RMERF counts, April 8

Monday, April 8 Mount Lorette [Day 37] 0700-2030 (George Halmazna, assisted by Dan Parliament, Graeme Dunlop and Michael Woertman). The starting temperature was -4C, the high was 11C at 1700 and it was 1C at the end of observation. Ground winds were light SW all day except between 1400 and 1600 when they gusted to 15 km/h, and ridge winds were light to moderate SW all day. It was cloudless to 1000 when 10% cumulus developed that persisted to 1600 after which the cloud rapidly thickened and by 1630 it was 100% cirrocumulus, altocumulus and altostratus until 1800 when it gradually reduced to 60% by the end of the day. The ridges were clear all day. There was a strong April raptor movement of 94 birds of 5 species between 0750 and 1955 that comprised 11 Bald Eagles (10a, 1sa, 1j), 3 Northern Goshawks (2a, 1u), 1 adult calurus Red-tailed Hawk, 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk and 78 Golden Eagles (52a, 2sa, 8j, 16u). Movement was initially slow and by 1600 only 18 migrants of which 11 were Golden Eagles had been counted, but the rate subsequently increased significantly and peaked between 1800 and 1900 when 2 Bald and 26 Golden Eagles were seen and a further 18 birds moved between 1900 and 1955. The morning flight was equally divided between east and west, and between 1200 and 1600 most birds were initially located over Skogan Pass but after 1600 all birds glided very high above the Fisher Range with 90% of the birds clearing the summit of Mount Lorette and moving directly to Mount McGillivray to the NW. The resident pair of Northern Goshawks perched together near the nest site early in the morning, single adult resident Golden Eagles were seen 3 or 4 times on the southern flank of Mount Allan and 2 adult non-migrant Bald Eagles were also seen. The first Harris’s Sparrow of the season, a singing male, was located at the Beaver Ponds to the north of the site by Michael, and other birds were 2 pairs of Canada Geese on the river, 11 Mallards, 2 male Common Mergansers, 2 drumming Ruffed Grouse, 1 Downy Woodpecker, a pair of  Northern Flickers, a pair of Pileated Woodpeckers, 1 Grey Jay, 14 Common Ravens, 3 Black-capped Chickadees, 4 Mountain Chickadees, 1 Boreal Chickadee, 8 Red-breasted Nuthatches, 1 male Mountain Bluebird, 6 singing Varied Thrushes, 15 American Robins, 9 European Starlings, 2 White winged Crossbills, 2 Song Sparrows and 8 Dark-eyed Juncos, 2 of which were montanus. Three White-tailed Deer were in the meadow, 9 Bighorn Sheep on Olympic Summit and 4 Mourning Cloak and 2 Milbert’s Tortoiseshell butterflies were on the wing at the site. There were 10 visitors today.

13.5 (426.1) BAEA 11 (187), NOGO 3 (13), RTHA 1 (5), RLHA 1 (8), GOEA 78 (1977) TOTAL 94 (2231)

Monday, April 8 Beaver Mines [Day 37] 0645-2030 (Peter Sherrington). The temperature at 0645 was 2C, the high was 12C from 1500-1700 and it was 7C at 2030. Winds were moderate W-WSW all day15-20 gusting 30 km/h, and cloud cover was 0-40% altostratus, altocumulus, cirrus, cirrostratus and cirrocumulus to 1340 when it became 100% cirrostratus, cirrus and altocumulus that thickened at 1600 to 100 % altostratus and cumulus for the rest of the day. Observing and migration conditions were good all day but only 15 migrant raptors of 6 species were seen between 1059 and 1935 that comprised 1 adult female Northern Harrier, 1 adult Northern Goshawk, 3 adult calurus Red-tailed Hawks (2 light and 1 dark), 1 dark morph Rough-legged Hawk, 8 Golden Eagles (7a, 1j) and 1 adult Peregrine Falcon. Movement was slow and sporadic with a high hourly count of 4 (1 Red-tailed Hawk and 3 Golden Eagles) between 1200 and 1300. Resident birds were 1 adult male Northern Harrier, 1 pair of Red-tailed Hawks that were seen on several occasions between 1031 and 1839 with occasional single bird or pair display behaviour, and a pair of Golden Eagles. A single Tree Swallow flying high at 1338 was the first of the season and other birds seen were 3 Canada Geese, 15 Rock Pigeons, 4 Sandhill Cranes (single birds flying to the SW above the valley at 0849 and 1920, and a pair that flew very high to the NW at 1413), 2 Downy Woodpeckers, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 1 Northern Flicker,  11 Blue Jays, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 5 American Crows, 16 Common Ravens, 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch, 5 American Robins, 78 European Starlings, 18 Evening Grosbeaks and 16 Pine Siskins.

13.75 hours (439.5) NOHA 1 (13), NOGO 1 (21), RTHA 3 (56), RLHA 1 (18), GOEA 8 (492), PEFA 1 (3) TOTAL 15 (814)

Monday, April 8 Steeples [Day 33] 1645-1815 (Vance Mattson). Because of teaching commitments observation did not start until 1645 when the temperature was 13C, winds were moderate SW and cloud cover was 90% cumulus and altostratus. No migrants were seen and non-migrants were 5 Turkey Vultures, 3 sightings of Red-tailed Hawks, and 1 adult Golden Eagle.

1.5 hours (161.5) TOTAL 0 (685)