RMERF counts. March 17
Saturday, March 17 Mount Lorette 0740-1720 (Jim Davis). The starting temperature was -2C, the high 3C at 1500 and it was 1C at the end of observation. Ground winds were light NE all day and ridge winds were also light E-NE. Cloud cover was 100% stratocumulus and stratus all day but became slightly broken allowing hazy sunshine between 1200 and 1400. A further 5cm of snow fell to 1128 and the ridges were all obscured to 1400 after which the east was up to 50% clear. Despite these unpromising conditions a total of 41 migrants of 5 species were recorded between 0949 and 1535. The first bird, a juvenile Bald Eagle flew low above the river to the north, and the rest of the birds were seen between 1242 and 1535 with 17 occurring between 1300 and 1400 and 18 between 1400 and 1500. During this period eagles soared low against Mount Kidd and Mount Allan and flew low over Skogan Pass to the NW and the Bow Valley when the cloud cover appeared to be thinner. Two adult-shinned Hawks flew low together to the north just west of the Hay Meadow, 2 adult Northern Goshawks flew over Skogan Pass together and a dark morph Gyrfalcon was also seen The final count was 7 Bald Eagles (1a, 3sa, 3j), 2 adult Sharp-shinned Hawks, 2 adult Northern Goshawks, 29 Golden Eagles (14a, 1sa, 14u) and 1 dark morph Gyrfalcon. Other birds present were a Northern Pygmy-Owl that sang east of the river at 0947, 5 Grey Jays, 7 Common Ravens, 1 Mountain Chickadee and 3 European Starlings. Thirteen hardy visitors made it to the site today.
9.67 hours (159.4) BAEA 7 (49), SSHA 2 (5), NOGO 2 (5), GOEA 29 (386), GYRF 1 (4) TOTAL 41 (453)
Saturday, March 17 Beaver Mines [Day 21] 0800-1800 (Peter Sherrington). The temperature at 0800 was -6C, the high between 1300 and 1700 was 2C and it was 0C at 1800. Winds were yet again light and mainly SE-E and apart from the first half-hour when it was cloudless, cloud cover was 100% stratus and stratocumulus all day. The conditions again proved inimical to raptor movement and only 8 migrants were recorded between 1130 and 1736: 4 Bald Eagles (2a, 1sa, 1j), 1 adult rufous morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk, 2 Rough-legged Hawks (1 light, 1 dark) and only 1 adult Golden Eagle. Three American Robins were the first for the year, as was a Killdeer that flew above the valley towards the SW at 1616.
10 hours (191.6) BAEA 4 (75), RTHA 1 (2), RLHA 2 (30), GOEA 1 (138) TOTAL 8 (249)
Saturday, March 17 Steeples [Day 13] 1100-1900 (Vance Mattson). The temperature reached a high of 9C from a low of 3C at 1100 winds were light N-NE and 20-50% mainly cumulus cloud behind the ridges gave good observing conditions. A season-high count of 128 migrants was made between 1205 and 1801 that comprised 9 Bald Eagles (5a, 1sa, 3j) and a season-high 119 Golden Eagles (105a, 2sa, 12j). Migration was initially slow with only 9 birds recorded by 1400, but the next 4 hours produced counts of 17, 31, 47 (16-1700) and 24 eagles. Soaring kettles of up to 6 eagles occurred but most flight, especially between 1500 and 1700, was high fast gliding after which it was generally close to ridge level. Non-migrant or resident birds involved 9 sightings of Bald Eagles (4a, 1sa, 4j) and 6 sightings of Golden Eagles (5a, 1j). The highlight of non-raptor movement was the first occurrence of a flock of 14 California Gulls that soared very high above the ridge before moving off to the north.
8 hours (57) BAEA 9 (84), GOEA 119 (385) TOTAL 128 (469)
SUMMARY COUNTS, SPRING 2018 | |||
MOUNT LORETTE March 1- | BEAVER MINES February 25- | STEEPLES March 1- | |
DAYS | 15 | 21 | 13 |
HOURS | 159.4 | 191.6 | 57 |
TURKEY VULTURE (TUVU) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
OSPREY (OSPR) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
BALD EAGLE (BAEA) | 49 | 75 | 84 |
NORTHERN HARRIER (NOHA) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (SSHA) | 5 | 0 | 0 |
COOPER’S HAWK (COHA) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
NORTHERN GOSHAWK (NOGO) | 5 | 3 | 0 |
Accipiter sp. (UA) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
BROAD-WINGED HAWK (BWHA) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
SWAINSON’S HAWK (SWHA) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
RED-TAILED HAWK (RTHA) | 0 | 2 | 0 |
FERRUGINOUS HAWK (FEHA) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (RLHA) | 3 | 30 | 0 |
Buteo sp. (UB) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
GOLDEN EAGLE (GOEA) | 386 | 138 | 385 |
Eagle sp. (UE) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
AMERICAN KESTREL (AMKE) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
MERLIN (MERL) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
GYRFALCON (GYRF) | 4 | 1 | 0 |
PEREGRINE FALCON (PEFA) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
PRAIRIE FALCON (PRFA) | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Falco sp. (UF) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Unidentified Raptor (UU) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
TOTALS | 453 | 249 | 469 |
RMERF counts, March 15 and 16
Thursday, March 15 Mount Lorette (Blake Weis). NO OBSERVATION (Weather). Blake was at the Hay Meadow 0810-0940 (0C) and again at Lorette Ponds 1050-1120 (1C) but heavy snow persisted under calm conditions and the mountains were completely obscured all day.
Thursday, March 15 Beaver Mines [Day 19] 1150-1310 (Peter Sherrington). Rain started early in the morning and turned to light snow at 0830. The ridge was obscured all day with the exception of 1150-1310 when precipitation ceased, the temperature was 1C and the ridge completely cleared, but no raptors were seen.
1.33 hours (169.6) TOTAL 0 (227)
Thursday, March 15 Steeples (Vance Mattson). NO OBSERVATION (Weather). Low cloud obscured the valley and mountains all day.
Friday, March 16 Mount Lorette 0830-2010 (Caroline Lambert, assisted by Rick Robb). Caroline drove to the site in dense fog, was greeted by 30 cm of fresh snow and had to snowshoe to the Hay Meadow site. The temperature at 0830 was -3C, the high at 1600 and 1700 was 3C and it was 2C at 2000. Ground winds were light and very variable all day and ridge winds were moderate SW to 1200, moderate S to 1600 and then E moderate to light for the rest of the day. Cloud cover was 20-30% cumulus to 1500 after which it thickened to 70-100% cumulus and altostratus to the end of observation. The eastern route was clear to 1100, was 20% obscured to 1500 and was then variably 40-70% obscured. The west was clear to 0900 and was then was very variably obscured 20-100% throughout the rest of the day. Fortunately no further snow fell. Despite the conditions a season-high 153 eagles migrated between 1130 and 1850, 150 of which were a season-high count of Golden Eagles. The flight comprised 3 adult Bald Eagles and 150 Golden Eagles (89a, 4sa, 5j, 52u). The hourly counts were 2 (1130-1200), 3 (12-1300), 8 (13-1400), 9 (14-1500), 47 (15-1600, including kettles of 8 and 10 eagles), 50 (16-1700, including kettles of 9, 16 and 13), 30 (17-1800) and 4 (1800-1850). Much of the movement was on the western route with kettles forming over Hummingbird Hill and Mount Lorette where birds often soared into low cloud. Other birds later in the day moved from the Fisher Range to Mount Lorette. One resident Bald Eagle and the resident pair of Golden Eagles were also noted. Other birds seen were 1 Pileated Woodpecker, 1 Grey Jay, 14 Common Ravens, 1 Black-capped Chickadee, 1 Mountain Chickadee, 1 American Dipper and 2 Pine Grosbeaks. Five visitors made it to the site.
11.67 hours (149.8) BAEA 3 (42), GOEA 150 (357) TOTAL 153 (412)
Friday, March 16 Beaver Mines [Day 20] 0800-2000 (Peter Sherrington). The temperature at 0800 was -1C, reached a high of 6C from 1200 to 1600 and was 0C at 1800. Winds were WSW 15-25 km/h to 1100 and then became variable and light for the rest of the day. Cloud cover was 20-70% thin altostratus to 1100 and 100% thin stratus for the rest of the day which gave hazy sunshine and excellent observing conditions. Ten migrants (1 Bald and 9 Golden Eagles) moved high to the NW between 0820 and 1054, but once the moderate WSW winds ceased only 4 more raptors were seen between 1355 and 1636, all of which flapped low to the NNW. The count was 2 adult Bald Eagles, 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk and 11 Golden Eagles (10a, 1sa).
12 hours (181.6) BAEA 2 (71), RLHA 1 (28), GOEA 11 (137) TOTAL 14 (241)
Friday, March 16 Steeples [Day 12] 1300-1915 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 8C, conditions were calm and cloud cover was initially 40% cumulus concentrated behind the ridges that changed to 70% cumulus, stratus, and altostratus by 1400. By 1630 the high peaks were also clear with 40% cumulus, thin altostratus and lenticular cloud, which changed again to 70% thin altostratus and lenticular by 1800. A season-high 117 migrants, all eagles, migrated between 1315 and 1854 comprising 16 Bald Eagles (7a, 9j) and a season-high 101 Golden Eagles (96a, 5j). At first movement was direct gliding flight, but after 1700 soaring was the dominant mode with 2 kettles of 6 birds seen between 1700 and 1800 and another of 5 birds at 1814. Many eagles again appeared to move as pairs. Hourly counts were 15 (1315-1400), 17 (14-1500), 3 (15-1600), 26 (16-1700), 48 (17-1800) and 8 (1800-1854). Non-migrant activity was also plentiful and comprised 6 Bald Eagles (4a, 1sa, 1j) including a courtship soaring and pursuit display by an adult pair seen on two occasions, and 5 sightings of Golden Eagles (3a, 2j) that included an adult that perched unconcernedly while several conspecific migrants passed directly overhead. An American Robin and 5 Dark-eyed Juncos were also seen for the first time at the site.
6.25 hours (49) BAEA 16 (75), GOEA 101 (266) TOTAL 117 (341)
SUMMARY COUNTS, SPRING 2018 | |||
MOUNT LORETTE March 1- | BEAVER MINES February 25- | STEEPLES March 1- | |
DAYS | 14 | 20 | 12 |
HOURS | 149.8 | 181.6 | 49 |
TURKEY VULTURE (TUVU) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
OSPREY (OSPR) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
BALD EAGLE (BAEA) | 42 | 71 | 75 |
NORTHERN HARRIER (NOHA) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (SSHA) | 3 | 0 | 0 |
COOPER’S HAWK (COHA) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
NORTHERN GOSHAWK (NOGO) | 3 | 3 | 0 |
Accipiter sp. (UA) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
BROAD-WINGED HAWK (BWHA) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
SWAINSON’S HAWK (SWHA) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
RED-TAILED HAWK (RTHA) | 0 | 1 | 0 |
FERRUGINOUS HAWK (FEHA) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (RLHA) | 3 | 28 | 0 |
Buteo sp. (UB) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
GOLDEN EAGLE (GOEA) | 357 | 137 | 266 |
Eagle sp. (UE) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
AMERICAN KESTREL (AMKE) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
MERLIN (MERL) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
GYRFALCON (GYRF) | 3 | 1 | 0 |
PEREGRINE FALCON (PEFA) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
PRAIRIE FALCON (PRFA) | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Falco sp. (UF) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Unidentified Raptor (UU) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
TOTALS | 412 | 241 | 341 |
RMERF counts, March 12, 13 and 14
Monday, March 12 Mount Lorette [Day 11] 0725-2005 (George Halmazna, assisted by Dan Parliament). The starting temperature was -14C which rose to a high of 10C at 1700 and was -2C at 2000. Ground winds were light SW to 1400 after which they gusted to 15 km/h to 1800 and then were calm for the last 2 hours of observation, while ridge winds were SW light to moderate all day. The sky was cloudless all day. A total of 23 eagles, 4 adult Bald Eagles and 19 Golden Eagles (17a, 1sa, 1u) migrated between 0830 and 1822 with 5 birds counted between 1300 and 1400 and again between 1600 and 1700. Only 2 birds used the west route, while the rest were initially located over the northern end of the Fisher Range from where they flew either to Mount Lorette or to Skogan Pass. Two adult Bald Eagles and 1 adult Golden Eagle were considered to be residents. Other birds recorded were 1 Canada Goose, 1 Great Horned Owl singing at 1920, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 3 Grey Jays, 24 Common Ravens, 2 Black-capped Chickadees, 2 Mountain Chickadees and 2 White-winged Crossbills. Despite the spring-like weather only 4 visitors were seen at the site today.
12.67 hours (114.5) BAEA 4 (31), GOEA 19 (152) TOTAL 23 (195)
Monday, March 12 Beaver Mines [Day 16] 0800-1900 (Peter Sherrington, Gord Petersen after 1700). The temperature at 0800 was -3C, the high was 11C at 1500 and it was 7C at 1800. Winds were calm or light SE-NE all day and skies were completely cloudless. The only migrants seen were adult Bald Eagles at 1419, 1425 and 1637, and a light morph Rough-legged Hawk at 1553. Gord spent 2 hours (1400-1600) at the Castle River Bridge in the Castle Provincial Park 12.5 km SW of Beaver Mines, where the wind was light W-SW. He counted 11 migrant eagles, 6 adult Bald Eagles and 5 Golden Eagles (2sa, 3u), that migrated slowly on a broad front from Table Mountain to west of the Carbondale Ridge between 1424 and 1530. This confirmed that migrants do indeed pass in significant numbers to the west of the Beaver Mines site.
11hours (146.8) BAEA 3 (63), RLHA 1 (10) TOTAL 4 (162)
Monday, March 12 Steeples [Day 9] 1515-1900 (Vance Mattson). The temperature reached a high of 11C and it was calm and cloudless throughout the observation period which saw a total of 38 eagles migrate between 1245 and 1824: 3 adult Bald Eagles and 35 Golden Eagles (29a, 1sa, 5j). Six of the birds were seen before 1600 and 15 and 14 were counted between 1600 and 1700, and 1700 and 1800 respectively. More than half the eagles appeared from behind the main ridges, possibly owing to the calm conditions, and many of the birds appeared to move as pairs. Resident birds were 4 Bald Eagles (2a, 2j) and 3 Golden Eagles (1a, 2j). The juveniles of both species were seen together for extended periods with the Bald Eagles indulging in protracted mutual pursuit behaviour.
3.75 hours (38) BAEA 3 (53), GOEA 35 (150) TOTAL 38 (203)
Tuesday, March 13 Mount Lorette [Day 12] 0800-1945 (Blake Weis, assisted by Brian McBride). The temperature at 0800 was -9C, the high was 11C from 1500 to 1800 and it was 5C at the end of observation. Ground winds were variable 0-5 km/h to 1200 after which they were mainly SW 0-5 gusting 15 km/h, while ridge winds were SW, light to 1200 and light to moderate in the afternoon. Cloud cover was 10-20% cirrus all day. Raptor movement again consisted entirely of eagles with 6 Bald Eagles (5a and 1 undifferentiated immature bird) and 17 adult Golden Eagles all migrating steadily on the eastern route between 1418 and 1838, with most birds being initially located over Mount Lorette after presumably originating from the Wasootch Creek area. A single adult resident Golden Eagle was seen mainly soaring over Mount Collembola or Hummingbird Plume Hill. Other birds noted were 5 Grey Jays, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 14 Common ravens, 1 Black-capped Chickadee, 1 Mountain Chickadee, 1 Boreal Chickadee, 1 American Dipper, 1 European Starling, 35 Bohemian Waxwings and 1 Dark-eyed Junco. Four visitors were at the site today.
11.75 hours (126.3) BAEA 6 (37), GOEA 17 (169) TOTAL 23 (218)
Tuesday, March 13 Beaver Mines [Day 16] 0830-1800 (Peter Sherrington). The temperature reached a season-high 14C at 1500 from -1C at 0800, and was still 11C at 1800. Winds were again very variable and generally light, and skies were again cloudless to 1700 after which 10% altostratus developed. Conditions again were not conducive to raptor movement and only 4 migrants were seen: 2 adult Bald Eagles at 1335, the season’s first Red-tailed Hawk, an adult light morph of the race calurus, at 1159 and 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk at 1500. The unseasonably high temperature produced the first butterfly of the year, a probable very early Brown Elfin that was on the wing at 1355. Gord Petersen again spent 2 hours at the Castle Bridge site (1500-1700) but the only migrants seen were an adult Bald Eagle soaring over Table Mountain and an unidentified eagle moving well to the west of the Carbondale Ridge. Several non-migrant Bald Eagles were also noted in the area.
10 hours (156.8) BAEA 2 (65), RTHA 1 (1), RLHA 1 (11) TOTAL 4 (166)
Tuesday, March 13 Steeples [Day 10] 1515-1845 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 7C, conditions were calm and sunny, and cloud cover was 40-60% thin altostratus and cirrus. A total of 21 migrant eagles moved between 1531 and 1825 that comprised 6 Bald Eagles (4a, 2j) and 15 adult Golden Eagles. Ten of the birds migrated between 1600 and 1700, and movement was slow, low and involved much soaring flight. Resident or non-migrant birds were four sightings of Bald Eagles (2a, 1sa, 1j) and three sightings of adult Golden Eagles.
3.5 hours (41.5) BAEA 6 (59), GOEA 15 (165) TOTAL 21 (224)
Wednesday, March 14 Mount Lorette [Day 13] 0805-1945 (Blake Weis, assisted by Cliff Hansen). The temperature at 0805 was -6C, the high was 10C at 1500-1800 and it was 4C at the end of observation. Ground winds were S-SW 0-5 km/h to 1400 and then N-NE 0-5 gusting 15 km/h, while ridge winds were SW all day, light to 1400 and then light to moderate. Cloud cover was 70-90% cirrus, altocumulus and occasional altostratus to 1500 when it briefly reduced to 40% cirrus and altocumulus before thickening again to 100% altostratus, altocumulus and cirrus by 1800. The ridges were clear all day. There was again a steady movement of 41 migrant raptors between 1338 and 1924 comprising 2 adult Bald Eagles, 38 Golden Eagles (32a, 6u) and the season’s first Prairie Falcon. Unusually, most of the movement was on the western route, with the exception of 10 birds that moved from the northern end of the Fisher Range to Mount Lorette, and the exceptionally late adult Bald Eagle recorded at 1924 that glided above the centre of the valley. The busiest hour was 1600-1700 when 20 birds (1 Bald Eagle and 19 Golden Eagles) moved. One resident adult Bald Eagle soared over Mount Old Baldy and a resident adult Golden Eagle was seen perched on Mount Lorette. Other birds present were 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 5 Grey Jays, 2 Black-billed Magpies, 13 Common Ravens, 1 Black-capped Chickadee, 1 Townsend’s Solitaire that sang near the parking area early in the morning, 1 European Starling, 20 Bohemian Waxwings, 1 Red Crossbill and 8 Common Redpolls. Six Bighorn Sheep were seen on Olympic Summit, and 6 visitors came to the site today.
11.83 hours (138.1) BAEA 2 (39), GOEA 38 (207), PRFA 1 (1) TOTAL 41 (259)
Wednesday, March 14 Beaver Mines [Day 17] 0800-1930 (Peter Sherrington). The temperature at 0800 was -1C, the high was 10C at 1600 and it was 5C when observation finished at 1930. Winds were generally light WNW-NE to 1430 when 10-15 km/h WSW winds developed that gradually increased to 30-40 km/h by 1900. Cloud cover was 60-80% altostratus, altocumulus and cumulus to 1500 after which it was 100% altostratus and cirrus to 1800 and then 100% uniform grey stratus for the rest of the day. No migrant raptors were seen up to 1435, but as soon as the moderate WSW winds started a steady stream of a season-high 61 birds of 3 species moved high to the NW up to 1854. The flight comprised 4 Bald Eagles (3a, 1j), a season-high 16 Rough-legged Hawks (15 light, 1 dark) that were seen between 1541 and 1738, and a season-high 41 Golden Eagles (40a, 1j). Nineteen birds moved between 1700 and 1800 and again between 1800 and 1854. Denise Cocciolone-Amatto also spent 2 hours (1415-1615) observing the Livingstone Ridge from the Frank site where she saw 75 eagles, 2 adult Bald Eagles and 73 Golden Eagles (72a, 1j), gliding to the north above the ridge. All the birds seen today were moving ahead of a northward-moving front that is expected to arrive tomorrow morning bringing rain and heavy snow to the area.
11.5 hours (168.3) BAEA 4 (69), RLHA 16 (27), GOEA 41 (126) TOTAL 61 (227)
Wednesday, March 14 Steeples [Day 11] 1630-1745 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 2C, conditions were calm and cloud cover was 100% stratus with periodic light rain and snow flurries. The clouds lifted at 1630 but at 1745 the mountains were again obscured and light rain resumed. No migrants were seen.
1.25 hours (42.75) TOTAL 0 (224)
SUMMARY COUNTS, SPRING 2018 | |||
MOUNT LORETTE March 1- | BEAVER MINES February 25- | STEEPLES March 1- | |
DAYS | 13 | 18 | 10 |
HOURS | 138.1 | 168.3 | 41.5 |
TURKEY VULTURE (TUVU) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
OSPREY (OSPR) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
BALD EAGLE (BAEA) | 39 | 69 | 59 |
NORTHERN HARRIER (NOHA) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (SSHA) | 3 | 0 | 0 |
COOPER’S HAWK (COHA) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
NORTHERN GOSHAWK (NOGO) | 3 | 3 | 0 |
Accipiter sp. (UA) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
BROAD-WINGED HAWK (BWHA) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
SWAINSON’S HAWK (SWHA) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
RED-TAILED HAWK (RTHA) | 0 | 1 | 0 |
FERRUGINOUS HAWK (FEHA) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (RLHA) | 3 | 27 | 0 |
Buteo sp. (UB) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
GOLDEN EAGLE (GOEA) | 207 | 126 | 165 |
Eagle sp. (UE) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
AMERICAN KESTREL (AMKE) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
MERLIN (MERL) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
GYRFALCON (GYRF) | 3 | 1 | 0 |
PEREGRINE FALCON (PEFA) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
PRAIRIE FALCON (PRFA) | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Falco sp. (UF) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Unidentified Raptor (UU) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
TOTALS | 259 | 227 | 224 |
RMERF counts, March 11
Sunday, March 11 Mount Lorette [Day 10] 0720-1950 (Bill Wilson, assisted by Caroline Lambert). The starting temperature was -10C, the high was 8C at 1600-1800 and it was 0C at the end of observation. Ground winds were SW-SE 2-6 km/h to 1200 and were SW all afternoon: 3-6 gusting 10 km/h to 1500 and then 3-15 gusting 25 km/h before dropping to 2-5 km/h for the last hour. Ridge winds were probably SW-SSW light to moderate all day. It was cloudless to 1500 when very thin altostratus and cirrus cloud developed that reached 100% at 1700 and 1800. There was another fairly strong raptor movement with 52 birds of 4 species seen between 0955 and 1845 comprising 8 Bald Eagles (7a, 1sa), 1u Sharp-shinned Hawk, 42 Golden Eagles (32a, 2sa, 1j, 5u) and 1 dark morph Gyrfalcon that was possibly the same bird that was seen yesterday. Much of the early movement (14 birds) was on the western route, and before 1600 most eagles on the eastern route were initially located soaring over Mount Lorette or Mount McGillivray; after 1600 they were observed moving along the Fisher Range and crossing the valley to Mount Lorette. Twenty-nine of the birds moved after 1600 with a highest hourly count of 13 between 1700 and 1800. The resident pair of Golden Eagles was mainly seen in the vicinity of Olympic Summit, but no display behaviour has yet been reported. Other birds seen were 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 4 Grey Jays, 46 Common Ravens, including an evening roosting flock of 36 birds that soared above Mount Lorette before flying to Mount Allen, 1 Black-capped Chickadee, 1 American Dipper and 1 Common Redpoll. The site had 41 visitors today.
12.5 hours (101.8) BAEA 8 (27), SSHA 1 (3), GOEA 42 (133), GYRF 1 (3) TOTAL 52 (172)
Sunday, March 11 Beaver Mines [Day 15] 0830-1915 (Peter Sherrington). The temperature reached a high of 8.5C at 1200 from a starting low of -3C and was 2C at the end of observation. Winds were mainly light ESE-SE and cloud cover was 0% to 1300 when 20% altostratus moved slowly from the SW that became 80-90% altostratus, altocumulus and cirrus at 1400 for the rest of the day but still allowed hazy sunshine. The spring-like conditions were delightful but only yielded 4 Bald Eagles (3a, 1j) between 1308 and 1611. A non-migrant light morph Rough-legged Hawk was seen on two occasions and an adult resident Golden Eagle was also seen once. The Mount Lorette count today again strongly suggests that migrants by-passed Beaver Mines on ridges farther to the west which again were perfectly clear.
11.75 (135.8) BAEA 4 (60) TOTAL 4 (158)
Sunday, March 11 Steeples [Day 8] 1245-1900 (Vance Mattson, assisted by Virginia Rasch). It was a sunny day with the temperature reaching 10C, conditions were calm and cloud cover was 40-60% thin altostratus and cirrus. As yesterday a total of 68 migrants were tallied comprising 24 Bald Eagles (12a, 12j) and 44 Golden Eagles (41a, 3j). The birds moved between 1320 and 1826 with 19 migrants between 1500 and 1600 and 22 between 1600 and 1700. Compared to yesterday’s count there was far more soaring with kettles of 7 birds and 5 birds each being seen on two occasions. Resident birds were 1 adult Bald Eagle, 1 adult calurus light morph Red-tailed Hawk and 3 Golden Eagles (2a, 1j).
6.25 hours (34.25) BAEA 24 (50), GOEA 44 (115) TOTAL 68 (165)
SUMMARY COUNTS, SPRING 2018 | |||
MOUNT LORETTE March 1- | BEAVER MINES February 25- | STEEPLES March 1- | |
DAYS | 10 | 15 | 8 |
HOURS | 101.8 | 135.8 | 34.25 |
TURKEY VULTURE (TUVU) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
OSPREY (OSPR) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
BALD EAGLE (BAEA) | 27 | 60 | 50 |
NORTHERN HARRIER (NOHA) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (SSHA) | 3 | 0 | 0 |
COOPER’S HAWK (COHA) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
NORTHERN GOSHAWK (NOGO) | 3 | 3 | 0 |
Accipiter sp. (UA) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
BROAD-WINGED HAWK (BWHA) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
SWAINSON’S HAWK (SWHA) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
RED-TAILED HAWK (RTHA) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
FERRUGINOUS HAWK (FEHA) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (RLHA) | 3 | 9 | 0 |
Buteo sp. (UB) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
GOLDEN EAGLE (GOEA) | 133 | 85 | 115 |
Eagle sp. (UE) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
AMERICAN KESTREL (AMKE) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
MERLIN (MERL) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
GYRFALCON (GYRF) | 3 | 1 | 0 |
PEREGRINE FALCON (PEFA) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
PRAIRIE FALCON (PRFA) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Falco sp. (UF) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Unidentified Raptor (UU) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
TOTALS | 172 | 158 | 165 |
RMERF counts March 10
Saturday, March 10 Mount Lorette [Day 9] 0715-1845 (Jim Davis, assisted by Ruth Morrow). The temperature at 0715 was -14C, the high was 7C at 1600 and it was 2C at the end of observation at 1845. Ground winds were generally very light and variable and calm for the first and last 2 hours of the day, with the exception of 1300-1700 when they were 2-10 gusting 15 km/h. Ridge winds were light to moderate W and skies were cloudless all day. A season-high total of 80 raptors of a season-high 6 species were counted between 0917 and 1740. Of these 28 were seen between 1600 and 1700 and another 28 between 1700 and 1740. The flight comprised a season-high 9 Bald Eagles (7a, 2sa), 2u Sharp-shinned Hawks (the first of the season), 3 adult Northern Goshawks (the first of the season), 2 light morph Rough-legged Hawks that migrated together, a season-high 63 Golden Eagles (43a, 4sa, 9j, 7u) and 1 dark morph Gyrfalcon that flew to the west late in the day. Only 3 birds, including the 2 Rough-legged Hawks, were seen on the western route; the rest used the eastern ridges with about 70% of the birds after 1600 originating from the Wasootch Creek area north of the northern end of the Fisher Range and gliding to Mount Lorette where they soared high before continuing towards the NW. The only resident raptor seen was an adult Northern Goshawk. Other birds were 2 male Common Goldeneyes, 1 Northern Flicker, 1 Pileated Woodpecker, 3 Grey Jays, 64 Common Ravens (29 of which soared above Mount Lorette at 1700), 1 American Dipper and 1 Grey-crowned Rosy Finch. An American Elk was heard bugling south of the site at 1000, and a season-high 45 visitors were lured out by the sunny weather.
12 hours (89.34) BAEA 9 (19), SSHA 2 (2), NOGO 3 (3), RLHA 2 (3), GOEA 63 (91), GYRF 1 (2) TOTAL 80 (120)
Saturday, March 10 Beaver Mines [Day 14] 0730-1830 (Peter Sherrington). The temperature was -2C at 0730, reached a high of 5C at 1200-1600 and was 2C at 1830. Winds were W-NW10-25 km/h to 1500 after which they were light S-SE and calm after 1800. It was essentially cloudless all day although trace to 20% thin stratus briefly developed from time to time. The first migrant was an adult Golden Eagle at 0811 which is the earliest so far this season, but movement was slow and sporadic with a disappointing total of only 19 raptors moving up to 1640. The count was 6 adult Bald Eagles, 2 light morph Rough-legged Hawks that flew north together at 1604 and 11 Golden Eagles (10a, 1sa). For the first time this season the ridges and mountains to the SW were completely clear and most of the birds seen at Mount Lorette today must have passed to the west of the site. Despite the low count a whole day of warm sunny weather was greatly appreciated.
11 hours (125) BAEA 6 (56), RLHA 2 (9), GOEA 11 (85) TOTAL 19 (154)
Saturday, March 10 Steeples [Day 7] 1100-1815 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 0C at 1100, rose to a high of 8C and was 2C at 1815. It was calm or light SE winds, and an initial cloud cover of 30% cumulus gave way to cloudless skies after 1500. A season-high total of 68 eagles were counted between 1120 and 1809 that comprised season-high counts of 16 Bald Eagles (9a, 1sa, 6j) and 52 Golden Eagles (49a, 1sa, 2j). The first two migrants were both adult Golden Eagles, at 1120 and 1142, and the next hour saw 13 migrants (5 Bald Eagles and 8 Golden Eagles). The most concentrated movement occurred between 1300 and 1400 with 27 migrants, and the next two hours saw 9 and 10 migrants respectively. No migrants moved between 1600 and 1700, but the pace again picked up slightly with 7 migrants between 1700 and 1815, including the last, a juvenile Bald Eagle, at 1809. Non-migrants were also all eagles consisting of 9 sightings of Bald Eagles (6a, 3j), including a courtship flight of two adults that soared in unison at close proximity, and 3 sightings of resident Golden Eagles. This peak of migrant eagles is comparable to similar numbers in the last two years: 63 migrants on March 11 in 2016, and 94 migrants on March 12 in 2017.
7.25 hours (28) BAEA 16 (26), GOEA 52 (71) TOTAL 68 (97)
SUMMARY COUNTS, SPRING 2018 | |||
MOUNT LORETTE March 1- | BEAVER MINES February 25- | STEEPLES March 1- | |
DAYS | 9 | 14 | 7 |
HOURS | 89.3 | 125 | 28 |
TURKEY VULTURE (TUVU) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
OSPREY (OSPR) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
BALD EAGLE (BAEA) | 19 | 56 | 26 |
NORTHERN HARRIER (NOHA) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (SSHA) | 2 | 0 | 0 |
COOPER’S HAWK (COHA) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
NORTHERN GOSHAWK (NOGO) | 3 | 3 | 0 |
Accipiter sp. (UA) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
BROAD-WINGED HAWK (BWHA) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
SWAINSON’S HAWK (SWHA) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
RED-TAILED HAWK (RTHA) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
FERRUGINOUS HAWK (FEHA) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (RLHA) | 3 | 9 | 0 |
Buteo sp. (UB) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
GOLDEN EAGLE (GOEA) | 91 | 85 | 71 |
Eagle sp. (UE) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
AMERICAN KESTREL (AMKE) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
MERLIN (MERL) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
GYRFALCON (GYRF) | 2 | 1 | 0 |
PEREGRINE FALCON (PEFA) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
PRAIRIE FALCON (PRFA) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Falco sp. (UF) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Unidentified Raptor (UU) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
TOTALS | 120 | 154 | 97 |