RMERF counts, April 13

Saturday, April 13 Mount Lorette [Day 42] 0715-1810 (Blake Weis, assisted by Patrick Farley). The temperature at 0715 was -2C, the high at 1800 and 1900 was 8C and it was 5C at the end of observation. Ground winds were S-SW all day, 0-5 gusting 15 km/h to 1000 and again after 1800, but gusting to 25 km/h for most of the day, while ridge winds were WSW moderate to strong to 1800 after which they were moderate. Cloud cover was 40% altocumulus, cumulus and cirrus at the start that thickened to 100% altostratus, altocumulus and cumulus after 1000 with the addition of lenticular and cirrus clouds after 1600. The western ridges were 10% obscured after 1400 and there were occasional very light flurries between 1400 and 1700. The conditions produced 20 migrant raptors of 4 species from 1035 to 1834 comprising 4 Bald Eagles (2a, 1sa, 1u), 1u Sharp-shinned Hawk, 13 Golden Eagles (2a, 1sa, 5j, 5u) and 2u Merlins. The highest hourly count was 6 between 1300 and 1400 and 3 of the Bald Eagles along with the last Golden Eagle were seen between 1800 and 1834. Apart from the Sharp-shinned Hawk and 1 Bald Eagle that flew above the valley and 1 Golden Eagle on the western route all birds glided at ridge level or higher from the Fisher Range to Mount Lorette. Three non-migrant Bald Eagles (2a, 1j) were seen, the resident pair of Northern Goshawks soared to the north of the site at 1120 where the male displayed, a resident Red-tailed Hawk soared above Hummingbird Plume Hill at 1235, and the resident Golden Eagle pair glided south above the Fisher Range to Mount McDougall at 1255 where the male displayed. Other birds noted were 4 Canada Geese on the river, 6 Mallards, a pair of Barrow’s Goldeneye that were new for the year, 1 male Common Merganser, 3 Ruffed Grouse, one of which drummed, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 3 Northern Flickers, a pair of Pileated Woodpeckers, 5 American Crows, 15 Common Ravens, 3 Black-capped Chickadees, 4 Mountain Chickadees, 2 Boreal Chickadees, 3 Red-breasted Nuthatches, 1 Brown Creeper, 3 male Mountain Bluebirds, 1 singing Varied Thrush, 10 American Robins, the first American Pipit of the season, 11 Red Crossbills that flew south in a single flock, 1 White winged Crossbill, 1 Pine Siskin, 1 Song Sparrow and 8 Dark-eyed Juncos, 1 of which was cismontanus. Five White-tailed Deer fed in the meadow in the evening and there were 27 visitors at the site today.

10.92 hours (477.5) BAEA 4 (199), SSHA 1 (5), GOEA 13 (2041), MERL 2 (6) TOTAL 20 (2319)

Saturday, April 13 Beaver Mines [Day 42] 0645-2015 (Peter Sherrington assisted by Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0645 was 2C, reached a high of 9C at 1400 and was 5C at 2015. Winds were WSW and occasionally W 20-30 gusting to 60 km/h all day and cloud cover was 60-80% cumulus and cirrostratus to 0900 and then 100% cirrostratus and cumulus for the rest of the day with lenticular clouds developing after 1800. Observing and migration conditions were excellent and produced a fairly strong mid-April raptor movement of 52 birds between 0825 and 1925 that involved a season-high 13 species. The count was 2 Bald Eagles (1a, 1j), 3 Northern Harriers (1 adult male, 2 females: 1j, 1u), 2u Sharp-shinned Hawks, 1a Cooper’s Hawk, 1a Northern Goshawk, 7a calurus Red-tailed Hawks (5 light, 2 dark), 1a light morph Ferruginous Hawk, 3 Rough-legged Hawks (2 light, 1 dark), 1 unidentified Buteo, 24 Golden Eagles (12a, 5sa, 7j), 1 male American Kestrel (the first of the season), 4 columbarius Merlins (2 males, 2 females), 1u Peregrine Falcon and 1 Prairie Falcon that was the last migrant of the day. Migration was consistent within the movement period with a high hourly count of 9 between 1000 and 1100, and the only hour without migrants was 1300-1400. An adult male Northern Harrier displayed once at 1159 and 3 resident Red-tailed Hawks soared together at 1130 and one or two birds were seen mainly hunting up to 1925. Other birds were 5 Canada Geese, 6 Mallards, 17 Rock Pigeons, 3 Downy Woodpeckers, 1 Northern Flicker,  4 Blue Jays, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 4 American Crows, 49 Common Ravens, 3 Black-capped Chickadees, 2 Mountain Chickadees, 4 American Robins, 22 European Starlings, 30 Evening Grosbeaks, 20 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches, 38  Pine Siskins, 1 cismontanus Dark-eyed Junco and 4 male Red-winged Blackbirds.

13.5 hours (504.5) BAEA 2 (182), NOHA 3 (16), SSHA 2 (18), COHA 1 (2), NOGO 1 (23), RTHA 7 (75), FEHA 1 (2), RLHA 3 (21), UB 1 (4), GOEA 24 (540), AMKE 1 (1), MERL 4 (7), PEFA 1 (4), PRFA 1 (7) TOTAL 52 (910)

Saturday, April 13 Steeples [Day 36] 1600-1730 (Vance Mattson). It was a rainy overcast day with 100% altostratus and dark cumulus, a temperature of 9C and strong S-SE winds. The ridges cleared briefly at 1530 but 1.5 hours of observation yielded no migrant raptors before it again clouded over and precipitation resumed. Non-migrants were 2 Bald Eagles (1a, 1j) and 1 adult Golden Eagle, all seen along the ridge.

1.5 hours (174.5) TOTAL 0 (688)