RMERF counts, March 14

Thursday, March 14 Mount Lorette [Day 12] 0805-2005 (Cliff Hansen, assisted by Heinz Unger and Eric Langshaw). The starting temperature was -18C, the high at 1500 was 2C and it was 0C at the end of observation. Ground winds were SW all day, light (<5 km/h) to 1400 then 5-10 gusting 25 km/h to 1800 after which gusts ceased, while ridge winds were moderate to strong SW all day. It was cloudless to 1100 when 100% thin cirrostratus developed that reduced to 30% with cumulus and altocumulus from 1600 to the end of the day. Observing and migration conditions were excellent throughout the afternoon and a season high 12 migrant raptors were counted between 1448 and 1659 all of which moved from the northern end of the Fisher Range to Mount Lorette. The flight comprised 1 adult Bald Eagle, 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk (the first for the season) and 10 adult Golden Eagles, 8 of which were recorded between 1600 and 1659. A non-migrant adult Bald Eagle also moved to the south above the Fisher Range. Other birds recorded were 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 2 Canada Jays, 9 Common Ravens, 20 Mountain Chickadees and the season’s first Red-winged Blackbird, a singing male. Fresh Canada Lynx tracks were again seen, and there were 3 human visitors to the site.

12 hours (115.3) BAEA 1 (11), RLHA 1 (1), GOEA 10 (20) TOTAL 12 (32)

Thursday, March 14 Beaver Mines [Day 13] 0730-1930 (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0730 was -5C, the high at 1400 and again at 1600 was 2C and it was -1C at 1930. Winds were WNW 15-20 km/h to 0950 after which they were W-WSW for the rest of the day 20-40 gusting to 60 km/h. It was cloudless to 1050 when cumulus cloud started to develop that became 40-100% altostratus to 1630 after which it was again cloudless with minor cirrus after 1900. Both migration and, with the exception of blowing snow, observing conditions were excellent throughout and allowed a season high total of 64 migrants to be counted between 0901 and 1856. The count comprised 15 Bald Eagles (12a, 3j), 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk and a season high 48 Golden Eagles (45a, 3j). Birds moved steadily all day with a maximum hourly count of 16 (10 Golden Eagles) between 1300 and 1400, and 13 birds (10 Golden Eagles) moved between 1800 and 1856. The resident juvenile Golden Eagle soared briefly close to the ridge at 1803. This first significant movement of the season coincides with last year’s first significant movement when 61 migrants (41 Golden Eagles) were counted on March 14. Other birds in the area were 30 Mallards that flew to the NE at 1751, 8 Rock Pigeons, 2 Downy Woodpeckers, 1 male Northern [Red-shafted] Flicker, 8 Blue Jays, 1 American Crow, 44 Common Ravens 23 of which to the SW to roost between 1828 and 1914, 3 Black-capped Chickadees, 1 Mountain Chickadee, 5 European Starlings,  30 Bohemian Waxwings, 45 Evening Grosbeaks, 6 Common Redpolls, 100 Pine Siskins, 4 Dark-eyed Juncos (2 hyemalis and 2 montanus) and 3 male Red-winged Blackbirds.

12 hours (141.8) BAEA 15 (48), RLHA 1 (6), GOEA 48 (87) TOTAL 64 (144)

Thursday, March 14 Steeples [Day 9] 1300-1700 (Vance Mattson). The temperature reached a high of 4C from a starting temperature of -1C, winds were moderate S, and 20-70% thin altostratus and cumulus cloud gave mostly sunny skies with excellent observing conditions. A season high 32 eagles glided north between 1332 and 1818, 26 of which were seen after 1600 including 13 between 1700 and 1800. The flight was 5 Bald Eagles (4a, 1j) and a season high 27 Golden Eagles (23a, 3j, 1u). Non-migrants were 4 adult Bald Eagles including a pair-flight at 1732, and a juvenile Golden Eagle that hunted above the ridge at 1845 and then moved south.

6 hours (38.25) BAEA 5 (17), GOEA 27 (39) TOTAL 32 (56)