RMERF counts, April 13

Friday, April 13 Mount Lorette [Day 40] 0720-2045 (Caroline Lambert, assisted by Rick Robb). The starting temperature was -3C, the high was 6C (1600-1800) and it was 4C at the end of observation. Ground winds were variable and light to 1100 after which they were constantly SW 5-10 gusting 30 km/h to 1800 after which they were 10-15 gusting 45 km/h; ridge winds were moderate to strong SW all day. Cloud cover was initially 40% cumulus, stratus and cirrostratus that became 100% at 1000 and 20% at 1200, after which it gradually thickened to 80% cumulus to 1800 and was then 100% cumulus stratus and cirrostratus for the rest of the day. The east ridges were clear all day, and the west was 20% obscured to 1200, clear to 1500 and then obscured by blowing snow as the velocity of the SW winds increased. A total of 38 migrant raptors of 7 species were recorded between 0810 and 1945 that comprised the season’s first Osprey at 1310, 2 subadult Bald Eagles, 2u Sharp-shinned Hawks, 1 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk, 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk, 30 Golden Eagles (8a, 2sa, 8j, 12u) and the season’s first American Kestrel. The first 3 Golden Eagles (0810-0900) were located over Olympic Summit and moved NW over Skogan Pass but the rest of the eagles glided very high above the Fisher Range to Mount Lorette with 7 eagles being initially located above Mount Lorette. Movement was very sporadic in the morning when only 6 migrants were seen, but became more persistent in the afternoon and peaked at 15 birds between 1500 and 1600. Only 2 eagles moved after 1800. Resident or non-migrant birds were 4 Bald Eagles (1 resident pair, and 1 adult and 1 subadult that flew to the south), 1 adult Northern Goshawk that was seen hunting north of the meadow, 2 apparent resident pairs of calurus Red-tailed Hawks (1 light pair and 1 rufous pair) and the resident pair of Golden Eagles that were mainly seen in the vicinity of Olympic Summit). Other birds recorded in the area were 8 Canada Geese, a pair of Northern Shovelers on the river (the first of the season), 3 Common Goldeneyes, 1 pair of Common Mergansers, 1 Ruffed Grouse, 4 Killdeer, 1 Northern Flicker, 1 Pileated Woodpecker, 1 Belted Kingfisher, 2 Northern Shrikes, 2 Grey Jays, 2 Black-billed Magpies, 5 Common Ravens, 2 Black-capped Chickadees, 4 Mountain Chickadees, 1 Boreal Chickadee, 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch, 3 Varied Thrushes, 20 American Robins, 1 American Dipper, 12 European Starlings, 1 American Pipit and 4 Dark-eyed Juncos. Four visitors were at the site today.

13.42 hours (449.6) OSPR 1 (1), BAEA 2 (155), SSHA 2 (10), RTHA 1 (14), RLHA 1 (13), GOEA 30 (2131), AMKE 1 (1) TOTAL 38 (2376)

Friday, April 13 Beaver Mines [Day 46] 0645-2015 (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Fred Calverley). The morning saw 12 cm of fresh snow on the ground. The temperature at 0645 was 0C, the high was 7C (1100-1300) and it was 2C at 2015. Winds were W all day 30-40 gusting 50 km/h and gusting to 70 km/h late in the day. Cloud cover was initially 70% altocumulus and cirrus which quickly dissipated leaving cloudless skies to 1230, after which 40-80% cumulus, altocumulus and altostratus persisted to 1800 and the last 2 hours was 100% cirrostratus and altocumulus. Observing conditions were excellent throughout the afternoon and contributed to a strong count of 75 migrant raptors of a season-high 13 species between 0758 and 1943. The count comprised the season’s first Osprey at 1438, 12 Bald Eagles (9a, 1sa, 2j), 1 adult male Northern Harrier, 3 Sharp-shinned Hawks (2a, 1u), 1u Cooper’s Hawk, 1 adult Northern Goshawk, 3 light morph Broad-winged Hawks (3a, 1j), 9 calurus Red-tailed Hawks (5 adult light morphs and 4 dark morphs (3a and 1j)), 1 adult dark morph Ferruginous Hawk, 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk, 2 light morph unidentified Buteos, 37 Golden Eagles (19a, 2sa, 15j, 1u), 1u American Kestrel and 1 adult male Peregrine Falcon. Only 2 migrants were seen before 1000 but then movement was generally steady with maximum hourly counts of 12 between 1200 and 1300, and again between 1800 and 1900. A Spotted Towhee and a Cabbage White butterfly were both firsts for the season.

13.5 hours (470) OSPR 1 (1), BAEA 12 (316), NOHA 1 (5), SSHA 3 (24), COHA 1 (3), NOGO 1 (20), BWHA 4 (8), RTHA 9 (104), FEHA 1 (6), RLHA 1 (93), UB 2 (10), GOEA 37 (1382), AMKE 1 (5), PEFA 1 (6) TOTAL 75 (2007)

Friday, April 13 Steeples [Day 32] 1200-1730 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 8C at 1200 and was 7C after 1500. Winds were strong S to SE which made it feel much colder, and cloud cover was 50% altostratus and cumulus that became 100% altostratus after 1500 that slightly obscured the ridges. Only 3 migrants were seen between 1254 and 1351: 1 subadult Bald Eagle and 2 adult Golden Eagles. Non-migrants were Turkey Vultures, seen throughout including a kettle of 7 birds at 1345, 3 Bald Eagles (1 adult pair and 1 juvenile), 1 adult Northern Goshawk and the resident pair of Golden Eagles. Vance summed up the day as: “Overall, a cold and miserable spring day!”

5.5 hours (137) BAEA 1 (147), GOEA 2 (573) TOTAL 3 (753)