April 2 [Day 32] (Bill Wilson, assisted by Lori Anderson) 0630-1925. It was the coolest day for a while with a starting temperature of 0C, a high between 1400 and 1600 of 3C and 1C at the end of observation. Ground winds were SW 2-5 km/h to 1100, then very variable 5-15 gusting to 33 km/h, while ridge winds appeared to be light to moderate SW all day. Cloud cover was 90-100% stratus all day that produced periods of light snow to 1800 generally lasting for 30-60 minutes that obscured the ridges, which were otherwise clear. Around 1800 continuous moderate snow began to fall that persisted to the end of the day. There was 3 cm of fresh snow on the ground early in the morning and a further 1 cm had fallen by 1925. Despite the conditions there was a fairly steady stream of migrating eagles with 12 Bald Eagles (7a, 3j, 1u) and 16 Golden Eagles (10a, 1sa, 4j, 1u) moving between 1255 and 1737. Two birds used the western route but the rest glided along the Fisher Range and across to Mount Lorette. Towards the end of the day there was some soaring above the Fisher Range and most birds also mixed flapping flight with the gliding that attested to the relatively light winds at ridge level. Maximum hourly movement was 10 birds between 1300 and 1400 and again from 1500 to 1600. Resident or non-migrant raptors were 5 Bald Eagles (3a, 2j), 1u Northern Goshawk and 1 or 2 adult Golden Eagles. Nineteen other bird species were recorded including 1 drumming Ruffed Grouse, 19 unidentified gulls that flew high to the north, 1 singing Northern Pygmy-Owl, 1 calling Pileated Woodpecker, 4 male Mountain Bluebirds, 74 American Robins migrating to the north, 1 singing Varied Thrush, 1 calling Song Sparrow, 83 Dark-eyed Juncos feeding in the meadow (about 60% cismontanus and 40% montanus), 60 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches in flying flocks of 40 and 20 and 12 Common Redpolls. Only 2 visitors made it to the site today.

12.92 hours (352.6) BAEA 12 (168), GOEA 16 (2037) TOTAL 28 (2286)

Beaver Mines [Day 36] (Peter Sherrington) 0800-1830. It was warmer down south with a starting temperature of 5C that rose to a high at 1400 of 10C and was 4C at 1830. Winds were initially light W but quickly picked up around 0900 and were WSW-W 35-45 gusting 60 km/h to 1720 when the winds suddenly shifted to NE 25-50 km/h before becoming light again at the end of observation. Cloud cover was variably 10-50% cumulus, altocumulus and altostratus that gave excellent viewing conditions to 1745 when a thick bank of 100% stratocumulus cloud, that had been slowly advancing from the NE for the previous hour, finally arrived bringing steady snow that quickly obscured the ridge. It was another disappointing day of raptor migration with only 13 birds of 5 species moving between 0840 and 1713. Only 3 birds were recorded before 1300 and the highest hourly count was only 4 between 1300 and 1400. The count was 3 Bald Eagles (2a, 1sa), 1 adult male Northern Harrier, that was the first migrant of the day, 2 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks, 6 Golden Eagles (5a, 1j) and 1 male American Kestrel. The 2 resident pairs of Red-tailed Hawks were joined occasionally by an interloping fifth bird that resulted in some spectacular “sky-battles” between presumably competing males. The last sighting of a resident Red-tail was at 1810 when a bird made a vertical hunting stoop in the middle of the valley in steady falling snow.

10.5 hours (319.3) BAEA 3 (238), NOHA 1 (17), RTHA 2 (101), GOEA 6 (964), AMKE 1 (2) TOTAL 13 (1487)

Steeples [Day 14] (Vance Mattson) 1100-1630. Observation was from the Bull Mountain site where the temperature was 9C, winds were strong W and cloud cover was 60-100% altostratus, cumulus and cirrus. There were snow flurries and/or rain from 1215 to 1245 and again from 1550 to 1630 that finally obscured the ridges for the rest of the day. The only migrant raptors seen were 2 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks, the first at 1310, the second at 1450. Two non-migrant adult Bald Eagles were seen on arrival, and the resident Golden Eagle pair were seen several times including three long display flights one of which culminated in the first copulation seen this season at 1500.

5.5 hours (64.5) RTHA 2 (3) TOTAL 2 (503)

MOUNT LORETTE SUMMARY COUNT (March 1 to April 22)

DAYS 32

HOURS 352.6

TURKEY VULTURE (TUVU) 0

OSPREY (OSPR) 0

BALD EAGLE (BAEA) 168

NORTHERN HARRIER (NOHA) 1

SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (SSHA) 3

COOPER’S HAWK (COHA) 0

NORTHERN GOSHAWK (NOGO) 13

Accipiter sp. (UA) 0

BROAD-WINGED HAWK (BWHA) 3

SWAINSON’S HAWK (SWHA) 0

RED-TAILED HAWK (RTHA) 18

FERRUGINOUS HAWK (FEHA) 0

ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (RLHA) 21

Buteo sp. (UB) 3

GOLDEN EAGLE (GOEA) 2037

Eagle sp. (UE) 11

AMERICAN KESTREL (AMKE) 0

MERLIN (MERL) 2

GYRFALCON (GYRF) 1

PEREGRINE FALCON (PEFA) 2

PRAIRIE FALCON (PRFA) 1

Falco sp. (UF) 1

Unidentified Raptor (UU) 1

TOTAL 2286

April 2 [Day 32] (Bill Wilson, assisted by Lori Anderson) 0630-1925. It was the coolest day for a while with a starting temperature of 0C, a high between 1400 and 1600 of 3C and 1C at the end of observation. Ground winds were SW 2-5 km/h to 1100, then very variable 5-15 gusting to 33 km/h, while ridge winds appeared to be light to moderate SW all day. Cloud cover was 90-100% stratus all day that produced periods of light snow to 1800 generally lasting for 30-60 minutes that obscured the ridges, which were otherwise clear. Around 1800 continuous moderate snow began to fall that persisted to the end of the day. There was 3 cm of fresh snow on the ground early in the morning and a further 1 cm had fallen by 1925. Despite the conditions there was a fairly steady stream of migrating eagles with 12 Bald Eagles (7a, 3j, 1u) and 16 Golden Eagles (10a, 1sa, 4j, 1u) moving between 1255 and 1737. Two birds used the western route but the rest glided along the Fisher Range and across to Mount Lorette. Towards the end of the day there was some soaring above the Fisher Range and most birds also mixed flapping flight with the gliding that attested to the relatively light winds at ridge level. Maximum hourly movement was 10 birds between 1300 and 1400 and again from 1500 to 1600. Resident or non-migrant raptors were 5 Bald Eagles (3a, 2j), 1u Northern Goshawk and 1 or 2 adult Golden Eagles. Nineteen other bird species were recorded including 1 drumming Ruffed Grouse, 19 unidentified gulls that flew high to the north, 1 singing Northern Pygmy-Owl, 1 calling Pileated Woodpecker, 4 male Mountain Bluebirds, 74 American Robins migrating to the north, 1 singing Varied Thrush, 1 calling Song Sparrow, 83 Dark-eyed Juncos feeding in the meadow (about 60% cismontanus and 40% montanus), 60 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches in flying flocks of 40 and 20 and 12 Common Redpolls. Only 2 visitors made it to the site today.

12.92 hours (352.6) BAEA 12 (168), GOEA 16 (2037) TOTAL 28 (2286)

Beaver Mines [Day 36] (Peter Sherrington) 0800-1830. It was warmer down south with a starting temperature of 5C that rose to a high at 1400 of 10C and was 4C at 1830. Winds were initially light W but quickly picked up around 0900 and were WSW-W 35-45 gusting 60 km/h to 1720 when the winds suddenly shifted to NE 25-50 km/h before becoming light again at the end of observation. Cloud cover was variably 10-50% cumulus, altocumulus and altostratus that gave excellent viewing conditions to 1745 when a thick bank of 100% stratocumulus cloud, that had been slowly advancing from the NE for the previous hour, finally arrived bringing steady snow that quickly obscured the ridge. It was another disappointing day of raptor migration with only 13 birds of 5 species moving between 0840 and 1713. Only 3 birds were recorded before 1300 and the highest hourly count was only 4 between 1300 and 1400. The count was 3 Bald Eagles (2a, 1sa), 1 adult male Northern Harrier, that was the first migrant of the day, 2 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks, 6 Golden Eagles (5a, 1j) and 1 male American Kestrel. The 2 resident pairs of Red-tailed Hawks were joined occasionally by an interloping fifth bird that resulted in some spectacular “sky-battles” between presumably competing males. The last sighting of a resident Red-tail was at 1810 when a bird made a vertical hunting stoop in the middle of the valley in steady falling snow.

10.5 hours (319.3) BAEA 3 (238), NOHA 1 (17), RTHA 2 (101), GOEA 6 (964), AMKE 1 (2) TOTAL 13 (1487)

Steeples [Day 14] (Vance Mattson) 1100-1630. Observation was from the Bull Mountain site where the temperature was 9C, winds were strong W and cloud cover was 60-100% altostratus, cumulus and cirrus. There were snow flurries and/or rain from 1215 to 1245 and again from 1550 to 1630 that finally obscured the ridges for the rest of the day. The only migrant raptors seen were 2 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks, the first at 1310, the second at 1450. Two non-migrant adult Bald Eagles were seen on arrival, and the resident Golden Eagle pair were seen several times including three long display flights one of which culminated in the first copulation seen this season at 1500.

5.5 hours (64.5) RTHA 2 (3) TOTAL 2 (503)

MOUNT LORETTE SUMMARY COUNT (March 1 to April 22)

DAYS 32

HOURS 352.6

TURKEY VULTURE (TUVU) 0

OSPREY (OSPR) 0

BALD EAGLE (BAEA) 168

NORTHERN HARRIER (NOHA) 1

SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (SSHA) 3

COOPER’S HAWK (COHA) 0

NORTHERN GOSHAWK (NOGO) 13

Accipiter sp. (UA) 0

BROAD-WINGED HAWK (BWHA) 3

SWAINSON’S HAWK (SWHA) 0

RED-TAILED HAWK (RTHA) 18

FERRUGINOUS HAWK (FEHA) 0

ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (RLHA) 21

Buteo sp. (UB) 3

GOLDEN EAGLE (GOEA) 2037

Eagle sp. (UE) 11

AMERICAN KESTREL (AMKE) 0

MERLIN (MERL) 2

GYRFALCON (GYRF) 1

PEREGRINE FALCON (PEFA) 2

PRAIRIE FALCON (PRFA) 1

Falco sp. (UF) 1

Unidentified Raptor (UU) 1

TOTAL 2286

April 1 [Day 31] (Jim Davis, assisted by Chris Hunt) 0730-1930 (1600-1930 at Lusk Creek). The temperature at 0730 was 3C, the high was 9C at 1500 and it was 6C at 1930. Ground winds were SW all day, 15-26 km/h at the Hay Meadow and 20-35 km/h at Lusk Creek, while ridge winds were strong SW all day apart from 1400-1500 when they were rated as very strong. Cloud cover was 100% stratus and cumulus to 1100, reduced briefly to 50% around 1200 and was 80-90% to 1500; by pleasant contrast cloud cover at Lusk Creek was 30% cumulus. The western ridges were 100% obscured apart from 1200-1300 when it was 50% clear, and the east was 30% obscured to 0900 and 100% after 1500 when steady rain fell and prompted the move to Lusk Creek. Snow was seen to fall to the south, west and north until 1100 which obscured the summit of Mount Lorette. The first migrant was seen at 1005 and by 1100 10 birds had been counted, and 5 more followed during the following hour, but subsequently only 1 further migrant was seen from the Hay Meadow. The count at the Hay Meadow site was 16 migrants comprising 4 Bald Eagles (2a, 1j, 1u), 1u Sharp-shinned Hawk, 3 Northern Goshawks (1a, 1j, 1u), 1 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk, 6 Golden Eagles (4a, 2u) and 1 adult female Peregrine Falcon. The first birds seen at Lusk Creek at 1645 were 3 light morph Broad-winged Hawks (2a, 1j) that soared above the ridge in a tight group for several minutes and allowed careful observation. They were not only the first for the season but the earliest ever recorded in the area by 13 days. They were followed by 12 more migrants up to 1828 that comprised 1 adult Bald Eagle, 7 Red-tailed Hawks (6 light morph calurus (4a, 1j, 2u) and 1 bird showing the character of “Krider’s Hawk”, B.j.borealis var krideri), 1 juvenile Golden Eagle, 2 unidentified eagles and the season’s first Prairie Falcon, an adult male bird. The 8 raptor species seen was a high for the season. Other birds seen at Hay Meadow included 1 male Mountain Bluebird, 85 American Robins flying north in flocks of 35, 20, 20 and 10, that were presumably moving ahead of the deteriorating weather, 4 Varied Thrushes, 2 Dark-eyed Juncos of the race cismontanus and 50 Common Redpolls. Most of the day’s 54 visitors to the Hay Meadow site arrived too late to see the migration, but they enjoyed the day out anyway, at least until the rain began to fall.

12 hours (339.7) BAEA 5 (156), SSHA 1 (3), NOGO 3 (13), BWHA 3 (3), RTHA 8 (18), GOEA 7 (2021), UE 2 (11), PEFA 1 (2), PRFA 1 (1) TOTAL 31 (2258)

[Addition to yesterday’s March summary: TOTAL 2227 (-14.3%)]

Beaver Mines [Day 35] (Peter Sherrington) 0800-1830. The temperature at 0800 was 5.5C, the high at 1300-1400 was 10C and it was 6C at 1830. Winds were strong W-WSW all day, 45-60 gusting to 75 km/h to 1400 and then increasing to 60-70 gusting to 95 km/h for the rest of the observation period. Cloud cover was 100-80% altostratus, cumulus and altocumulus to 1100 and was then variable 10-60% altostratus, cumulus, altocumulus, cirrostratus and cirrus for the rest of the day which generally provided excellent viewing conditions. The day started encouragingly with the first Golden Eagle gliding high to the NNW at 0806 followed by a second at 0836, but the very strong winds proved inimical to sustained migration and of the following 13 migrants seen 4 moved between 1033 and 1122 and 8 between 1550 and 1635, which proved to be the last bird of the day. The flight comprised 15 birds of 4 species: 4 Bald Eagles (2a, 2j), 1 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk, 9 Golden Eagles (3a. 1sa, 4j, 1u) and 1 adult male Prairie Falcon.

In the light of Jim’s observation of 3 migrating Broad-winged Hawks at Lusk Creek (see above), it is possible that I saw the same birds yesterday (March 31). At 1431 three light Buteos glided very high to the NNW close together against a cloudless sky and I was unable to find them in my telescope. As Red-tailed Hawks were migrating at the time I ascribed them as unaged birds of that species, but all the other Red-tailed Hawks seen that day migrated singly at lower altitudes and all employed powered flight as well as gliding. I now suspect that they were light morph Broad-winged Hawks.

10.5 hours (308.8) BAEA 4 (235), RTHA 1 (102), GOEA 9 (958), PRFA 1 (8) TOTAL 15 (1474)

Steeples [Day 13] (Vance Mattson) 1500-1700. The ridges were obscured until 1500 when Vance arrived at the site, the temperature was 9C, winds were strong S-SW, cloud cover was 70-50% cumulus and light rain fell from 1515 to 1530. No migrant raptors were seen but resident/non-migrant birds were 1 Turkey Vulture, 2 adult Bald Eagles and 2 adult Red-tailed Hawks.

2 hours (59) TOTAL 0 (501)

MOUNT LORETTE SUMMARY COUNT (March 1 to April 22)

DAYS 31

HOURS 339.7

TURKEY VULTURE (TUVU) 0

OSPREY (OSPR) 0

BALD EAGLE (BAEA) 156

NORTHERN HARRIER (NOHA) 1

SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (SSHA) 3

COOPER’S HAWK (COHA) 0

NORTHERN GOSHAWK (NOGO) 13

Accipiter sp. (UA) 0

BROAD-WINGED HAWK (BWHA) 3

SWAINSON’S HAWK (SWHA) 0

RED-TAILED HAWK (RTHA) 18

FERRUGINOUS HAWK (FEHA) 0

ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (RLHA) 21

Buteo sp. (UB) 3

GOLDEN EAGLE (GOEA) 2021

Eagle sp. (UE) 11

AMERICAN KESTREL (AMKE) 0

MERLIN (MERL) 2

GYRFALCON (GYRF) 1

PEREGRINE FALCON (PEFA) 2

PRAIRIE FALCON (PRFA) 1

Falco sp. (UF) 1

Unidentified Raptor (UU) 1

TOTAL 2258

March 31 [Day 30] (Blake Weis, assisted by Patrick Farley) 0715-2020. The temperature reached 9C at 1800 from a morning low of -2C and it was 7C when observation ended at 2020. It was calm in the valley to 0900 after which ground winds were SW 5-10 gusting to 20 km/h, while ridge winds were moderate SW all day. Cloud cover was 5-20% cumulus to 1400 after which 90% altostratus rapidly developed that thinned after 1500 to 50-60% altocumulus and cirrus for the rest of the day. The ridges were essentially clear all day and excellent observing conditions contributed to a count of 79 birds of 3 species that migrated between 1025 and 1940. The flight comprised 7 Bald Eagles (5a, 1sa, 1j), 3 adult calurus Red-tailed Hawks (2 light and 1 dark) and 69 Golden Eagles (41a, 3sa, 8j, 17u). With the exception of the 4 earliest migrants, 3 Red-tailed Hawks and 1 Golden Eagle that used the western route the rest of the birds moved high from the Fisher Range to Mount Lorette although some birds initially located high above Mount Lorette may have originated from Wasootch Creek. Movement was steady during the afternoon with hourly counts between 1300 and 1800 ranging from 11 to 15 birds. Resident or non-migratory raptors were 2 adult Bald Eagles, 1 adult Northern Goshawk, 1 pair of Red-tailed Hawks and 2 Golden Eagles (1a and 1sa). Other birds present near the site included 30 unidentified swans that flew high to the north over Mount Lorette around 1400, 1 Northern Pygmy-Owl, 1 Belted Kingfisher, 8 Mountain Bluebirds (3 females, 5 males), 25 American Robins (most of which were migrating to the north), 3 Varied Thrushes, 8 Dark-eyed Juncos, 1 White-winged Crossbill and 27 Common Redpolls. The 27 visitors all had good views of migrating eagles today.

13.08 hours (327.7) BAEA 7 (151), RTHA 3 (10), GOEA 69 (2014) TOTAL 79 (2227)

March summary (With variance from long-term 20 year average 1993-2016, that excludes the anomalously low counts in 2008-2010 and 2012 which are considered invalid). 30 days (+3.8%), 310.9 hours (+5.4%): BAEA 151 (+38.7% and the second highest March count after 154 in 1994), NOHA 1 (+33.3%), SSHA 2 (-20%), NOGO 10 (-11.9%), RTHA 10 (+127% and the second highest March count after 12 in 2004), RLHA 21 (+388% and the highest March count ever), UB 3 (+329%), GOEA 2014 (-18.03%), UE 9 (+309%) MERL 2 (-16.7%), GYRF 1 (+ 33.3%) and PEFA 1 (+233% and only the 7^th March record for the site) (10 species).

Beaver Mines [Day 34] (Peter Sherrington) 0800-1915. A couple of centimetres of fresh snow had fallen overnight and the temperature at 0800 was 1C. It rose to a high of 11.5C at 1500 and was still 9C at 1915 at the end of observation. Winds were variable and generally light (<10 km/h) to 1400 after which they were SW-WSW 30-40 gusting to 50 km/h for the rest of the day. Cloud cover was 100% stratus to 0900 which rapidly cleared and between 0930 and 1400 it was mainly cloudless with up to 20% cumulus and cirrus for brief periods. After 1430 altostratus and cumulus cloud began to develop which became 80-100% after 1600. The light winds were not conducive to raptor movement; the first migrant was not seen until 1135 and by 1400 only 6 birds had passed. As soon as the SW winds picked up, however, birds started to soar and glide high to the NW or NNW and by 1844 a further 46 migrants of 8 species had been recorded, 17 of which moved between 1700 and 1800. The flight was 13 Bald Eagles (10a, 1sa, 2j), 1 adult female Northern Harrier, 2 Sharp-shinned Hawks (1a, 1u), 4 Northern Goshawks (3a, 1j), 15 light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks (9a, 1j, 5u), 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk, 15 Golden Eagles (11a, 2sa, 2j) and 1 adult male Prairie Falcon. The two resident pairs of Red-tailed Hawks were conspicuous between 1140 and 1811, and an adult male Northern Harrier displayed at 1521 as the day’s only female glided high overhead to the NW: she did not stop!

11.25 (298.3) BAEA 13 (231), NOHA 1 (16), SSHA 2 (23), NOGO 4 (46), RTHA 15 (101), RLHA 1 (54), GOEA 15 (949) PRFA 1 (7) TOTAL 52 (1459)

March summary (new high March counts for the site in bold). 30 days (284 hours), TUVU 1, BAEA 228, NOHA 16, SSHA 16, COHA 3, NOGO 46, SWHA 1, RTHA 101, FEHA 2, RLHA 54, UB 6, GOEA 929, UE 2, AMKE 1, MERL 11, GYRF 3, PEFA 1 and PRFA 7 TOTAL 1435 (16 species).

Steeples [Day 12] (Vance Mattson) 1200-1800. Observation was from the Bill Nye site where the temperature rose to 14C from a low of 3C at 1200, winds were light variably SE, S and SW becoming calm after 1600 and cloud cover was initially 90% thin altostratus, cumulus and cirrus that reduced to 40% cumulus and altostratus after 1500. There was a strong movement of large raptors with 56 birds of 3 species moving between 1232 and 1713), with plenty of interaction between the birds as they moved to the north. The flight was 3 adult Turkey Vultures, 17 Bald Eagles (4a, 1sa, 12j) and 36 Golden Eagles (20a, 16j. The high percentage of juvenile birds of both eagle species is notable. Twenty birds moved between 1300 and 1400, 16 between 1400 and 1500, 11 between 1500 and 1600 and 8 between 1600 and 1713. The high count probably results from a week of mainly overcast and wet conditions which conveniently cleared this morning. Non-migrant activity was almost continuous with 16 distinct sightings of Turkey Vultures including a kettle of 6 at 1415, many sightings of 22 Bald Eagles (9a, 1sa, 12j) several of which soared over the front peak of Bill Nye, and 6 sightings of adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks including a hunting stoop from a hovering position.

6 hours (57) TUVU 3 (3), BAEA 17 (103), GOEA 36 (383) TOTAL 56 (501)

March summary 12 days (57 hours) TUVU 3, BAEA 103, SSHA 3, RTHA 1, RLHA 1, GOEA 383, UE 6 and MERL 1 TOTAL 501 (7 species).

MOUNT LORETTE SUMMARY COUNT (March 1 to April 22)

DAYS 30

HOURS 327.7

TURKEY VULTURE (TUVU) 0

OSPREY (OSPR) 0

BALD EAGLE (BAEA) 151

NORTHERN HARRIER (NOHA) 1

SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (SSHA) 2

COOPER’S HAWK (COHA) 0

NORTHERN GOSHAWK (NOGO) 10

Accipiter sp. (UA) 0

BROAD-WINGED HAWK (BWHA) 0

SWAINSON’S HAWK (SWHA) 0

RED-TAILED HAWK (RTHA) 10

FERRUGINOUS HAWK (FEHA) 0

ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (RLHA) 21

Buteo sp. (UB) 3

GOLDEN EAGLE (GOEA) 2014

Eagle sp. (UE) 9

AMERICAN KESTREL (AMKE) 0

MERLIN (MERL) 2

GYRFALCON (GYRF) 1

PEREGRINE FALCON (PEFA) 1

PRAIRIE FALCON (PRFA) 0

Falco sp. (UF) 1

Unidentified Raptor (UU) 1

TOTAL 2227

March 30 [Day 29] (Blake Weis, assisted by Rick Robb) 0730-1450. It was a cool day with a starting temperature of 0C, a high of 5C at 1200 and 1300 and 4C at 1450 when heavy snow forced an early departure from the site. Ground winds were south 0-5 km/h that occasionally gusted to 10 km/h, while ridge winds were light SW to 0900 then moderate for the rest of the day. Cloud cover was initially 100% stratus that reduced to 70% cumulus, altocumulus and cirrus at 1100 before returning to 100% stratus after 1400. Snow fell to 0800 that obscured all ridges which quickly cleared after 0800; they were essentially clear to 1230 when they were again partly obscured by snow to 1300 and completely obscured when heavy snow began at 1400. Not surprisingly there was only a sparse raptor movement comprising 1 adult Bald Eagle and 3 Golden Eagles (1a, 2sa) that were seen between 1032 and 1243. Resident birds were 1 adult Bald Eagle, 1 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk, 1 adult Northern Goshawk and 1 adult Golden Eagle that was seen displaying above the SE ridge of Mount Lorette. There was a fair assortment of other birds including 2 drumming Ruffed Grouse, 1 Killdeer, 2 Northern Pygmy-Owls, 1 female Mountain Bluebird, 15 American Robins, 6 singing Varied Thrushes, 8 Dark-eyed Juncos and 2 Common Redpolls. The highlight of the day, however, was a closely observed American Marten on the trail to the south of the site at 0930, an animal whose tracks are regularly seen but which is only rarely seen in the flesh. Eleven visitors arrived at the site during the more pleasant parts of the day.

7.33 hours (314.6) BAEA 1 (144), GOEA 3 (1945) TOTAL 4 (2148)

Beaver Mines [Day 33] (Peter Sherrington) 0800-1900. The temperature was 5C at 0800, rose to a high of 11.5C at 1400 and was 6C at 1900. Winds were WSW-W 20-30 gusting 45 km/h to 1430 after which they changed to NW-NNW 20-30 gusting 37 km/h. The sky was cloudless with traces of cumulus to 1200 that became 10% to 1400 when 100% thin cirrostratus, altostratus and cumulus developed. At 1430, with the change in wind direction, the cloud quickly became 100% stratocumulus that persisted for the rest of the day and produced light rain after 1750. There was a reasonably strong raptor migration of 43 birds of 5 species between 0937 and 1743,which was just before the rain began. The flight comprised 8 adult Bald Eagles, 3 Sharp-shinned Hawks (2a, 1u), 1 juvenile Northern Goshawk, 11 calurus Red-tailed Hawks (9 light: 7a, 2u, and 2 adult dark morphs) and 20 Golden Eagles (18a, 2sa). The busiest hour by far was 1400-1500 when 18 birds moved that included a kettle of 5 Golden Eagles soaring above the valley with a Sharp-shinned Hawk at 1413. The 2 pairs of resident Red-tailed Hawks continued to be active, including display flights, even while steady rain was falling up to the end of observation at 1900.

11 hours (287) BAEA 8 (218), SSHA 3 (21), NOGO 1 (42) RTHA 11 (86), GOEA 20 (934) TOTAL 43 (1407)

Steeples (Vance Mattson) No observation.

MOUNT LORETTE SUMMARY COUNT (March 1 to April 22)

DAYS 29

HOURS 314.6

TURKEY VULTURE (TUVU) 0

OSPREY (OSPR) 0

BALD EAGLE (BAEA) 144

NORTHERN HARRIER (NOHA) 1

SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (SSHA) 2

COOPER’S HAWK (COHA) 0

NORTHERN GOSHAWK (NOGO) 10

Accipiter sp. (UA) 0

BROAD-WINGED HAWK (BWHA) 0

SWAINSON’S HAWK (SWHA) 0

RED-TAILED HAWK (RTHA) 7

FERRUGINOUS HAWK (FEHA) 0

ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (RLHA) 21

Buteo sp. (UB) 3

GOLDEN EAGLE (GOEA) 1945

Eagle sp. (UE) 9

AMERICAN KESTREL (AMKE) 0

MERLIN (MERL) 2

GYRFALCON (GYRF) 1

PEREGRINE FALCON (PEFA) 1

PRAIRIE FALCON (PRFA) 0

Falco sp. (UF) 1

Unidentified Raptor (UU) 1

TOTAL 2148

March 29 [Day 28] (Joel Duncan, assisted by Caroline Lambert) 0800-2000. The temperature was 2C at 0800, reached a high of 7C between 1500 and 1700 and was 5C at 2000. Ground winds were SW all day, 10-15 gusting to 23 km/h in the morning and 10-15 km/h in the afternoon, while ridge winds were moderate SW all day. Cloud cover was 100% altostratus to 1700 when it became 100% stratocumulus and altocumulus which finally decreased to 40% cumulus, altocumulus and cirrostratus at 2000 when observation ceased. The eastern ridges were clear except between 1200 and 1400 when they were 20% cloud-covered, and cloud drape on the western route varied between 0% and 60% throughout the day. The first migrant, a Golden Eagle, was not seen until 1524 which was followed by a slow but steady stream of birds that moved along the Fisher Range to Mount Lorette until 1852. The count was 1u Northern Goshawk and 25 Golden Eagles (22a, 2sa, 1u), and 1 adult resident Bald Eagle was also seen on a couple of occasions. Other bird species present included 3 Northern Flickers, 1 Pileated Woodpecker, 4 Mountain Bluebirds, 16 American Robins, 4 Varied Thrushes, 6 Dark-eyed Juncos and 2 Common Redpolls. Eleven visitors were at the site today.

12 hours (307.3) NOGO 1 (10), GOEA 25 (1942) TOTAL 26 (2144)

Beaver Mines [Day 32] (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Gord Petersen) 0800-1915. The starting temperature was 3C, rose to a high of 9C between 1300 and 1600 and was 6C at 1915. Winds were variable and generally light to 1300 after which they were WSW-W 15-30 gusting to 43 km/h. Cloud cover was 100% stratus and cumulus all day except for a brief period around 1800 when it reduced to 60% cumulus, altocumulus and cirrus. A total of 39 migrants of 8 species were counted between 1040 and 1911 with only 4 birds moving on the light winds before 1300. Twenty-five of the birds moved between 1600 and 1900. The flight comprised 8 Bald Eagles (7a, 1sa), 2 adult male Northern Harriers, 3 Sharp-shinned Hawks (1a, 2u), 2 Northern Goshawks (1a, 1u), 10 calurus Red-tailed Hawks (9 light morphs: 8a, 1u and 1 adult dark morph), 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk, 2 unidentified dark Buteos, 10 Golden Eagles (8a, 1sa, 1u) and the season’s first American Kestrel a female that was harassing a harrier at 1311. Five resident adult Red-tailed Hawks were present for much of the day, but the only display flight seen was at 1851.

11.25 hours (276) BAEA 8 (210), NOHA 2 (15), SSHA 3 (18), NOGO 2 (41), RTHA 10 (75), RLHA 1 (53), UB 2 (6) GOEA 10 (914), AMKE 1 (1) TOTAL 1364

MOUNT LORETTE SUMMARY COUNT (March 1 to April 22)

DAYS 28

HOURS 307.3

TURKEY VULTURE (TUVU) 0

OSPREY (OSPR) 0

BALD EAGLE (BAEA) 143

NORTHERN HARRIER (NOHA) 1

SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (SSHA) 2

COOPER’S HAWK (COHA) 0

NORTHERN GOSHAWK (NOGO) 10

Accipiter sp. (UA) 0

BROAD-WINGED HAWK (BWHA) 0

SWAINSON’S HAWK (SWHA) 0

RED-TAILED HAWK (RTHA) 7

FERRUGINOUS HAWK (FEHA) 0

ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (RLHA) 21

Buteo sp. (UB) 3

GOLDEN EAGLE (GOEA) 1942

Eagle sp. (UE) 9

AMERICAN KESTREL (AMKE) 0

MERLIN (MERL) 2

GYRFALCON (GYRF) 1

PEREGRINE FALCON (PEFA) 1

PRAIRIE FALCON (PRFA) 0

Falco sp. (UF) 1

Unidentified Raptor (UU) 1

TOTAL 2144