Monday, April 20 Beaver Mines [Day 56] 0615-2045 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0615 was 5C, the high at 1700 was 16C and it was 12C at 2045. Winds were W 20 km/h to 0800 after which they were steady WSW-W 30-40 gusting 55 and occasionally 60 km/h for the rest of the day. It was cloudless to 1140 after which 70-100% altostratus, altocumulus and cirrus cloud persisted to 1900 when it thinned to 30-20% altocumulus for the rest of the day. Migration and observing conditions were again very good and produced a count of 46 migrant raptors of a season-high 11 species that moved between 0659 and 1913. The count was 1 adult Bald Eagle, 4 Northern Harriers (2 females: 1j, 1u, 1u male and 1 unidentified bird), 8 Sharp-shinned Hawks (1a, 2j, 5u), 1u Cooper’s Hawk, 1 juvenile Northern Goshawk, 1 adult dark morph Broad-winged Hawk, 10 calurus Red-tailed Hawks (7a and 2u light morphs, and 1a dark morph), 11 Golden Eagles (1a, 2sa, 8j), 3 American Kestrels (1 female , 2u), 5 columbarius Merlins (3u males and 1 adult and 1u females) and 1 adult Peregrine Falcon. The highest single-hour count was 9 between 1300 and 1400 and the next two hours each saw the passage of 7 birds. Non-migrants were 3 adult Northern Harriers with the males displaying for much of the day and often together, and 2 or 3 pairs of Red-tailed Hawks. At Mount Lorette Blake Weis reported an April-high count of 69 migrants of 9 species in 13.75 hours of observation that comprised 1 Osprey, 9 Bald Eagles (5a, 4sa), 1 adult female Northern Harrier, 5 Cooper’s Hawks (1a, 4u), 1 adult Northern Goshawk, 1 unidentified Accipiter, 2 adult light morph Red-tailed Hawks (1 borealis and 1 calurus), 45 Golden Eagles (17sa, 21j, 7u) that is the highest count for the species since April 2, 2 columbarius Merlins (1 adult male and 1u), 1 Prairie Falcon and 1 unidentified raptor. Other birds seen at Beaver Mines were 8 Canada Geese, 16 Mallards, 6 Green-winged Teal, 1 Rock Pigeon, 1 American Coot, 1 pair of Sandhill Cranes, 1 Wilson’s Snipe, 3 Downy Woodpeckers, 2 Hairy Woodpeckers, 1 Red-shafted Flicker, 2 Steller’s Jays, 3 Blue Jays, 23 American Crows, 21 Common Ravens, 3 Tree Swallows 1 Black-capped Chickadee, 2 Mountain Chickadees, 11 American Robins, 11 European Starlings, 16 Evening Grosbeaks, 7 Pine Grosbeaks, an estimated  total of 1880 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches that flew high to the NNW in 6 flocks between 1027 and 1855, the largest of which at 1712 contained about 1500 birds and looked like a large elongate plume of smoke snaking from the ridge-top, 16 Dark-eyed Juncos (4 cismontanus and 12 montanus) and 6 male Red-winged Blackbirds.

14.5 hours (701.7) BAEA 1 (348), NOHA 4 (31), SSHA 8 (68), COHA 1 (12), NOGO 1 (41), BWHA 1 (4), RTHA 10 (248), GOEA 11 (1091), AMKE 3 (10), MERL 5 (20), PEFA 1 (7) TOTAL 46 (1971)

Monday, April 20 Steeples [Day 43] 1400-1715 (Vance Mattson). The temperature reached 18C, winds were moderate S and 60% thin altostratus, cumulus and cirrus gave sunny conditions. No migrants were seen, and non-migrants were 11 Turkey Vultures, 2 adult Bald Eagles, 2 Red-tailed Hawks and 1 juvenile Golden Eagle. The highlight of the day, however, was seeing 3 American White Pelicans on the wetlands near Wasa on the return trip from the site.

3.25 hours (226.3) TOTAL 0 (489)

Sunday, April 19 Beaver Mines [Day 55] 0615-2045 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0615 was 2C, the high at 1700 was 12.5C and it was 9C at 2045. Winds were moderate WSW-SW all day, 20-30 gusting 40 km/h and it was cloudless to 1245 and again after 1740, and between there was cloud cover of 20-30% cumulus that gave sunny conditions throughout. Migration and observation conditions were excellent and a total of 54 migrants of 8 species were seen between 0742 and 1930, which is the highest count at the site since April 9. The total comprised 13 Bald Eagles (6a, 1sa3, 6j), 4 Northern Harriers (2u females, 2 juvenile males), 5 Sharp-shinned Hawks (2a, 3u), 1 adult Cooper’s Hawk, 4 Northern Goshawks (3a, 1sa), 18 calurus Red-tailed Hawks (16a, 2u light morphs and 2a dark morphs), 7 Golden Eagles (3a, 1sa, 3j) and 2 American Kestrels (1 male, 1u). Movement was again high and fairly steady all day with the exception of the period 1524 to 1702 when no migrants were seen. The maximum hourly count was 1800-1900 when 11 migrants passed. Resident birds were a pair of Northern Harriers and a single adult male that were conspicuous for much of the day. Both males displayed vigorously especially when migratory, probably juvenile, females passed above the ridge when both males were seen displaying about 100 m apart: spring was finally in the air! Three pairs of Red-tailed Hawks hunted and occasionally displayed, but no hunting Sharp-shinned Hawks visited the site for the first time in weeks. At Mount Lorette Lori Anderson reported 43 migrants of 4 species in 14.5 hours of observation that comprised 5 Bald Eagles (3a, 1sa2, 1j), 4 Sharp-shinned Hawks (1a, 3u), 2 unidentified Accipiters (1 large and 1 small), 1 light morph Rough legged Hawk and 31 Golden Eagles (1a, 8sa, 15j, 7u). Birds moved steadily and very high under clear skies for much of the day. Other birds seen at Beaver Mines were 10 Canada Geese, 6 Mallards, 16 Green-winged Teal, 1 pair of Common Mergansers, 1 Wild Turkey, 13 Rock Pigeons, a pair of Sandhill Cranes, 1 Red-shafted Flicker, 2 Steller’s Jays, 3 Blue Jays, 31 American Crows, 16 Common Ravens, 3 Tree Swallows 5 Black-capped Chickadees, 3 Mountain Chickadees, 6 American Robins, 28 European Starlings, 13 Evening Grosbeaks, 5 Pine Grosbeaks, a flock of about 500 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches that flew high to the NNW at 1856, 29  Dark-eyed Juncos (4 cismontanus and 25 montanus) and 5 male Red-winged Blackbirds.

14.5 hours (687.2) BAEA 13 (347), NOHA 4 (27), SSHA 5 (60), COHA 1 (11), NOGO 4 (40), RTHA 18 (238), GOEA 7 (1080), AMKE 2 (7) TOTAL 54 (1925)

Sunday, April 19 Steeples [Day 42] 1300-1730 (Vance Mattson). The temperature reached 16C, it was calm and 50% cumulus cloud cover gave mainly sunny conditions, but despite the delightful weather only 3 migrants were seen between 1346 and 1445: 1 adult Bald Eagle and 2 Golden Eagles (1a, 1j). Non-migrants were 6 Turkey Vultures, 2 adult Bald Eagles, 1 adult Northern Goshawk, 2 adult Red-tailed Hawks and 1 juvenile Golden Eagle.

4.5 hours (223) BAEA 1 (134), GOEA 2 (329) TOTAL 3 (489)

Saturday, April 18 Beaver Mines [Day 54] 0630-2045 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0630 was 1C, dropped to the day’s low of 0.5C at 1000, reached a high of 4C at 1600 and was again 1C at 2045. Winds were variable and very light to 0900 after which they ranged from ESE to ENE 10-20 km/h that gusted to 30-40 km/h at 1100 and 1200. Cloud cover was 100% stratus to 1600 that produced 5 cm of snow and obscured the ridge to 1520. At 1700 the cloud cover began to break and at 1800 it was 50% altocumulus and cumulus that gave welcome sunshine, after which it was 80-60% altocumulus and cumulus for the rest of the day. Precipitation fell as rain overnight and by the end of observation most of the snow that fell today had melted. A total of 7 migrants of 4 species were seen between 1721 and 1824 that comprised 1 adult Cooper’s Hawk, 3 adult calurus Red-tailed Hawks (1 light and 2 dark), 2 Golden Eagles (1sa, 1j) and 1 adult male Peregrine Falcon. Non-migrants were a pair of resident Northern Harriers that hunted together at 1828, 4 Sharp-shinned Hawks that visited the site between 1135 and 1859, and 4 adult resident Red-tailed Hawks that were seen between 1426 and 1936. At Mount Lorette Blake Weis reported 8 migrants of 3 species that comprised 2 Bald Eagles (1a, 1j), 3 Rough legged Hawks (2 light. 1u) and 3 Golden Eagles (1a, 1sa, 1j). Snow fell on-and- off all day and 7 of the birds occurred between 1400 and 1600 with the last Golden Eagle seen at 1730. Other birds seen at Beaver Mines were 21 Canada Geese, 34 Mallards, 8 Green-winged Teal,  a lek of 15 Wild Turkeys, 10 Rock Pigeons, 1 American Coot, 3 Wilson’s Snipe, 2 Great Blue Herons, 1 Downy Woodpecker, 3 Red-shafted Flickers, 1 Steller’s Jay, 2 Blue Jays, 22 American Crows, 10 Common Ravens, 2 Black-capped Chickadees, 4 Mountain Chickadees, 90 American Robins, 37 European Starlings, 40 Dark-eyed Juncos (2 hyemalis, 8 cismontanus and 30 montanus) and 1 male Red-winged Blackbird.

14.25 hours (672.7) COHA 1 (10) RTHA 3 (220), GOEA 2 (1073), PEFA 1 (6) TOTAL 7 (1871)

Saturday, April 18 Steeples (Vance Mattson). No observation possible. The ridges were obscured all day.

Friday, April 17 Beaver Mines [Day 53] 0630-2030 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0615 was 3C, the high at 1200 and 1300 was 10.5C and remained at 10C to 1700, and was still 7C at 2045. Winds were steady W-WSW 30-40 gusting to 55 km/h to 1700 after which they were W-WNW and became light at the end of observation. It was generally a cloudy day with 90-100% altostratus, altocumulus and cumulus with the exception of a brief period around noon when it reduced to 20% altocumulus and lenticular. Between 1400 and 1600 the cloud was particularly dark and opaque that made identification of high-flying birds difficult but otherwise observing conditions were reasonably good. A total of 40 migrants of 10 species moved fairly steadily between 1037 and 1921 that comprised the season’s first Osprey that brought the cumulative species total to eighteen, 8 Bald Eagles (5a, 3j), 2 female Northern Harriers (1a, 1j), 6 Sharp-shinned Hawks (1a, 5u), 1 adult Cooper’s Hawk, 1 adult Northern Goshawk, 12 calurus Red-tailed Hawks (10 light adults and 2u dark morph birds), 2 light morph Rough-legged Hawks, 1 unidentified dark Buteo, 3 Golden Eagles (1a, 2sa) and 2 columbarius Merlins (1a male, 1u). The last migrant at 1827, the adult Golden Eagle, was gliding to the NNW when it suddenly veered to the SW back towards the ridge and made a hunting pass at a pair of Sandhill Cranes that were flying low against the ridge. The cranes avoided the attack in an ungainly flurry of legs and wings, and the eagle then continued its journey north but not before it was itself vigorously mobbed by a raven. Resident birds were 1 adult male Northern Harrier, 2 adult Sharp-shinned Hawks that visited the site on three occasions and 3 pairs of Red-tailed Hawks that were conspicuous in the air between 1352 and 1744. At Mount Lorette Lori Anderson reported 13 migrants of 7 species that comprised 1 Osprey, 2 Bald Eagles (1sa2 and 1 undifferentiated immature), 1u Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1 adult Cooper’s Hawk, 1 adult borealis Red-tailed Hawk, 1 unidentified Buteo, 5 Golden Eagles (2sa, 3u), and 1 female/immature richardsonii Merlin. Other birds seen at Beaver Mines were 13 Canada Geese, 6 Mallards, 16 Green-winged Teal, a pair of Common Mergansers, 3 male Wild Turkeys, 11 Rock Pigeons, 14 Sandhill Cranes that comprised the resident pair that flew down the valley at 0820, a pair that flew to the NNW at 1421, 2 pairs at 1720 (1 pair that flew to the SW and the other to the NNW), 1 pair that flew N at 1728 and the pair that narrowly avoided being a Golden Eagle’s supper at 1827, 1 Common Loon that flew high to the SW at 1916, 1 Great Blue Heron that flew to the NE at 1808, a pair of Downy Woodpeckers, 1 Red-shafted Flicker, 2 Blue Jays, 50 American Crows, 20 Common Ravens, 4 Black-capped Chickadees, 4 Mountain Chickadees, 25 American Robins, 78 European Starlings, 4 Evening Grosbeaks, 5 Pine Grosbeaks, a flock of 30 Grey-crowned Rosy- Finches, 46 Dark-eyed Juncos (4 hyemalis, 12 cismontanus and 30 montanus) and 2 male Red-winged Blackbirds.

14.5 hours (558.5) OSPR 1 (1), BAEA 8 (334), NOHA 2 (23), SSHA 6 (55), COHA 1 (9), NOGO 1 (36), RTHA 12 (217), RLHA 2 (62), UB 2 (8), GOEA 3 (1071), MERL 2 (15), TOTAL 40 (1864)

Friday, April 17 Steeples [Day 41] 1300-1815 (Vance Mattson). Observation was from the Wolf Creek site which is 8 km north of the regular site, where the temperature reached 13C, cloud cover was 100% grey altostratus and conditions were calm. Two migrants were seen: an unaged Golden Eagle at 1412 and a light morph Rough-legged Hawk at 1759. Non-migrants were 1 adult Bald Eagle, 1u Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1 adult Red-tailed Hawk and the resident pair of Golden Eagles that were active from 1715 to the end of observation. The pair copulated on the edge of a cliff and five minutes later the male dropped from the cliff into a 300 metre stoop, the result of which was obscured by the forest. He returned to his mate at 1800 and after another five minutes dived headlong down the mountain side with the result again obscured by the forest.

5.25 hours (218.5) RLHA 1 (3), GOEA 1 (327) TOTAL 2 (486)

Thursday, April 16 Beaver Mines [Day 52] 0630-2030 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0630 was -6C, the high at 1700 and 1800 was 8C and it was 5.5C at 2020. Winds were WSW all day, 15-20 km/h to 1000 and then 25-40 gusting to 50 km/h for the rest of the day. It was mainly cloudless all day with occasional traces of cirrus, with the exception of 1200 and 1630-1715 when 30% and 50% cirrus developed respectively. A total of 41 birds of 8 species moved between 1316 and 1759 which is the highest count at the site since April 9. The count was 1 adult Turkey Vulture, 6 Bald Eagles (4a, 1sa1, 1j), 1u Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1 adult dark morph Broad-winged Hawk, 18 calurus Red-tailed Hawks (12 light morphs: 11a, 1j; and 6 dark morphs: 4a, 2u), 12 Golden Eagles (5a, 3sa, 4j), 1u American Kestrel and 1 male columbarius Merlin. Eighteen birds moved between 1300 and 1400 and 11 between 1400 and 1500. Non-migrants were 1 female Northern Harrier, 1 or 2 adult male Sharp-shinned Hawks that visited the site on four occasions between 0748 and 1719, and 2 pairs of Red-tailed Hawks.

At Mount Lorette Graeme Dunlop reported 35 migrants of a season-high 10 species that comprised the season’s first Osprey, 9 Bald Eagles (4a, 1sa, 4j), 3 Sharp-shinned Hawks (1a, 2u), 1 adult Northern Goshawk, 5 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks, 2 light morph Rough-legged Hawks, 11 Golden Eagles (1a, 1sa, 7j, 2u), 1u American Kestrel, 1 adult female columbarius Merlin and 1 unidentified large falcon. Eighteen migrants moved between 1200 and 1400. Other birds seen at Beaver Mines were 21 Canada Geese, 17 Mallards, 20 Green-winged Teal, a lek of 32 Wild Turkeys, 15 Rock Pigeons, a pair of Greater Sandhill Cranes, 2 Killdeer, 3 Red-shafted Flickers, 1 Steller’s Jay, 3 Blue Jays, 50 American Crows, 19 Common Ravens, 4 Black-capped Chickadees, 4 Mountain Chickadees, 1 male Mountain Bluebird, 15 American Robins, 1 male Varied Thrush, 42 European Starlings, 11 Evening Grosbeak, 4 Pine Grosbeaks, a flock of 100 Grey-crowned Rosy- Finches and 60 Dark-eyed Juncos (10 hyemalis, 8 cismontanus and 50 montanus).

14 hours (644) TUVU 1 (3), BAEA 6 (326), SSHA 1 (49), BWHA 1 (3), RTHA 18 (205), GOEA 12 (1068), AMKE 1 (5), MERL 1 (13) TOTAL 41 (1824)

Thursday, April 16 Steeples [Day 39] 1300-1730 (Vance Mattson). The temperature reached 13C, it was calm to 1630 after which light S winds developed and it was cloudless. Two migrants were seen: an adult probable female Peregrine Falcon at 1536 and a subadult 3 Bald Eagle at 1601. Non migrants were 4 Turkey Vultures and 2 adult Bald Eagles.

4.5 hours (213.3) BAEA 1 (133), PEFA 1 (1) TOTAL 2 (484)

Wednesday, April 15 Beaver Mines [Day 51] 0630-2030 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0630 was -2C the high at 1200 and 1300 was 2C and it was again -2C at 2030. Winds were N-NNE all day 20-30 gusting to 45 km/h that dropped to less than 20 km/h after 1900. Cloud cover was 100% stratus with moderate to light snow that obscured the ridge to 1130 when the ridge cleared to 1225, but was obscured again to 1245 and again between 1315 and 1355 when the snow finally stopped leaving 15 cm fresh on the ground. The rest of the day varied between 50% cumulus that brought sunny periods and 100% stratocumulus that produced brief light flurries between 1752 and 1845 but the ridge remained clear. Only 2 migrant raptors were seen: an adult Golden Eagle at 1439 and 1u Sharp-shinned Hawk at 1520. Non-migrants were 1 juvenile Bald Eagle, 2 and possibly more adult male Sharp-shinned Hawks that hunted at the site, 1 adult Northern Goshawk and 2 pairs of resident Red-tailed Hawks that soared high on the windward side of the ridge between 1748 and 1808 with males occasionally displaying. Caroline Lambert reported that no observation was possible at Mount Lorette as snow fell all day and the mountains were obscured.  Other birds seen at Beaver Mines were 20 Canada Geese, 16 Mallards, 20 Green-winged Teal, 9 Wild Turkeys, 10 Rock Pigeons, a pair of Greater Sandhill Cranes, and the bird of the day, an adult Whooping Crane that flew low to the NE above the valley at 1357 just after the snow had ended and bright sunshine illuminated the huge white crane with conspicuous black wingtips. This is the third time the bird has been seen here on a spring count, the previous two being 2016 April 12 and 2017 April 16 Other birds were 1 Killdeer, 1 Red-shafted Flicker, 2 Blue Jays, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 9 American Crows, 50 Common Ravens, 6 Black-capped Chickadees, 2 Mountain Chickadees, 1 American Robin, 16 European Starlings, 1 Evening Grosbeak, a flock of 50 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches of which 2 were the race littoralis, 1 American Tree Sparrow and 80 Dark-eyed Juncos (4 hyemalis, 6 cismontanus and 70 montanus) that were somewhat reduced following 7 attacks by up to 2 Sharp-shinned Hawks between 0850 and 1926.

14 hours (630) SSHA 1 (48), GOEA 1 (1056) TOTAL 2 (1783)

Wednesday, April 15 Steeples [Day 38] 1330-1800 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 10C, winds were moderate N and cloud cover was 50% cumulus that gave sunny conditions. No migrants were seen and non-migrants were 4 Turkey Vultures, 1 adult Red-tailed Hawk and 1 adult Golden Eagle. The drive to the site produced an adult male Northern Harrier hunting low over a field, and the return trip saw a perched American Kestrel that was the first for the area this year.

4.5 hours (208.8) TOTAL 0 (482)