Beaver Mines and Steeples, March 24

Tuesday, March 24 Beaver Mines [Day 29] 0710-1910 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0710 was -4C, the high at 1800 was -1C at it was -3C at 2010; winds were variable NE-SE all day 6-16 km/h. Cloud cover was initially 50% cumulus that was the clearest it was all day and steady snow started falling at 0830 that persisted for most of the day and on occasion became moderate or heavy. The ridge was obscured for much of the day and even when it appeared it was blurred by light snow. The only time it was completely clear was from 1930 to 2010. There was 1.5 cm of fresh snow at 0710 and a further 8 cm fell throughout the day. A total of 6 migrants were seen between 0928 and 1628 that comprised 2 adult low-flying Sharp-shinned Hawks (1 female and 1 male), 1 adult Northern Goshawk and 3 Golden Eagles (2a, 1u). At Mount Lorette where it also snowed all day George Halmazna saw a single migrant subadult Bald Eagle in 6.5 hours of observation. Other birds seen at Beaver Mines were 20 Canada Geese, 1 male Common Merganser, 2 Rock Pigeons, 1 Eurasian Collared Dove, 3 Downy Woodpeckers, 2 Hairy Woodpeckers, 1 male Red-shafted Flicker, 1 Blue Jay, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 39 American Crows 36 of which flew high in a flock to the SW at 1820, 8 Common Ravens, 5 Black-capped Chickadees, 5 Mountain Chickadees, 22 European Starlings, 14 Evening Grosbeaks, 16 Pine Grosbeaks, 1 American Tree Sparrow and 61 Dark-eyed Juncos (1 cismontanus and 60 montanus).

13 hours (331.5) SSHA 2 (4), NOGO 1 (16), GOEA 3 (407) TOTAL 6 (645)

Tuesday, March 24 [Day 20] 1230-1900 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 4C, winds were moderate SW that became light W at the end of the day and cloud cover was 70-100% cumulus and stratus. Snow flurries persisted throughout and obscured ridges alternated with slightly clearing conditions. Only three migrant adult Golden Eagles were seen, all before 1300. Three resident Golden Eagles were also present including the resident pair that glided to the SW together at 1610. At 1830 a single adult Golden Eagle was mobbed so intensely by two ravens that they managed to ground the eagle twice on the ridge. After it was grounded the second time the ravens left and the eagle quickly took flight but was again quickly attacked by one of the ravens that escorted it out of the area.

6.5 hours (97.25) GOEA 3 (262) TOTAL 3 (357)