Sunday, May 03 Beaver Mines [Day 69] 0615-2045 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0615 was 9C, periodic light rain between 0645 and 1115 reduced the temperature to 6C at 1000 and 1100; it reached the day’s high of 10.5C at 1400 but snow and sleet flurries between 1435 and 1513 reduced it to 8C at 1500; it rose again to 10C at 1600 and 1700 and then gradually fell to 5C at 2045. Winds were strong WSW all day, 30-50 gusting 70 and occasionally 80 km/h, and cloud cover was 100% stratocumulus to 1300 after which it was mainly cloudless with up to 40% cumulus briefly moving from the SW, with the exception of around 1500 when it was 100% stratus that produced snow flurries. Despite the variable weather observation conditions were generally good but the last day of the count produced only 7 migrants of 4 species between 1239 and 1741 that occurred in two small clusters: 4 birds between 1239 and 1352 and 3 birds between 1712 and 1741. The count was 1 juvenile Bald Eagle, 3u Sharp-shinned Hawks, 1 juvenile Cooper’s Hawk and 2 Broad-winged Hawks (1 juvenile dark morph and 1 adult light morph that was the last bird of the spring 2020 count at 1721). Resident birds were 4 Bald Eagles (2a, 2j) that fed on the valley floor just after noon, 1 briefly sighted adult male Northern Harrier at 1239, 1 Red-tailed Hawk hunting at 1554 and a pair hunting at 1850, and a single adult Golden Eagle that hunted the ridge at 0755 and 1804. Other birds were 2 Canada Geese, 2 Cinnamon Teal, 5 Mallards, 1 drumming Ruffed Grouse, 12 Rock Pigeons, 2 Mourning Doves, 1 male Calliope Hummingbird, 2 Sandhill Cranes, 2 Wilson’s Snipe, 1 Red-naped Sapsucker, 2 Downy Woodpeckers, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 1 Steller’s Jay, 2 Blue Jays, 2 Black-billed Magpies, 35 American Crows, 21 Common Ravens, 6 Tree Swallows, 2 Mountain Chickadees, 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet, 6 American Robins, 56 European Starlings, 19 Evening Grosbeaks, a flock of 14 Cassin’s Finches (5 males and 9 females), 3 White-crowned Sparrows (2 oriantha that is the local breeding race and 1 migrant intergrade oriantha– gambelii), 12 male Red-winged Blackbirds, 1 male Brown-headed Cowbird that is the first for the season, and 12 Common Grackles (10 males, 2 females).

14.5 hours (877.7) BAEA 1 (389), SSHA 3 (141), COHA 1 (30), BWHA 2 (23) TOTAL 7 (2348)

May Summary Beaver Mines 3 days (43 hours) TUVU 2, OSPR 1, BAEA 12, NOHA 0, SSHA 8, COHA 4, NOGO 0, BWHA 2, SWHA 0, RTHA 2, FEHA 0, RLHA 0, GOEA 9, AMKE 1, MERL 1 GYRF 0, PEFA 0, PRFA 0 TOTAL 42

Beaver Mines spring 2020 summary February 23-May 03 (With percentage variance from the 5-year average 2015-2019). 69 days (+36.4%), 877.7 hours (+88.1%), TUVU 16 (+627.3%), OSPR 18 (+462.5%), BAEA 389 (+44.6%), NOHA 45 (-5.9%), SSHA 141 (+118.9%). COHA 30 (+150%), NOGO 52 (+5.3%), UA 1 (-28.6%), BWHA 23 (+167.4%), SWHA 9 (+221.4%). RTHA 278 (+46.2%), FEHA 4 (-25.9%), RLHA 65 (-18.3%), UB 9 ((=31.8%), GOEA 1181 (+9.8%), UE 0, AMKE 22 (+120%), MERL 34 (+120.8%), GYRF 5 (-16.7%), PEFA 17 (+112.5%), PRFA 9 (+25%), UF 0, UU 0 TOTAL 2348 (+25.1%)

The additional 11 days (April 23-May 3) (161.5 hours) at Beaver Mines produced 322 migrants comprising 16 Turkey Vultures, 14 Ospreys, 39 Bald Eagles, 10 Northern Harriers, 62 Sharp-shinned Hawks, 16 Cooper’s Hawks, 9 Northern Goshawks, 15 Broad-winged Hawks, 6 Swainson’s Hawks, 20 Red-tailed Hawks, 0 Ferruginous Hawks, 3 Rough-legged Hawks, 1 unidentified Buteo, 76 Golden Eagles, 12 American Kestrels, 12 Merlins, 1 Gyrfalcon, 10 Peregrine Falcons and 3 Prairie Falcons.

Saturday, May 02 Beaver Mines [Day 68] 0630-2045 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0615 was 2C, the high at 1700 was 18.5C and it was 12.5C at 2045. Winds were moderate SSW-W all day, 12-20 km/h to 0915, then 20 gusting to 35 km/h to 1700 and finally 10-20 km/h for the rest of the day. It was mainly cloudless with periods of up to 20% altocumulus to 1430 after which it was 60-100% cumulus, altostratus and cirrus for the rest of the day. It was a pleasant day with generally good viewing conditions but only 13 migrant raptors of 6 species were seen between 1044 and 1723 that comprised 2 adult Turkey Vultures, 4 Bald Eagles (2a, 1sa1, 1j), 1 adult Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1u Cooper’s Hawk, 2 juvenile light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks and 3 Golden Eagles (1sa, 2j). Non-migrants were 7 Bald Eagles (6a, 1j) that glided high to the SE between 1157 and 1245, a number that is very similar to the 6 Bald Eagles (5a, 1j) that glided high to the N between 1607 and 1856 yesterday. Five adult resident Red-tailed Hawks were conspicuous between 0923 and 1909 and, unlike yesterday, there was much interaction between up to 4 birds that involved displays and some spectacular vertical stoops from a considerable height to a lower-flying bird. Other birds were 9 Canada Geese, 4 Mallards, 11 Rock Pigeons, 2 Mourning Doves, 1 male Rufous Hummingbird, 1 male Calliope Hummingbird that was the first for the season, 3 Sandhill Cranes, 6 Wilson’s Snipe, 1 Red-naped Sapsucker, 2 Downy Woodpeckers, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 1 Steller’s Jay, 2 Blue Jays, 2 American Crows, 12 Common Ravens, 16 Tree Swallows, 3 Black-capped Chickadees, 4 Mountain Chickadees, 8 American Robins, 12 European Starlings, 20 Evening Grosbeaks, 3 Purple Finches (1 subadult male, 2 females), 6  Cassin’s Finches (3 male and 3 female), 14 male Red-winged Blackbirds and 5 Common Grackles (3 male, 2 female).

14.5 hours (863.2) TUVU 2 (16), BAEA 4 (388), SSHA 1 (138), COHA 1 (29), RTHA 2 (278), GOEA 3 (1181) TOTAL 13 (2341)

We plan to conclude the spring 2020 Beaver Mines count tomorrow.

Thursday, May 01 Beaver Mines [Day 67] 0630-2030 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0630 was 5C, the high at 1400 and 1600 was 15C and it was 10.5C at 2030. Winds were yet again WSW-W 15 km/h to 0800, then 25-35 gusting 45-50 km/h for the rest of the day. Cloud cover was 60-100% cumulus, altocumulus with minor altostratus and cirrus to 1725, after which it was cloudless with up to 10% cumulus for brief periods. The first ever May count at Beaver Mines was slow and sporadic with 22 raptors of 7 species moving between 0953 and 1856 that comprised 1 Osprey, 7 Bald Eagles (6a, 1j), 4u Sharp-shinned Hawks, 2 adult Cooper’s Hawks, 6 Golden Eagles (1sa, 4j, 1u), 1u American Kestrel and 1 male columbarius Merlin. Seven of the birds moved between 1300 and 1400. Two pairs of Red-tailed Hawks were seen hunting above the ridge but no displays were seen to enliven a rather lethargic day. Other birds were 17 Canada Geese, 3 Mallards, 3 male Common Mergansers, 4 Rock Pigeons, 2 Mourning Doves, 3 Sandhill Cranes, 1 Downy Woodpecker, 1 female Pileated Woodpecker, 2 Steller’s Jays, 4 Blue Jays, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 17 American Crows, 13 Common Ravens, 17 Tree Swallows, 1 Black-capped Chickadee, 3 Mountain Chickadees, 6 American Robins, 13 European Starlings, 23 Evening Grosbeaks, 3 male and 3 female Cassin’s Finches, 1 intergrade oriantha– gambelii White-crowned Sparrow, 1 male Dark-eyed [montanus] Junco, 12 male Red-winged Blackbirds, 8 male Common Grackles and 1 male Yellow-rumped [Audubon’s] Warbler.

14 hours (848.7) OSPR 1 (18), BAEA 7 (384), SSHA 4 (137), COHA 2 (28), GOEA 6 (1178), AMKE 1 (22), MERL 1 (34) TOTAL 22 (2328)

Thursday, April 30 Beaver Mines [Day 66] 0630-2030 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0630 was 12C, the high from 1100 to 1300 was 17C and it was 10C at 2030. Winds were again WSW-W all day, 25-40 km/h to 0800, then 35-45 gusting 60-70 km/h to 1900 and moderating to 20-25 km/h at the end of the day. Cloud cover was 10% cumulus to 0830 then variable 20-80% cumulus with altocumulus, thin altostratus and thin cirrostratus for the rest of the day that once again gave excellent observing conditions. A total of 32 migrant raptors of 9 species moved between 0846 and 1932 that comprised a season-high 6 Ospreys, 4 Bald Eagles (2 sa3, 2j), 7 Sharp-shinned Hawks (3a, 4u), 1 adult Cooper’s Hawk, 1 juvenile Northern Goshawk, 1 juvenile dark morph Swainson’s Hawk, 1 dark morph Rough-legged Hawk, 9 Golden Eagles (1sa, 8j) and 2 Merlins (1a female columbarius and 1 female/juvenile richardsonii that was the first record of the subspecies this season). Movement was fairly steady with a high hourly count of 7 between 1500 and 1600. Other birds were 9 Canada Geese, 2 Wood Ducks, 8 Mallards, 3 Common Mergansers, 6 Rock Pigeons, 2 Mourning Doves, 1 male Rufous Hummingbird, no Sandhill Cranes were seen or heard but at 1617 an adult Whooping Crane appeared at the top of the ridge and flew high to the north with a steady slow wingbeat and almost passed directly overhead, 5 Wilson’s Snipe, 1 Downy Woodpecker, 1 Blue Jay, 3 Black-billed Magpies, 20 American Crows, 17 Common Ravens, 24 Tree Swallows, 4 Mountain Chickadees, 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet, 5 American Robins, 40 European Starlings, 22 Evening Grosbeaks, 3 male and 2 female Cassin’s Finches, 1 intergrade oriantha– gambelii White-crowned Sparrow, 1 male Dark-eyed [montanus] Junco, 20 male Red-winged Blackbirds and 3 male Common Grackles.

14 hours (834.7) OSPR 6 (17), BAEA 4 (377), SSHA 7 (133), COHA 1 (26), NOGO 1 (52), SWHA 1 (9), RLHA 1 (65). GOEA 9 (1172), MERL 2 (33) TOTAL 32 (2306)

April Summary Beaver Mines (with percentage variance compared to 2015-2019 average for April 1-22) This is the first time a complete April count has been conducted at the site; for the comparisons for the standard count period see the report for April 22. Thirty days (+44.2%), 410 hours (+96%) TUVU 14 (+775%), OSPR 17 (+431.3%), BAEA 153 (+57.4%), NOHA 40 (+3.6%), SSHA 114 (+114.3%), COHA 22 (+103.7%), NOGO 20 (+7.5%), UA 0, BWHA 21 (+162.5%), SWHA 9 (+246.2%), RTHA 249 (+73.4%), FEHA 3 (-6.3%), RLHA 15 (-35.9%), UB 8 (-7%), GOEA 277 (+29.7%), UE 0, AMKE 21 (+169.2%), MERL 28 (+211.1%), GYRF 3 (+87.5%), PEFA 14 (+112.1%), PRFA 4 (+25%), UF 0, UU 0 TOTAL 1032 (+56.8%)

Wednesday, April 29 Beaver Mines [Day 65] 0630-2030 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0630 was 8C, the high from 1500 to 1700 was 20C and it was still 17C at 2030. Winds were again W-WSW all day, 20-30 gusting 40-50 km/h in the morning and slightly moderating to 20-30 gusting 35-40 km/h in the afternoon. Cloud cover was 90-100% all day mainly comprising altostratus and altocumulus with varying amounts of thin cirrostratus and cirrocumulus that allowed hazy sunshine most of the time. Observing conditions were again excellent and a total of 30 migrant raptors were seen moving high and fairly steadily between 0936 and 1954. The count was 1 adult Turkey Vulture, 3 probable juvenile female Northern Harriers, 7 Sharp-shinned Hawks (1a, 6u), 2 Cooper’s Hawks (1j, 1u), 1 adult Northern Goshawk, 1 adult light morph Broad-winged Hawk, 10 Golden Eagles (2sa, 7j, 1u), 3 American Kestrels (2 males, 1 female), 1u columbarius Merlin and 1 adult female Peregrine Falcon. The highest hourly counts were 5 between 1700 and 1800 and again between 1900 and 2000. Resident Red-tailed Hawks were seen in the air almost continuously between 0916 and 1944 with 10 widely-spaced soaring birds seen at 1030 and groups of 3 to 5 birds occurred several times with males often displaying. No migrant Red-tails were seen. The resident pair of Northern Harriers was also present with the male only seen displaying at 1045. Other birds were 11 Canada Geese, 5 Mallards, 4 Green-winged Teal, 11 Rock Pigeons, 1 Mourning Dove, 1 male Rufous Hummingbird that was a season’s first for the site, 5 Sandhill Cranes, 4 Wilson’s Snipe, 1 Red-naped Sapsucker, 2 Downy Woodpeckers, 1 Red-shafted Flicker, 2 Blue Jays, 25 American Crows, 20 Common Ravens, 4 Tree Swallows, 3 Black-capped Chickadees, 1 Mountain Chickadee, 6 American Robins, 10 European Starlings, 23 Evening Grosbeaks, 2 male Cassin’s Finches that were the first seasonal record for the site, 3 intergrade oriantha– gambelii White-crowned Sparrows, 2 Dark-eyed Juncos (1 cismontanus and 1 montanus), 12 male and 1 female Red-winged Blackbirds and 3 male and 1 female Common Grackles.

14 hours (820.7) TUVU 1 (14), NOHA 3 (45), SSHA 7 (126), COHA 2 (25), NOGO 1 (51), BWHA 1 (21), GOEA 10 (1163), AMKE 3 (21), MERL 1 (31), PEFA 1 (17) TOTAL 30 (2274)

Tuesday, April 28 Beaver Mines [Day 64] 0700-2030 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0700 was 4C, the high at 1700 was 15C and it was 12C at 2030. Yet again the winds were W-WSW all day, 35-45 gusting 55-60 km/h, and it was cloudless to 1440 after which cloud cover was 20-40% altocumulus and lenticular that gave excellent observing conditions. The conditions were also conducive for raptor migration after 1100 with a total of 33 birds moving fairly steadily between 1108 and 1930 comprising 14 species, which equals the season high species count and includes a rare “grand-slam” of all 5 falcon species. The count was 1 adult Turkey Vulture, 1 Osprey, 8 Bald Eagles (6a, 1sa2, 1 sa2), 4 Sharp-shinned Hawks (2a, 2u), 1 juvenile Cooper’s Hawk, 1 adult light morph Swainson’s Hawk, 2 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks, 1 dark morph Rough-legged Hawk, 6 juvenile Golden Eagles, 1 female American Kestrel, 2 male columbarius Merlins, 1 juvenile female grey morph Gyrfalcon that flew directly overhead at 1256, 2 adult Peregrine Falcons (1 male, 1 female) and 2 female Prairie Falcons. The highest hourly count was 8 birds between 1100 and 1200, and 3 other hours saw the passage of 5 birds. Residents were again a pair of Northern Harriers with the male seen displaying at 1711, and 2 pairs of Red-tailed Hawks seen regularly between 0903 and 1834 with males seen displaying at 1557 and 1710. Other birds were 4 Canada Geese, 3 Wood Ducks that were the first of the season, 4 Mallards, 1 pair of Northern Pintails, 8 Rock Pigeons, 2 Mourning Doves, 1 male Rufous Hummingbird that was seen by Gord Petersen across the road that was also a season’s first, 2 pairs of resident Sandhill Cranes and 1 pair that flew high to the SW at 0945, 2 Long-billed Curlews, also a season’s first,  that were seen by Troy Malish at 0750 flying in the direction of the site but which were not subsequently relocated, 1 Great Blue Heron, 2 Downy Woodpeckers, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 1 Red-shafted Flicker, 2 Steller’s Jays, 24 American Crows, 13 Common Ravens, 3 Tree Swallows, 3 Black-capped Chickadees, 4 Mountain Chickadees, 6 American Robins, 6 European Starlings, 15 Evening Grosbeaks, flocks of 9 and 70 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches that flew to the N at 1743 and 1854 respectively, 1 second-year male House Finch, 2 Pine Siskins, 1 female Spotted Towhee, 1 White-crowned Sparrow of the race gambelii that was a first for the site this year, 5 Dark-eyed Juncos (1 hyemalis, 2 cismontanus and 2 montanus), 8 male Red-winged Blackbirds, 2 male Common Grackles and 1 Orange-crowned Warbler.

13.5 hours (806.7) TUVU 1 (13), OSPR 1 (11), BAEA 8 (373), SSHA 4 (119), COHA 1 (23), SWHA 1 (8), RTHA 2 (276), RLHA 1 (64), GOEA 6 (1153), AMKE 1 (18), MERL 2 (30), GYRF 1 (5), PEFA 2 (16), PRFA 2 (9) TOTAL 33 (2244)