Wednesday, April 3 Mount Lorette [Day 32] 0640-2020 (Bill Wilson, assisted by Glenn Webber and Graeme Dunlop). The temperature at 0730 was -5C, the high from 1400 to 1700 was 8C and it was 6C at the end of observation. Ground winds were variable 0-2 km/h to 1100 then S-SW for the rest of the day, 2-10 gusting to 27 km/h to 1700 and 2-10 km/h to 2015; ridge winds were moderate SW all day. Cloud cover was 100% altostratus throughout the morning and 100% cumulus and altostratus throughout the afternoon that provided hazy sunshine and good locating conditions but made detailed determination of age difficult. There was yet another strong April raptor migration with 113 birds of 3 species seen between 0914 and 1947. The flight was 12 Bald Eagles (9a, 1sa, 2j), 1u Sharp-shinned Hawk and 100 Golden Eagles (50a, 1sa, 9j, 40u). The Golden Eagle count of 510 for the first three days of April has already exceeded the long-term April average count for the species of 442. Once again birds moved steadily throughout with a highest hourly count of 23, including 18 Golden Eagles, between 1400 and 1500. Birds moved on both ridge systems to 1500 with the western birds again soaring high over Olympic Summit and gliding high to the NW behind the summit of Mount Allan, but after 1500 all birds flew on the eastern ridges gliding high from the Fisher range to Mount Lorette. There were several records of resident birds with a Northern Goshawk heard calling from the nest site early in the morning, 5 sightings of 1 or 2 adult Bald Eagles mainly moving southwards, and 3 of adult Golden Eagles including one that displayed against the face of Mount Bogart at 1221. Other birds recorded in the area were 75 Canada Geese that flew to the north in 6 flocks, 1 Ruffed Grouse, 1 Killdeer, 1 Northern Flicker, 1 Pileated Woodpecker, 15 Common Ravens, 1 unidentified flying swallow, 4 Mountain Bluebirds (1 male, 3u), 3 singing Varied Thrushes, 15 American Robins, 3 European Starlings, 30 Bohemian Waxwings in one flock, 1 singing White-winged Crossbill and 1 singing Dark-eyed Junco. There were 8 visitors at the site today.

13.67 hours (359.9) BAEA 12 (165), SSHA 1 (4), GOEA 100 (1810) TOTAL 113 (2032)

Wednesday, April 3 Beaver Mines [Day 31] 0715-1945 (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Hilary Atkinson). The temperature was initially 0C, the high at 1300 was 10.5C and it was 6.5C at 1945. Winds were WSW-W all day, 10-20 gusting 25 km/h to 1135 after which they strengthened to 25-40 gusting to 65 km/h for the rest of the day. Cloud cover was mainly 100% altocumulus in the morning and 70-90% altostratus, altocumulus, cumulus and cirrus for the rest of the day, all of which provided good viewing conditions. Despite the favourable winds there was yet another desultory raptor movement with 16 birds of 6 species moving sporadically between 1108 and 1855. The flight comprised 4 adult Bald Eagles, the season’s first Cooper’s Hawk (an unaged bird), 1 adult Northern Goshawk, 5 light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks (3a, 2u), the first Ferruginous Hawk of the season, an unaged light morph bird at 1714 and only 3 Golden Eagles (2a, 1sa). A resident pair of Red-tailed Hawks was present with birds seen displaying on a couple of occasions. A rather dull day was greatly enlivened towards the end when the first Sandhill Crane of the season soared high above the ridge at 1803 and flew high to the north and at 1814 a large flock of about 250 Snow Geese in several skeins flew to the east above the ridge: for a couple of minutes the sky was more reminiscent of Saskatchewan than SW Alberta! A more distant flock of 60 geese at 1757 were also probably Snow Geese. These numbers are unprecedented for the area. Other birds seen were 5 Canada Geese, a small flock of 14 Wild Turkeys that included 6 displaying males, 18 Rock Pigeons, 2 Downy Woodpeckers, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, a pair of Northern Flickers, 7 Blue Jays, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 56 American Crows, 19 Common Ravens, 2 Black-capped Chickadees, 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch, 1 Townsend’s Solitaire, 5 American Robins, 30 European Starlings, 27 Evening Grosbeaks and 8 Pine Siskins.

12.5 hours (373) BAEA 4 (148), NOHA 1 (6), NOGO 1 (15), RTHA 5 (26), FEHA 1 (1), GOEA 3 (431) TOTAL 16 (661)

Wednesday, April 3 Steeples [Day 29] 1645-1830 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 10C, winds were strong S and 100% dark altostratus and cumulus cloud brought light precipitation and partially obscured the ridges. No migrant or resident raptors were seen.

1.75 hours (143) TOTAL 0 (675)

Tuesday, April 2 Mount Lorette [Day 31] 0730-2015 (Cliff Hansen, assisted by Rick Robb and Graham Dunlop). The temperature was -4C at 0730, the high at 1700 was 10C and it was 4C at 2015. Ground winds were very light 0-5 km/h to 1300 then S-SW 0-15 km/h to 1700 after which they were again very light, while ridge winds were light to moderate SW all day. It was initially cloudless with a trace of cumulus that gradually increased to a maximum of 40% at 1600 after which it gradually dwindled to a trace of cirrus at the end of observation. There was another strong raptor migration with 173 birds of a season-high 7 species moving between 1015 and 1931 that comprised 16 Bald Eagles (15a, 1sa), 2u Sharp-shinned Hawks, 1u Northern Goshawk, 1 Red-tailed Hawk of unknown age, morph or race, 2u Rough-legged Hawks, 1 unidentified Buteo, 147 Golden Eagles (51a, 3sa, 11j, 82u), 2 unidentified eagles and 1u columbarius Merlin. The lack of detail on many of the birds resulted from back-lighting of very high flying birds against an often clear blue sky. Movement was strong throughout the migration period with 93 birds seen before 1300 that included a maximum hourly count of 49 between 1200 and 1300, and the last 22 moved after 1800. All birds were seen on the western route until 1400 with birds again soaring very high on the southern flank of Mount Allan and Olympic Summit before gliding very high to the NW behind the summit of Mount Allan. After 1400 most birds used the eastern route with birds again soaring very high above the Fisher Range and gliding very high to the NW to Mount Lorette. A resident adult Northern Goshawk was seen on a nest, and the Golden Eagle pair was seen over Olympic Summit where the male displayed. Other birds recorded were 3 Canada Geese on the river, 1 female Common Merganser, 1 drumming Ruffed Grouse, the season’s first Killdeer, 1 Northern Flicker, 1 Pileated Woodpecker, 1 American Crow, 13 Common Ravens, 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch, 2 male Mountain Bluebirds in the meadow, 2 singing Varied Thrushes, 5 American Robins, 10 Bohemian Waxwings, a flock of 30 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches that flew high on the Fisher Range and 2 Dark-eyed Juncos. A single Mule Deer unusually joined 11 White-tailed Deer to feed in the meadow, where a Striped Skunk was also seen. Five visitors were at the site today.

12.75 hours (346.2) BAEA 16 (153), SSHA 2 (3), NOGO 1 (9), RTHA 1 (4), RLHA 2 (6), UB 1 (1), GOEA 147 (1710), UE 2 (21), MERL 1 (2) TOTAL 173 (1918)

Tuesday, April 2 Beaver Mines [Day 31] 0730-2015 (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0730 was 0C, the high at 1400 and again at 1600 was 8C and it was 4C at 2015. Winds were very variable but principally from the NE to the SSE, mainly light but occasionally briefly gusting to 20 km/h. Cloud cover was 100-90% stratocumulus to 1030 that produced light snow flurries to 0830, 20-60% cumulus to 1500, 50-60% cumulus and altostratus to 1600 and finally 40% very thin cirrostratus with traces of altocumulus to 2015. Observation conditions were excellent and thermal lift was strong but the day only produced 9 migrant raptors comprising 5 adult calurus Red-tailed Hawks (4 light and 1 dark) and 4 Golden Eagles (3a, 1j). For much of the day a pair of resident light morph Red-tailed Hawks was present and conspicuous between 1124 and 1815 performing several low and high intensity display flights, soaring as a pair with legs dangling and hunting the valley floor. Other birds recorded were 6 Canada Geese,  6 Mallards, a pair of Common Mergansers that flew north at 1955, 1 calling Wild Turkey, 5 Rock Pigeons, 4 Downy Woodpeckers, 2 Hairy Woodpeckers, 1 Northern Flicker, 6 Blue Jays, 2 Black-billed Magpies, 40 American Crows, 10 Common Ravens, 4 Black-capped Chickadees, 4 Mountain Chickadees, 2 Red-breasted Nuthatches, 14 American Robins, 221 European Starlings, 32 Evening Grosbeaks, 1 female Cassin’s Finch, 8 Pine Siskins and 2 Dark-eyed Juncos (1 hyemalis and 1 montanus. Moderate SW winds are forecast so we are expecting a stronger raptor movement tomorrow.

12.75 hours (360.5) RTHA 5 (21), GOEA 4 (428) TOTAL 9 (645)

Tuesday, April 2 Steeples [Day 28] 1230-1945 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 9-11C, it was calm with intermittent light SE winds and mostly 50% cumulus which provided sunny conditions and a helpful backdrop for detecting high-flying birds throughout most of the day. A total of 33 migrant raptors of 4 species were seen between 1300 and 1908 comprising 13 Bald Eagles (11a, 2j), 3 adult Red-tailed Hawks (1 light calurus and 2 dark harlani), 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk and 16 Golden Eagles (14a, 2j). Nine migrants moved between 1300 and 1400, but only 6 were seen in the next three hours (1400-1700); 12 (including 9 Golden Eagles) moved between 1700 and 1800, 4 between 1800 and 1900 and 2 between 1900 and 1908, the last being a “Harlan’s Hawk”. Movement was very high and fast, especially after 1700 when birds appeared high above the western peak of Mount Bill Nye. There was also much non-migrant activity with 14 sightings of Turkey Vultures, none of which exhibited migratory behaviour although at least one bird was in the air all day, 9 Bald Eagles (4a, 5j). 1u Northern Goshawk, 1 Red-tailed Hawk, and 4 Golden Eagles (3a, 1j) which performed a pair-flight low across the ridge and 2 display flights.

7.25 hours (141.3) BAEA 13 (206), RTHA 3 (8), RLHA 1 (3) GOEA 16 (447) TOTAL 33 (675)

Monday, April 1 Mount Lorette [Day 30] 0700-1950 (George Halmazna, assisted by Dan Parliament and Graham Dunlop). The temperature was -3C at 0700, the high was 4C at 1600 and 1700 and it was 2C at the end of observation. It was calm to 1100, then ground winds were NE 2-8 km/h to 1400, SW2-5 km/h at 1500 and 1600 and NE 5-20 km/h after 1700; ridge winds were probably light to moderate W-NW. Cloud cover was 100-70% altostratus, altocumulus, cumulus and stratus all day with the exceptions of 1100 and 1900 when it reduced to 50%, and there were frequent snow flurries that swept from the west between 1300 and 1800. The eastern ridges were 90% obscured to 1200, 50% to 1400, 30% at 1500, clear at 1600 and 1700 and then 80-90% obscured after 1800; the west was 30% obscured to 0900 and then variably obscured to 1600 after which it was mainly clear. Remarkably these unpromising conditions produced a season-high total of 283 migrant raptors of 6 species between 1050 and 1845 that comprised 15 Bald Eagles (10a, 3sa, 2j), the season’s first Northern Harrier, a juvenile bird of unknown sex, 2 adult Northern Goshawks, 1 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk, a season-high 263 Golden Eagles (174a, 4sa, 10j, 75u) and 1u columbarius Merlin. Movement was mainly on the western route to 1500 with birds soaring high with kettles of up to 20 eagles that often disappeared into the cloud base, and then glided high to the NW either behind the summit of Mount Allan or above Skogan Pass. After 1500 the movement was entirely on the eastern route which saw the highest single hour count of 78 birds (76 Golden Eagles) between 1500 and 1600. Resident birds were 1 adult Bald Eagle, 1 calling and displaying adult Northern Goshawk, and the pair of resident Golden Eagles to the west where the male displayed above the southern flank of Mount Allan. Other birds recorded on a busy day were 4 Canada Geese, 1 drumming Ruffed Grouse, 1 Northern Flicker, 1 Pileated Woodpecker, 9 American Crows, 19 Common Ravens, 2 Black-capped Chickadees, 2 Red-breasted Nuthatches, 1 male Mountain Bluebird, 5 singing Varied Thrushes, 19 American Robins, 7 European Starlings, 10 Bohemian Waxwings and 8 Dark-eyed [Oregon] Juncos. Eight visitors were at the site today.

12.83 (333.5) BAEA 15 (137), NOHA 1 (1), NOGO 2 (8), RTHA 1 (3), GOEA 263 (1563), MERL 1 (2) TOTAL 283 (1745)

Monday, April 1 Beaver Mines [Day 30] 0730-1930 (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Everett Hanna and 22 biology students from Lethbridge College, and Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0730 was 0C, the high was 7C at 1600 and 1700 and it was 4C at 1930. Winds were light W-SSW to 1030, light NE –E to 1330 when they were mainly SW-SSW 5-10 gusting 15 km/h to 1900, after which it was calm. Heavy snow fell at 0730 that left 4 cm of fresh snow on the ground when it stopped at 0830 and the ridge cleared. Cloud cover was 100-70% stratocumulus, cumulus and altostratus in the morning that cleared throughout the afternoon giving excellent observing conditions to 1700 after which it was essentially cloudless. The day saw a season-high migration of 95 raptors of 6 species that moved between 1052 and 1841 and comprised 13 Bald Eagles (8a, 3sa, 2j), 1 adult male Northern Harrier, a season-high 7 adult Red-tailed Hawks (6 light and 1 dark calurus, and 1 dark harlani), a season-high 71 Golden Eagles (51a, 8sa, 10j, 2u), 1 unidentified eagle and 1 Prairie Falcon. The highest hourly count was 1400-1500 when 44 raptors were counted that included 35 Golden Eagles, 11 of which soared high together at 1440. A resident Golden Eagle displayed vigorously above the centre of the valley at 1429. Other birds in the area were 2 Canada Geese, 2 Tundra Swans that flew north at 1120 a distant flock of unidentified swans that flew north at 1444, 3 Mallards, 11 Wild Turkeys, 12 Rock Pigeons, a flock of 15 California Gulls, the first of the season, that flew north at 1205, 3 Downy Woodpeckers, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 1 Northern Flicker, 1 Pileated Woodpecker, 1 adult Northern Shrike, 7 Blue Jays, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 37 American Crows, 23 Common Ravens, 2 Black-capped Chickadees, 3 Mountain Chickadees, 1 Red-breasted Nuthatches, a pair of Mountain Bluebirds, 17 American Robins, 70 European Starlings, 20 Evening Grosbeaks1 male Cassin’s Finch and 20 Pine Siskins.

12 hours (347.8), BAEA 13 (144), NOHA 1 (5), NOGO 1 (14), RTHA 7 (16), GOEA 71 (424), UE 1 (1), PRFA 1 (5) TOTAL 95 (636)

Monday, April 1 Steeples [Day 27] 1630-1945 (Vance Mattson). Afternoon teaching commitments again resulted in a late start, but despite not arriving at the site at 1630 Vance counted 13 migrants: 3 adult Bald Eagles, 1 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk and 9 Golden Eagles (8a, 1u) between 1648 and 1919, the last of which was the latest bird seen this season. Most of the Golden Eagles moved in pairs. Non-migrants were 9 Turkey Vultures and the season’s first American Kestrel that mobbed a Golden Eagle as it flew low above the flank of Mount Bill Nye. The temperature was 11C, it was calm and 30-50% cumulus and altocumulus cloud cover gave sunny conditions.

3.25 (134) BAEA 3 (193), RTHA 1 (5), GOEA 9 (431) TOTAL 13 (642)

Sunday, March 31 Mount Lorette [Day 29] 0710-2030 (Bill Wilson, assisted by Lori Anderson, Doug Pederson, Heinz Unger and Graham Dunlop). The starting temperature was -1C, the high was 7C at 1400 and 1500 and it was 1C at the end of observation. Ground winds were SSE-SSW 2-10 gusting 24 km/h to 1400, NNE 5-20 gusting 35 km/h to 1700 and then NNE-NNW 5-15 km/h for the rest of the day; ridge winds were probably moderate SW all day. Cloud cover was 100% stratus to 0900, 90-100% altostratus to 1200 and then 100% stratus for the rest of the day that gave light to moderate flurries between 1500 and 1700 and then light to moderate snow for the rest of the day. Ridges were mostly clear to 1300 becoming 20-30% obscured at 1400 and completely obscured after 1500. Despite the weather conditions there was a fairly strong raptor movement of 133 birds of 4 species between 0848 and 1736 that comprised 8 Bald Eagles (7a, 1j), 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk, 121 Golden Eagles (70a, 2sa, 2j, 47u), 2 unidentified eagles and 1 large unidentified falcon. One hundred and one birds moved between 1100 and 1500 with a high hourly count of 38 between 1300 and 1400 and 2 Bald Eagles and 2 Golden Eagles moved in the falling snow between 1700 and 1736. Birds used both the western and eastern routes throughout the day with the majority (88 birds) using the west where they mainly soared over the southern flank of Mount Allan and Olympic Summit before gliding high to the NW behind the summit of Mount Allan. Resident birds were 2 adult Bald Eagles that soared at Mount Lorette and flew south at 1527, 2 records of Northern Goshawks, a resident adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk that soared over the valley at 1147 and glided to the south, and 2 sightings of adult Golden Eagles including one that displayed over Mount Old Baldy at 1339. Other birds recorded were 4 Snow Geese that flew low, appropriately in the snow, above the river with Canada Geese where they landed at 1913, a further 120 Canada Geese that flew north in flocks of 50, 40 and 30, 1 Mallard, 1 female Common Merganser, 1 or 2 Ruffed Grouse, 9 (1+8) unidentified gulls that flew high to the north at 1511 and 1734 respectively, 2 Northern Flickers, 1 adult Northern Shrike, 2 Canada Jays, 17 Common Ravens, 2 Black-capped Chickadees, 1 Mountain Chickadee, 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch, 4 male Mountain Bluebirds in the meadow, 3 singing Varied Thrushes, 42 American Robins, 2 European Starlings, 160 Bohemian Waxwings in two flocks of 80 birds, 4 Red Crossbills, 1 Song Sparrow singing east of the river and 3 Dark-eyed Juncos. Twenty-five visitors were at the site today.

14.16 (320.7) BAEA 8 (122), RLHA 1 (4), GOEA 121 (1300), UE 2 (19) UF 1 (1) TOTAL 133 (1462)

March summary (With variance from the long-term 1993-2018 22-year average, that excludes the anomalously low counts in 2008-2010 and 2012 which are considered invalid). 29 days (+0.5%), 320.7 hours (+2.9%) BAEA 122 (+9.4%), SSHA 1 (-62.7%), NOGO 6 (-46.3%), RTHA 2 (-58.1%), RLHA 4 (-24.1%), GOEA 1300 (-46% and the lowest ever total for a valid March count), MERL 1 (-56%), GYRF 1 (-4.3%), PRFA 2 (+109.5%), UE 19 (+464.9%), UF 1 (+175%), UU 3 (+407.7%) TOTAL 1329 (-48% and the lowest ever combined-species total for a valid March count). Species previously recorded in March but not recorded this year were TUVU, NOHA, COHA, BWHA and PEFA; OSPR, SWHA, FEHA and AMKE have never been recorded in March.

Sunday, March 31 Beaver Mines [Day 29] 0730-2000 (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0730 was -1C the high at 1600 was 11C and it was 4C at the end of observation at 2000. Winds were variable and light to 1400 when they became mainly WSW 10-15 gusting 30 km/h to 1900, after which they were NE 10-15 km/h for the rest of the day. Cloud cover was mainly 100% stratocumulus to 1430 when it became 40-60% cumulus and cirrus to 1800 after which it was again 100% stratus and stratocumulus that produced light rain showers between 1900 and 1920. The day saw a moderate raptor movement of 70 birds (the second highest count of the season) of 6 species between 1121 and 1752. The flight was 9 Bald Eagles (6a, 3sa), 1 adult Northern Goshawk, 2 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks, 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk, 55 Golden Eagles (31a, 4sa, 5j, 15u) and 1 male Prairie Falcon. Sixty-six birds moved between 1424 and 1752 coincident with the development of the moderate WSW winds, and the highest hourly count was 23 between 1600 and 1700. Other birds seen were 34 Canada Geese including a flock of 30 that flew high to the north at 0938, a leck of 36 Wild Turkeys including 2 displaying males, 9 Rock Pigeons, 3 Downy Woodpeckers, 5 Blue Jays, 20 American Crows, 12 Common Ravens, 4 Mountain Chickadees, 8 American Robins, 23 European Starlings, 40 Evening Grosbeaks, and 2 Pine Siskins.

12.5 hours (335.8) BAEA 9 (131), NOGO 1 (13), RTHA 2 (9), RLHA 1 (15), UB 1 (1), GOEA 55 (353), PRFA 1 (4) TOTAL 70 (541)

March summary (with variance from the 2015-2018 average in parenthesis). 29 days (+3.6%), 335.8 hours (+48.8%), BAEA 131 (-26.4%), NOHA 4 (-61.9%), SSHA 3 (-77.4%), NOGO 13 (-63.1%), RTHA 9 (-83.9%), RLHA 15 (-77.2%), GOEA 353 (-64%), MERL 2 (-73.3%), GYRF 4 (-5.9%), PEFA 1 (-33.3%), PRFA 4 (=), UB 1 (-80%), UU1 (-42.9%) TOTAL 541 (-60.6%). Species previously recorded in March but not recorded this year were TUVU, COHA, BWHA, SWHA and AMKE; OSPR has never been recorded in March.

Sunday, March 31 Steeples [Day 26] 1230-1930 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was initially 8C that rose to a high of 10C, conditions were calm throughout and cloud cover was 100% altostratus and dark cumulus that brought rain and obscured the ridges from 1430 to 1530, but was then 40% cumulus and thin altostratus that gave sunny conditions. Despite the weather interruption the day produced 35 migrant raptors of 4 species between 1253 and 1757 comprising 3a Turkey Vultures, the first migrants of the season, 14 Bald Eagles ((8a, 2sa, 4j), 1u Sharp-shinned Hawk that was the first bird seen and a first record for the season, and 17 Golden Eagles (13a, 2j, 2u). Migration was initially slow with just 4 birds seen before 1530, but 14 migrants were seen between 1533 and 1600 with many of the birds moving in light rain between the ridge and the site as the ridge was clearing. The ridges were clear by 1600 but only 1 migrant moved before 1700, but the following hour produced 16 migrants with the last Golden Eagle seen at 1757. Non-migrants were 6 Turkey Vultures, 5 adult Bald Eagles including 2 pair-flights, 1 resident Sharp-shinned Hawk and 3 Golden Eagles (2a, 1j) with one adult seen displaying. Forty Tundra Swans moved to the NE at 1317.

7 hours (130.8) TUVU 3 (3), BAEA 14 (190), SSHA 1 (1), GOEA 17 (422) TOTAL 35 (692)

March summary (with variance from the 2010-2018 average in parenthesis). 26 days (+28.6% and equals highest days), 130.8 hours (+58.4%, new high), BAEA 190 (+93.2%, new high), NOHA 1 (+200%), SSHA 1 (-50%), RTHA 4 (-21.7%), RLHA 2 (-10%), GOEA 422 (+49.9%), UE 6 (+237.6%) TOTAL 629 (+58.7%, second highest March count after 643 last year. Species previously recorded in March but not recorded this year were OSPR, NOGO, AMKE, MERL and PEFA, while COHA, BWHA, SWHA, FEHA, GYRF and PRFA have never been recorded on a spring count.

Saturday, March 30 Mount Lorette [Day 28] 0710-2030 (Blake Weis, assisted by Cliff Hansen and Doug Pederson). The temperature reached a high of 12C from 1600 to 1900 from a starting low of -7C and it was 5C at the end of observation. Ground winds were WSW 0-5 km/h to 1500, variable 0-5 gusting 10 km/h to 1800 and NW-NE 5-10 gusting 20 km/h for the rest of the day; while ridge winds were light to moderate SW to 1600 after which they were moderate WSW. Cloud cover was 10-20% cirrus to 1500 after which it was 20% altocumulus and cirrus which gradually increased to 90% at the end of the day. The first migrant at 0943 was the first Merlin of the season and by 2010 a total of 143 raptors of a season-high 5 species had been counted. The flight was 11 Bald Eagles (9a, 1 undifferentiated immature bird and 1u), 1u Sharp-shinned Hawk (the first of the season), 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk, 127 Golden Eagles (103a, 1sa, 4j, 19u), 1 unidentified eagle, 1 Merlin of undetermined race, sex or age and 1 unidentified raptor. The highest hourly count was 52 Golden Eagles between 1100 and 1200 that was followed by 2 Bald Eagles and 30 Golden Eagles the next hour. Only 12 further raptors were seen up to 1900 but 1900-2000 produced 4 Bald Eagles, 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk and 38 Golden Eagles, and the unidentified eagle at 2010 was the latest seen so far this season. All birds moved on the western route to 1300, soaring high on Olympic Summit and gliding high to the NW behind the summit of Mount Allan or to the NW over Skogan Pass, between 1300 and 1900 one-third of the birds used the west and two-thirds the east and the last big movement after 1900 was exclusively on the eastern route from the Fisher Range to Mount Lorette. Resident birds were 1 or 2 Northern Goshawks, a pair of adult Bald Eagles that soared together for 10 minutes above the northern end of the Fisher Range and drifted slowly to the south, and an adult Golden Eagle that displayed to 4 migrant birds over Olympic Summit at 1120. Other birds in the area were 43 Canada Geese including a flock of 35 that flew to the north, 1 male Common Merganser, 1 singing Northern Pygmy-Owl on Hummingbird Plume Hill that was reported by a visitor to the site, 1 drumming Ruffed Grouse, 40 unidentified gulls that flew high to the north over the western route at 1130, 1 Hairy Woodpecker drumming, 2  Pileated Woodpeckers, 1 Northern Flicker, 1 Canada Jay, 2 American Crows, 13 Common Ravens, 1 Black-capped Chickadee, 4 Mountain Chickadees, 1 Boreal Chickadee, 3 Red-breasted Nuthatches,  1 Golden-crowned Kinglet, 3 male and 1 female Mountain Bluebirds in the meadow, 4 singing Varied Thrushes, 60 American Robins, 3 European Starlings, 1 Pine Siskin, 1 White-winged Crossbill and 6 Dark-eyed Juncos. Ten White-tailed Deer were in the Meadow and 23 Bighorn Sheep were on Olympic Summit, and butterflies seen were 1 Mourning Cloak, 3 Milbert’s Tortoiseshells and 1 unidentified Comma. There was much to enjoy for the 38 visitors to the site today.

13.33 hours (306.5) BAEA 11 (114), SSHA 1 (1), RLHA 1 (3), GOEA 127 (1179), UE 1 (17), MERL 1 (1), UU 1 (3) TOTAL 143 (1329)

Saturday, March 30 Beaver Mines [Day 28] 0730-2000 (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Gord Petersen and Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0730 was 2C, the high from 1300 to 1800 was 12C and it was 7C at 2000. Winds were SW-WNW 5-10 gusting 30 km/h to 1345, after which they were variable but mainly ESE-NE 5-10 gusting 15 km/h. It was mainly cloudless with trace amounts to 10% cirrus to 1900 when 10% scattered cumulus developed that became 50% at 2000. There was yet another disappointing raptor movement of only 13 birds between 0935 and 1715 that comprised 1 adult Bald Eagle, 1 adult Northern Goshawk, 1u Rough-legged Hawk and 10 Golden Eagles (7a, 2sa, 1j). Seven of the Golden Eagles moved between 0935 and 1028, and the other 3 were seen between 1540 and 1545. A non-migrant light morph Rough-legged Hawk flew low to the SW at 1530 before perching on a cottonwood tree for an hour. Other birds were also sparse and comprised 2 Canada Geese, 38 Wild Turkeys, 9 Rock Pigeons, 3 Downy Woodpeckers, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 1 Northern Flicker, 1 adult Northern Shrike, 1 Blue Jay, 14 American Crows, 21 Common Ravens, 2 Mountain Chickadees, 2 Townsend’s Solitaires, 2 American Robins, 40 European Starlings, 28 Evening Grosbeaks, 30 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches that flew high to the north at 1620, 3 Pine Siskins and 1 montanus (“Oregon”) Junco. Butterflies seen were 1 Mourning Cloak and 1 probable Green Comma.

12.5 hours (323.3) BAEA 1 (122), NOGO 1 (12), RLHA 1 (14), GOEA 10 (298) TOTAL 13 (471)

Saturday, March 30 Steeples [Day 25] 1200-1900 (Vance Mattson). It was a beautiful day with the temperature reaching 14C from a starting low of 7C, conditions were calm and cloud cover was 10-40% thin altostratus, altocumulus and cirrus. A total of 24 migrants were seen between 1225 and 1746 comprising 7 Bald Eagles (8a, 7j), 1 dark morph Red-tailed Hawk of undetermined race, morph or age, 15 Golden Eagles (8a, 7j) and 1 unidentified eagle. Six birds moved between 1300 and 1400, 10 between 1400 and 1500 and 5 between 1500 and 1600. Non-migrants were the season’s first Turkey Vultures, none of which exhibited migratory behaviour, 13 Bald Eagles (6a, 1sa, 6j) and the first resident adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk. No resident Golden Eagles were seen today.

7 hours (123.8) BAEA 7 (176), RTHA 1 (4), GOEA 15 (405), UE 1 (6) TOTAL 24 (594)