Saturday, March 9 Mount Lorette [Day 8] 0745-1800 (Blake Weis, assisted by Cliff Hansen). At the start the temperature was -8C, the high was 1C at 1500 and it was -2C at 1800. Ground winds were SW 0-5 km/h to 1000 after which they were W-SW 0-5 gusting 12-25 km/h for the rest of the day; ridge winds were light to moderate WSW to 1300, moderate to 1600 after which they were moderate WNW. Cloud cover was a mix of 30-70% altocumulus, cirrus, cirrocumulus and cumulus all day with the exception of 1500 when it reached 80% and all ridges were clear. Despite these favourable migration and observing conditions only 3 migrant raptors were seen, although the total was the highest for the season so far! At 1224 an adult Bald Eagle soared over Hummingbird plume Hill, glided to Mount Lorette and on to the NW, at 1410 an adult Golden Eagle crossed the valley from the northern end of the Fisher Range to Mount Lorette and on to the NW, and at 1426 a juvenile Bald Eagle flew above the valley towards the north. Other birds in the area were 1 drumming Hairy Woodpecker, 4 Canada Jays, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 7 Common Ravens, 6 Black-capped Chickadees, 4 Mountain Chickadees, 3 Boreal Chickadees, 2 Red-breasted Nuthatches, 1 Brown Creeper, 35 Common Redpolls, 24 White-winged Crossbills and 1 Pine Siskin. The sunny conditions produced a season high 28 visitors at the site.

10.25 hours (71.41) BAEA 2 (6), GOEA 1 (1) TOTAL 3 (7)

Saturday, March 9 Beaver Mines [Day 8] 0700-1830 (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0700 was -6C, the high was briefly 0.5C at 1400 and it was -4C at 1830. Winds were WNW-W 10-15 km/h to 1100 and mainly WSW 5-20 km/h for the rest of the day. Cloud cover was 100% stratocumulus and altostratus to 1100 that briefly produced light snow around 0900, but after 1200 mainly sunny conditions prevailed with 30-70 % cumulus cloud cover to 1800 when it became 100% cirrus, cirrocumulus and altocumulus that quickly thinned to 20% by 1830. Despite these apparently favourable conditions only 7 migrant raptors were seen between 1120 and 1738 that comprised 4 adult Bald Eagles, 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk and 2 adult Golden Eagles. Three of the Bald Eagles moved between 1532 and 1552. The resident pair of Golden Eagles soared briefly above the ridge at 1230. Other birds seen were a tight flock of 23 Canada Geese that flew low to the SW at 1814, 8 Rock Pigeons, 3 Downy Woodpeckers, 1 Northern [Red-shafted] Flicker, 10 Blue Jays, 26 Common Ravens, with again no obvious evening roosting movement, 6 Black-capped Chickadees, 4 Mountain Chickadees, 31 Evening Grosbeaks, 4 Common Redpolls, 59 Pine Siskins and 6 Dark-eyed Juncos (3 hyamelis and 3 montanus).

11.5 hours (89) BAEA 4 (13), RLHA 1 (4), GOEA 2 (21) TOTAL 7 (38)

Saturday, March 9 Steeples [Day 6] 1200-1730 (Vance Mattson). The temperature at 1200 was -1C and rose to a high of 5C, conditions were calm and 30-50% cumulus cloud cover provided mainly sunny conditions and clear ridges. A season high total of 13 migrant raptors were seen between 1215 and 1609 comprising 8 Bald Eagles (5a, 3j) and 5 adult Golden Eagles. Eight eagles moved before 1300 after which migration became more sporadic. All birds appeared over the flank and in some cases over the peak of Mount Bill Nye with some birds soaring for extended periods before gliding to the north. A resident juvenile Golden Eagle hunted along the ridge at 1317 and resident adult Golden Eagles were seen on 2 occasions.

5.5 hours (24.25) BAEA 8 (11), GOEA 5 (5) TOTAL 13 (16)

Friday, March 8 Mount Lorette [Day 7] 0930-1815 (Caroline Lambert, assisted by Rachel McKay). As all the ridges were obscured with the exception of Mount Lorette the observers remained at Barrier Lake to the north of the site until 1200 before moving to the Hay Meadow when clearing occurred. The temperature at 0930 was -5C, the high was 1C between 1400 and 1600 and it was -3C at the end of observation. Winds were W all day, 30-40 km/h at Barrier Lake and 5-10 gusting 20 km/h at Hay Meadow, while ridge winds were strong W all day. Cloud cover was 100% stratus and altostratus to 1600 after which it reduced to 70%, but apart from light snow flurries at Barrier Lake there was no precipitation. In the afternoon the east ridges were obscured 20% of the time and the west was largely obscured only reducing to 20% at 1800. The only migrants seen were 2 adult Bald Eagles that flew to the north above the river, one at 1405 and the second at 1740.  Twenty-five Bohemian Waxwings were seen at Barrier Lake, and other birds seen at Hay Meadow were 4 Common Ravens, 4 Black-capped Chickadees, 2 Boreal Chickadees, 1 American Dipper and 50 Common Redpolls. Two visitors were at the site today.

8.75 hours (61.16) BAEA 2 (4) TOTAL 2 (4)

Friday, March 8 Beaver Mines [Day 7] 0700-0910, 1000-1815 (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Hilary Atkinson); 0910-1000 (Gord Petersen). The temperature at 0700 was -6C, the high was -1C between 1400 and 1600 and it was -3C at 1815. Winds were WSW-W all day 20-30 gusting to 55 km/h to 1500 and 20-30 km/h for the rest of the day. It was cloudless all day with only traces of cumulus cloud to the S and SW. There was again a slow but steady eagle movement between 0833 and 1718 of 16 birds comprising 4 adult Bald Eagles and 12 adult Golden Eagles all of which glided high to the N or NW. At 0745 a resident adult Golden Eagle greeted the sunny day by displaying low above the hill and the pair together with a resident juvenile bird were seen on 5 further occasions during the day. Other birds seen were 11 Rock Pigeons, 5 Downy Woodpeckers, 9 Blue Jays, 34 Common Ravens, with no obvious roosting movement, 6 Black-capped Chickadees, 3 Mountain Chickadees, 25 Evening Grosbeaks, 13 Common Redpolls, 20 White-winged Crossbills. 34 Pine Siskins and 6 Dark-eyed Juncos (3 hyamelis and 3 montanus).

11.25 (77.5) BAEA 4 (9), GOEA 12 (19) TOTAL 16 (31)

Friday, March 8 Steeples [Day 5] 1200-1715 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 3C, winds were W light to moderate and cloud cover was 60-80% cumulus that produced periods of sunshine. Three adult migrant Bald Eagles seen between 1352 and 1409 were the first migrants recorded at the site this season. The resident juvenile Golden Eagle was seen on two occasions including a period of extended soaring at 1200, and a single resident adult was seen twice, once perching relatively low at 1430.

5.25 (18.75) BAEA 3 (3) TOTAL 3 (3)

Thursday, March 7 Mount Lorette [Day 6] 0750-1740 (Blake Weis, assisted by Lori Anderson). The starting temperature was -11C, the high was 2C (1400-1600) and it was -1C at the end of observation. Ground winds were W-SW 0-5 km/h to 1000, 5-10 gusting 20 km/h to 1400 then 5-10 gusting to 33 km/h for the rest of the day. Ridge winds were W-SW all day, moderate to 1000, moderate to strong to 1400 and strong thereafter. Cloud cover was altostratus, altocumulus and cumulus all day, initially 50%, 70% from 1100 to 1300, 40% at 1500 and 70% after 1600. There were persistent light snow flurries after 1100 but the eastern ridges were only 10% obscured between 1300 and 1400, and the west 20% obscured after 1700. The only migrant raptor was an adult Bald Eagle that flew north from the Fisher Range at 1548, and a resident unaged Northern Goshawk was seen over Hummingbird Hill at 1640. Other birds seen were a single Canada Goose at Lorette Ponds, a female American Three-toed Woodpecker at the parking area, 2 Canada Jays, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 8 Common Ravens, 6 Black-capped Chickadees, 4 Mountain Chickadees, 4 Boreal Chickadees, 2 Red-breasted Nuthatches, 2 Common Redpolls and 15 White-winged Crossbills. Four visitors made it to the site.

9.67 hours (52.41) BAEA 1 (2) TOTAL 1 (2)

Thursday, March 7 Beaver Mines [Day 6] 0700-1815 (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Hilary Atkinson). At 0700 the temperature was -14C, the high was 1C at 1100 and was 0.5C until 1300, which is the first time the temperature has risen above freezing here for 33 days, and it was -4C at 1815. Winds were W-WSW all day, light until 1000 then 30-45 gusting 50-65 for the rest of the day. Cloud cover was initially 80% altocumulus and cumulus that gradually reduced to 20% cumulus at 1200 and 1300. Light snow flurries started at 1100 but between 1315 and 1445 heavy snow swept from the SW and obscured the ridge after which cloud cover varied between 10 and 50% cumulus and altocumulus for the rest of the day. The Continental Divide to the SW was completely obscured all day. There was finally a slow but persistent raptor migration of 11 birds between 1022 and 1724 comprising 4 adult Bald Eagles, 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk and 6 adult Golden Eagles with all birds gliding high to the NW or N from the Big Hill. Other birds seen were 2 Canada Geese that flew to the SW at 1702, 9 Rock Pigeons, 3 Downy Woodpeckers, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 6 Blue Jays, 2 Black-billed Magpies, 28 Common Ravens, that included a meagre roosting movement of 17 birds between 1540 and 1615, 4 Black-capped Chickadees, 4 Mountain Chickadees, 9 Evening Grosbeaks, 16 Common Redpolls, 50 Pine Siskins and 6 Dark-eyed Juncos (3 hyamelis and 3 montanus).

11.25 hours (66.25) BAEA 4 (5), RLHA 1 (3), GOEA 6 (7) TOTAL 11 (15)

Thursday, March 7 Steeples [Day 4] 1400-1630 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 3C, winds were strong S and 60-80% cumulus cloud cover provided partly sunny conditions. No migrant or resident raptors were seen.

2.5 hours (13.5) TOTAL 0 (0)

Wednesday, March 6 Mount Lorette [Day 5] 0750-1740 (Caroline Lambert, assisted by Rosemary Power). The temperature at 0750 was -24C, the high at 1500 was -6C and it was -9C at the end of observation. Ground winds were light and variable in the morning and NE-N 5-10 gusting 20 km/h throughout the afternoon and ridge winds were probably moderate NE. Cloud cover was 80-90% cirrostratus and altostratus to noon when it quickly cleared to 10% after which it steadily increased throughout the afternoon reaching 60% cumulus and cirrostratus at 1400 and 100% by 1700. The ridges were clear all day but no migrant or resident raptors were seen. Other bird species in the area were 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 6 Canada Jays, 4 Black-capped Chickadees, 4 Mountain Chickadees, 3 Boreal Chickadees and 8 White-winged Crossbills. Five visitors made it to the site today.

9.83 hours (42.74) TOTAL 0 (1)

Wednesday, March 6 Beaver Mines [Day 5] 0730-1830 (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0730 was -17C, the high was -12C (1100-1500) and it was -14.5C at 1830. Winds were again mainly light, W-NE to 1300 and then E-ESE for the rest of the day. Cloud cover was 100% stratus for most of the day that produced light to moderate snow and occasional freezing rain, apart from 1340-1410 when the snow stopped and cloud cover was briefly 100% altostratus and cumulus with small patches of blue sky. Once again migration conditions were poor and the only migrant raptor was a light morph Rough-legged Hawk at 1716. At 1747 a non-migrant juvenile Bald Eagle flapped low from the NE and roosted in a tree low on the NE flank of the ridge. Other birds seen were 2 Rock Pigeons, 4 Downy Woodpeckers, 15 Blue Jays, 17 Black-billed Magpies, 51 Common Ravens, 48 of which flew high towards the SW to roost between 1646 and 1759, 8 Black-capped Chickadees, 3 Mountain Chickadees, 7 Bohemian Waxwings, 40 Evening Grosbeaks, 14 Common Redpolls, 60 Pine Siskins and 8 Dark-eyed Juncos (3 hyamelis, 2 cismontanus and 3 montanus).

11 hours (55) RLHA 1 (2) TOTAL 1 (4)

Wednesday, March 6 Steeples (Vance Mattson). NO OBSERVATION.

Tuesday, March 5 Mount Lorette [Day 4] 0830-1745 (Blake Weis, assisted by Katherine Peterson). Most of the day was spent in the Hay Meadow but for the last half-hour observation was from the Mount Allan viewpoint. The starting temperature was -19C the high was a pleasant -2C at 1500 and it was -4C at the end of observation. Ground winds were SW 0-3 gusting 10 km/h to 1100, then variable 0-5 km/h to 1300 and finally NNW-NE 5-10 gusting to 28 km/h for the rest of the day. Ridge winds probably reflected the ground winds but were difficult to assess as the sky was again cloudless all day with traces of cirrus developing after 1500. No migrant or resident raptors were seen, but other birds present were 6 Canada Jays, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 8 Common Ravens, 2 Black-capped Chickadees, 1 Mountain Chickadee, 2 Boreal Chickadees, 2 Brown Creepers, 2 Common Redpolls and 1 Pine Siskin. Ten Bighorn Sheep were seen on Olympic Summit, and there were 9 visitors to the site.

9.25 hours (32.91) TOTAL 0 (1)

Tuesday, March 5 Beaver Mines [Day 4] 0730-1830 (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0730 was -20C the high at 1400 was -6.5C and it was -13C at 1830. Winds were generally light all day, WNW to 1300 and mainly E-SE for the rest of the day. It was cloudless in the morning after which cirrus and altostratus cloud developed to the south which gradually increased during the afternoon and reached 100% at 1700 before breaking to 70% altocumulus at 1830. Despite the excellent observing conditions the light winds again proved inimical to raptor migration and once again none were seen. An adult Bald Eagle that perched in the morning for an hour and a half on a Douglas Fir on the NE flank of the ridge was probably the same bird that was seen yesterday at 1813, and was seen again perched in a cottonwood at the SW end of Beaver Mines at 1615 before flying low to the NE at 1638. A resident adult Golden Eagle soared briefly above the Big Hill at 1112 before perching near the summit, and was not seen again. The flock of 9 American Crows today appeared from the NE at 1746 and for 14 minutes moved high above the Hill in a tight group moving repeatedly to the SW then back to the NE. This “dance” was repeated about a dozen times with each leg becoming progressively shorter until they final descended vertically to roost in trees on the summit at 1800. Other birds seen were 5 Canada Geese, the first of the season, that flew above the valley to the SW at 1744, 4 Downy Woodpeckers, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 6 Blue Jays, 5 Black-billed Magpies, 47 Common Ravens of which 40 flew high towards the SW to roost between 1700 and 1804, 8 Black-capped Chickadees, 6 Mountain Chickadees, 12 Evening Grosbeaks, 10 Common Redpolls, 17 Pine Siskins and 5 Dark-eyed Juncos (3 hyamelis and 2 montanus).

11 hours (44) TOTAL 0 (3)

Tuesday, March 5 Steeples [Day 3] 1300-1630 (Vance Mattson). The temperature reached -2C under sunny calm conditions with 30-50% thin altostratus and altocumulus cloud cover. No migrants were seen, and an adult Golden Eagle that soared above the flank of Mount Bill Nye and which later moved to the north above the ridge was considered to be a resident.

3.5 hours (11) TOTAL 0 (0)