Thursday, April 12 Mount Lorette [Day 39] 1750-1900 (Blake Weis, assisted by Patrick Farley). The observers were at the Hay Meadow from 0715-1140 and at other sites in the study area, including Ribbon Creek, Lorette Ponds and Lusk Creek to 1330 when they left the area. The temperature was -2C to 1100 and then -1C for the rest of the day, ground winds were N-NE 0-10 gusting to 20 km/h and cloud cover was 100% stratocumulus that completely obscured all peaks and ridges. Moderate to heavy snow fell to 1330 when the observers left the area and were prepared to call it a non-observation day. A lightening in the sky, however, had them returning to the Mount Allan Viewpoint between 1750 and 1900 where the snowfall was now light and from where they could see part of the southwest ridge of Mount Lorette. At 1810 an adult Golden Eagle soared low above the ridge and drifted to the NW, and was considered to be a probable migrant. No other raptors were seen and the count was abandoned at 1900. Other birds recorded in the area were 7 Canada Geese, 6 Mallards (3 males, 3 females), 2 male Common Goldeneye, 1 pair of Barrow’s Goldeneye, 1 pair of Common Mergansers, 1 Ruffed Grouse drumming, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 1 Pileated Woodpecker, 5 Common Ravens, 1 Black-capped Chickadee, 1 Boreal Chickadee, 1 singing Pacific Wren (the first of the season), 3 Golden-crowned Kinglets, 2 Mountain Bluebirds (1 male, 1 female), 2 Varied Thrushes, 17 American Robins, 8 European Starlings, 18 Bohemian Waxwings, 2 Song Sparrows, 13 Dark-eyed Juncos and 4 Common Redpolls. Unsurprisingly, no visitors were recorded.

1.16 hours (436.1) GOEA 1 (2101) TOTAL 1 (2338)

Thursday, April 12 Beaver Mines (Peter Sherrington). NO OBSERVATION (Weather). Snow and fog all day completely obscured the ridge.

Thursday, April 12 Steeples (Vance Mattson). NO OBSERVATION (Weather). Rain all day with the mountains and valley totally obscured.

Wednesday, April 11 Mount Lorette [Day 38] 0705-2015 (Blake Weis, assisted by Jose Sanchez). The starting temperature was -1C, the high was 8C at 1700 and 1800 and it was 4C at 2015. Ground winds were variable 0-3 gusting 10 km/h to 1100 after which they were SW 0-10 gusting 15-25 for the rest of the day, and ridge winds were light to moderate SW all day. Cloud cover was 90-100% altostratus and altocumulus to noon that gradually diminished throughout the afternoon to 20% altocumulus, altostratus and cirrus by the end of the day. Observing conditions in the afternoon were very good but there was another slightly disappointing raptor migration of 18 birds of 4 species between 1250 and 1932 that comprised 2 Bald Eagles (1a, 1j), 1 adult Northern Goshawk, 2 Rough-legged Hawks (1 light, 1 dark) and 13 Golden Eagles (8a, 1sa, 4j). Most of the birds moved from the Fisher Range to Lorette, with 5 Golden Eagles located over Lorette probably originating from Wasootch Creek. Only one bird glided high above the Fisher Range. Maximum movement was 5 birds (2 Bald and 3 Golden Eagles) between 1600 and 1700, and 4 Golden Eagles were seen between 1800 and 1900 and again between 1900 and 1932. A resident Red-tailed Hawk was harassed by a resident adult Northern Goshawk over Hummingbird Plume Hill, and resident adult Golden Eagles were seen displaying over Humming Bird Hill and Mount Old Baldy; a non-migrant subadult Golden Eagle also flew south above the Fisher Range. First seasonal bird arrivals were 1 probable Northern Rough-winged Swallow, 2 male Mountain Bluebirds and 1 American Pipit. Other birds recorded in the area were 20 Canada Geese that flew high to the NE over the Fisher Range, single male Common and Barrow’s Goldeneye at Lorette Ponds, 4 Killdeer, 1 Belted Kingfisher, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 2 Northern Flickers, 1 Pileated Woodpecker, 3 Grey Jays, 13 Common Ravens, 2 Black-capped Chickadees, 2 Mountain Chickadees, 2 Boreal Chickadees, 2 Red-breasted Nuthatches, 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet, 1 singing Townsend’s Solitaire, 4 singing Varied Thrushes, 30 American Robins, 1 European Starling, 250 Bohemian Waxwings, 1 singing Song Sparrow, 8 Dark-eyed Juncos and 3 Common Redpolls. Eight visitors came to the site today.

13.16 hours (435) BAEA 2 (153), NOGO 1 (10), RLHA 2 (12), GOEA 13 (2100) TOTAL 18 (2337)

Wednesday, April 11 Beaver Mines [Day 45] 0700-2015 (Peter Sherrington). The temperature at 0700 was 4C, the high was 8C at 1600 and 1700 and it was 5C at 2015. Winds were favourable W-WSW all day 20-40 km/h, gusting up to 60 km/h in mid-afternoon. Cloud cover was 80-90% altostratus that formed a Chinook Arch for most of the morning that moved to the east around noon. Between 1235 and 1330 and 1430 and 1450 snow showers swept down from the SW that obscured the ridge, but after 1450 cloud cover was 10-40% cumulus that provided sunshine and excellent observing conditions. There was again a fairly strong raptor movement of 62 birds of 7 species between 0752 and 1953 with 24 of the birds seen between 1400 and 1600. The count was 17 Bald Eagles (8a, 5sa, 4j), 2 adult male Northern Harriers, 5 Sharp-shinned Hawks (3a, 2u), 2 light morph Broad-winged Hawks (1a, 1u), 5 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks, 1 unidentified Buteo, 29 Golden Eagles (21a, 3sa, 5j) and 1 Prairie Falcon. The total Bald Eagle count of 304 equals last year’s previous spring high count for the site.

13.25 hours (456.5) BAEA 17 (304), NOHA 2 (4), SSHA 5 (21), BWHA 2 (4), RTHA 5 (95), UB 1 (8), GOEA 29 (1345), PRFA 1 (2) TOTAL 62 (1932)

Wednesday, April 11 Steeples [Day 30] 1530-1945 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 10C, winds were light to moderate S and cloud cover was 50-60% cumulus with cirrus developing late in the day. A total of 23 migrant raptors of 5 species generally moved high above the ridge between 1554 and 1930 and comprised 1 adult Turkey Vulture, 6 Bald Eagles (2a, 4j), 3 Sharp-shinned Hawks (2a, 1u), 6 calurus Red-tailed Hawks (3 adult light morphs and 2 adult and 1 juvenile dark morphs) and 7 Golden Eagles (1a, 5j, 1u). Thirteen of the birds were counted between 1800 and 1900 and only one was seen after 1900. Non-migrants were again dominated by Turkey Vultures with kettles of up to 9 birds seen. There was no detectable northern movement with gliding and soaring birds dispersing only to be seen later in soaring groups again. It is possible that some of these birds were migrants, but it was impossible to determine this based on their behaviour. Other non-migrants were a subadult Bald Eagle and a resident Red-tailed Hawk that was seen making a hunting stoop near the site.

4.25 (131.5) TUVU 1 (4), BAEA 6 (146), SSHA 3 (3), RTHA 6 (19), GOEA 7 (571) TOTAL 23 (750)

Tuesday, April 10 Mount Lorette [Day 37] 0710-2010 (Blake Weis, assisted by Brian McBride). The starting temperature was -1C, the high was 10C (1500-1800) and it was 6C at the end of observation. Ground winds were variable NE-NW 0-5 km/h to 0900 and then were S-SW 0-5 gusting to 20 km/h for the rest of the day; ridge winds were light to moderate SW all day. Cloud cover was 90-100% altostratus and altocumulus all day, with some cumulus developing after 1800. The east ridges were clear to 1900 after which they were 10-30% obscured, and the west was clear to 1700 after which it was 20-40% obscured. Very light rain fell after 1800. There was a disappointing migration of only 10 raptors between 1347 and 1910 that comprised 1 adult Bald Eagle, 1 adult dark morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk and 8 Golden Eagles (3a, 1sa, 4u). The last bird, a subadult Golden Eagle, moved on the western route, and the rest were located gliding low either on the Fisher Range or Mount Lorette. A resident Northern Goshawk called south of the site early in the morning, and a resident adult Golden Eagle flew from the northern end of the Fisher Range to Olympic Summit. Other birds recorded were 16 Canada Geese, a pair of Common Mergansers, 4 Killdeer, 2 Hairy Woodpeckers, 1 Northern Flicker, 3 Grey Jays, 9 Common Ravens, 2 Black-capped Chickadees, 3 Mountain Chickadees, 4 Boreal Chickadees, 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch, the season’s first Ruby-crowned Kinglet, 2 Golden-crowned Kinglets, 1 Townsend’s Solitaire, 4 singing Varied Thrushes, 80 American Robins, 120 Bohemian Waxwings, 12 Dark-eyed Juncos and 7 Common Redpolls. Six visitors came to the site today.

13 hours (421.8) BAEA 1 (151), RTHA 1 (13), GOEA 8 (2087) TOTAL 10 (2319)

Tuesday, April 10 Beaver Mines [Day 44] 0700-2030 (Peter Sherrington). The temperature at 0700 was 3C, the high was 11C at 1500 and 1600 and it was still 6C at 2030. Winds were WNW-W 10-25 km/h to 1500 after which they were WSW-W 20-30 gusting to 40 km/h for the rest of the day. Cloud cover was 100% grey uniform altostratus to 1600 when it began to break and was then 90-80% altostratus, altocumulus and cumulus for the rest of the day. Very light rain fell at 2000. Movement was initially very slow and the first bird, a Merlin, did not move until 1011 and by 1300 only 5 migrants had been seen, but the pace then gradually quickened and by 1939 80 migrants of 8 species had been recorded. The count was 27 Bald Eagles (25a, 2j), 1 adult Northern Goshawk, 18 adult Red-tailed Hawks (17 light calurus and 1 dark harlani), 2 light morph Rough-legged Hawks, 1 unidentified dark Buteo, 26 Golden Eagles (17a, 2sa, 7j), 1u American Kestrel, 2 male columbarius Merlins and 2 adult Peregrine Falcons. Thirty-two of the birds, including 15 Bald Eagles, moved between 1800 and 1900. Denise Cocciolone-Amatto and Pat Lucas observed on Vicki Ridge between 1230 and 1511 and counted 9 migrants: 5 adult Bald Eagles, 1 adult Cooper’s Hawk, 2 light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks (1a, 1j) and 1 adult Golden Eagle.

13.5 hours (443.2) BAEA 27 (287), NOGO 1 (19), RTHA 18 (90), RLHA 2 (92), UB 1 (7), GOEA 26 (1316), AMKE 1 (4), MERL 2 (10), PEFA 2 (5) TOTAL 80 (1870)

Tuesday, April 10 Steeples [Day 30] 1530-1630 (Vance Mattson). Vance arrived at the site at 1530, but rain commenced almost immediately and by 1630 the mountains and valley were completely obscured and the rain persisted. A Red-tailed Hawk soaring high above the ridge at 1530 was considered to be a resident bird. The Osprey seen yesterday on the Kootenay River was joined by its mate in nest-building activity in the afternoon, and newly-returned Red-tailed Hawks were conspicuous throughout the valley.

1 hour (127.3) TOTAL 0 (727)

Monday, April 9 Mount Lorette [Day 36] 0900-2030 (George Halmazna, assisted by Dan Parliament to 1430, and Dan Parliament, assisted by Rosemary to 2030). The starting temperature was -4C but rose to a very pleasant high of 7C (1200-1400 and 1600-1800) and was still 5C at 2030. Ground winds were SW all day, 0-5 gusting 15 km/h to 1200, 10-15 gusting 25 km/h to 1800 and then 5-10 gusting 15 km/h to the end of the day; ridge winds were moderate SW to 1700, then light to moderate. The ridges were clear all day. The conditions produced the highest April count this season with 72 raptors of 4 species moving between 1047 and 2003, that comprised 3 Bald Eagles (1a, 2j), 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk, 66 Golden Eagles (39a, 3sa, 4j) and 2 unidentified eagles. The movement was exclusively high from the Fisher Range to Mount Lorette to 1736 after which birds were initially located high above Mount Lorette and presumably originated from the Wasootch Creek area. Movement was fairly steady all day with high hourly counts of 16 (1200-1300), 20 (1300-1400) and 11 (1900-2000). The resident pair of Golden Eagles and a non-migrant juvenile Bald Eagle were also noted. Other birds in the area were 2 unidentified swans that flew to the south at 2005, 52 Canada Geese, 1 Common Goldeneye, 2 Ruffed Grouse, one of which was drumming, 1 Killdeer, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 1 Northern Flicker, 2 Grey Jays, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 13 Common Ravens, 1 Black-capped Chickadee, 2 Golden-crowned Kinglets, 2 Varied Thrushes, 65 American Robins and 4 European Starlings. Eight visitors were at the site today.

13.58 (408.8) BAEA 3 (150), RLHA 1 (10), GOEA 66 (2079), UE 2 (24) TOTAL 72 (2309)

Monday, April 9 Beaver Mines [Day 43] 0700-2015 (Peter Sherrington). The temperature at 0700 was 3C, the high was 10C at 1300 and 1400 and it was 6C at 2015. Winds were W-WSW all day, 20-40 gusting 50 km/h and cloud cover was 0-60% cumulus and altocumulus to 1800 after which it was 80-100% thin cirrostratus, altocumulus and cumulus. Observing and migration conditions were excellent all day and produced the highest ever April count of 113 birds of a season-high 10 species that moved between 0950 and 2006. The count was a spring record 48 Bald Eagles (40a, 5sa, 3j), 1 adult female Northern Harrier, 6 Sharp-shinned Hawks (4a, 2u), 1 adult light morph Broad-winged Hawk, 16 Red-tailed Hawks (14 calurus: 12 light morphs (11a, 1u) and 2 adult dark morphs; and 2 adult dark morph harlani), 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk, 36 Golden Eagles (32a, 1sa, 3j), 2 male American Kestrels, 1 female columbarius Merlin and 1 adult female light grey morph Gyrfalcon. Movement was very steady after 1100 with high hourly counts of 20 between 1500 and 1600 and again between 1900 and 2000. A Great Blue Heron that landed in Beaver Creek at 1655 was the first for the season.

13.25 hours (429.7) BAEA 48 (260), NOHA 1 (2), SSHA 6 (16), BWHA 1 (2), RTHA 16 (72), RLHA 1 (90), GOEA 36 (1290), AMKE 2 (3), MERL 1 (8), GYRF 1 (7) TOTAL 113 (1790)

Monday, April 9 Steeples [Day 29] 1530-1830 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 12C, winds were moderate S, and 60-80% altostratus and cumulus cloud gave sunny periods. Three hours observing from the Bill Nye site produced only 4 migrant Golden Eagles (2sa, 2j) between 1731 and 1812. Non-migrants, however, were more plentiful with 5 Bald Eagles (3a, 1sa, 1j), 1 adult Northern Goshawk, 1 hunting Red-tailed Hawk and 1 adult Golden Eagle present. Most common, however, were Turkey Vultures with up to 15 in the air for much of the observation period in kettles of up to 7 birds: none showed any signs of moving to the north however. The season’s first Osprey was seen along the Kootenay River in the morning, and was seen rebuilding its nest in the afternoon.

3 hours (126.3) GOEA 4 (564) TOTAL 4 (727)

Sunday, April 8 Mount Lorette [Day 35] 0900-2030 (Jim Davis, assisted by Rosemary). The temperature at 0900 was -11C and the high was -2C from 1700-2030. Ground winds were light or calm except for 1300 and 1400 when they were E 7-13 km/h. Ridge winds were calm to 1100, mainly moderate E to 1700, after which they were moderate SW for the rest of the day. Cloud cover was 100% stratus to 1100 and 100-70% stratus to 1700 when it was altostratus and cumulus for the rest of the day. The east ridges were clear to 1200, became 20% obscured at 1300 and 100% at 1400 so the observers moved to Lusk Creek. After 1500 the east was again clear and the observers watched from Wasootch Creek for the rest of the day. The west was variably obscured 40-90% to 1600 after which it was 20% for the rest of the day. No snow fell at the observing sites but there was extensive snow to the south in the valley at 1400. The first migrant seen was a juvenile Bald Eagle at 1159 which was the only raptor seen at the Hay Meadow site. No migrants were seen at Lusk Creek but between 1511 and 2018 there was a strong movement of 65 birds that mainly glided fast from the northern end of the Fisher Range to Mount Lorette. The final count of 66 birds was 6 Bald Eagles (3a, 3j), 1u Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1 adult dark morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk and 61 Golden Eagles (46a, 2j, 10u). The season’s first Great Blue Heron was flushed from the river at 1117 from where it flew low to the north, and other birds seen at the Hay Meadow site were 1 Killdeer, 1 American Crow, 4 Common Ravens, 1 Mountain Chickadee, 11 American Robins and the season’s first Pine Siskin. Sixteen visitors came to the Hay Meadow site up to 1400.

11.5 hours (395.2) BAEA 7 (147). SSHA 1 (8), RTHA 1 (12), GOEA 61 (2013) TOTAL 70 (2237)

Sunday, April 8 Beaver Mines [Day 42] 0700-1830 (Peter Sherrington).The snowfall ceased early in the morning leaving 8 cm of fresh snow on the ground. The temperature at was -11C at 0700, the high at 1500 was 0C and it was -4C at 1830. The forecast moderate W winds failed to materialise and winds were light (5-10 km/h) all day, W to 1600 and then ESE. Cloud cover was 100% altostratus and cumulus to 1100, then variable 30-70% thin altostratus, cirrus and altocumulus to 1700, and 80-90% altostratus to 1830. Observing conditions were good all day. The first migrant, a Golden Eagle, was not seen until 1116 and the light winds only produced a total of 20 migrants of 5 species up to 1740: 4 adult Bald Eagles, 4 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks, 1 juvenile dark morph Ferruginous Hawk, 2 Rough-legged Hawks (1 light, 1 dark) and 9 Golden Eagles (7a, 2j). Fourteen of the birds were seen between 1416 and 1557.

11.5 hours (416.5) BAEA 4 (212), RTHA 4 (56), FEHA 1 (5), RLHA 2 (89), GOEA 9 (1254) TOTAL 20 (1677)

Sunday, April 8 Steeples [Day 28] 1330-1915 (Vance Mattson). As the ridges were obscured Vance observed from his house in Wasa from 1330 where he saw 57 migrants of 7 species between 1405 and 1605. Most of the movement was over the Kootenay River to the west although several birds passed directly over the house and others moved over Wasa Lake to the east. The count was 3 Turkey Vultures (2a, 1u), 21 Bald Eagles (11a, 5sa, 5j), 1u Northern Goshawk, 12 adult Red-tailed Hawks (10 calurus: 8 light and 2 dark, and 2 dark harlani), 3 Rough-legged Hawks (2 light, 1 dark), 16 Golden Eagles (11a, 1sa, 2j, 2u) and 2 American Kestrels (1 adult female and 1u). Thirty-two migrants moved before 1500, 19 between 1500 and 1600 and 7 after 1600. At Wasa the temperature was 7C, winds were N light to moderate and cloud cover in the valley was 90% stratus and cumulus that thickened by 1530 and brought rain at 1605. Oddly, at this time the mountain ridges to the east began to clear so Vance went to the regular Bill Nye site between 1630 and 1845. There rain and thunderstorms began at 1655 that lasted to 1715, which then dispersed leaving sunny conditions with 50% cumulus and a temperature of 10C. Only one migrant, an adult Bald Eagle was seen there, however, and Vance returned home and observed from 1900-1915 but saw no further migrants. Non-migrants at Wasa were 2 Turkey Vultures, 4 Bald Eagles (2a, 2j) and 2 adult Red-tailed Hawks, and at Bill Nye there were 3 adult Bald Eagles.

5.25 (123.3) TUVU 3 (3), BAEA 21 (140), NOGO 1 (2), RTHA 12 (13), RLHA 3 (3), GOEA 16 (560), AMKE 2 (2) TOTAL 58 (723)