April 9 [Day 39] (Bill Wilson, assisted by Lori Anderson) 0630-2040. The temperature at 0700 was 0C, the high at 1400 was 4C and it was 1C at the end of observation. Ground winds were N all day except between 1500 and 1600 when they were SE, 3-6 km/h to 1100, 2-10 gusting 18 km/h to 1500 after which they were 2-5 km/h; ridge winds were light and variable all day. Cloud cover was 100% stratus all day that produced light to moderate snow between 0830 and 1300 followed by snow flurries and rain showers to 1500 and moderate to heavy snow from 1630 to 1900, after which precipitation ceased. All peaks and ridges were completely obscured to 1900 after which there was some clearing with the west 30% and the east 60% obscured for the last 1.5 hours of observation. The only migrants seen were an undifferentiated female/immature Northern Harrier that flew fairly low to the north to the east of the site at 1641 and 1u Sharp-shinned Hawk that flapped and glided north on a similar path at 1913. Resident raptors were 1 adult Bald Eagle, and a Northern Goshawk heard calling near the parking area early in the morning. Other birds included a flying pair of Barrow’s Goldeneye, 1 singing Northern Pygmy-Owl, the season’s first Townsend’s Solitaire, 29 American Robins including a flock of 9 migrating north late in the day, 3 singing Varied Thrushes, a flock of 60 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches and 2 Common Redpolls. Up to 9 White-tailed Deer were in the meadow, one of which had a large conspicuous wound on its flank, probably from a predator attack, and at 1408 a deer was pursued by a Coyote and escaped by crossing the river when the Coyote decided to keep its feet dry. Eight visitors braved the conditions to reach the site today.

14.16 hours (442.7) NOHA 1 (2), SSHA 1 (6) TOTAL 2 (2419)

[Correction and addition to April 8. Jim was assisted by Ruth Morrow, not by Diane Stinson. A single Tree Swallow, the first for the year, was also seen at 0926.]

Beaver Mines [Day 43] (Peter Sherrington) 0800-1745. There was 1 cm of fresh snow in the valley and about 6 cm on the ridge, but the snow had stopped by 0800 when the temperature was 1C. The high was 5C between 1400 and 1600 and fell to 3.5C after 1700 following a 10 minute snow flurry. Winds were light N or calm to 1045 when a light WSW flow developed and thereafter winds were WSW-W for the rest of the day 10-20 gusting 35-40 km/h. Cloud cover was 100% stratus all day with superposed cumulus between 1300 and 1600. Snow fell for much of the day to the SW but only the aforementioned brief squall reached the site. The first migrant was not seen until 1259 and by 1401 22 birds had been counted and a good total looked likely, but the flow then became sporadic and only 2 birds were seen after 1600 with the last migrant moving at 1738. The count of 36 raptors of 8 species was 3 Bald Eagles (1a, 1sa, 1j), 1 adult male Northern Harrier, 3u Sharp-shinned Hawks, 1u Cooper’s Hawk, 4 Northern Goshawks (1a, 2j, 1u), 7 calurus Red-tailed Hawks (3a, 2u light morphs, 2a dark morphs), 2 Rough-legged Hawks (1 light, 1 dark) and 15 Golden Eagles (11a, 4sa). The two pairs of resident Red-tailed Hawks were seen between 1345 and 1616, mainly hunting and only one display flight was observed.

9.75 hours (382.8) BAEA 3 (272), NOHA 1 (25), SSHA 3 (32), COHA 1 (6), NOGO 4 (51), RTHA 7 (139), RLHA 2 (62), GOEA 15 (1001) TOTAL 36 (1645)

Steeples (Vance Mattson) No observation [Weather]. The ridges were obscured for most of the day. They cleared slightly at 1530 but were covered again by 1630.

MOUNT LORETTE SUMMARY COUNT (March 1 to April 22)

DAYS 39

HOURS 442.7

TURKEY VULTURE (TUVU) 0

OSPREY (OSPR) 0

BALD EAGLE (BAEA) 196

NORTHERN HARRIER (NOHA) 2

SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (SSHA) 6

COOPER’S HAWK (COHA) 2

NORTHERN GOSHAWK (NOGO) 16

Accipiter sp. (UA) 0

BROAD-WINGED HAWK (BWHA) 3

SWAINSON’S HAWK (SWHA) 0

RED-TAILED HAWK (RTHA) 32

FERRUGINOUS HAWK (FEHA) 0

ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (RLHA) 21

Buteo sp. (UB) 3

GOLDEN EAGLE (GOEA) 2114

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 2419

April 8 [Day 38] (Jim Davis, assisted by Diane Stinson and Sid Andrews) 0730-2000. The temperature high was 9C from 1500 to 1700 and the starting and finishing temperatures were both 2C. Ground winds were W 4-15 gusting 21 km/h, while ridge winds were moderate SW to 1100, strong W to 1300 and moderate west between 1400 and 1700 becoming light late in the day. Cloud cover was 40-50% cumulus and altostratus except around 1600 when it increased to 80%; observing conditions were excellent throughout. Apart from Mount Bogart being obscured until 1300, the other ridges and peaks were clear all day. A total of 69 migrant raptors of 6 species moved between 1007 and 1919 which is the highest count here since March 31. The flight comprised a season-high 25 Bald Eagles (20a, 4sa, 1j), 1j Cooper’s Hawk, 2a Northern Goshawks, 12 Red-tailed Hawks (10 calurus: light 8a, 1j, dark 1a; 1 adult “krideri” and 1 adult dark morph harlani), 27 Golden Eagles (12a, 3sa, 8j, 4u), 1u Peregrine Falcon and 1 large unidentified raptor. Most of the movement was in the west until 1500 (28 birds), with birds soaring above Olympic Summit and moving to the NW over Skogan Pass; after 1500 most birds moved high from the Fisher Range to Mount Lorette and there was extensive soaring over the Fisher Range late in the day as the ridge winds became light. The busiest hour was 1800-1900 when 19 birds, all eagles, were counted. Other birds recorded included 1 singing Great Horned Owl heard on the walk to the site in the early morning, 1 Northern Pygmy-Owl that sang from the western side of the Hay Meadow at 1030, 1 female Pileated Woodpecker that perched close to the site, 1 male Mountain Bluebird, 5 singing Varied Thrushes, and 10 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches. A Mountain Goat high on the southern flank of Olympic Summit was unusual as most animals are located to the east on the Fisher Range ridge. A total of 37 visitors to the site enjoyed both the weather and excellent views of migrating raptors and other birds.

12.5 hours (428.6) BAEA 25 (196), COHA 1 (2), NOGO 2 (16), RTHA 12 (32), GOEA 27 (2114), PEFA 1 (4), UU 1 (2) TOTAL 69 (2417)

[Addition to April 7. Because of the weather raptor movement was limited to 7 birds that moved along the eastern route between 1522 and 1621 comprising 1u Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1u Northern Goshawk and 4 Golden Eagles (3a, 1sa) and 1a male American Kestrel that flew low above the Hay Meadow towards Skogan Pass at 1501 for the first record this season.  12.75 hours (416.1) SSHA 1 (5), NOGO 1 (14), GOEA 4 (2087), AMKE 1 (1) TOTAL 7 (2348)]

Beaver Mines [Day 42] (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Hilary Atkinson) 0800-1800. The temperature at 0800 was 6C, rose to a high of 11C at 1300 and was 8C at the end of observation at 1800. Winds were WSW-W all day, 30-40 gusting 65 km/h to 1400 when they moderated slightly to 25-35 gusting 40 km/h for the rest of the day. It was cloudless with only occasional traces of cumulus and altocumulus to 1200 when 30% altostratus developed which quickly became 100% uniform altostratus that persisted for the rest of the day. Once again early movement was slow and sporadic and by 1300 only 3 migrants had passed, but the pace then quickened and the final total by 1754 was 30 birds of a season-high 9 species. All the birds soared and glided very high to the NW or NNW and it was a challenge to find them against the uniform altostratus cloud blanket. The count was 3 adult Bald Eagles, 4 adult Northern Harriers (3 male, 1 female), 2u Sharp-shinned Hawks, 2 Cooper’s Hawks (1a, 1u), 1 dark morph adult Broad-winged Hawk, 6 Red-tailed Hawks (3a, 2u calurus light morphs and 1a dark harlani), 1 light morph adult Ferruginous Hawk, 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk, 2 unidentified Buteos (1 light, 1 dark), 7 Golden Eagles (4a, 2sa, 1j) and 1 unidentified eagle. The year’s first Tree Swallow was seen at 0926.

10 hours (373) BAEA 3 (269), NOHA 4 (24), SSHA 2 (29), COHA 2 (5), BWHA 1 (5), RTHA 6 (132), FEHA 1 (3), RLHA 1 (60), UB 2 (11), GOEA 7 (986), UE 1 (3) TOTAL 30 (1609)

Steeples [Day 15] (Vance Mattson) 1230-1730. Observation was from the Bill Nye site where the temperature reached 10C, winds were moderate, and initially SE but then became mainly SW, and cloud cover was initially 40% cumulus and cirrus which became 100% altostratus and cumulus after 1500. A total of 12 migrants were counted comprising 7 Bald Eagles (2a, 1sa, 4j), 1 undifferentiated Red-tailed Hawk, 3 juvenile Golden Eagles and 1u American Kestrel, which was the first for the season. Six birds moved before 1300 after which movement was slow to 1653 when the last bird, a Golden Eagle, soared and glided to the north. Non-migrants were Turkey Vultures (12 sightings), 7 Bald Eagles (4a, 3j), 1u Sharp-shinned Hawk, at least 3 Red-tailed Hawks and 1 adult Golden Eagle.

5 hours (69.5) BAEA 7 (110), RTHA 1 (4), GOEA 3 (386), AMKE 1 (1) TOTAL 12 (515)

MOUNT LORETTE SUMMARY COUNT (March 1 to April 22)

DAYS 38

HOURS 428.6

TURKEY VULTURE (TUVU) 0

OSPREY (OSPR) 0

BALD EAGLE (BAEA) 196

NORTHERN HARRIER (NOHA) 1

SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (SSHA) 5

COOPER’S HAWK (COHA) 2

NORTHERN GOSHAWK (NOGO) 16

Accipiter sp. (UA) 0

BROAD-WINGED HAWK (BWHA) 3

SWAINSON’S HAWK (SWHA) 0

RED-TAILED HAWK (RTHA) 32

FERRUGINOUS HAWK (FEHA) 0

ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (RLHA) 21

Buteo sp. (UB) 3

GOLDEN EAGLE (GOEA) 2114

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 2417

April 7 [Day 37] (George Halmazna, assisted by Diane Stinson) 0630-1925. The temperature at 0630 was -2C, rose briefly to a high of 9C between 1700 and 1730 then fell to 5.5C at the end of observation. Ground winds were calm or very light SW to 1600, then were SW 5-18 km/h to 1900 which dropped to 2-5 km/h for the rest of the day; ridge winds were probably moderate SW for most of the day. Cloud cover was 100% stratus to 1530 and then 80% stratus and cumulus for the rest of the day. Ridges were clear to 1000 when snow fell to 1300 that turned to rain that fell to 1530 during which time all the ridges were obscured. The rest of the day saw flurries and showers which obscured the east 10-40% and the west 30-60%. Because of the weather raptor movement was limited to 6 birds that moved along the eastern route between 1522 and 1621 comprising 1u Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1u Northern Goshawk and 4 Golden Eagles (3a, 1sa). The eagles flew from the northern end of the Fisher Range to Mount Lorette and then headed to the north. Other birds recorded included 1 drumming Ruffed Grouse, 1 Northern Pygmy-Owl that vocalized for most of the day from 4 different locations starting at 0700, 2 Ruby-crowned Kinglets (the first for the year), 5 Mountain Bluebirds (4m, 1f), 29 American Robins, 3 Varied Thrushes, 3 Song Sparrows and 27 Dark-eyed Juncos. Despite the weather 5 visitors made it to the site today.

12.75 hours (416.1) SSHA 1 (5), NOGO 1 (14), GOEA 4 (2087) TOTAL 6 (2347)

Beaver Mines [Day 41] (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Hilary Atkinson) 1045-1845. Light rain fell to 1045 when the count began and the temperature was 5C which rose to a high of 8.5C at 1500 and 1600 and was 6C at the end of observation. Winds were mainly WSW all day 30-50 gusting 65 km/h but increasing to gusts of 85 km/h around 1600. Cloud cover was 100% stratocumulus to 1410 when it began to clear and from 1500 to 1600 it was 20-50% cumulus, altocumulus and cirrus, but after 1700 it was 100% stratus again. Rain fell from 1150 to 1410 which became heavy around noon, light rain fell from 1700 to 1730 and at 1830 heavy rain that turned to sleet fell for the rest of the observation period. Not surprisingly raptor movement was very sporadic with only 6 birds of 4 species recorded between 1418 and 1701 which were 1 adult Bald Eagle, 2 adult calurus Red-tailed Hawks (1 light, 1 dark), 2 subadult Golden Eagles and 1 adult Peregrine Falcon. The two resident pairs of Red-tailed Hawks hunted sporadically between the periods of rain and a hunting male Prairie Falcon flew low and fast to the SW at 1525.

8 hours (363) BAEA 1 (266), RTHA 2 (126), GOEA 2 (979), PEFA 1 (3) TOTAL 6 (1579)

Steeples (Vance Mattson) No observation [Weather]. It rained for most of the day and the ridges were mainly obscured.

MOUNT LORETTE SUMMARY COUNT (March 1 to April 22)

DAYS 37

HOURS 416.1

TURKEY VULTURE (TUVU) 0

OSPREY (OSPR) 0

BALD EAGLE (BAEA) 171

NORTHERN HARRIER (NOHA) 1

SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (SSHA) 5

COOPER’S HAWK (COHA) 1

NORTHERN GOSHAWK (NOGO) 14

Accipiter sp. (UA) 0

BROAD-WINGED HAWK (BWHA) 3

SWAINSON’S HAWK (SWHA) 0

RED-TAILED HAWK (RTHA) 20

FERRUGINOUS HAWK (FEHA) 0

ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (RLHA) 21

Buteo sp. (UB) 3

GOLDEN EAGLE (GOEA) 2087

Eagle sp. (UE) 12

AMERICAN KESTREL (AMKE) 0

MERLIN (MERL) 2

GYRFALCON (GYRF) 1

PEREGRINE FALCON (PEFA) 3

PRAIRIE FALCON (PRFA) 1

Falco sp. (UF) 1

Unidentified Raptor (UU) 1

TOTAL 2347

April 6 [Day 36] (Blake Weis, assisted by Rick Robb) 0700-2030. It was another fairly pleasant day with the temperature reaching a high of 10C from a low of 5C and it was 7C at the end of observation. Ground winds were variable, light N-NW to 0900, E, SE, S, and SW after 1600 5-10 gusting to 20 km/h that became light to calm after 2000; ridge winds were SW all day, moderate to 1300 and again after 2000 and strong for the rest of the day. Cloud cover was initially 100% altostratus and after 1000 was variable 60-100% altostratus, altocumulus, cumulus and cirrus; light rain showers persisted throughout the day. The east was essentially clear but the west was 10% obscured to 1300 and 80-40% obscured to 1600 and mainly clear thereafter. A total of 28 migrant raptors of 3 species moved between 0958 and 1949 with 18 of the birds recorded after 1600. The count was 1u Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk and 26 Golden Eagles (6a, 4sa, 5j, 11u). Only 1 Golden Eagle used the western route, 10 glided high from the Fisher Range to Mount Lorette and the rest were located high above Lorette or over Mount McGillivray and may have originated from Wasootch Creek. Resident raptors were 1 adult Bald Eagle, 1 adult Northern Goshawk, 1 pair of Red-tailed Hawks and 2 adult Golden Eagles one of which hunted to the west and the other to the east. Other birds present included 2 drumming Ruffed Grouse, 2 Golden-crowned Kinglets (the first for the year), 6 Mountain Bluebirds (4m, 2f), 24 American Robins, 4 singing Varied Thrushes, 22 Dark-eyed Juncos, 1 male Red-winged Blackbird and 12 Common Redpolls. Just 2 visitors made it to the site today.

13.5 hours (403.3) SSHA 1 (4), RTHA 1 (20), GOEA 26 (2083) TOTAL 28 (2341)

Beaver Mines [Day 40] (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Hilary Atkinson) 1145-1830. The temperature at 1145 was 12C, rose to a high at 1500 of 14C and was 10C at 1830. Winds were variable and light to 1400 (which is why observation didn’t begin until 1145) after which SW-W winds 20-30 gusting to 40 km/h prevailed for the rest of the day. Cloud cover was 100% altostratus and cumulus to 1300 and then 70-90% cumulus, altocumulus and cirrus for the rest of the day which provided good viewing conditions. Raptor movement was again slow and sporadic with 17 birds of 7 species moving between 1310 and 1818, 9 of which were recorded after 1700. The flight comprised 5 Bald Eagles (4a, 1j), 1 adult male Northern Harrier, 1u Northern Goshawk, 1 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk, 2 light morph Rough-legged Hawks, 2 unidentified Buteos, 4 Golden Eagles (3a, 1sa) and 1 male Prairie Falcon. The 2 pairs of resident Red-tailed Hawks were in the air between 1418 and 1804. At 1410 a flock of 5 Greater Sandhill Cranes soared high above the ridge before moving slowly off towards the SW.

6.75 hours (355) BAEA 5 (265), NOHA 1 (20), NOGO 1 (47), RTHA 1 (124), RLHA 2 (59), UB 2 (9), GOEA 4 (977), PRFA 1 (9) TOTAL 17 (1573)

Steeples (Vance Mattson) No observation.

MOUNT LORETTE SUMMARY COUNT (March 1 to April 22)

DAYS 36

HOURS 403.3

TURKEY VULTURE (TUVU) 0

OSPREY (OSPR) 0

BALD EAGLE (BAEA) 171

NORTHERN HARRIER (NOHA) 1

SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (SSHA) 4

COOPER’S HAWK (COHA) 1

NORTHERN GOSHAWK (NOGO) 13

Accipiter sp. (UA) 0

BROAD-WINGED HAWK (BWHA) 3

SWAINSON’S HAWK (SWHA) 0

RED-TAILED HAWK (RTHA) 20

FERRUGINOUS HAWK (FEHA) 0

ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (RLHA) 21

Buteo sp. (UB) 3

GOLDEN EAGLE (GOEA) 2083

Eagle sp. (UE) 12

AMERICAN KESTREL (AMKE) 0

MERLIN (MERL) 2

GYRFALCON (GYRF) 1

PEREGRINE FALCON (PEFA) 3

PRAIRIE FALCON (PRFA) 1

Falco sp. (UF) 1

Unidentified Raptor (UU) 1

TOTAL 2341

April 5 [Day 35] (Joel Duncan, assisted by Caroline Lambert) 0800-2030. It was a warm day with the temperature reaching 12C at 1700 from a morning low of 3C and it was still 8C when observation ceased at 2030. Ground winds were SW 10-20 gusting 32 km/h in the morning and 5-10 occasionally gusting to 30 km/h in the afternoon, while ridge winds were strong SW all day. Cloud cover was 100% altostratus to 1300 and 70-100% altostratus and altocumulus for the rest of the day, and all peaks and ridges were clear. There was a sporadic migration of 12 raptors of 3 species between 1222 and 1842, 7 of which (all Golden Eagles) occurred between 1222 and 1300 which raised expectations of a sustained movement that were not to be fulfilled. The count comprised 1 adult Cooper’s Hawk, the first for the season, 9 Golden Eagles (6a, 1sa, 2u), 1 unidentified eagle and 1 adult Peregrine Falcon which flew north against the face of the Fisher Range. All other birds glided high above the Fisher Range to Mount Lorette. The resident pair of Golden Eagles were seen in talon-clasping display over the Fisher Range. Other birds seen included a flock of 8 American Crows that flew high to the north, 5 Mountain Bluebirds (4m, 1f), 14 American Robins, 1 Song Sparrow, 37 Dark-eyed Juncos (27 cismontanus, 6 montanus and 4u) and 1 male Red-winged Blackbird. Nine visitors enjoyed the spring-like weather.

12.5 hours (389.8) COHA 1 (1), GOEA 9 (2057), UE 1 (12), PEFA 1 (3) TOTAL 12 (2313)

Beaver Mines [Day 38] (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Hilary Atkinson) 0800-1900. The temperature at 0800 was 4C, rose to a high of 10.5C at 1700 and was 9C at 1900. Winds were W-WSW all day 40-60 km/h with gusts to 74 km/h around midday, and cloud cover was 100% altostratus with occasional minor cumulus apart from 1600-1700 when it reduced to 80-90%. Once again there was no early movement and the first migrant was not seen until 1102 but subsequently there was a slow but steady stream of birds of 6 species that moved until 1828. The count of 32 raptors comprised 1 Osprey, the first of the year and the earliest ever recorded on a RMERF count (the previous earliest was April 9, 1994 at Mount Lorette), 13 Bald Eagles (12a, 1j), 1u Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1 unidentified small Accipiter, 9 light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks (8a, 1u), 1 unidentified dark morph Buteo, 4 Golden Eagles (3a, 1sa), 1 male columbarius Merlin and 1 unidentified small falcon. All 18 regularly occurring raptor species have now been seen at the site this season. The 2 pairs of resident Red-tailed Hawks were seen between 1122 and 1540 but no display flights were seen.

11 hours (348.3) OSPR 1 (1), BAEA 13 (260), SSHA 1 (27), UA 1 (1), RTHA 9 (123), UB 1 (7), GOEA 4 (973), MERL 1 (12), UF 1 (1) TOTAL 32 (1556)

Steeples (Vance Mattson) No observation.

MOUNT LORETTE SUMMARY COUNT (March 1 to April 22)

DAYS 35

HOURS 389.8

TURKEY VULTURE (TUVU) 0

OSPREY (OSPR) 0

BALD EAGLE (BAEA) 171

NORTHERN HARRIER (NOHA) 1

SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (SSHA) 3

COOPER’S HAWK (COHA) 1

NORTHERN GOSHAWK (NOGO) 13

Accipiter sp. (UA) 0

BROAD-WINGED HAWK (BWHA) 3

SWAINSON’S HAWK (SWHA) 0

RED-TAILED HAWK (RTHA) 19

FERRUGINOUS HAWK (FEHA) 0

ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (RLHA) 21

Buteo sp. (UB) 3

GOLDEN EAGLE (GOEA) 2057

Eagle sp. (UE) 12

AMERICAN KESTREL (AMKE) 0

MERLIN (MERL) 2

GYRFALCON (GYRF) 1

PEREGRINE FALCON (PEFA) 3

PRAIRIE FALCON (PRFA) 1

Falco sp. (UF) 1

Unidentified Raptor (UU) 1

TOTAL 2313

April 4 [Day 34] (Brian McBride, assisted by Fred Bowen) 0715-1930. Clear skies allowed the temperature to fall to -8C at 0715, but it rose to a high of 8C at 1700 and was 4C at 1930. Ground winds were mainly light S except between 1200 and 1800 when they were 10-20 km/h, while ridge winds were SW all day, moderate to strong between 1000 and 1400 and otherwise moderate. It was cloudless to 1400 when thin cirrostratus began to develop reaching 80% at 1600 that persisted for the rest of the day. The ridges were clear and observing condition were good when cloud developed in the afternoon but not a single migrant raptor was seen all day. Resident birds were 1 subadult Bald eagle, 1 adult Northern Goshawk and 1 perched light adult Red-tailed Hawk. Other birds present included 1 drumming Ruffed Grouse, 1 Northern [Yellow-shafted] Flicker, 7 Mountain Bluebirds (5m, 2f), 3 American Robins and 30 Dark-eyed Juncos. Two Coyotes spooked a herd of 5 White-tailed Deer in the meadow but did not pursue them. Six visitors helped in the fruitless task of scanning the ridges for migrants.

12.25 hours (377.3) TOTAL 0 (2301)

Beaver Mines [Day 38] (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Hilary Atkinson) 0900-1900. The temperature was 3C at 0900, rose to a high of 8C at 1200 and again at 1700 and was 6C when observation ceased at 1900. Winds were W-WSW all day 25-35 gusting 50 km/h that diminished to 20-25 km/h for the last two hours. Skies were cloudless to 1400 when thin cirrostratus developed and cloud cover was then 80-100% cirrostratus and altostratus for the rest of the day that gave excellent viewing conditions. After 3 days of limited raptor movement it appeared that the trend would continue today as the first migrant was not seen until 1216 and by 1500 only 4 more birds had been recorded. After 1500, however, movement became steady and by 1830 29 migrants of 7 species had moved high to the NW. The flight was 6 Bald Eagles (5a, 1sa), 3 Sharp-shinned Hawks (1a, 2u), 1 adult light morph Broad-winged Hawk, 10 light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks (8a, 2u), 3 light morph Rough-legged Hawks, 5 Golden Eagles (4a, 1sa) and 1 adult male Peregrine Falcon.

10 hours (337.3) BAEA 6 (247), SSHA 3 (26), BWHA 1 (4), RTHA 10 (114), RLHA 3 (57), GOEA 5 (969), PEFA 1 (2) TOTAL 29 (1524)

Steeples (Vance Mattson) No observation

MOUNT LORETTE SUMMARY COUNT (March 1 to April 22)

DAYS 34

HOURS 377.3

TURKEY VULTURE (TUVU) 0

OSPREY (OSPR) 0

BALD EAGLE (BAEA) 171

NORTHERN HARRIER (NOHA) 1

SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (SSHA) 3

COOPER’S HAWK (COHA) 0

NORTHERN GOSHAWK (NOGO) 13

Accipiter sp. (UA) 0

BROAD-WINGED HAWK (BWHA) 3

SWAINSON’S HAWK (SWHA) 0

RED-TAILED HAWK (RTHA) 19

FERRUGINOUS HAWK (FEHA) 0

ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (RLHA) 21

Buteo sp. (UB) 3

GOLDEN EAGLE (GOEA) 2048

Eagle sp. (UE) 11

AMERICAN KESTREL (AMKE) 0

MERLIN (MERL) 2

GYRFALCON (GYRF) 1

PEREGRINE FALCON (PEFA) 2

PRAIRIE FALCON (PRFA) 1

Falco sp. (UF) 1

Unidentified Raptor (UU) 1

TOTAL 2301