40% stratus and cumulus to 1100 after which it was 70-90% cumulus for the rest of the day. Snow flurries occurred regularly after 1600. Raptor migration was slow with only 6 birds moving between 1038 and 1514 comprising 2 Bald Eagles (1a and 1 undifferentiated immature bird), 1 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk and 3 Golden Eagles (1a, 2sa). All the birds moved from the northern end of the Fisher Range to the NW above Skogan Pass and bypassed Mount Lorette. Other birds recorded included 1 drumming Ruffed Grouse, the first Wilson’s Snipe of the season (2 birds flying at 0818), 1 Pileated Woodpecker, 3 Ruby-crowned Kinglets, 9 Mountain Bluebirds (5m, 4f), 26 American Robins, 3 Varied Thrushes, 3 American Pipits, 1 Song Sparrow and 61 Dark-eyed Juncos. A total of 67 Elk were seen, 61 of which were in the Hay Meadow, and 23 visitors made it to the site today.

11.75 hours (493.6) BAEA 2 (208), RTHA 1 (35), GOEA 3 (2147) TOTAL 6 (2475)

 

Beaver Mines [Day 47] (Peter Sherrington) 0800-2015. The temperature at 0800 was 4C, rose to a high of 10C at 1200 and 1300, fell to 3C at 1600 after a 50 minute snowfall, recovered to 5.5C at 1700 and was again 3C at the end of observation. Winds were mainly W-WSW 30-50 gusting to 70 km/h, and cloud cover was 30-40% cumulus, altocumulus and cirrus to 1000, 60-100% altostratus and cumulus to 1500, and 10-30% mainly cumulus for the rest of the day. There were periods of snow between 1335 and 1355, and 1520 and 1610 that were followed by a few five-minute flurries to 1725. Observation conditions were excellent after 1600 when 19 of the day’s 34 migrants were seen. Birds moved between 0832 and 1930 with a maximum movement of 7 migrants between 1900 and 1930. The count, involving a season-high 10 species, was 2 Osprey, 7 adult Bald Eagles, 4 Sharp-shinned Hawks (2a, 2j), 3 Northern Goshawks (2a, 1j), 4 light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks (2a, 2u), 1 adult light morph Ferruginous Hawk, 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk, 1 unidentified light morph Buteo, 5 Golden Eagles (1a, 1sa, 1j, 2u), 2 Merlins (1u columbarius and 1 female richardsonii), 2 adult male Peregrine Falcons and 2 small unidentified raptors. The 4 resident Red-tailed Hawks were active between 0836 and 1926, apart from the snowfall periods.

12.25 hours (426.3) OSPR 2 (5), BAEA 7 (288), SSHA 4 (42), NOGO 3 (60), RTHA 4 (159), FEHA 1 (4), RLHA 1 (64), UB 1 (13), GOEA 5 (1016), MERL 2 (16), PEFA 2 (5), UU 2 (2) TOTAL 34 (1743)

 

Steeples (Vance Mattson) No observation.

 

 

 

MOUNT LORETTE SUMMARY COUNT (March 1 to April 22)

 

DAYS 43

HOURS 493.6

 

TURKEY VULTURE (TUVU) 0

OSPREY (OSPR) 0

BALD EAGLE (BAEA) 208

NORTHERN HARRIER (NOHA) 3

SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (SSHA) 7

COOPER’S HAWK (COHA) 2

NORTHERN GOSHAWK (NOGO) 18

Accipiter sp. (UA) 0

BROAD-WINGED HAWK (BWHA) 3

SWAINSON’S HAWK (SWHA) 0

RED-TAILED HAWK (RTHA) 35

FERRUGINOUS HAWK (FEHA) 0

ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (RLHA) 22

Buteo sp. (UB) 3

GOLDEN EAGLE (GOEA) 2147

Eagle sp. (UE) 13

AMERICAN KESTREL (AMKE) 1

MERLIN (MERL) 3

GYRFALCON (GYRF) 1

PEREGRINE FALCON (PEFA) 4

PRAIRIE FALCON (PRFA) 1

Falco sp. (UF) 2

Unidentified Raptor (UU) 2

 

TOTAL 2475


Mount Lorette and Beaver Mines, April 12 and 13

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April 12 [No observation possible] (Joel Duncan, assisted by Caroline Lambert) 0900-1700. The temperature was -1C at 0900, reached a high of 2C between 1100 and 1600 and was 1C at 1700. Ground winds were NE 5-15 gusting to 26 km/h and ridge winds were probably also moderate NE. Cloud cover was 100% stratus and cumulus all day except for a 20 minute small patch of blue sky that appeared over the centre of the valley in mid-afternoon that brought a brief but unfulfilled expectation of improvement. There was 3 cm of fresh snow on the ground at the start and light to moderate snow fell all day which completely obscured all the peaks and ridges. A move to Lusk Creek at 1600 found the same conditions and the day was abandoned at 1700 with no migrant or resident raptors having been seen. Other birds recorded included pairs of American Wigeon, Green-winged Teal and Barrow’s Goldeneye, and 1 singing Northern Pygmy-Owl at Lorette Ponds, and 5 Mountain Bluebirds (4m and 1f), 4 American Robins, 4 Song Sparrows, 107 Dark-eyed Juncos, 30 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches and 1 Common Redpoll around the Hay Meadow site. Snowshoe Hare tracks were common in the fresh snow and one set of Grey Wolf tracks heading to the north indicated that the animal had passed through the previous night.

 

Beaver Mines [Day 45] (Peter Sherrington) 0745-1030. The temperature at 0745 was -1C and was 2C at 1030. Winds were SSE-E 5-8 km/h and cloud cover was 100% stratus but the ridges were clear until 0945 when steady light snow moved from the SW, and continued to fall all day. I abandoned the count for the day at 1030 having seen no migrating raptors.

2.75 hours (408.3) TOTAL 0 (1692)

 

Steeples (Vance Mattson) No observation.

 

April 13 [Day 42] (Blake Weis, assisted by Rick Robb) 0650-2005. The starting temperature was 0C, the high was 4C at 1700 and it was 3C at the end of observation. Ground winds were N-NW all day, calm to 5 km/h to 0900 and then 5-10 gusting to 20 km/h for the rest of the day; ridge winds were probably variable and light to moderate. Cloud cover was 100% stratus to 1300 after which it thinned to 80-90% mainly stratus and cumulus for the rest of the day. There was 3 cm of fresh snow on the ground at the start and heavy snow fell to 0800 which became moderate to light to 0900 after which there were snow flurries and light rain showers for the rest of the day which became steady moderate rain after 1930. The ridges were mainly obscured all day, with the east becoming 60-90% obscured between 1700 and 1900 and in the west the lower part of Mount Allan and Hummingbird Plume Hill became visible after 1300. An adult intermediate morph harlani Red-tailed Hawk was seen low over the meadow at 1205 and 4 birds, 1 adult Bald Eagle, 1 undifferentiated female/juvenile Northern Harrier, 1 dark morph Rough-legged Hawk and 1 juvenile Golden Eagle, were seen moving low from Mount Allan to Hummingbird Plume Hill and over Skogan Pass between 1339 and 1427. The last migrant of the day was an unidentified large falcon (either peregrine or prairie) that flew to the NW into cloud between Hummingbird Plume Hill and Mount Lorette at 1734. Resident or non-migrant raptors were an adult Sharp-shinned Hawk hunting juncos in the Hay Meadow at 1030, a Northern Goshawk calling from a probable nest site near the parking area, a Red-tailed Hawk displaying over Hummingbird Plume Hill and a subadult Golden Eagle. Other birds recorded in the area included an unidentified swan flying to the north over the meadow, 3 Ruffed Grouse, 2 Belted Kingfishers, 3 Pileated Woodpeckers (a resident pair chasing out an interloper), 2 Golden-crowned Kinglets, 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet, 17 American Robins, 2 singing Varied Thrushes, 1 Song Sparrow, 98 Dark-eyed Juncos, 1 female Red-winged Blackbird and 25 Common Redpolls. A great Blue Heron flying low near Lorette Ponds late in the day was a first for the season. A herd of 35 Elk crossed the Kananaskis River towards the NE as the observers left the site.

13.25 hours (481.8) BAEA 1 (206), NOHA 1 (3), RTHA 1 (34), RLHA 1 (22), GOEA 1 (2144), UF 1 (2) TOTAL 6 (2469)

 

Beaver Mines [Day 46] (Peter Sherrington) 1450-2010. Rain continued to fall all morning and stopped around noon and winds were light to around 1430. The temperature at 1450 when I started counting was 12C from where it gradually dropped to 6C at 2010. Winds were W-WSW 20-30, gusting up to 40 km/h at the end of the day and cloud cover was 100% stratus and cumulus that briefly thinned to 80% around 1600. After a day and a half of poor weather there was an entertaining movement of 17 raptors of 9 species between 1522 and 1950, 8 of which were seen between 1700 and 1800 and 4 between 1909 and 1950. The count comprised 1 Osprey, 1u male Northern Harrier, 2u Sharp-shinned Hawks, 1u Northern Goshawk, 2a calurus Red-tailed Hawks (1 light, 1 dark), 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk, 7 Golden Eagles (5a, 2sa), 1u American Kestrel and 1a female columbarius Merlin.

5.33 hours (414.1) OSPR 1 (3), NOHA 1 (31), SSHA 2 (38), NOGO 1 (57), RTHA 2 (155), RLHA 1 (63), GOEA 7 (1011), AMKE 1 (3), MERL 1 (14) TOTAL 17 (1709)

 

Steeples (Vance Mattson) No observation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MOUNT LORETTE SUMMARY COUNT (March 1 to April 22)

 

DAYS 42

HOURS 481.8

 

TURKEY VULTURE (TUVU) 0

OSPREY (OSPR) 0

BALD EAGLE (BAEA) 206

NORTHERN HARRIER (NOHA) 3

SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (SSHA) 7

COOPER’S HAWK (COHA) 2

NORTHERN GOSHAWK (NOGO) 18

Accipiter sp. (UA) 0

BROAD-WINGED HAWK (BWHA) 3

SWAINSON’S HAWK (SWHA) 0

RED-TAILED HAWK (RTHA) 34

FERRUGINOUS HAWK (FEHA) 0

ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (RLHA) 22

Buteo sp. (UB) 3

GOLDEN EAGLE (GOEA) 2144

Eagle sp. (UE) 13

AMERICAN KESTREL (AMKE) 1

MERLIN (MERL) 3

GYRFALCON (GYRF) 1

PEREGRINE FALCON (PEFA) 4

PRAIRIE FALCON (PRFA) 1

Falco sp. (UF) 2

Unidentified Raptor (UU) 2

 

TOTAL 2469


Mount Lorette and Beaver Mines, April 11

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April 11 [Day 41] (Brian McBride, assisted by Fred Bowen) 0715-1945. The temperature at 0715 was -4C, reached a high of 8C from 1500 to 1800 and then rapidly fell as a cold front passed and was 2C at 1945. Ground winds were very variable 5-15 gusting to 25 km/h to 1800 when they shifted to the N at 15-20 gusting 25 km/h; ridge winds were W light to moderate for most of the day. Cloud cover was 10-60% altostratus and altocumulus to 1200, and 60% cumulus for the rest of the day giving excellent viewing conditions. The west was 40-50% obscured between 1000 and 1100 then clear until 1800 after which both the west and east ridges were 70% obscured. A total of 18 migrants of 4 species were counted between 1142 and 1903 comprising 2 adult Bald Eagles, which were the only migrants to use the western route, 1u Northern Goshawk, 13 Golden Eagles (5a, 1sa, 7u), 1 unidentified eagle and 1u columbarius Merlin. Resident birds were 1 adult Bald Eagle, probably 2 pairs of Red-tailed Hawks that soared and interacted in groups of up to 3 birds for much of the day and often displayed with considerable enthusiasm, and 1 pair of adult Golden Eagles that was seen twice over the northern end of the Fisher Range. Other birds noted included 1 drumming Ruffed Grouse, 2 male Mountain Bluebirds, just 3 American Robins and 31 Dark-eyed Juncos. Three visitors made it to the site today.

12.5 hours (468.6) BAEA 2 (205), NOGO 1 (18), GOEA 13 (2143), UE 1 (13), MERL 1 (3) TOTAL 18 (2463)

 

Beaver Mines [Day 44] (Peter Sherrington) 0800-1945. The starting temperature was 2C, the high was 10C at 1300 and it was 6C at 1945 when observation ceased. Winds were W-WSW all day 20-30 gusting 45 km/h in the morning then 15-20 gusting 30 km/h to 1800 and less than 15 km/h for the rest of the day. It was cloudless to 1145 when 10-50% cumulus developed to 1800 after which it was 40-70% altostratus and cirrus for the remainder of the day. Observing conditions were excellent after 1145. There was a slow but steady stream of 23 migrating raptors of 7 species that were recorded between 0836 and 1930. The flight comprised 1 adult Turkey Vulture that flew to the NNW at 1753, 6 adult Bald Eagles, 2 adult male Northern Harriers, 2 Sharp-shinned Hawks (1a, 1u), 3 Northern Goshawks (1a, 1j, 1u), 7 calurus Red-tailed Hawks (5a and 1j light morphs, 1a dark morph), 1 light morph unidentified Buteo and 1 male columbarius Merlin. There were also 37 documented behavioural records of the 2 pairs of resident Red-tailed Hawks between 1018 and 1858, and 5 of a resident adult male Northern Harrier. Both species were seen displaying on several occasions.

11.75 hours (406) TUVU 1 (2), BAEA 6 (281), NOHA 2 (30), SSHA 2 (36), NOGO 3 (56), RTHA 7 (153), UB 1 (12), MERL 1 (13) TOTAL 23 (1692)

 

Steeples (Vance Mattson) No observation.

 

 

 

 

MOUNT LORETTE SUMMARY COUNT (March 1 to April 22)

 

DAYS 41

HOURS 468.6

 

TURKEY VULTURE (TUVU) 0

OSPREY (OSPR) 0

BALD EAGLE (BAEA) 205

NORTHERN HARRIER (NOHA) 2

SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (SSHA) 7

COOPER’S HAWK (COHA) 2

NORTHERN GOSHAWK (NOGO) 18

Accipiter sp. (UA) 0

BROAD-WINGED HAWK (BWHA) 3

SWAINSON’S HAWK (SWHA) 0

RED-TAILED HAWK (RTHA) 33

FERRUGINOUS HAWK (FEHA) 0

ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (RLHA) 21

Buteo sp. (UB) 3

GOLDEN EAGLE (GOEA) 2143

Eagle sp. (UE) 13

AMERICAN KESTREL (AMKE) 1

MERLIN (MERL) 3

GYRFALCON (GYRF) 1

PEREGRINE FALCON (PEFA) 4

PRAIRIE FALCON (PRFA) 1

Falco sp. (UF) 1

Unidentified Raptor (UU) 2

 

TOTAL 2463


Mount Lorette and Beaver Mines, April 10

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April 10 [Day 40] (Blake Weis, assisted by Miles Tindal) 0700-2020. The temperature was -2C at 0700, rose to a high of 5C between 1500 and 1800 and was 2C at 2020. Ground winds were S-SW to 1500 and then S-SE for the rest of the day, generally 5-10 gusting to 20 km/h, while ridge winds were SW all day, strong to 1300, moderate to strong to 1900 and moderate at the end. There was just a trace of cumulus and altocumulus cloud at the start, but by 0900 it had increased to 20% cumulus, altocumulus, cirrus and altostratus that gradually increased to 90% at 1600 and then 100% altocumulus and cirrostratus for the rest of the day. Ridges were essentially clear all day. A total of 26 raptors of 5 species migrated between 0843 and 1748 comprising 7 Bald Eagles (5a, 1sa, 1j), 1u Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1 juvenile Northern Goshawk, 1 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk and 16 Golden Eagles (2a, 4sa, 7j, 3u). Two Bald Eagles, 3 Golden Eagles and the 3 hawk species moved on the western route, 3 Bald Eagles moved from the Fisher Range to Mount Lorette, 1 Bald Eagle moved above the east-central valley and the rest of the eagles were initially located over Mount Lorette or Mount McGillivray. Movement was steady all day and 1000-1100 was the only hour in which no migrants were seen. Resident raptors were 2 Bald Eagles (1a, 1j), 2 pairs of Red-tailed Hawks and 1 adult Golden Eagle. Other birds included 1 Killdeer, 1 Northern Pygmy-Owl that sang as the observers were leaving the site, 2 Golden-crowned Kinglets 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet, 5 Mountain Bluebirds (4m, 1f), 25 American Robins, 3 singing Varied Thrushes, 2 American Pipits (the first of the year), 61 Dark-eyed Juncos and 1 female Red-winged Blackbird. Two Coyotes were in the meadow in the early morning, but there was no observed interaction with the 4 White-tailed Deer that were there later. Seven visitors were at the site today.

13.33 hours (456.1) BAEA 7 (203), SSHA 1 (7), NOGO 1 (17), RTHA 1 (33), GOEA 16 (2130) TOTAL 26 (2445)

 

Beaver Mines [Day 43] (Peter Sherrington) 0800-1930. The temperature at 0800 was 0C, rose to a high at 1400 and 1500 of 7C and was 3C at 1930. Winds were W-WSW all day 20-30 gusting 40 km/h to 1600 and then 35-45 gusting 55 km/h for the rest of the day. It was sunny with only 20% thin altostratus cloud cover at 0800, but the cloud quickly thickened producing another gloomy day with 100% altostratus and cumulus cloud cover between 0830 and 1600, after which it reduced to 90-70% which allowed 30 minutes of sunshine at the end of observation. Conditions for migration and observation were good and the first bird, a Golden Eagle appeared at 0816 that was followed at 0849 by the season’s second Osprey. Movement was then slow but steady with a good variety of species and by 1500 20 migrants had been seen, but subsequently only 4 more birds were seen, the last a Red-tailed Hawk at 1903. The final count of 24 raptors of 9 species was 1 Osprey, 3 Bald Eagles (2a, 1j), 3 Northern Harriers (1 adult male, 1 adult female, 1u), 2 Sharp-shinned Hawks (1a, 1u), 1 adult Cooper’s Hawk, 2 Northern Goshawks (1a, 1j), 2 adult light morph Broad-winged Hawks, 7 adult calurus Red-tailed Hawks (5 light, 2 dark) and 3 Golden Eagles (2a, 1j). The 2 pairs of resident Red-tailed Hawks were conspicuous for much of the day and on several occasions interacted in groups of 3 that usually ended with one bird giving a vigorous display flight. A male Northern Harrier also performed a prolonged flight display over the ridge at 1252.

11.5 hours (394.3) OSPR 1 (2), BAEA 3 (275), NOHA 3 (28), SSHA 2 (34), COHA 1 (7), NOGO 2 (53), BWHA 2 (7), RTHA 7 (146), GOEA 3 (1004) TOTAL 24 (1669)

 

Steeples (Vance Mattson) No observation

 

 

 

MOUNT LORETTE SUMMARY COUNT (March 1 to April 22)

 

DAYS 40

HOURS 456.1

 

TURKEY VULTURE (TUVU) 0

OSPREY (OSPR) 0

BALD EAGLE (BAEA) 203

NORTHERN HARRIER (NOHA) 2

SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (SSHA) 7

COOPER’S HAWK (COHA) 2

NORTHERN GOSHAWK (NOGO) 17

Accipiter sp. (UA) 0

BROAD-WINGED HAWK (BWHA) 3

SWAINSON’S HAWK (SWHA) 0

RED-TAILED HAWK (RTHA) 33

FERRUGINOUS HAWK (FEHA) 0

ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (RLHA) 21

Buteo sp. (UB) 3

GOLDEN EAGLE (GOEA) 2130

Eagle sp. (UE) 12

AMERICAN KESTREL (AMKE) 1

MERLIN (MERL) 2

GYRFALCON (GYRF) 1

PEREGRINE FALCON (PEFA) 4

PRAIRIE FALCON (PRFA) 1

Falco sp. (UF) 1

Unidentified Raptor (UU) 2

 

TOTAL 2445


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