Friday, March 27 Beaver Mines [Day 32] 0700-2020 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson, assisted by Asher Warkentin). The temperature at 0700 was 0C, the high at 1300, 1600 and 1700 was 5C and it was 2C at 2020. Winds were again SW-WSW all day 30-40 gusting 60 km/h and cloud cover was 40-100% thin mixtures of altocumulus, cirrus, cumulus and lenticular that allowed sunshine or hazy sunshine all day and generally provided superlative observing conditions. A season-high total of 144 raptors of 8 species were counted between 0826 and 1934 that comprised 18 Bald Eagles (17a, 1sa), 4 Sharp-shinned Hawks (3a, 1u), 3 Cooper’s Hawks (1a, 2u) that were the first of the season, 4 adult Northern Goshawks, 5 light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks (4a, 1u), 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk, a season-high 107 Golden Eagles (99a, 1sa, 7j) and 2 columbarius Merlins (1 adult female and 1u). Movement was initially slow and sporadic with only 19 birds counted between 0826 and 1300 but subsequent movement was steady and peaked at 29 birds between 1500 and 1600 with 25 birds occurring in the following hour. Five birds were seen after 1900. At Mount Lorette Caroline Lambert reported a disappointing 26 migrants in 13.67 hours of observation that comprised 1 adult Bald Eagle, 1u Northern Goshawk, 22 Golden Eagles (12a, 1sa, 9u) and 2 unidentified eagles. Other birds seen at Beaver Mines were 16 Canada Geese, 11 Rock Pigeons, 1 Eurasian Collared Dove, 1 Killdeer (the first for the site this season), 1 male Red-shafted Flicker, 1 Steller’s Jay, 4 Blue Jays, 1 American Crow, 24 Common Ravens, 1 Black-capped Chickadee, 6 Mountain Chickadees, 23 European Starlings, 15 Evening Grosbeaks, 22 Pine Grosbeaks, a flock of 15 flying Grey-crowned Rosy Finches and 33 Dark-eyed Juncos (3 cismontanus and 30 montanus).

13.33 hours (371.2) BAEA 18 (182), SSHA 4 (11), COHA 3 (3), NOGO 4 (23), RTHA 5 (22), RLHA 1 (50), GOEA 107 (625), MERL 2 (4) TOTAL 144 (930)

Friday, March 27 [Day 23] 1200-1815 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 7C, the wind was moderate S and 100% altostratus and cumulus cloud cover gave dreary conditions. Only 4 migrant Golden Eagles (3a, 1u) were seen that moved north between 1317 and 1551. Non-migrants were single adults of both eagle species.

6.25 hours (118) GOEA 4 (293) TOTAL 4 (400)

Thursday, March 26 Beaver Mines [Day 31] 070-2015 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0700 was -2C, the high at 1500 was 5C and it was 0C at 2015. Winds were SW-WSW 40-50 gusting 70-80 km/h all day. It was mainly cloudless to 1300 after which 20-70% thin altocumulus variously developed to 1730 that thickened to 80-90% altostratus and altocumulus to 2000 when it was 100% stratus. The conditions produced a long steady migration of a season-high 127 raptors of 6 species between 0714 and 1906 that comprised 11 Bald Eagles (10a, 1j), 2u Sharp-shinned Hawks, 3 Northern Goshawks (2a, 1j), 5 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks, a season-high 103 Golden Eagles (88a, 3sa, 8j, 4u) and 3 Prairie Falcons that were the first for the season. Ten Golden Eagles moved before 0800 and the highest hourly count was 24, which included 20 Golden Eagles, between 1500 and 1600.At Mount Lorette Joel Duncan reported 68 migrants that comprised 2 Bald Eagles (1a, 1sa), 1 unidentified Buteo, 61 Golden Eagles (41a, 2sa, 1j, 17u), 3 unidentified eagles and 1 Prairie Falcon in 13 hours of observation. Other birds seen at Beaver Mines were 52 Canada Geese, 3 Mallards, 6 male Common Mergansers, 1 Rock Pigeon, 2 Downy Woodpeckers, 1male Red-shafted Flicker, 2 Black-billed Magpies, 29 American Crows, 27 Common Ravens, 3 Black-capped Chickadees, 4 Mountain Chickadees, 2 American Robins, 12 European Starlings, 18 Evening Grosbeaks, 6 Pine Grosbeaks, 1perched Grey-crowned Rosy Finch of the race littoralis and a flock of 15 of undetermined race that flew high to the NW at 0958, and 71 Dark-eyed Juncos (1 cismontanus and 70 montanus).

13.25 (357.9) BAEA 11 (164), SSHA 2 (7), NOGO 3 (17), GOEA 103 (518), PRFA 3 (3) TOTAL 127 (786)

Thursday, March 26 [Day 22] 1200-1900 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 6C, 20-60% cumulus, altocumulus and altostratus cloud cover allowed mainly sunny conditions and strong S winds became moderate W later in the day. A total of 9 migrants moved between 1459 and 1720 consisting of 4 Bald Eagles (2a, 2j), 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk that was the first for the season, and 4 Bald Eagles (2a, 2j). Several of the migrants glided high and fast west of the ridge and directly over the observation site. Non-migrants were 12 Bald Eagles (7a, 5j) and 2 resident Golden Eagles (1a, 1j). The adult Golden Eagle briefly performed a courtship display that was the first seen this season.

7 hours (111.8) BAEA 4 (98), RLHA 1 (1), GOEA 4 (289) TOTAL 9 (396)

Wednesday, March 25 Beaver Mines [Day 30] 0710-2020 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0710 was -5C, the high at 1700 was -1C and it was -4C at 2020. It was calm to 0900 then NNE-ENE 5-18 km/h to 1700, SW-WSW 20-30 km/h to 1800 and then light N-NE for the rest of the day. Cloud cover was 100% stratus to 1720 that brought periods of light snow and often obscured the ridge in low cloud or fog for periods up to an hour. From 1720 to 1930 there was 60-80% cumulus cover that dwindled to 10% at 2000 and it was cloudless at 2020. The ridge was completely clear after 1500 but there were occasional light flurries for the rest of the day. The mixed conditions produced a disappointing count of 14 migrants that comprised 1 adult male Sharp-shinned Hawk, a season-high 5 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks and 8 adult Golden Eagles that were seen between 1041 and 1808. A SW flow was observed above the ridge at 1140 and it is likely that favourable migration conditions were established on the higher ridges to the west at this time and carried the significant Golden Eagle movement that was seen at Mount Lorette today. At Mount Lorette Bill Wilson counted 149 migrants that comprised 5 Bald Eagles (3a, 1sa, 1u) and 144 Golden Eagles (82a, 5sa, 11j, 46u) in 13.33 hours of observation. Most of the birds moved after 1500 and the busiest hour was 1900-2000 when 37 birds were counted. Other birds seen at Beaver Mines were 24 Canada Geese, 4 Mallards, 4 Green-winged Teal, 9 Rock Pigeons, 1 Eurasian Collared Dove, 1 Great Blue Heron perched on a fence post near the creek, 1 Downy Woodpecker, 2 Northern Flickers (1u Yellow-shafted and 1male Red-shafted), 1 male Pileated Woodpecker,  2 Steller’s Jays, 2 Blue Jays, 2 Black-billed Magpies, 21 Common Ravens, 5 Black-capped Chickadees, 6 Mountain Chickadees, 16 European Starlings, 5 Pine Grosbeaks, 1 American Tree Sparrow and 61 Dark-eyed Juncos (1 cismontanus and 60 montanus).

13.16 hours (344.7) SSHA 1 (5), RTHA 5 (12), GOEA 8 (415) TOTAL 14 (659)

Wednesday, March 25 [Day 21] 1145-1915 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 6C, cloud cover was 30-60% cumulus that gave mainly sunny conditions and it was mainly calm. A total of 30 migrant eagles were seen between 1219 and 1846 that comprised 7 Bald Eagles (2a, 1sa, 4j) and 23 Golden Eagles (19a, 1sa, 1j, 2u). Six birds moved before 1400, 4 between 1400 and 1500 and the highest hourly count was 15 between 1500 and 1600. Non-migrants were 23 Bald Eagles, including 19 adults that were seen throughout the day. They were often in groups of two to four and frequently interacted including some very spirited chases and exchanges. The most amusing display was an adult bird that carried a stick south along the ridge, and repeatedly struggled to transfer it from its talons to its beak. It soared while attempting to do this for a long while thrice dropping the stick but quickly diving to recover it.  The fourth time, however, the eagle could not recover the prized possession and reluctantly continued south without it after scanning the territory below several times in an attempt to relocate the stick. A total of six adults moved south along the ridge after 1830.

7.5 hours (104.8) BAEA 7 (94), GOEA 23 (285), TOTAL 30 (387)

Tuesday, March 24 Beaver Mines [Day 29] 0710-1910 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0710 was -4C, the high at 1800 was -1C at it was -3C at 2010; winds were variable NE-SE all day 6-16 km/h. Cloud cover was initially 50% cumulus that was the clearest it was all day and steady snow started falling at 0830 that persisted for most of the day and on occasion became moderate or heavy. The ridge was obscured for much of the day and even when it appeared it was blurred by light snow. The only time it was completely clear was from 1930 to 2010. There was 1.5 cm of fresh snow at 0710 and a further 8 cm fell throughout the day. A total of 6 migrants were seen between 0928 and 1628 that comprised 2 adult low-flying Sharp-shinned Hawks (1 female and 1 male), 1 adult Northern Goshawk and 3 Golden Eagles (2a, 1u). At Mount Lorette where it also snowed all day George Halmazna saw a single migrant subadult Bald Eagle in 6.5 hours of observation. Other birds seen at Beaver Mines were 20 Canada Geese, 1 male Common Merganser, 2 Rock Pigeons, 1 Eurasian Collared Dove, 3 Downy Woodpeckers, 2 Hairy Woodpeckers, 1 male Red-shafted Flicker, 1 Blue Jay, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 39 American Crows 36 of which flew high in a flock to the SW at 1820, 8 Common Ravens, 5 Black-capped Chickadees, 5 Mountain Chickadees, 22 European Starlings, 14 Evening Grosbeaks, 16 Pine Grosbeaks, 1 American Tree Sparrow and 61 Dark-eyed Juncos (1 cismontanus and 60 montanus).

13 hours (331.5) SSHA 2 (4), NOGO 1 (16), GOEA 3 (407) TOTAL 6 (645)

Tuesday, March 24 [Day 20] 1230-1900 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 4C, winds were moderate SW that became light W at the end of the day and cloud cover was 70-100% cumulus and stratus. Snow flurries persisted throughout and obscured ridges alternated with slightly clearing conditions. Only three migrant adult Golden Eagles were seen, all before 1300. Three resident Golden Eagles were also present including the resident pair that glided to the SW together at 1610. At 1830 a single adult Golden Eagle was mobbed so intensely by two ravens that they managed to ground the eagle twice on the ridge. After it was grounded the second time the ravens left and the eagle quickly took flight but was again quickly attacked by one of the ravens that escorted it out of the area.

6.5 hours (97.25) GOEA 3 (262) TOTAL 3 (357)

Monday, March 23 Beaver Mines [Day 28] 0710-2020 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0710 was 3C, the high at 1200 to 1400 was 8C and it was 3C at 2020. Winds were SW to 1700, 40-50 gusting 60 km/h, and 70 km/h at 1400 and 1500, and SSW-WSW 30-50 km/h after 1700. Cloud cover was 30-100% thin cirrostratus, altostratus and cumulus in the morning that thickened in the afternoon to 70-100% lenticular, cumulus and stratus that at times threatened rain or snow but only produced occasional light flurries or very light drizzle. Yesterday’s late movement continued into early morning with 9 birds, 2 Bald Eagles, 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk and 6 Golden Eagles, seen between 0751 and 0828 but the 10^th bird did not appear until 1048 and subsequent movement was persistent but slow and sporadic. A total of 37 birds of 7 species were counted that comprised 10 Bald Eagles (6a, 2sa, 1j, 1u), 1u Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1 adult Northern Goshawk, 1 light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk, 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk, 21 Golden Eagles (18a, 2sa, 1j) and 2 adult Peregrine Falcons that were the first of the season. The first peregrine, a probable female, flew north at 1215 and the second, a male, flew north at 1949 and was the last migrant of the day. At Mount Lorette Blake Weis reported a count of 66 eagles in 12 hours that comprised 5 Bald Eagles (1a, 2sa, and 1j), 57 Golden Eagles (37a, 2sa, 18u) and 4 unidentified eagles. Other birds seen at Beaver Mines were 11 Canada Geese, 4 American Wigeons, 10 Mallards 6 Rock Pigeons, 1 Eurasian Collared Dove, 1 Common Loon that flew very high to the NNE at 1158 and was a first March record for the area, 1 Downy Woodpecker, 1 female Red-shafted Flicker, 2 Steller’s Jays, 10 American Crows, 34 Common Ravens, 6 Black-capped Chickadees, 6 Mountain Chickadees, 1 American Robin, 35 European Starlings, 10 Evening Grosbeaks, 28 Pine Grosbeaks and 30 Dark-eyed [montanus] Juncos. Phil Hazelton also reported a pair of Mountain Bluebirds that were a first record for this area this year, although David McIntyre saw his first up the Burmis Road on March 6, and on March 21 7 male birds were present.

13.16 hours (318.5) BAEA 10 (153), SSHA 1 (2), NOGO 1 (15), RTHA 1 (7), RLHA 1 (49), GOEA 21 (404), PEFA 2 (2) TOTAL 37 (639)

Monday, March 23 [Day 18] 1230-1900 (Vance Mattson). The temperature reached a high of 11C but again moderate to strong S winds made it feel much colder, Cloud cover was 60-100% altostratus and cumulus which increasingly grew darker and the top of the highest ridges were obscured from 1630 to 1700 and again from 1825 to 1900 when light flurries began. The first migrant was not seen until 1445 and the total count was 1 adult Bald Eagle and 9 Golden Eagles (7a, 2u), 5 of which were seen after 1800 that gave hope of a significant late movement that failed to materialize. This date last year saw the passage of 152 migrants including 126 Golden Eagles.

6.5 hours (90.75) BAEA 1 (87), GOEA 9 (259) TOTAL 10 (354)