Thursday, April 18 Mount Lorette [Day 47] 0715-2010 (Blake Weis, assisted by Rachel MacKay). The temperature at 0715 was 5C, the high was 14C from 1700 to 1900 and it was 12C at 2010. Ground winds were W-SW all day, 2-5 gusting 15 km/h to 0900 and then 5-10 gusting to 32 km/h for the rest of the day, while ridge winds were moderate to strong NW all day. Cloud cover was initially 40% altocumulus, lenticular cirrus and altostratus that gradually spread to 70% at 1100; between 1100 and 1300 it was 80-90% cumulus, altocumulus, altostratus, cirrus, cirrocumulus and cirrostratus, at 1300 and 1400 it was 100% altostratus and cumulus and for the rest of the day it was variable 50-80% cumulus, altocumulus, altostratus and cirrus with minor stratocumulus developed to the west. The variety of cloud forms was not matched by the number of raptor migrants as again only two were seen: 1 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk that flew north from the Fisher Range at 1458 and an immature Bald Eagle that flew from the south face of Mount Lorette to Mount McGillivray and on to the NW at 1844. Resident birds were a pair of Red-tailed Hawks soaring over Hummingbird Plume Hill and single birds, probably of the same pair, that hunted north of the site, and an adult Golden Eagle that flew low from Mount Lorette to the Fisher Range at 1140. Other birds noted in the area were 3 Canada Geese and a pair of Mallards on the river, 3 drumming Ruffed Grouse, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 3 Northern Flickers, 1 Canada Jay, 1 American Crow, 7 Common Ravens, 3 Black-capped Chickadees, 2 Mountain Chickadees, 2 Boreal Chickadees, 2 Red-breasted Nuthatches, 1 American Dipper seen at Troll Falls, 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet, 1 singing Ruby-crowned Kinglet, 1 male and 2 female Mountain Bluebirds, 2 singing Varied Thrushes, 15 American Robins, 2 American Pipits, 12 White winged Crossbill, 2 Pine Siskins, 1 Fox Sparrow that sang only in the morning, 1 singing Song Sparrow, 10 Dark-eyed Juncos, 3 of which were montanus, the first Western Meadowlark of the season and 1 male Red-winged Blackbird. Three White-tailed Deer fed in the meadow early in the morning and again late in the evening, a single Bighorn Sheep was seen on Olympic Summit, and there were 5 visitors to the site today.

13.92 hours (544.2) BAEA 1 (202), RTHA 1 (11) TOTAL 2 (2363)

[Addenda to April 17 report: while driving to the site, at 0945 Cliff saw an adult light morph Ferruginous Hawk soaring low at the confluence of the Kananaskis and Bow Rivers, 18 km NNE of the Hay Meadow site. Three Mountain Bluebirds, 2 males and 1 female, were also seen in the Hay Meadow.]

Thursday, April 18 Beaver Mines [Day 47] 0630-2045 (Peter Sherrington assisted by Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0630 was already 7C, the high at 1200 and again at 1600 was 14C and it was still 10.5C at 2045. Winds were again strong WSW-W all day, 40 to 50 gusting 70 km/h and to 90 km/h at 1400 and 2045. Cloud cover was 60-100% altostratus, cumulus, cirrus, cirrocumulus, altocumulus and lenticular to 1530, 20-70% cumulus to 1900 and then 100-30% thin cirrostratus and cumulus for the rest of the day. Observing conditions were very good all day and produced a varied if sporadic movement of 22 raptors of 11 species between 0926 and 1821. The flight was 1u Turkey Vulture at 1703, 1 Osprey at 1640, both of which were the first of the season, 1 subadult Bald Eagle, 3u Sharp-shinned Hawks, 2 Cooper’s Hawks (1a, 1u), 2 Northern Goshawks (1j, 1u), 1 adult light morph Ferruginous Hawk, 1 dark morph Rough-legged Hawk, 7 Golden Eagles (3a, 4j), 2 columbarius Merlins (1 male, 1 female) and 1 male Prairie Falcon. Resident birds were 1 male Northern Harrier and sporadic sightings of hunting Red-tailed Hawks. Other birds seen were 1 Canada Goose, 2 male and 1 female Wood Ducks, 5 Mallards and 2 pairs of Green-winged Teal on the creek, a lek of 8 Wild Turkeys that comprised 5 very aggressive displaying males that fought amongst themselves and 3 females that completely ignored them and calmly fed close by, 17 Rock Pigeons, single Sandhill Cranes that flew high to the SW at 0913 and 1801, 1 Wilson’s Snipe, 1 Downy Woodpecker, 2 male Northern Flickers, 6 Blue Jays, 2 Black-billed Magpies, 4 American Crows, 32 Common Ravens, 1 Tree Swallow, 4 American Robins, 65 European Starlings, 30 Evening Grosbeaks, 1 female Cassin’s Finch, 15 Pine Siskins and 7 male Red-winged Blackbirds.

14.25 (573.8) TUVU 1 (1), OSPR 1 (1), BAEA 1 (211), SSHA 3 (30), COHA 2 (4), NOGO 2 (28), FEHA 1 (3), RLHA 1 (26), GOEA 7 (591), MERL 2 (11), PRFA 1 (8) TOTAL 22 (1067)

Thursday, April 18 Steeples [Day 39] 1300-1730 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 14C, winds were moderate to strong S and cloud cover was 100% altostratus and cumulus that slightly obscured the ridges at 1700 and brought light rain. It was another slow day with no migrant raptors and just one non-migrant juvenile Bald Eagle seen.

4.5 hours (190.5) TOTAL 0 (689)

Wednesday, April 17 Mount Lorette [Day 46] 0715-2045 (Cliff Hansen, assisted by Rick Robb and Chris Hunt). The starting temperature was 3C, the high at 1700 was 11C and it was 7C at the end of observation. Ground winds were SW all day 0-5 gusting 20 km/h and up to 35 km/h after 1700, while ridge winds were moderate to strong W-NW in the morning that became NW to 1700 after which they were strong NW for the rest of the day. Cloud cover was initially 80% cumulus that brought light snow flurries and was then 90-60% cumulus for the rest of the day. The ridges were clear all day and observing conditions were good throughout, but the only migrants seen were a subadult Golden Eagle that glided high from the Fisher Range to above Mount Lorette at 1618 and an unaged Golden Eagle that glided very high on the same route at 1940. Resident and non-migrant raptors were 4 adult Bald Eagles (probably two pairs) that soared above the Fisher Range at 1645 and interacted vigorously before flying to the east, a Northern Goshawk that called from the nest site at 1000, a pair of Red-tailed Hawks that soared above Hummingbird Plume Hill at 1536 and 1 or 2 adult resident Golden Eagles that were occasionally seen hunting up to 1214. Other birds in the area were also scarce and comprised 3 Canada Geese, 11 Mallards and a pair of Common Mergansers on the river, 2 drumming Ruffed Grouse, 1 pair of Northern Flickers, 6 Common Ravens, 2 Red-breasted Nuthatches, 1 singing Varied Thrush, 4 American Robins, a small flock of perched Red Crossbills, 1 Song Sparrow, 2 Dark-eyed Juncos, 1 of which was cismontanus and 1 male Red-winged Blackbird. Four White-tailed Deer fed in the meadow late in the evening and there were 4 visitors at the site today.

13.5 hours (530.3) GOEA 2 (2076) TOTAL 2 (2361)

Wednesday, April 17 Beaver Mines [Day 46] 0645-2045 (Peter Sherrington assisted by Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0645 was 4C, reached a high of 12C at 1500 and 1600 and was still 8.5C at 2045. Winds were strong W-WSW all day, 30-45 gusting to 80 km/h, and it was initially cloudless with 30% cumulus developing at 0800 after which cloud cover was variable 30-80% cumulus, cirrus and cirrocumulus to late in the day when it was again cloudless. There was sporadic very light flurries or light rain to 1100, but observing conditions were excellent all day. A total of 25 migrant raptors of 6 species moved between 0755 and 1629 comprising 3 Bald Eagles (1a, 1sa, 1u), 4 Northern Harriers (2a females, 1j male, 1u), 5 Sharp-shinned Hawks (2a, 3u), 5 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks, 5 Golden Eagles (2a, 3j) and 3 American Kestrels (2 females, 1 male). Movement was slow but steady to 1629 with a maximum hourly count of 5 between 1200 and 1300 and again between 1600 and 1629 after which no further migrants were seen although there was no change in the weather conditions. Resident birds were a pair of Northern Harriers, and 2 pairs of Red-tailed Hawks that were seen regularly to 1651 when they also disappeared until 2015 when a single bird was seen hunting high above the valley and at 2032 a single bird soared high above the centre of the valley just below the full moon before flying north, presumably to roost. Other birds seen were a pair of Canada Geese on the creek and 2 that flew very high to the north, 2 male and 1 female Wood Ducks on a flooded pasture adjacent to the creek at 1956 which were the first ever seen here, a pair of Mallards, 1 Ruffed Grouse, 16 Rock Pigeons, 1 Sandhill Crane that fed briefly in the valley at 1003 before flying low to the SW, and 3 single birds that flew high above the ridge at 1008, 1325 and 1328, 3 Downy Woodpeckers, 1 Northern Flicker, 5 Blue Jays, 2 Black-billed Magpies, 19 Common Ravens, 3 Black-capped Chickadees, the first Ruby-crowned Kinglet of the year, 4 American Robins, 252 European Starlings, 31 Evening Grosbeaks, 12 Pine Siskins and 8 male Red-winged Blackbirds.

14 hours (559.5) BAEA 3 (210), NOHA 4 (25), SSHA 5 (27), RTHA 5 (103), GOEA 5 (584), AMKE 3 (5) TOTAL 25 (1045)

Wednesday, April 17 Steeples (Vance Mattson) NO OBSERVATION. It was a clear day but unfortunately work commitments prevented Vance from observing.

Tuesday, April 16 Mount Lorette [Day 45] 0715-2015 (Blake Weis, assisted by Brian McBride). The temperature at 0715 was -5C, the high was 8C between 1600 and 1900 and it was 6C at 2015. Ground winds were S-SW 0-5 gusting 15 km/h to 1300, variable SW-W-NW 0-5 gusting 20 km/h between 1300 and 1500, and then W-SW 0-5 gusting 25 km/h for the rest of the day. Ridge winds were SW all day, light to moderate to 1300, moderate to 1900 then light to moderate for the rest of the day. Cloud cover was 80-90% cirrus and cirrostratus to 1100 that reduced to 70% altocumulus and cirrus at 1300, and 20% altocumulus at 1600 after which it increased again to 90% altostratus, altocumulus, cirrus and cirrostratus for the rest of the day. All ridges were clear. A total of 18 migrant raptors of 3 species moved between 1120 and 1830 comprising 2 adult Northern Goshawks, 1 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk and 15 Golden Eagles (8j, 7u). Movement was slow and steady throughout with a maximum hourly count of only 4 Golden Eagles between 1500 and 1600. The two goshawks and 2 Golden Eagles were initially located at the northern end of the Fisher range, 3 Golden Eagles were first seen over Mount Lorette and probably came from Wasootch Creek, while the rest moved on the western route with most birds soaring over Olympic Summit before gliding high to the NW behind the summit of Mount Allan. Non-migrant birds were 1 resident adult Northern Goshawk that hunted north of the site and displayed above the southern end of Hummingbird Plume Hill, 1 adult Red-tailed Hawk that soared over Hummingbird Plume Hill and the resident pair that was seen in a spectacular talon-gripping free-fall display just south of Olympic Summit at 1740 after the male was seen displaying there earlier at 1458. Yet another flock of Snow Geese, this time 50 birds, flew high across the valley and over the Fisher Range to the east at 1900, and other birds noted were 3 Canada Geese, 3 Mallards and a pair of Bufflehead (new for the year) on the river, 4 Ruffed Grouse, one of which 3 drummed, 1 female American Three-toed Woodpecker on Stoney Trail west of the site, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, a pair of Northern Flickers, 1 Pileated Woodpecker, 3 Canada Jays, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 1 American Crow, 10 Common Ravens, the first Northern Rough-winged Swallow of the season at 1430, 5 Black-capped Chickadees, 5 Mountain Chickadees, 1 Boreal Chickadee, 3 Red-breasted Nuthatches, 1 Brown Creeper, 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet, 1 singing Ruby-crowned Kinglet, 2 pairs of Mountain Bluebirds, 2 singing Varied Thrushes, 20 American Robins, 2 European Starlings, 3 American Pipits, 1 White winged Crossbill, 2 Pine Siskins, 2 American Tree Sparrows, 1 Fox Sparrow that sang at 0930, 1 Song Sparrow and 10 Dark-eyed Juncos, 3 of which were montanus. Eight White-tailed Deer fed in the meadow in the evening and there was only 1 visitor at the site today.

13 hours (516.8) NOGO 2 (15), RTHA 1 (10), GOEA 15 (2074) TOTAL 18 (2359)

Tuesday, April 16 Beaver Mines [Day 44] 0645-2030 (Peter Sherrington assisted by Hilary Atkinson). The temperature was -1C at 0645, the high at 1700 was 11C and it was 6C at 2030 when observation ceased. Winds were generally light NW-SW to 1330 when they significantly increased to WSW-W 20-35 gusting to 45 km/h for the rest of the day. Cloud cover was 100-80% cirrostratus with minor altocumulus and cumulus to 1300, 10-40% cumulus to 1730, 90-100% altostratus, cumulus, cirrus and altocumulus to 2000 that quickly dwindled to 10% altocumulus at 2030. Observing conditions were excellent throughout and a total of 30 migrants of 6 species were seen between 1037 and 2016 that comprised 9 Bald Eagles (5a, 3j, 1u), 3 Northern Harriers (1 adult female, 1 juvenile female and 1 juvenile male), 1u Sharp-shinned Hawk, 2 adult Northern Goshawks, 4 Red-tailed Hawks (1a and1u light morph calurus, and 2 birds of unknown race or age) and 11 Golden Eagles (5a, 4j 2u). Movement was fairly steady throughout with a maximum hourly count of 6 birds between 1037 and 1100, and single adult Bald Eagles at 2003 and 2016 were the first migrants seen after 2000 this season. A resident pair of Northern Harriers was seen with the male displaying on a couple of occasions, birds from two pairs of Red-tailed Hawks were conspicuous throughout the day and a male resident Golden Eagle flew from the ridge to the SE at 1106. Other birds seen were a pair of Canada Geese, 5 Mallards, 1 male Common Merganser, 17 Rock Pigeons, at 0830 a pair of Sandhill Cranes unconcernedly fed in the valley close to a family group of three Coyotes, and 3 other birds flew high to the SW above the ridge at 1116, 2 Downy Woodpeckers, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 1 Northern Flicker, 2 Blue Jays, 21 American Crows, 20 Common Ravens, 1 Black-capped Chickadee, 1 Mountain Chickadee, 1 male Mountain Bluebird, 4 American Robins, 129 European Starlings, 30 Evening Grosbeaks, 1 female Cassin’s Finch, 20 Pine Siskins and 6 male Red-winged Blackbirds.

13.75 hours (545.5) BAEA 9 (207), NOHA 3 (21), SSHA 1 (22), NOGO 2 (26), RTHA 4 (98), GOEA 11 (579) TOTAL 30 (1020)

Tuesday, April 16 Steeples [Day 38] 1300-1800 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 19C, it was calm with intermittent W winds and cloud cover was initially 50% cumulus but quickly became 100% altostratus for most of the day. No migrant raptors were seen, but non-migrant birds were 5 Turkey Vultures, 7 Bald Eagles (4a, 3j) that included 2 pair-flights, and 1 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk that indulged in a spirited aerial duel with a raven.

5 hours (168) TOTAL 0 (689)

Monday, April 15 Mount Lorette [Day 44] 0715-1915 (George Halmazna, assisted by Dan Parliament). The temperature was -3C at the start, rose to a high of 5.5C at 1500 and was 3C at the end of observation. It was calm to 0900 after which ground winds were SW all day, 5-15 km/h to 1800 and 2-10 km/h for the last two hours, while ridge winds were moderate SW all day. Cloud cover was 80-100% cirrocumulus, cirrostratus, altostratus, cumulus and stratus all day that produced snow flurries in the west to 1800 that only occasionally reached the site. All ridges were clear in the morning after which the west was 20% obscured except between 1600 and 1700 when it was 90% obscured, and the east was 30% obscured during the same period and 10-20% obscured for the rest of the afternoon apart from the last hour when it cleared. There was a disappointing migration of only 8 eagles: 1 juvenile Bald Eagle and 7 Golden Eagles (5a, 2u) that moved between 1245 and 1800 with a maximum hourly count of 3 (1 Bald and 2 Golden Eagles) between 1300 and 1400, and 2 Golden Eagles moved between 1700 and 1800. The first three birds were initially located over Skogan Pass from where they glided to Pigeon Mountain and the rest glided high from the northern end of the Fisher Range to Mount Lorette. Resident and non-migrant birds were an adult Bald Eagle that flew to the south, 1 adult Northern Goshawk, 1 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk and the resident pair of Golden Eagles. Other birds in the area were 3 Canada Geese and 5 Mallards on the river, 1 male Common Merganser flying above the river, 3 drumming and 1 seen Ruffed Grouse, a pair of Northern Flickers, 1 Canada Jay, 7 Common Ravens, 7 Black-capped Chickadees, 4 Mountain Chickadees, 2 Boreal Chickadees, 4 Red-breasted Nuthatches, 1 male Mountain Bluebird, 1 singing Varied Thrush, 13 American Robins, 1 Song Sparrow and 10 singing montanus Dark-eyed Juncos. Two White-tailed Deer fed in the meadow in the morning and 2 in the evening, and 3 Mule Deer were seen near Lorette Ponds. Only 4 visitors made it to the site today.

12 hours (503.8) BAEA 1 (201), GOEA 7 (2059) TOTAL 8 (2341)

Monday, April 15 Beaver Mines [Day 44] 0645-2045 (Peter Sherrington assisted by Hilary Atkinson). The temperature was 0C at 0645, the high of 9C was reached at 1600 and 1700 and it was 3C at 2045. Winds were WSW-W all day 30-45 gusting to 55 km/h and cloud cover was 100-30% cirrus, cirrostratus, cumulus and altocumulus to 1500, 20-30% cumulus to 1750 after which it was cloudless. Migration and observation conditions were excellent all day and produced a fairly strong April count of 50 birds of 9 species between 0856 and 1940. The flight was 10 Bald Eagles (7a, 2sa, 1j), 2 female Northern Harriers (1a, 1j), 2u Sharp-shinned Hawks, a season-high 11 adult Red-tailed Hawks (10 light morph calurus and 1 dark morph harlani), 1 dark unidentified Buteo, 20 Golden Eagles (10a, 2sa, 8j), 1 male American Kestrel, 1 male columbarius Merlin, 1 female dark grey Gyrfalcon and 1u Peregrine Falcon. Movement was slow and steady to 1815 after which 23 more migrants were seen, 15 moving between 1815 and 1900 and 8 between 1900 and 1940. Seven Golden Eagles glided high to the NNW together at 1827. A male Northern Harrier displayed at 1108 and again at 1140, and at least 4 adult Red-tailed Hawks (probably 2 pairs) were seen frequently between 1047 and 1925. Today’s non-raptor birds were a pair Canada Geese, 3 Mallards, 3 Rock Pigeons, 1 Downy Woodpecker, 1 Northern Flicker, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 21 American Crows, 32 Common Ravens, 2 Black-capped Chickadees, 2 Mountain Chickadees, 4 American Robins, 75 European Starlings, 25 Evening Grosbeaks, 25  Pine Siskins  a pair of hyemalis Dark-eyed Juncos and 3 male Red-winged Blackbirds.

14 hours (531.8) BAEA 10 (198), NOHA 2 (18), SSHA 2 (21), RTHA 11 (94), UB 1 (6), GOEA 20 (568), AMKE 1 (2), MERL 1 (9), GYRF 1 (6), PEFA 1 (5) TOTAL 50 (990)

Monday, April 15 Steeples (Vance Mattson) NO OBSERVATION.

Sunday, April 14 Mount Lorette [Day 43] 0615-2035 (Bill Wilson, assisted by Lori Anderson). The starting temperature was 1C but fell to 0C at 0800, reached a high of 7C at 1600 and 1700 and was 2C at the end of observation. Ground winds were SW-NW 0-3 km/h to 0800, and then SSE-SW 5-10 km/h for the rest of the day with a maximum gust of 36 km/h at 1500; ridge winds were WSW all day, moderate to 1400 and then moderate to strong. Cloud cover was 80-100% cumulus and altostratus to 1500, 30% cumulus at 1600 and then 60-70% cumulus and stratus for the rest of the day. There were very light snow flurries between 1100 and 1400 and a snow squall between 1430 and 1500, but the east was clear and the west was 10-20 % obscured all day. There was a slow but steady raptor movement of 14 birds of 3 species between 0912 and 1927 with 5 hourly periods having 2 migrants and 4 producing single birds. The count was 1u Bald Eagle, 1 unidentified Accipiter, 11 Golden Eagles (2a, 1sa, 5j, 3u) and 1 unidentified eagle. All birds glided high to very high above the Fisher Range to Mount Lorette with the exception of one Golden Eagle that glided directly to Skogan Pass and on to the NW. Three resident adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks soared amicably together at the southern end of Hummingbird Plume Hill at 1645, 2 Bald Eagles (1a, 1sa) moved towards the south and three single resident Golden Eagles (2a, 1j) were seen flying at 1408, 1533 and 1941 but no displays were evident. Other birds recorded in the area were 3 Canada Geese, 2 pairs of  Mallards and a pair of Common Goldeneyes all on the river, 7 Common Mergansers flying to the north above the river, 1 drumming Ruffed Grouse, 4 unidentified white-headed gulls that flew north above the eastern part of the valley, 2 Northern Flickers, 1 American Crow, 25 Common Ravens, 1 Black-capped Chickadee, 2 Mountain Chickadees, 2 Boreal Chickadees, 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch, 1 singing Varied Thrush, 6 American Robins, 1 Fox Sparrow that sang in the early morning and was not heard again, and 2 Dark-eyed Juncos, 1 of which was montanus. Eight White-tailed Deer fed in the meadow in the evening and there were 25 visitors to the site today.

14.33 hours (491.8) BAEA 1 (200), UA 1 (1), GOEA 11 (2052), UE 1 (25) TOTAL 14 (2333)

Sunday, April 14 Beaver Mines [Day 43] 0700-2015 (Peter Sherrington assisted by Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0700 was 2C, the high between 1400 and 1600 was 7C and it was 2C at 2015. Winds were strong W-WSW all day gusting 60-70 km/h, and cloud cover was 40-20% mainly cumulus and altocumulus to 1600 and 60-100% cirrus, cumulus and altocumulus for the rest of the day. The ridge was clear with the exception of periods of snow that swept down the valley from the Continental Divide at 0710-0750, 0805-0845, 1450-1500, 1720-1755, 1810-1840 and 1920-1945 when the ridge was completely obscured. There was a fairly strong and persistent raptor movement of 30 birds of 7 species between 0917 and 1756 that comprised 6 Bald Eagles (5 adults and 1 late subadult) 1u Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1a Northern Goshawk, 8 adult calurus Red-tailed Hawks (7 light. 1 dark), 4 Rough-legged Hawks (1 light, 2 dark, 1u), 1 unidentified dark morph Buteo, 8 Golden Eagles (4a, 4j) and 1 female columbarius Merlin. The busiest hour was 7 birds between 1100 and 1200. A male Northern Harrier that displayed at 1056 was reduced to a ball of disheveled feathers by a strong gust of wind and was not seen to display again, and single resident Red-tailed Hawks were only seen on 3 occasions. Other birds were 3 Canada Geese, 1 pair of Mallards, 1 male Common Merganser, 5 Rock Pigeons, 2 Downy Woodpeckers, 1 Northern Flicker,  8 Blue Jays, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 29 Common Ravens, 2 Black-capped Chickadees, 3 Mountain Chickadees, 2 American Robins, 102 European Starlings, 25 Evening Grosbeaks, 40  Pine Siskins and 2 male Red-winged Blackbirds.

13.25 hours (517.8) BAEA 6 (188), SSHA 1 (19), NOGO 1 (24), RTHA 8 (83), RLHA 4 (25), UB 1 (5), GOEA 8 (548), MERL 1 (8) TOTAL 30 (940)

Sunday, April 14 Steeples [Day 37] 1130-1800 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 6-9C, cloud cover was initially 100% stratus that became 50% cumulus by the end of the day and periods of light snow and hail fell between 1500 and 1630. The only migrant seen was the season’s first American Kestrel, a female, and non-migrant birds were 4 Turkey Vultures, 3 adult Bald Eagles, 2 sightings of adult Sharp-shinned Hawks, and 1 adult Golden Eagle that flew to the SW above the site.

6.5 hours (181) AMKE 1 (1) TOTAL 1 (689)