Thursday, March 14 Mount Lorette [Day 12] 0805-2005 (Cliff Hansen, assisted by Heinz Unger and Eric Langshaw). The starting temperature was -18C, the high at 1500 was 2C and it was 0C at the end of observation. Ground winds were SW all day, light (<5 km/h) to 1400 then 5-10 gusting 25 km/h to 1800 after which gusts ceased, while ridge winds were moderate to strong SW all day. It was cloudless to 1100 when 100% thin cirrostratus developed that reduced to 30% with cumulus and altocumulus from 1600 to the end of the day. Observing and migration conditions were excellent throughout the afternoon and a season high 12 migrant raptors were counted between 1448 and 1659 all of which moved from the northern end of the Fisher Range to Mount Lorette. The flight comprised 1 adult Bald Eagle, 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk (the first for the season) and 10 adult Golden Eagles, 8 of which were recorded between 1600 and 1659. A non-migrant adult Bald Eagle also moved to the south above the Fisher Range. Other birds recorded were 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 2 Canada Jays, 9 Common Ravens, 20 Mountain Chickadees and the season’s first Red-winged Blackbird, a singing male. Fresh Canada Lynx tracks were again seen, and there were 3 human visitors to the site.

12 hours (115.3) BAEA 1 (11), RLHA 1 (1), GOEA 10 (20) TOTAL 12 (32)

Thursday, March 14 Beaver Mines [Day 13] 0730-1930 (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0730 was -5C, the high at 1400 and again at 1600 was 2C and it was -1C at 1930. Winds were WNW 15-20 km/h to 0950 after which they were W-WSW for the rest of the day 20-40 gusting to 60 km/h. It was cloudless to 1050 when cumulus cloud started to develop that became 40-100% altostratus to 1630 after which it was again cloudless with minor cirrus after 1900. Both migration and, with the exception of blowing snow, observing conditions were excellent throughout and allowed a season high total of 64 migrants to be counted between 0901 and 1856. The count comprised 15 Bald Eagles (12a, 3j), 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk and a season high 48 Golden Eagles (45a, 3j). Birds moved steadily all day with a maximum hourly count of 16 (10 Golden Eagles) between 1300 and 1400, and 13 birds (10 Golden Eagles) moved between 1800 and 1856. The resident juvenile Golden Eagle soared briefly close to the ridge at 1803. This first significant movement of the season coincides with last year’s first significant movement when 61 migrants (41 Golden Eagles) were counted on March 14. Other birds in the area were 30 Mallards that flew to the NE at 1751, 8 Rock Pigeons, 2 Downy Woodpeckers, 1 male Northern [Red-shafted] Flicker, 8 Blue Jays, 1 American Crow, 44 Common Ravens 23 of which to the SW to roost between 1828 and 1914, 3 Black-capped Chickadees, 1 Mountain Chickadee, 5 European Starlings,  30 Bohemian Waxwings, 45 Evening Grosbeaks, 6 Common Redpolls, 100 Pine Siskins, 4 Dark-eyed Juncos (2 hyemalis and 2 montanus) and 3 male Red-winged Blackbirds.

12 hours (141.8) BAEA 15 (48), RLHA 1 (6), GOEA 48 (87) TOTAL 64 (144)

Thursday, March 14 Steeples [Day 9] 1300-1700 (Vance Mattson). The temperature reached a high of 4C from a starting temperature of -1C, winds were moderate S, and 20-70% thin altostratus and cumulus cloud gave mostly sunny skies with excellent observing conditions. A season high 32 eagles glided north between 1332 and 1818, 26 of which were seen after 1600 including 13 between 1700 and 1800. The flight was 5 Bald Eagles (4a, 1j) and a season high 27 Golden Eagles (23a, 3j, 1u). Non-migrants were 4 adult Bald Eagles including a pair-flight at 1732, and a juvenile Golden Eagle that hunted above the ridge at 1845 and then moved south.

6 hours (38.25) BAEA 5 (17), GOEA 27 (39) TOTAL 32 (56)

Wednesday, March 13 Mount Lorette [Day 11] 0900-1940 (Caroline Lambert, assisted by Brian McBride). The temperature at 0900 was -8C, the high at 1500 and 1600 was 1C and it was -1C at the end of observation. Ground winds were SW 0-5 km/h all day with the exception of 1700-1730 when they were N 5-10 km/h during a brief snow shower, and ridge winds were light SW all day. Cloud cover was 100% stratocumulus to 1400 after which it was 70-90% stratus. The east ridges were variably obscured 20-100% all day only completely clearing around 1300, and the west was 80-100% obscured all day. Conditions were not conducive for migration and the only migrant seen was an adult Golden Eagle that moved north along the Fisher Range at 1741. Other birds seen were a Pileated Woodpecker, 3 Canada Jays, 1 Common Raven, 1 Mountain Chickadee, 3 Boreal Chickadees, 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch, 1 Brown Creeper, 1 American Dipper, 75 Common Redpolls and 3 White-winged Crossbills. A set of fresh Canada Lynx tracks were seen next to the tracks of a Snowshoe Hare that was obviously running at high speed! There were 9 visitors at the site today.

10.67 hours (103.3) GOEA 1 (10), TOTAL 1 (20)

Wednesday, March 13 Beaver Mines [Day 12] 1000-1945 (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0800 was -4C but steady snowfall that completely obscured the ridge meant that observation did not begin until 1000 when the ridge cleared and the temperature was -2C. Snow resumed at 1020 and only finally stopped at 1200 leaving 17 cm of fresh snow on the ground but the ridge remained clear for the rest of the day. The temperature high was 1C at 1300 and it was -3C at 1945. Winds were variable all day with a velocity of only 0-5 km/h, and cloud cover was 100% stratus to 1900 when it reduced to 80% cumulus and quickly cleared to 20% cumulus at the end of the day. The light winds produced a paltry raptor count of 3 eagles with adult Golden Eagles moving at 1250 and 1639 and an adult Bald Eagle at 1928. A resident juvenile Golden Eagle perched on a Douglas Fir near the top of the ridge between 1630 and 1715, and an adult Bald Eagle perched in a similar position between 1550 and 1750. Other birds in the area were 26 Canada Geese that flew high to the N at 1646, 8 Rock Pigeons, 4 Downy Woodpeckers, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 1 Northern [Red-shafted] Flicker, 1 first winter Northern Shrike that caught and carried away a hyemalis Dark-eyed Junco at 1624,  1 Canada Jay, 8 Blue Jays, 6 Black-billed Magpies, 123 Common Ravens 101 of which flew high to the SW to roost between 1815 and 1847, 8 Black-capped Chickadees, 6 Mountain Chickadees, 2 European Starlings,  a flock of 200 Bohemian Waxwings that flew high to the SW at 1839, 60 Evening Grosbeaks, 30 Common Redpolls, 120 Pine Siskins, 8 Dark-eyed Juncos (5 hyamalis and 3 montanus) and 1 male Red-winged Blackbird.

9.75 hours (129.8) BAEA 1 (33), GOEA 2 (39) TOTAL 3 (80)

Wednesday, March 13 Steeples [Day 8] 1630-1800 (Vance Mattson). It was a cloudy day but started to clear in the late afternoon but when Vance arrived at the site the ridges were still partially obscured. The temperature was 5C, conditions were calm and cloud cover was 90% cumulus and stratus. No migrant nor resident raptors were seen.

1.5 hours (32.25) TOTAL 0 (24)

Tuesday, March 12 Mount Lorette NO OBSERVATION (weather). Rosemary Power and Kathleen Peterson were at Barrier Lake between 1045 and 1330 where the temperature was 1C, winds were light, cloud cover was 100% low stratus and an ice crystal fog greatly reduced visibility. By 1330 the crystal fog thickened and obscured the ridges and the count was abandoned for the day just before it began to snow.

Tuesday, March 12 Beaver Mines [Day 11] 0730-1600 (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0730 was 0C which fell to -1C at 0800, rose to a high of 4C at 1400 and was 1C at 1600 when observation ceased. Winds were WSW-W 20-30 gusting 40 km/h to 1200, then N 10-20 km/h to 1400 and finally ESE-SE 20 km/h to 1600. Cloud cover was 30-60% cumulus, altocumulus and cirrus to 0830 after which it was 100% stratus and cumulus for the rest of the day although it was thin enough to allow hazy sunshine between 1000 and 1400. Light snow began to fall at 1515 which became moderate at 1600 obscuring the ridge and bringing the day’s count to an end. Raptor migration was slow with just 5 eagles moving between 0844 and 1405: 1 adult Bald Eagle and 4 Golden Eagles (3a, 1sa). Other birds seen were 4 Canada Geese that flew high to the NE at 0940, 23 Rock Pigeons, 1 Downy Woodpecker, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 1 first winter Northern Shrike, 8 Blue Jays, 1 American Crow, 19 Common Ravens, 5 Black-capped Chickadees, 2 Mountain Chickadees, 3 European Starlings, 9 Bohemian Waxwings, 36 Evening Grosbeaks, 28 Common Redpolls, 60 Pine Siskins and 6 Dark-eyed Juncos (3 hyamelis and 3 montanus).

8.5 hours (120) BAEA 1 (32), GOEA 4 (37) TOTAL 5 (77)

Tuesday, March 12 Steeples (Vance Mattson). NO OBSERVATION (weather). Snow and rain fell all day and obscured the mountains.

Monday, March 11 Mount Lorette [Day 10] 0820-1900 (Blake Weis assisted by Dan Parliament). It was the warmest day so far this season with a temperature at 0820 of -1C, a high between 1500 and 1700 of 5C and it was still 3C at 1900. Ground winds were WSW-SW and occasionally SE all day, 5-15 gusting to 42 km/h, while ridge winds were strong all day, SW to 1400 after which they were NW. Cloud cover was altostratus, altocumulus and cirrus all day, initially 90% that diminished to 40 to 60% after 1300, while low cumulus draped the mountains to the west all day. The west was 10-20% obscured after 1000 but the eastern ridges were clear all day. Despite these seemingly favourable migration and observing conditions the only migrant raptor seen was an adult Golden Eagle that glided high from the northern end of the Fisher Range to Mount Lorette at 1756. Three non-migratory adult Bald Eagles were also seen: 1 flew south at 0820 at the parking area, 1 flew south above the Fisher Range at 1110 and a third flew south above the river at 1634. Other birds seen were a Pileated Woodpecker flying above Highway 40, 3 Canada Jays, 12 Common Ravens, 7 Black-capped Chickadees, 5 Mountain Chickadee, 3 Boreal Chickadees, 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch, 18 Common Redpolls and 9 White-winged Crossbills. Only two visitors made it to the site today.

9.67 hours (92.58) GOEA 1 (9) TOTAL 1 (19)

Monday, March 11 Beaver Mines [Day 10] 0745-1915 (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Hilary Atkinson). It was also the warmest day so far at Beaver Mines with a starting temperature of -2C that rose to a high of 4C from 1500 to 1800 and was still 2C at the end of observation. Winds were strong W and occasionally WSW all day 40-60 gusting 70-90 km/h and cloud cover was 100% altostratus and altocumulus to 1300 that reduced to 70-80% for the rest of the day that provided mainly sunny and excellent observing conditions. A season high total of 28 migrant raptors of 4 species were counted between 0839 and 1904 with a highest hourly count of 8 between 1500 and 1600. The count was a season high 17 Bald Eagles (16 adults and 1 late subadult), 8 adult Golden Eagles, the season’s first Gyrfalcon, an adult probable male white morph at 1708, the first Prairie Falcon at 0933 and 1 very high-flying unidentified raptor at 0940 that was either an eagle or a Buteo. Amongst the other birds seen were a number of first occurrences for the season that comprised a flock of 25 Mallards that flew low to the SW, 1 first winter Northern Shrike, 2 European Starlings, 1 male Red-winged Blackbird and 1 male Rusty Blackbird. Other birds seen were 17 Rock Pigeons, 2 Downy Woodpeckers, 8 Blue Jays, 6 Black-billed Magpies, 27 Common Ravens, 15 of which flew to the SW to roost between 1830 and 1847, 5 Black-capped Chickadees, 35 Evening Grosbeaks, 16 Common Redpolls, 35 Pine Siskins and 10 Dark-eyed Juncos (6 hyamelis and 4 montanus).

11.5 hours (111.5) BAEA 17 (31), GOEA 8 (33), GYRF 1 (1), PRFA 1 (1) UU 1 (1) TOTAL 28 (72)

Monday, March 11 Steeples (Vance Mattson). NO OBSERVATION.

NOTE: TIME CHANGE FROM MOUNTAIN STANDARD TIME TO MOUNTAIN DAYLIGHT TIME (+ 1 HOUR)

Sunday, March 10 Mount Lorette [Day 9] 0755-1935 (Bill Wilson, assisted by Lori Anderson). The temperature at 0755 was -19C, the high was 3C at 1600 and 1700 and it was -1C at 1935. Ground winds were light (0-5 km/h) and variable to 1100, then 0-6 gusting 20 km/h to 1400 after which they were SW 5-20 gusting to 36 km/h. Ridge winds were SW moderate to strong after 1500 but could not be assessed earlier as it was completely cloudless, but after 1500 cirrostratus cloud appeared that gradually increased to 100% after 1800. A season high total of 11 migrants were recorded between 1446 and 1733 comprising 4 Bald Eagles (3a, 1j) and 7 adult Golden Eagles. Eight eagles moved between 1600 and 1800 and all birds glided high to the NW from the Fisher Range to Mount Lorette. Other birds seen were 2 Canada Jays, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 52 Common Ravens, most of which moved over Mount Lorette to roost in the late afternoon, 2 Black-capped Chickadees, 1 Mountain Chickadee, 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch, 1 American Dipper, 6 Common Redpolls and 30 White-winged Crossbills. The highest count of the day, however, was a season high total of 64 visitors at the site.

11.5 hours (82.91) BAEA 4 (10), GOEA 7 (8) TOTAL 11 (18)

Sunday, March 10 Beaver Mines [Day 9] 0800-1900 (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0800 was -6C, the high was 2C at 1600 and it was -1C at 1900. Winds were W-WSW all day 30-40 gusting to 60 km/h and it was completely cloudless all day with a trace of cirrus only appearing at 1900. A disappointing total of 6 raptors were recorded between 1026 and 1713, 4 of which occurred before 1138. The count was 1 adult Bald Eagle, 1u Rough-legged Hawk and 4 adult Golden Eagles. A non-migrant subadult Bald Eagle also hunted low above the ridge at 1843. Numbers of other birds were also down and comprised 13 Rock Pigeons, 5 Downy Woodpeckers, 10 Blue Jays, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 15 Common Ravens, 6 Black-capped Chickadees, 2 Mountain Chickadees, 10 Evening Grosbeaks, 15 Common Redpolls, 39 Pine Siskins and 10 Dark-eyed Juncos (6 hyamelis and 4 montanus).

11 hours (100) BAEA 1 (14), RLHA 1 (5), GOEA 4 (25) TOTAL 6 (44)

Sunday, March 10 Steeples [Day 7] 1200-1830 (Vance Mattson). The temperature reached a high of 3C from a low of -4C at 1200 and it was calm and cloudless all day. A total of 8 migrants were seen between 1345 and 1751 and, with the exception of a single adult Bald Eagle at 1538, all were adult Golden Eagles. Three resident Golden Eagles (2a, 1j) were seen on 3 occasions, and a non-migrant adult Bald Eagle moved south along the ridge at 1531.

6.5 hours (30.75) BAEA 1 (12), GOEA 7 (12) TOTAL 8 (24)