RMERF counts, March 26

Tuesday, March 26 Mount Lorette [Day 24] 0735-1950 (Blake Weis, assisted by Katherine Peterson). The temperature at the start was -2C, the high was 7C at 1300 and it was 0C at the end of observation. Ground winds were S-SW all day, 0-3 km/h to 1000 then 0-5 gusting 20 km/h to 1800 after which they were 0-5 gusting 10 km/h for the rest of the day, while ridge winds were moderate SW all day. Cloud cover to 1200 was 90-30% altocumulus, altostratus, cumulus and cirrus, but by 1300 it was 100% stratocumulus that brought snow flurries. The eastern ridges were clear to 1100 but by 1500 were 100% obscured, while the west was 10% obscured to 1000, 70-80% obscured to 1400 and by 1500 it was also 100% obscured. At 1535 the observers decided to relocate to the Lusk Creek site where the ridges were clear and cloud cover was 50-70% altostratus, altocumulus and cumulus. The first 6 Golden Eagles were seen from the Hay Meadow at 0918 and a total of 112 migrants, 1 Bald Eagle, 1 Northern Goshawk and 110 Golden Eagles were seen before the move to Lusk Creek with high hourly counts of 37 Golden Eagles between 0900 and 1000, and 25 Golden Eagles between 1100 and 1200. Lusk Creek produced a further 108 migrants up to 1930 comprising 102 Golden Eagles, 5 unidentified eagles and 1 small unidentified raptor, with the 3 hours after 1600 producing 27, 25 and 38 migrants respectively. The final combined count was a season-high 220 birds that comprised 1 adult Bald Eagle, 1u Northern Goshawk, a season-high 212 Golden Eagles (53a, 1sa, 158u), 5 unidentified eagles and 1 small unidentified raptor. At Hay meadow all birds initially moved high from the Fisher Range to Mount Lorette but moved at lower elevations as the weather deteriorated. The cloud conditions produced mainly silhouetted views of the migrants that resulted in the high number of unaged Golden Eagles. Resident birds seen at Hay Meadow were 1 subadult Bald Eagle, 1 adult Northern Goshawk and 1 adult Golden Eagle, while at Lusk Creek 1u Northern Goshawk and 1 adult Golden Eagle that moved to the south were considered to be non-migrants. Other birds seen at Hay Meadow were 1 Canada Goose on the river, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 2 Canada Jays, 16 Common Ravens, 1 Black-capped Chickadee, 1 Mountain Chickadee, 1 Boreal Chickadee, 1 American Dipper, 4 singing Varied Thrushes, 5 American Robins, 4 European Starlings, 6 White-winged Crossbills, 1 Pine Siskin and 5 Dark-eyed Juncos. Only 2 visitors came to the Hay Meadow site today. Additional bird species seen at Lusk Creek were 1 Northern Pygmy-Owl that was chased away by 4 White-winged Crossbills, 2 Red-breasted Nuthatches, 1 Brown Creeper and a flock of 100 Bohemian Waxwings.

12.25 hours (262.5) BAEA 1 (65), NOGO 1 (6), GOEA 212 (895), UE 5 (10), UU 1 (2) TOTAL 220 (983)

Tuesday, March 26 Beaver Mines [Day 24] 0730-2000 (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0730 was 4C, the high was 9.5C at 1500 and it was 3C at 2000. Winds were strong WSW all day 40-50 gusting to 70 km/h, and cloud cover was mainly 40% altostratus, cumulus and cirrostratus that gave excellent observing conditions, except at 1300 and 1400 when 90% cumulus and altostratus gave occasional rain and sleet showers, and after 1900 when it was essentially cloudless. The conditions produced a moderate raptor migration of 56 birds, with a season-high 10 species moving between 0805 and 1913. The count was 6 Bald Eagles (5a, 1sa), 1u Sharp-shinned Hawk (the first of the season), 3a Northern Goshawks, a season-high 3 adult calurus Red-tailed Hawks (2 light, 1 dark), a season-high 3 Rough-legged Hawks (2 light, 1 dark), a disappointing 35 Golden Eagles (33a, 1sa, 1j), the first 2 columbarius Merlins of the season (1a female, 1u), 1 female grey morph Gyrfalcon, the first Peregrine Falcon of the season, an adult male and 1 Prairie Falcon. The first Peregrine Falcon also occurred on this date last year. Movement was again sporadic with high hourly counts of only 10 birds between 1100 and 1200, and again between 1400 and 1500. Other birds seen were 2 Canada Geese, 18 Rock Pigeons, 1 Downy Woodpecker, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 8 Blue Jays, 3 American Crows, 32 Common Ravens, 1 Black-capped Chickadee, 4 American Robins, 98 European Starlings, 37 Evening Grosbeaks and 5 Pine Siskins.

12.5 hours (275.5) BAEA 6 (114), SSHA 1 (1), NOGO 3 (9), RTHA 3 (6), RLHA 3 (11), GOEA 35 (228), MERL 2 (2), GYRF 1 (4), PEFA 1 (1), PRFA 1 (2) TOTAL 56 (381)

Tuesday, March 26 Steeples [Day 21] 1400-1900 (Vance Mattson). Initially the temperature was 9C, winds were strong S and cloud cover was 50-80% cumulus and altostratus. The ridges were obscured from 1600 to 1650 after which cloud reduced to 30% cumulus and winds became moderate S. A total of 7 Golden Eagles (4a, 1sa, 1j, 1u) migrated between 1501 and 1814 with 3 moving between 1501 and 1533 and 4 between 1756 and 1814. One non-migrant adult Bald Eagle was also seen.

5 hours (104) GOEA 7 (384) TOTAL 7 (560)