RMERF counts, March 7

Wednesday, March 7 Mount Lorette [Day 6] 0740-1805 (Blake Weis). The starting temperature was -17C but reached a high of 2C between 1600 and 1800 and was -1C at 1800. Ground winds were variable 0-5 km/h to 1200 and S-SW 0-10 gusting 15-35 km/h in the afternoon, while ridge winds were SW all day, light to 1100 and then moderate. It was cloudless to 1200 after which cloud cover was 10% variable altocumulus, cumulus and cirrus for the rest of the day. All ridges were clear. Despite the apparently favourable migration conditions the only migrants seen were 2 adult Golden Eagles that soared in the face of Mount Lorette at 1640 before gliding to the NW. Resident or non-migrant birds were 2 adult Bald Eagles that hunted along the river, a pair of resident Northern Goshawks and an adult Golden Eagle that flew to the south along the Fisher Range. Other birds seen were 1 male Hairy Woodpecker, 5 Grey Jays, 16 Common Ravens, 4 Mountain Chickadees, 2 Boreal Chickadees, 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch, 1 American Dipper, 1 Townsend’s Solitaire, 1 White-winged Crossbill and 5 Common Redpolls. The pleasant weather enticed 7 visitors to the site.

10.42 hours (55.5) GOEA 2 (8) TOTAL 2 (18)

Wednesday, March 7 Beaver Mines [Day 11] 0745-1745 (Peter Sherrington). The starting temperature was -2C, the season-high at 1500 was 7C and it was still 3C at 1745. Winds were W-WSW all day 10-20 gusting 30 km/h, and it was cloudless to 1500 after which 20-60% thin altostratus and altocumulus developed. A season-high total of 20 migrant raptors of 4 species moved to the N or NW between 0954 and 1720 that comprised a season-high 12 Bald Eagles (6a, 2sa, 3j, 1u), the season’s first migrant Northern Goshawk (an adult), 6 adult Golden Eagles and the first Gyrfalcon of the season, a grey morph of unknown age. Ten of the birds migrated between 1404 and 1453 raising hopes of a significant movement, but no further birds were seen until 1720 when the last 2 Bald Eagles soared and glided to the north.

10 hours (95) BAEA 12 (39), NOGO 1 (1), GOEA 6 (38), GYRF 1 (1) TOTAL 20 (88)

Wednesday, March 7 Steeples [Day 5] 1500-1745 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 4C at 1500 and fell to 2C at 1745, it was calm and cloudless to 1600 after which 50% thin altostratus developed for the rest of the observation period. A total of 11 raptors moved between 1518 and 1643 that comprised 5 Bald Eagles (2a, 3j) and 6 adult Golden Eagles. Movement was slow and combined soaring and gliding flight. Non-migrants were 2 Bald Eagles (1a, 1j), 1 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk and 2 Golden Eagles (1a, 1j).

2.75 (17.75) BAEA 5 (10), GOEA 6 (19) TOTAL 11 (29)