RMERF counts, March 29

Thursday, March 29 Mount Lorette [Day 26] 0730-2030 (Blake Weis, assisted by Patrick Farley). The temperature at 0730 was -5C, the high was 4C at 1600 and 1700 and it was -4C at 2030. Ground winds were light SW to 1600 when they changed to N 5-15 gusting 20 km/h, while ridge winds were W all day, light to 1100 and then moderate for the rest of the day. Cloud cover was 30-40% altocumulus and cirrus to 1600 and then 50-100% altocumulus, cirrus, altostratus and cumulus for the rest of the day. The ridges were clear all day but after 1600 hazy mist developed as cool moist air brought by the low-level north winds mixed with the warmer west winds aloft that made identification of high-flying eagles difficult. There was another strong raptor movement with 136 birds of 4 species moving between 1033 and 2002 comprising 9 Bald Eagles (6 adults and 3 undifferentiated immature birds), 1 adult Northern Goshawk, 1 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk, 109 Golden Eagles (42a, 67u) and 16 unidentified eagles. Only the goshawk and 2 Golden Eagles were seen to the west and all other birds used the eastern route with eagles initially located over Mount Lorette between 1430 and 1800 probably originating from the Wasootch Creek area. Most birds glided high and soaring flight was minimal. The highest hourly count was 45 between 1600 and 1700 which comprised mainly unaged Golden Eagles and unidentified eagles because of the misty conditions. Four Bald Eagles (2a, 1sa, 1j) and 1 Red-tailed Hawk that flew south above the river were considered non-migrants, and a resident adult Golden Eagle soared high above Hummingbird Plume Hill. Other birds were 2 Hairy Woodpeckers, 1 Northern Shrike, 3 Grey Jays, 11 Common Ravens, 1 Black-capped Chickadee, 4 Mountain Chickadees, 2 Red-breasted Nuthatches, 1 Townsend’s Solitaire, 2 American Robins, 1 European Starling, 10 Bohemian Waxwings, 1 Song Sparrow, 1 Dark-eyed [Oregon] Junco and 1 Common Redpoll. Only 4 visitors came to the site today.

13 hours (294.9) BAEA 9 (109), NOGO 1 (8), RTHA 1 (2), GOEA 109 (1623), UE 16 (18) TOTAL 136 (1784)

Thursday, March 28 Beaver Mines [Day 33] 0715-1815 (Peter Sherrington and Gord Petersen 1100-1300). The temperature at 0715 was -4C at 0715, the high was 7C at 1500 and 1600, and it was 1C at 1815. Winds were WNW 10-15 km/h to 1100 and W 20-30 gusting 40 km/h to 1700 when they abruptly changed to E 35-45 km/h that, as yesterday, essentially terminated the raptor migration. It was cloudless in the morning and 60-80% cumulus, altocumulus, altostratus and cirrus to 1700 that gave excellent observing conditions after which the east winds brought 100% stratocumulus that eventually obscured the ridge. Raptor movement was initially slow with only 2 eagles seen before 1100 but the pace increased and there was a steady migration of 74 raptors of 5 species up to 1700 when the wind shifted after which only 2 further Bald Eagles were seen. The 78 migrants comprised 14 Bald Eagles (12a, 2j), 1 adult Cooper’s Hawk, 6 light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks (5a, 1u), 1 dark morph Rough-legged Rough-legged Hawk and 76 Golden Eagles (65a, 3sa, 3j, 5u). Maximum movement was 28 (1400-1500) and 23 (1600-1700). A resident pair of Red-tailed Hawks displayed and interacted throughout the day.

11 hours (321) BAEA 14 (189), COHA 1 (2), RTHA 6 (33), RLHA 1 (70), GOEA 76 (1072) TOTAL 98 (1410)

Thursday, March 28 Steeples (Vance Mattson). NO OBSERVATION. The weather was clear but because of other commitments Vance was unable to observe.