Thursday, April 11 Mount Lorette [Day 40] 0745-1500 (Cliff Hansen, assisted by Rachel MacKay). The starting temperature was -1C, the high at 1100 and 1300 was only 3C and it was 2C when the count was abandoned for the day at 1500. Ground winds were very light (<5 km/h) and variable to 1100 then NE 5-10 gusting 15 km/h for the rest of the observation period. Ridge winds were light to moderate W to 1100 and NW-NNE to 1300, then moderate NNE to 1500. Very light snow fell at 0800 and there were snow showers from 1000 to 1200, but at 1400 steady snowfall began that became heavy at 1500. All ridges were initially 100% obscured but between 0900 and 1200 the east was 80-50% clear and the west 40-20% clear that gave the possibility of  raptor movement, but after 1200 all ridges were again completely obscured. No migrant or resident raptors were seen, but other birds recorded were 3 Canada Geese, a pair of Mallards and a pair of Common Mergansers on the river, 2 drumming Ruffed Grouse, 1 Wilson’s Snipe, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 2 Northern Flickers, 2 Canada Jays, only 1 Common Raven, 2 Black-capped Chickadees, 4 Mountain Chickadees, 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch, 1 American Dipper, 1 male Mountain Bluebird, 5 singing Varied Thrushes, 8 American Robins, 1 Song Sparrow and 12 Dark-eyed Juncos. Five White-tailed Deer were on the Stoney Trail in the morning and a party of 23 staff and students from Dr. E. P. Scarlett High School in Calgary visited the site and learned, amongst many other things, the value of gathering contextual negative data!

7.52 hours (454.5) TOTAL 0 (2265)

Thursday, April 11 Beaver Mines [Day 40] 0700-2015 (Peter Sherrington assisted by Hilary Atkinson). The starting temperature was 2C, the high at 1600 was 10C and it was 3C at 2015 when observation ceased. Winds were moderate and variable SSW-NNW 15-25 gusting to 35 km/h to 1700 after which they were N-E 15-25 km/h. Cloud cover was 90-70% altostratus, altocumulus and cumulus in the morning and 80-20% cumulus that gave mainly sunny conditions to 1800, after which 100% stratocumulus developed that brought light rain at 2015 which an hour later turned to heavy wet snow. There was a fairly strong raptor movement with 34 birds of 4 species seen between 0844 and 1938 that comprised 4 Bald Eagles (3a, 1j) 1 adult Northern Goshawk, 9 adult calurus Red-tailed Hawks (8 light, 1 dark), I unidentified Buteo and 19 Golden Eagles (9a, 6sa, 3j, 1u). By 1400 28 birds had been counted and it appeared that a fairly substantial count was in the offing, but the next five hours only produced 3 further migrants and the last 3 birds moved between 1924 and 1938. Resident Red-tailed Hawks were conspicuous between 0948 and 1808 and there are now probably 2 pairs present, and a single adult resident Golden Eagle glided high to the south at 1058. Other birds recorded were 1 Mallard, 19 Rock Pigeons, 4 Downy Woodpeckers, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 1 Northern Flicker, 3 Blue Jays, 43 Common Ravens, 1 Black-capped Chickadee, 2 Mountain Chickadees, 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch, 4 American Robins, 79 European Starlings, 23 Evening Grosbeaks, 10  Pine Siskins, 1 cismontanus Dark-eyed Junco and 3 male Red-winged Blackbirds.

13.25 hours (477) BAEA 4 (180), NOGO 1 (22), RTHA 9 (67), UB 1 (3), GOEA 19 (513) TOTAL 34 (853)

Thursday, April 11 Steeples [Day 34] 1300-1815 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 10C and conditions were calm and sunny with a cloud cover of 50-70% cumulus. The only migrants seen were 3 juvenile Bald Eagles: 2 at 1402 and 1 at 1515. Non-migrants were 4 Turkey Vultures, 2 Bald Eagles (1sa, 1j), 4 sightings of adult Red-tailed Hawks that included a pair-flight over the site with both birds vocalising and 1 sighting of a resident adult Golden Eagle.

6.25 hours (167.8) BAEA 3 (212) TOTAL 3 (688)

Wednesday, April 10 Mount Lorette [Day 39] 0705-1535 (Blake Weis, assisted by Katherine Peterson). Because of poor weather the observers left the Hay Meadow at 1200 and Blake spent the next 3.5 hours at Mount Lorette Ponds, the beaver ponds north at the site and the Mount Allan Viewpoint on Highway 40 and finally Lusk Creek in an mainly unsuccessful search of better observing conditions. The temperature at the start was -1C and the high was 5C at 1500 to the end of observation. Ground winds were very light SW to 1100 then N 0-5 gusting 15 km/h, while ridge winds were SW light to moderate all day. Cloud cover was 100% altocumulus, cumulus and altostratus to 0900, 100% stratocumulus to 1300 that brought snow that was heavy to moderate to 1300 with 3 cm falling in a one-hour period. The cloud reduced to 90% after 1300 with a mix of snow and rain and finally, at Lusk Creek, it was raining steadily and the count was abandoned for the day. Initially the east ridges were clear and the west 30% obscured, but from 1100 all ridges were 100% obscured except after 1300 when Hummingbird Plume Hill became visible on occasion. It was on one such occasion at 1330 that the only migrant raptor of the day, a subadult Golden Eagle, was seen flying low to the NW above Hummingbird Plume Hill. A resident adult Northern Goshawk perched and called near the nest site early in the morning and non-migrant subadult Bald Eagles were seen at 0745 and 1500. Other birds were more interesting and comprised a flock of 25 Snow Geese that flew low over the valley towards the NNE at 1100, 3 Canada Geese and a pair of Mallards on the river, 1 Ruffed Grouse (2 drumming and 1 seen), the first 2 Great Blue Herons of the season (1 at Mount Lorette Ponds and 1 on the river below the Mount Allan viewpoint, 4 Northern Flickers, 1 American Crow, 3 Common Ravens, 5 Black-capped Chickadees, 4 Mountain Chickadees, 2 Boreal Chickadees, 2 Red-breasted Nuthatches, 1 American Dipper, 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet, 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet, 1 male Mountain Bluebird, 2 singing Varied Thrushes, 15 American Robins, 2 European Starlings, 1 White winged Crossbill, 1 singing Fox Sparrow that was a first for the season, 1 Song Sparrow and 11 Dark-eyed Juncos, 1 of which was of the race montanus. Seven White-tailed Deer were on the Stoney Trail in the morning and although, not surprisingly, no butterflies were seen today, a Compton’s Tortoiseshell seen by Michael Woertman at the beaver ponds north of the site should be added to yesterday’s list. There were again no visitors today.

8.5 hours (447.2) GOEA 1 (2005) TOTAL 1 (2265)

Wednesday, April 10 Beaver Mines [Day 39] 0645-2045 (Peter Sherrington to 0900, Doug and Teresa Dolmen 0900-1700, and Peter Sherrington assisted by Hilary Atkinson 1700-2045). The temperature at 0645 was 1C, the high at 1400 was 7C and it was 3C at 2045. Winds were variable but mainly ESE-SE 5-20 and occasionally gusting 30km/h, but after 1700 they were mainly W at the same velocity. Cloud cover was 100% low stratus all morning that completely obscured the ridge to 1030, then 90% mainly stratocumulus to 1820 when it broke to 80% altocumulus and cirrus allowing the only sunshine of the day before returning to 100% after 2000. A mix of light rain and snow fell to 0900, and there were occasional light rain showers in mid-afternoon. Raptor movement was very sporadic with only 5 birds of 3 species seen between 1148 and 1937 that comprised 2 adult calurus Red-tailed Hawks (1 light, 1 dark), 2 Golden Eagles (1a, 1j) and 1 female columbarius Merlin that hunted songbirds and perched at the site at 1230. A resident male Northern Harrier displayed to the female at 1530 and a Red-tailed Hawk displayed above the ridge at 1756. Other birds in the area were 3 Canada Geese, 30 swans that flew high to the NE around 1400, 1 Mallard, 8 Wild Turkeys, 4 Rock Pigeons, 1 pair of Sandhill Cranes that fed together on the valley bottom, 3 Downy Woodpeckers, 2 Hairy Woodpeckers, 1 Northern Flicker,  4 Blue Jays, 3 Black-billed Magpies, 15 American Crows, 17 Common Ravens, 3 Black-capped Chickadees, 2 Mountain Chickadees, 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch, 1 male Mountain Bluebird, 4 American Robins, 163 European Starlings, 13 Evening Grosbeaks, 3 female Cassin’s Finches, 20  Pine Siskins, 1 hyemalis Dark-eyed Junco and 3 male Red-winged Blackbirds.

14 hours (463.8) RTHA 2 (58), GOEA 2 (494), MERL 1 (3) TOTAL 5 (819)

Wednesday, April 10 Steeples (Vance Mattson). NO OBSERVATION (weather). It was again cloudy and overcast with rain to 1400. The mountains, however, remained obscured for the rest of the day. Vance watched periodically from his house in Wasa from 1700 but only 2 non-migrant Turkey Vultures were seen.

Tuesday, April 9 Mount Lorette [Day 38] 0720-2000 (Blake Weis, assisted by Heinz Unger). The temperature at the start was -4C, the high was 8C from 1500 to 1700 and it was 5C at 2000. Ground winds were variable 0-3 km/h to 1200, E-ENE 5-10 gusting 25 km/h to 1400 and then SW 0-5 gusting 15 km/h for the rest of the day, while ridge winds were light to moderate SW to 1200, moderate to strong E-NE to 1400 and then moderate SE for the rest of the day. Cloud cover to 1400 was 100% altostratus, altocumulus, cirrus and stratocumulus, 100% stratocumulus, altocumulus, altostratus and cumulus to 1900 and the day ended with 90% altocumulus and altostratus. All ridges were clear to 1400 when both east and west became 10-20% occluded to 1500 after which they were again clear with the exception of the west that was 10% covered at 1700 and 1800. The only precipitation on a day that threatened more was a light to moderate rain shower between 1800 and 1830. There was a moderate raptor migration of 33 birds of 3 species between 1022 and 1633 comprising 5 Bald Eagles (4a, 1 immature), 1 adult calurus Red-tailed Hawk and 27 Golden Eagles (6a, 11sa, 5j , 5u). This is the first time this season that immature birds have significantly outnumbered adults. Maximum passage was 19 birds (3 Bald and 16 Golden Eagles) between 1100 and 1200 after which movement was slow and sporadic as the weather deteriorated. Most birds moved on the western route to 1400 with birds again soaring over Olympic Summit before gliding high to the NW behind the summit of Mount Allan, and for the rest of the day both east and west routes were used, again with extensive soaring and high gliding flight. A resident adult Northern Goshawk displayed to the NW at 1040, and 2 Red-tailed Hawks, possibly a pair, were seen in the same vicinity. The resident Golden Eagle pair soared above Olympic Summit at 1550 where the male displayed; they then crossed the valley to the Fisher Range ridge where the male again displayed. Other birds noted were 2 pairs of Canada Geese on the river, 3 Mallards, 1 drumming Ruffed Grouse, 1 drumming Hairy Woodpecker, 4 Northern Flickers, 1 Canada Jay, 1 American Crow, 10 Common Ravens, 3 Black-capped Chickadees, 4 Mountain Chickadees, 1 Boreal Chickadee, 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch, a pair of Mountain Bluebirds, 2 singing Varied Thrushes, 20 American Robins, 11 White winged Crossbills, 2 American Tee Sparrows, 1 Song Sparrow and 15 Dark-eyed Juncos, 5 of which were montanus. Nine White-tailed Deer were in the meadow in the morning and 3 Bighorn Sheep were on Olympic Summit. There were no visitors today.

12.67 hours (438.7) BAEA 5 (192), RTHA 1 (6), GOEA 27 (2004) TOTAL 33 (2264)

Tuesday, April 9 Beaver Mines [Day 38] 0645-1430 and 1800-2030 (Peter Sherrington). The temperature at 0645 was 2C, the high was 4.5C at 1400 and it was 3C at 2030. Winds were variable and light to 1430, and W 20-30 after 1800, and cloud cover was 100% stratus and cumulus to 1000 and 100% low stratus for the rest of the day. Light snow began to fall at 0855 that became moderate at 1125 and turned to light rain at 1300. Apart from brief periods the ridge remained clear to 1300, but was shrouded in cloud at 1400 as steady rain fell and the count was suspended at 1430. At 1800 the count resumed with the ridge clear and W winds of 20-30 km/h that gave some prospect of raptor movement, but cloud cover remained 100% low stratus and very light rain or drizzle continued to fall. No migrant or resident raptors were seen. Other birds recorded were 2 Canada Geese, 3 Mallards, 2 Downy Woodpeckers, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 1 Northern Flicker,  4 Blue Jays, 1  American Crow, 10 Common Ravens, 3 Mountain Chickadees, 6 American Robins, 97 European Starlings, 27 Evening Grosbeaks, 1 female Purple Finch that was the first record of the season, 22  Pine Siskins and 1 montanus Dark-eyed Junco.

10.25 hours (449.8) TOTAL 0 (814)

Tuesday, April 9 Steeples (Vance Mattson). NO OBSERVATION (weather). It rained all day and the mountains were totally socked in so no observation was possible.

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)

Sunday, April 7 Mount Lorette [Day 36] 0625-2025 (Bill Wilson, assisted by Lori Anderson). The temperature reached a high of 7C at 1500 and it was 2C at both the start and end of observation. Ground winds were SSW-SW all day, 2-15 km/h to 0900 and 5-15 gusting up to 28 km/h for the rest of the day, while ridge winds were SW moderate to strong all day. Cloud cover was 90-100% altostratus and cumulus to 1200 then 100% cumulus and stratus that produced very light to light snow for the rest of the day that became moderate to heavy from 1630 to 1700. The east ridges were clear to 1400 but became 10-20% obscured to 1600 and then 70-100% obscured to the end, while the west was clear to 1200, 20-30% obscured to 1400 and 90-100% obscured for the rest of the day, The conditions produced a disappointing migration of only 12 eagles between 1013 and 1513 with the first 4 moving on the western route and the rest gliding high above the Fisher Range to Mount Lorette. The flight comprised 2 Bald Eagles (1j and 1 undifferentiated immature bird) and 10 Golden Eagles (2a, 1sa, 4j, 3u) with a high hourly count of only 4 Golden Eagles between 1200 and 1300. Three adult non-migrant Bald Eagles moved to the south at 1123, 1556 and 1840, and a Northern Goshawk called from the nest early in the morning and an adult was seen hunting far to the SW at 1120. Other birds recorded in the area were 2 Canada Geese on the river, 1 pair of Mallard, 1 Ruffed Grouse that drummed throughout the day, 1 pair of Hairy Woodpeckers, 1 Northern Flicker, 1 distant Clark’s Nutcracker, 15 Common Ravens, 3 Black-capped Chickadees, 2 Mountain Chickadees, 1 Boreal Chickadee, 2 Red-breasted Nuthatches, 1 male Mountain Bluebird, 1 singing Varied Thrush, 7 American Robins, 4 European Starlings, 2 American Tree Sparrows, 1 Song Sparrow singing east of the river and 9 Dark-eyed Juncos, 2 of which were montanus. Thirteen White-tailed Deer fed in the meadow at the end of the day and Sunday brought 25 visitors to the site.

14 hours (412.6) BAEA 2 (176), GOEA 10 (1899) TOTAL 12 (2137)

Sunday, April 7 Beaver Mines [Day 36] 0700-2015 (Peter Sherrington). The temperature at 0700 was 3C, the high at 1700 was 10C and it was still 6C at 2015. Winds were WSW all day, 15-30 gusting 45 km/h to 1300 after which they strengthened to 45-60 gusting up to 80 km/h for the rest of the day. Cloud cover was mainly 100% cirrus, altostratus and altocumulus throughout the morning, then 100% uniform grey altostratus to 1430 that thinned to 100% cirrus, altostratus and cumulus at 1500 and was then 20-30% cumulus and finally it was cloudless after 1730. Raptor movement was again very sporadic with a total of 28 migrants of 8 species recorded between 0819 and 1745. The count was 6 Bald Eagles (4a, 1sa, 1j), a season-high 4 Northern Harriers (2 adult males and 2 females: 1a, 1j), 1u Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1a Northern Goshawk, 6 Red-tailed Hawks (5a calurus: 4 light, 1 dark; and 1 dark bird of unknown race or age), 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk that was the first migrant of the day, 8 Golden Eagles (4a, 2sa, 2j) and 1 adult Peregrine Falcon. The highest hourly counts were 6 birds in each of the three hours after 1500. A resident adult male Northern Harrier displayed vigorously at 1304 and 1 of the resident Red-tailed Hawk pair was seen hunting at 1646. Other birds recorded were 9 Canada Geese, 3 Mallards, 4 Rock Pigeons, 2 Downy Woodpeckers, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 1 Northern Flicker, 1 Pileated Woodpecker, 9 Blue Jays, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 15 American Crows, 12 Common Ravens, 1 Mountain Chickadee, 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch, 4 American Robins, 62 European Starlings, 54 Evening Grosbeaks, 14 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches that flew to the north at 1408, 25 Pine Siskins, 1 male cismontanus Dark-eyed Junco and 1 male Red-winged Blackbird.

13.25 hours (425.8) BAEA 6 (176), NOHA 4 (12), SSHA 1 (15), NOGO 1 (20), RTHA 6 (53), RLHA 1 (17), GOEA 8 (484), PEFA 1 (2) TOTAL 28 (799)

Sunday, April 7 Steeples [Day 32] 1500-1830 (Vance Mattson). It was overcast and rainy to 1430 when the mountains began to clear and Vance arrived at the site at 1500 when the temperature was 12C, winds were moderate to strong S-SE and 40-60% cumulus cloud cover gave mostly sunny conditions. No migrants were counted but non-migrants were common including 22 Turkey Vultures that included kettles of 6 at 1642 and 7 at 1536 which rose to 13 when a subadult Bald Eagle and 5 ravens joined the vultures. Other non-migrants were 8 additional Bald Eagles (6a, 2j) that included two pair-flights, 2 adult calurus Red-tailed Hawks and 1 juvenile Golden Eagle.

3.5 hours (160) TOTAL 0 (685)

Saturday, April 6 Mount Lorette [Day 35] 0720-1945 (Blake Weis, assisted by Brian McBride, Heinz Unger and Caroline Lambert). The starting temperature was 4C, the high was 7C from 1300 to 1600 and it was 5C at the end of observation. Ground winds were S-SW all day, 5-10 gusting 30 and occasionally to 50 km/h to 1900 after which gusts dropped to 15 km/h, while ridge winds were moderate to strong SW all day. Cloud cover was 100% altocumulus, altostratus, cumulus and stratocumulus to 0900, 100% stratocumulus between 0900 and 1000 that produced snow from 0900 to 0930 and light snow flurries continued throughout the day; between 1000 and 1500 cloud cover was 60-90% altocumulus, cumulus and cirrus and after 1600 it was again 100% stratocumulus with moderate snow flurries. All ridges were 10% obscured to 0900 and 100% obscured by snow between 0900 and 0930 but by 1200 all were clear. After 1600, however, the west was 100% obscured and the east 100-30% obscured for the rest of the day. Despite these conditions there was a moderate raptor migration of 27 birds of 3 species between 1235 and 1750 that comprised 6 Bald Eagles (3a, 1sa and 2 undifferentiated immatures), 1 adult Northern Goshawk and 20 Golden Eagles (7a, 1sa, 3j, 9u). Birds moved slowly but steadily between 1235 and 1600 with maximum hourly counts of 7 (1500-1600 and 1600-1700) but after 1700 only 3 further birds were seen. All used the eastern route where eagles glided high above the Fisher Range to 1500 but as conditions deteriorated birds moved against the face of the range. All the Golden Eagles glided NW to Mount Lorette, but 5 of the 6 Bald eagles flew directly north from the northern end of the Fisher Range. Resident birds were 1 or 2 Northern Goshawks including one calling from the nest site around 1700, and two sightings of adult Golden Eagles but no display behaviour was seen. Other birds in the area were 2 Canada Geese on the river, 1 Mallard, 1 male Common Merganser, 2 Ruffed Grouse (1 drumming and 1 seen), 10 unidentified gulls that flew from the Fisher Range to Mount Lorette at 1440, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 1 Northern Flicker, 10 Common Ravens, 2 Black-capped Chickadees, 4 Mountain Chickadees, 1 Boreal Chickadee, 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch, 1 Brown Creeper, 1 American Dipper, 2 Golden-crowned Kinglets, 1 male Mountain Bluebird, 2 singing Varied Thrushes, 9 American Robins, 1 White-winged Crossbill, 1 Pine Siskin, 1 American Tree Sparrow, 1 Song Sparrow and 9 Dark-eyed Juncos including 1 cismontanus and 1 montanus. Eight White-tailed Deer were in the meadow and one American Mink crossed the river three times as it moved to the south near the site. Thirteen visitors were also at the site today.

12.42 hours (398.6) BAEA 6 (174), NOGO 1 (10), GOEA 20 (1889) TOTAL 27 (2125)

Saturday, April 6 Beaver Mines [Day 35] 0700-2015 (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Mark Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0700 was 4C, the high at 1300 was 8C and it was 5C at 2015. Winds were strong W-WSW 30-50 gusting up to 80 km/h to 1700 after which they moderated with gusts only up the 40 km/h. Cloud cover was 20-50% mainly cumulus to 1230 after which it was 90-100% altostratus, cirrus, cumulus and altocumulus to 1800 and then cleared to 10% cumulus at the end of observation. There was a moderately strong, but again sporadic, raptor movement between 0832 and 1830 that involved 37 birds of 5 species: 7 Bald Eagles (6a, 1j), 5 Sharp-shinned Hawks (1a, 4u), 3 Northern Goshawks (2a, 1u), 4 adult calurus Red-tailed Hawks (2 light, 2 dark), 17 Golden Eagles (14a, 2sa, 1j) and 1 unidentified eagle. There was an encouraging start to the day with 7 raptors including 5 Golden Eagles moving before 0905, but it was not sustained and movement became sporadic with the only double-figure hourly count between 1500 and 1600 when 12 migrants were seen and subsequently only 2 further migrants moved. Resident birds were 1 adult Northern Goshawk, 1 adult Red-tailed Hawk and an adult Golden Eagle that displayed at 1431. Other birds seen were 4 Canada Geese, 3 Mallards, 17 Rock Pigeons, 2 Downy Woodpeckers, 2 Northern Flickers, 6 Blue Jays, 3 Black-billed Magpies, 38 American Crows, 21 Common Ravens, 2 Black-capped Chickadees, 1 Mountain Chickadee, 4 American Robins, 550 European Starlings, 35 Evening Grosbeaks, 16 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches that flew high to the north at 0836, 10 Pine Siskins and 1 male Red-winged Blackbird.

13.25 hours (412.5) BAEA 7 (170), SSHA 5 (14), NOGO 3 (19), RTHA 4 (47), GOEA 17 (476), UE 1 (2) TOTAL 37 (771)

Saturday, April 6 Steeples [Day 31] 1130-1900 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 8C, winds were strong S throughout and cloud cover was 100-70% altostratus and dark cumulus. Only 7 migrants, all eagles, were seen between 1315 and 1834 that comprised 2 juvenile Bald Eagles, 4 Golden Eagles (2a, 2u) and 1 unidentified eagle. Five of the birds moved very high and were mainly silhouettes against a dark grey cloud background. Non-migrants were 4 Turkey Vultures, 2 Bald Eagles (1a, 1j), 1 adult Northern Goshawk that hunted near the site, 2 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks that headed to the SW and 2 adult Golden Eagles that were seen twice including soaring together over the ridge at the end of the day.

7.5 hours (156.5) BAEA 2 (209), GOEA 4 (453), UE 1 (7) TOTAL 7 (685)