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)

Friday, April 5 Mount Lorette [Day 34] 0740-2040 (Caroline Lambert, assisted by Patrick Farley). The temperature reached a high of 11C from a morning low of -1C and was 5C at 2040 when observation ceased. Ground winds were light all day, variable to 1100,  NE to 1400, SE to 1700 and SW after 1800, while ridge winds were SW all day, light to 1500 after which they were moderate. Cloud cover was 100% stratus, altocumulus and altostratus which broke up to 70-80% after 1500. Conditions were hazy with light mist to 1500, and the western mountains were 20-80% obscured after 1000; apart from Mount Lorette being briefly obscured around noon the eastern route was clear all day. There was a fairly strong raptor movement of 57 birds of 3 species between 1038 and 1942 that comprised the season’s first Turkey Vulture, of unknown age, that flew to the  north above the eastern valley at 1325, 2 adult Bald Eagles, 53 Golden Eagles (21a, 6sa, 2j, 24u) and 1 unidentified eagle. Only 5 birds were seen before 1400 but movement was then steady and peaked at 15 Golden Eagles between 1800 and 1900. All birds moved on the eastern route to 1345 when they switched to the west where birds again soared high on Olympic Summit before gliding high to the NW behind the summit of Mount Allan; between 1510 and 1660 both routes were used and after 1600 all birds glided high from the Fisher Range to Mount Lorette. Resident birds were 1 adult Sharp-shinned Hawk seen hunting north of the site, 1 adult Northern Goshawk, 1u Bald Eagle and the resident pair of Golden Eagles that spent much of the day around Olympic Summit where the male displayed several times. Other birds seen were 10 Canada Geese, 1 Downy Woodpecker, 2 Hairy Woodpeckers, 2 Northern Flickers, 12 Common Ravens, 1 Black-capped Chickadee, 4 Mountain Chickadees, 4 Boreal Chickadees, 1 American Dipper, 2 Golden-crowned Kinglets that were with the season’s first Ruby-crowned Kinglet, 1 male Mountain Bluebird, 3 singing Varied Thrushes, 14 American Robins, 4 European Starlings, 10 White-winged Crossbills, 2 Pine Siskins, 7 Dark-eyed Juncos and 1 Song Sparrow. Twelve Bighorn Sheep were on Olympic Summit, 4 White-tailed Deer in the meadow and 5 visitors were at the site today.

13 hours (386.2) TUVU 1 (1), BAEA 2 (168), GOEA 53 (1869), UE 1 (22) TOTAL 57 (2098)

Friday, April 5 Beaver Mines [Day 34] 0700-2015 (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Mark Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson). At 0700 the temperature was 0C the high at 1500 was 10.5C and it was 8C at 2015. Winds were light all day, variable but principally SE-ESE and although there was a gentle W upper flow all day it never lowered to ridge level. It was a generally dull day with 100% mainly stratocumulus cloud cover that brought very light rain and light snow to 1100 and again after 1445. The cloud began to break at 1700 and after 1730 it was 40-60% cumulus that gave sunny conditions. The conditions provided a very sporadic movement of 16 raptors of 6 species between 1111 and 1901 that comprised 1 adult Bald Eagle, 1 adult male Northern Harrier, 2u Sharp-shinned Hawks, a season-high 9 adult Red-tailed Hawks (6 light and 2 dark calurus and 1 dark harlani), 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk and only 2 adult Golden Eagles. Five of the birds moved between 1800 and 1900. A resident adult Northern Goshawk made a display flight above the ridge at 1236, and the resident pair of Red-tailed Hawks soared and occasionally displayed between 1147 and 1834. Other birds in the area were 3 Canada Geese, 1 Mallard, 2 Rock Pigeons, 1 Sandhill Crane that soared high and called above the ridge at 1331 before flying high to the SE, 3 Downy Woodpeckers, 2 Hairy Woodpeckers, 2 Northern Flickers, 8 Blue Jays, 3 Black-billed Magpies, 14 American Crows, 16 Common Ravens, 2 Black-capped Chickadees, 2 Mountain Chickadees, 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch, 9 American Robins, 16 European Starlings, 40 Evening Grosbeaks, 20 Pine Siskins and 2 Dark-eyed Juncos (1 cismontanus and 1 montanus).

13.25 (399.3) BAEA 1 (163), NOHA 1 (8), SSHA 2 (9), RTHA 9 (43), RLHA 1 (16), GOEA 2 (459) total 16 (734)

Friday, April 5 Steeples (Vance Mattson). NO OBSERVATION (weather). It was overcast all day with intermittent light drizzle. The mountains were shrouded all day except around 1700 when there was some clearing but they soon clouded over again.

Thursday, April 4 Mount Lorette [Day 33] 0640-2020 (Cliff Hansen, assisted by Rick Robb). The starting temperature was 3C, the high was 11C at 1700 and it was 7C at the end of observation. Ground winds were variable but mainly S 5-10 gusting 20 km/h to 1600, SW5-15 gusting 20 km/h to 1900 and then N 5-10 gusting 20 km/h for the rest of the day; ridge winds were mostly WNW moderate to strong to 1800 and then moderate NW. Cloud cover was variable 20-90% cumulus and altocumulus all day that gave good observing conditions and the ridges were clear, but despite this the raptor count was a disappointing 9 birds, made more so as it followed a week of strong movement. The first bird seen was a light morph Rough-legged Hawk at 1345, but eagle movement did not begin until after 1600 and comprised 1 adult Bald Eagle and 6 Golden Eagles (3a, 1sa, 1j, 1u) that moved up to 1943, with 4 of the Golden Eagles seen between 1800 and 1900; a mid-sized unidentified raptor was also seen during this hour. All the eagles glided high above the Fisher Range to Mount Lorette. A resident Northern Goshawk called from the nest site early in the morning and there was a single sighting of an adult resident Golden Eagle. Other birds recorded in the area were 2 Canada Geese, 10 unidentified gulls that soared over the northern end of the Fisher Range in the late afternoon before flying to the east, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 2 Northern Flickers, 11 Common Ravens, 2 Black-capped Chickadees, 1 Boreal Chickadee, 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch, 1 singing Varied Thrush, 6 American Robins, 2 Bohemian Waxwings and 3 Dark-eyed Juncos. Twelve visitors were at the site today.

13.25 hours (373.2) BAEA 1 (166), RLHA 1 (7), GOEA 6 (1816), UU 1 (4) TOTAL 9 (2041)

Thursday, April 4 Beaver Mines [Day 33] 0715-1945 (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Hilary Atkinson). At 0715 the temperature was 5.5C, the high was 11C at 1200 and 1300, and again at 1600 and 1700 and it was still 8C at 2015. Winds were W-WSW all day 25-40 gusting up to 60 km/h and cloud cover was variably 30-70% mainly cumulus to 1830 when 100-70% thin cirrostratus developed. Observing conditions were very good throughout and it was encouraging to see the first Golden Eagle gliding high to the north at 0759, but the second bird, an adult Bald Eagle, did not occur until 1103 and the second Golden Eagle was only seen at 1349. After this, however, the pace quickened and peaked at 21 birds between 1700 and 1800, with the last 3 Bald Eagles moving NNW at 1902. The final count of 57 raptors of 8 species was 14 Bald Eagles (11a, 2sa, 1j), 1 adult male Northern Harrier, 4 Sharp-shinned Hawks (1a, 3u), 1u Northern Goshawk, 8 adult calurus Red-tailed Hawks (5 light, 3 dark), 1 unidentified dark Buteo, 26 Golden Eagles (23a, 3j), 1 dark morph Gyrfalcon and 1 Prairie Falcon. Other birds seen were 1 Canada Goose, 25 Wild Turkeys, 18 Rock Pigeons, 2 Downy Woodpeckers, 1 Northern Flicker, 5 Blue Jays, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 30 American Crows, 18 Common Ravens, 4 Black-capped Chickadees, 4 Mountain Chickadees, 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch, 12 American Robins, 516 European Starlings, 35 Evening Grosbeaks 8 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches that flew north at 1318, 14 Pine Siskins and 3 Dark-eyed Juncos (1 hyemalis, 1 cismontanus and 1 montanus).

13 hours (386) BAEA 14 (162), NOHA 1 (7), SSHA 4 (7), NOGO 1 (16), RTHA 8 (34), UB 1 (2), GOEA 26 (457), GYRF 1 (5), PRFA 1 (6) TOTAL 57 (718)

Thursday, April 4 Steeples [Day 30] 1300-1900 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 11C, winds were moderate to strong S-SE and 60-90% altostratus cloud cover gave partially sunny conditions. Only three migrants were seen: an adult Golden Eagle at 1452, a juvenile Golden Eagle at 1746 and a juvenile Bald Eagle at 1817. Non-migrants consisted of 10 sightings of Turkey Vultures, 3 sightings of adult Bald Eagles, 5 sightings of single adult calurus Red-tailed Hawks including 2 hovering hunting flights over the ridges, and 3 adult Golden Eagles that were seen twice including two birds that soared together while one displayed although there was no perceived antagonism between them.

6 hours (149) BAEA 1 (207), GOEA 2 (449) TOTAL 3 (678)