Wednesday, April 22 Beaver Mines [Day 58] 0600-2100 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0600 was 5.5C, the high at 1600 was 14 C and it was still 9C at 2100. Winds were WSW all day 30-45 gusting to 65 km/h and cloud cover was 70-100% altostratus, cirrus, cumulus, altocumulus and lenticular with the exception of 1000 when it briefly reduced to 30% cirrus and altocumulus. There was hazy sunshine for most of the day and migration and observing conditions were excellent. A total of 52 migrant raptors of a season-high 14 species moved steadily between 0754 and 1942 that comprised 2 adult Turkey Vultures, 2 Ospreys, 1 adult Bald Eagle, 2 male Northern Harriers (1j, 1u), 14 Sharp-shinned Hawks (3a, 11u), 3 Cooper’s Hawks (1a, 2u), 4 Northern Goshawks (3j, 1u), 5 adult Broad-winged Hawks (4 light, 1 dark). 4 of which soared high above the ridge with 6 ravens at 1942 and were the last migrants of the day, 1 adult light morph Swainson’s Hawk, only 2 adult calurus Red-tailed Hawks (1 light, 1 dark), 1 dark morph unidentified Buteo, 8 Golden Eagles (2a, 1sa, 4j, 1u), 2u American Kestrels, 2 female columbarius Merlins and 3 Peregrine Falcons (1 adult female, 1 adult male and 1u male). The highest single-hour count was 1500-1600 when 13 migrants were seen. Non-migrant birds were a pair and a single adult male Northern Harrier, 2 or 3 pairs of Red-tailed Hawks and 1 adult Golden Eagle. We have decided to extend the Beaver Mines count for a few more days or until the current significant movement has ended. At Mount Lorette Blake Weis reported 17 migrants of 5 species in 11 hours of observation that comprised 4 Bald Eagles (1a, 1sa and 2 undifferentiated immatures), 2u Sharp-shinned Hawks, 1u Cooper’s Hawk, the season’s first Ferruginous Hawk, an adult dark morph, and 9 Golden Eagles (3sa, 1j, 5u). Other birds seen at Beaver Mines were 5 Canada Geese, 13 Mallards, 10 Green-winged Teal, 1 male Common Merganser, 32 Rock Pigeons, 1 pair of resident Sandhill Cranes and 2 pairs that flew high to the SW at 1646 and 1836, 1 Wilson’s Snipe, 1 Red-shafted Flicker, 1 Steller’s Jay, 3 Blue Jays, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 20 American Crows, 27 Common Ravens, 4 Tree Swallows 8 Black-capped Chickadees, 6 Mountain Chickadees, 8 American Robins, 4 European Starlings, 17 Evening Grosbeaks, 7 Pine Grosbeaks, 406 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches that flew high to the NNW in 6 flocks between 0952 and 1626, 4 Dark-eyed [montanus] Juncos, 6 male Red-winged Blackbirds, and 2 male Common Grackles.

15 hours (731.2), TUVU 2 (5), OSPR 2 (6), BAEA 1 (351), NOHA 2 (37), SSHA 14 (93), COHA 3 (17), NOGO 4 (47), BWHA 5 (13), SWHA 1 (4), RTHA 2 (260), UB 1 (9), GOEA 8 (1113), AMKE 2 (12), MERL 2 (24), PEFA 3 (10), TOTAL 52 (2078)

April Summary Beaver Mines to April 22 (with percentage variance compared to 2015-2019 average) 22 days (+5.8%), 306.5.5 hours (+46.5%) TUVU 5 (+212.5%), OSPR 6 (+87.5), BAEA 127 (+30.7%), NOHA 32 (-17.1%), SSHA 74 (-39.1%), COHA 13 (+20.4%), NOGO 15 (-19.4%), UA 0, BWHA 13 (+62.5%), SWHA 4 (+53.8%), RTHA 233 (-62.3%), FEHA 3 (-6.3%), RLHA 12 (-48.7%), UB 8 (-7%), GOEA 218 (+2.1%), UE 0, AMKE 12 (+53.8%), MERL 19 (+111.1%), GYRF 2 (-25%), PEFA 7 (+6.1%), PRFA 1 (-68.8%), UF 0, UU 0 TOTAL 804 (+22.2%)

Beaver Mines spring 2020 summary February 23-April 22 (With percentage variance from the 5-year average 2015-2019). 58 days (+14.6%), 731.2 hours (+56.7%), TUVU 5 (+127.3%), OSPR 6 (+87.5%), BAEA 351 (+30.5%), NOHA 37 (-22.6%), SSHA 93 (+44.4%), COHA 17 (+41.7%), NOGO 47 (-4.9%), UA 1 (-28.6%), BWHA 13 (+51.2%), SWHA 4 (+42.9%), RTHA 260 (+36.7%), FEHA 4 (-25.9%), RLHA 62 (-22.1%), UB 9 (-31.8%), GOEA 1113 (+3.5%), UE 0, AMKE 12 (+20%), MERL 24 (+55.8%), GYRF 4 (-33.3%), PEFA 10 (+25%), PRFA 6 (-16.7%), UF 0, UU 0  TOTAL 2078 (+10.7%) of 18 species.

[The Beaver Mines figures will be updated when the count ends]

April Summary Mount Lorette (with percentage variance compared to 1993-2019 average excluding the anomalously low counts in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2012) 20 days (-5.54%), 243 hours (-0.8%) TUVU 0, OSPR 3 (+56.8%), BAEA 92 (+28.3%), NOHA 4 (+1.1%), SSHA 21 (-1%), COHA 9 (+55.6%), NOGO 15 (+30.7%), UA 6 (+283%), BWHA 0, SWHA 0, RTHA 27 (+6.7%), FEHA 1 (+475%), RLHA 8 (-42.3%), UB 2 (+43.8%), GOEA 367 (-28.6%), UE 1 (-42.5%), AMKE 3 (+176%), MERL 5 (+12.7%), GYRF 0, PEFA 0, PRFA 2 (+84%), UF 2 (+318%), UU 5 (+271%) TOTAL 573 (-16.3%)

Mount Lorette spring 2020 summary March 1-April 22 (With variance from the long-term 1993-2019 23-year average, that excludes the anomalously low counts in 2008-2010 and 2012 which are considered invalid). 45 days (-9.7%), 527.4 hours (-5.3%), TUVU 0, OSPR 3 (+56.8%), BAEA 167 (-9.1%), NOHA 4 (-14%), SSHA 24 (+0.7%), COHA 9 (+39.9%), NOGO 21 (-6.4%), UA 6 (+200%), BWHA 0, SWHA 0, RTHA 33 (+10.2%), FEHA 1 (+475), RLHA 10 (-47.7%), UB 7 (+228.6%), GOEA 1528 (-46.8% and the lowest valid spring count ever), UE 17 (+194%), AMKE 3 (+176%), MERL 5 (-24.8%), GYRF 0, PEFA 0, PRFA 3 (+43.8%), UF 3 (+245%), UU 6 (+193.6%) TOTAL 1850 (-42% and the lowest valid spring count ever) of 13 species

Wednesday, April 22 Steeples [Day 45] 1300-1700 (Vance Mattson).  Observation was from the Wolf Creek site where the temperature was 16C, it was calm with intermittent E winds and cloud cover was 100% altostratus and dark cumulus. No migrants were seen and non-migrants were 2 Bald Eagles and the resident Golden Eagle pair. There was a lengthy and impressive sky-dancing display by the male Golden Eagle that ranged over 1.5 km and 1000 m of elevation, dropping almost to the valley floor.

4 hours (233.3) TOTAL 0 (489)

Steeples April summary to April 22 (With percentage variance from the 10-year average 2010-2019). 20 days (+66.7%), 102 hours (+112.4%), TUVU 2 (-73.7%), OSPR 1 (-23.1%), BAEA 36 (+26.3%), NOHA 1 (+100%), SSHA 3 (-23.1%), COHA 0, NOGO 0, UA 0, BWHA 0, SWHA 0, RTHA 5 (-37.5%), FEHA 0, RLHA 2 (+33.3%), UB 0, GOEA 29 (-18.8%), UE 0, AMKE 0, MERL 2 (first spring records for the site), GYRF 0, PEFA 1 (+100%), PRFA 0, UF 0, UU 0 TOTAL 82 (-8.8%).

Steeples spring 2020 summary (With percentage variance from the 10-year average 2010-2019). 45 days (+33.9%), 233.3 hours (+67.6%), TUVU 2 (-76.7%), OSPR 1 (-23.1%), BAEA 134 (-6.8%), NOHA 1 (+42.9), SSHA 3 (-66%), COHA 0, NOGO 0, UA 0, BWHA 0, SWHA 0, RTHA 8 (-32.1%), FEHA 0, RLHA 3 (-45.5%), UB 0, GOEA 329 (-7.7%), UE 2 (+28.6%), AMKE 0, MERL 2 (first spring records for the site), GYRF 1 (first spring record for the site), PEFA 1 (+25%), PRFA 0, UF 0, UU 0 TOTAL 489 (-9.2%) of 11 species.

Tuesday, April 21 Beaver Mines [Day 57] 0615-2045 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0615 was 8C, the high at 1500 and again at 1700 was 16C and it was 12C at 2045. Winds were WSW-W all day 30-45 gusting to 70 km/h and it was cloudless to 1600 except for between 1230 and 1415 when up to 10% cumulus developed and after 1600 it was 80-100% altostratus, cirrus and cumulus. A total of 55 migrant raptors of 11 species were recorded between 0851 and 1921 that comprised 3 Ospreys, 2 adult Bald Eagles, 4 Northern Harriers (2 juvenile females and 1j and 1u males), 11 Sharp-shinned Hawks (4a, 1j, 6u), 2 Cooper’s Hawks (1a, 1u), 2 Northern Goshawks (1j, 1u), 4 light morph Broad-winged Hawks (3a, 1j) that included a small high-soaring kettle of 3 birds at 1915, 10 light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks (9a, 1u), 1 adult light morph Ferruginous Hawk, 14 Golden Eagles (2a, 1sa, 10j, 1u) and 2 columbarius Merlins (1 male, 1u). Movement was initially slow with only 3 birds seen before 1100 but subsequently migration was steady and peaked at 10 birds between 1700 and 1800. Resident birds were a pair of Northern Harriers and a single adult male that were conspicuous between 0705 and 1856, and 2 or 3 pairs of Red-tailed Hawks the last sighting of which was a hunting bird high above the ridge at 2036. At Mount Lorette Dan Parliament reported 34 migrants of 5 species in 13.92 hours of observation that comprised 6 Bald Eagles (4a, 2sa), 1u Northern Harrier, 1u Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1u Northern Goshawk, and 25 Golden Eagles (4a, 5sa, 4j, 12u). Most birds were flying very high across the valley from the northern end of the Fisher Range to Mount Lorette and they were difficult to locate and age. Other birds seen at Beaver Mines were 8 Canada Geese, 5 Mallards, 4 Green-winged Teal, 1 male Barrow’s Goldeneye, 6 Rock Pigeons, 1 pair of resident Sandhill Cranes and 2 migrants that flew high to the NNW at 1329, 1 Downy Woodpecker, 1 Red-shafted Flicker, 2 Steller’s Jays, 1 Blue Jay, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 35 American Crows, 16 Common Ravens, 4 Tree Swallows 4 Black-capped Chickadees, 4 Mountain Chickadees, 2 Ruby-crowned Kinglets that were new for the year, 6 American Robins, 10 European Starlings, 20 Evening Grosbeaks, 11 Pine Grosbeaks, 80 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches that flew high to the NNW at 1738, 7 Dark-eyed Juncos (1 cismontanus and 6 montanus), 6 male Red-winged Blackbirds, and 2 male and 1 female Common Grackles that were also new for the year.

Tomorrow will be the last day of the spring 2020 count at all three sites.

14.5 hours (716.2) OSPR 3 (4), BAEA 2 (350), NOHA 4 (35), SSHA 11 (79), COHA 2 (14), NOGO 2 (43), BWHA 4 (8), RTHA 10 (258), FEHA 1 (4), GOEA 14 (1105), MERL 2 (22) TOTAL 55 (2026)

Tuesday, April 21 Steeples [Day 44] 1300-1600 (Vance Mattson). The temperature reached 19C, winds were strong SW and it was cloudless. No migrants were seen and resident birds were 15 Turkey Vultures and a pair of Red-tailed Hawks one of which performed a display flight. Vultures and hawks were constantly seen in the air during the observation period.

3 hours (229.3) TOTAL 0 (489)

Monday, April 20 Beaver Mines [Day 56] 0615-2045 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0615 was 5C, the high at 1700 was 16C and it was 12C at 2045. Winds were W 20 km/h to 0800 after which they were steady WSW-W 30-40 gusting 55 and occasionally 60 km/h for the rest of the day. It was cloudless to 1140 after which 70-100% altostratus, altocumulus and cirrus cloud persisted to 1900 when it thinned to 30-20% altocumulus for the rest of the day. Migration and observing conditions were again very good and produced a count of 46 migrant raptors of a season-high 11 species that moved between 0659 and 1913. The count was 1 adult Bald Eagle, 4 Northern Harriers (2 females: 1j, 1u, 1u male and 1 unidentified bird), 8 Sharp-shinned Hawks (1a, 2j, 5u), 1u Cooper’s Hawk, 1 juvenile Northern Goshawk, 1 adult dark morph Broad-winged Hawk, 10 calurus Red-tailed Hawks (7a and 2u light morphs, and 1a dark morph), 11 Golden Eagles (1a, 2sa, 8j), 3 American Kestrels (1 female , 2u), 5 columbarius Merlins (3u males and 1 adult and 1u females) and 1 adult Peregrine Falcon. The highest single-hour count was 9 between 1300 and 1400 and the next two hours each saw the passage of 7 birds. Non-migrants were 3 adult Northern Harriers with the males displaying for much of the day and often together, and 2 or 3 pairs of Red-tailed Hawks. At Mount Lorette Blake Weis reported an April-high count of 69 migrants of 9 species in 13.75 hours of observation that comprised 1 Osprey, 9 Bald Eagles (5a, 4sa), 1 adult female Northern Harrier, 5 Cooper’s Hawks (1a, 4u), 1 adult Northern Goshawk, 1 unidentified Accipiter, 2 adult light morph Red-tailed Hawks (1 borealis and 1 calurus), 45 Golden Eagles (17sa, 21j, 7u) that is the highest count for the species since April 2, 2 columbarius Merlins (1 adult male and 1u), 1 Prairie Falcon and 1 unidentified raptor. Other birds seen at Beaver Mines were 8 Canada Geese, 16 Mallards, 6 Green-winged Teal, 1 Rock Pigeon, 1 American Coot, 1 pair of Sandhill Cranes, 1 Wilson’s Snipe, 3 Downy Woodpeckers, 2 Hairy Woodpeckers, 1 Red-shafted Flicker, 2 Steller’s Jays, 3 Blue Jays, 23 American Crows, 21 Common Ravens, 3 Tree Swallows 1 Black-capped Chickadee, 2 Mountain Chickadees, 11 American Robins, 11 European Starlings, 16 Evening Grosbeaks, 7 Pine Grosbeaks, an estimated  total of 1880 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches that flew high to the NNW in 6 flocks between 1027 and 1855, the largest of which at 1712 contained about 1500 birds and looked like a large elongate plume of smoke snaking from the ridge-top, 16 Dark-eyed Juncos (4 cismontanus and 12 montanus) and 6 male Red-winged Blackbirds.

14.5 hours (701.7) BAEA 1 (348), NOHA 4 (31), SSHA 8 (68), COHA 1 (12), NOGO 1 (41), BWHA 1 (4), RTHA 10 (248), GOEA 11 (1091), AMKE 3 (10), MERL 5 (20), PEFA 1 (7) TOTAL 46 (1971)

Monday, April 20 Steeples [Day 43] 1400-1715 (Vance Mattson). The temperature reached 18C, winds were moderate S and 60% thin altostratus, cumulus and cirrus gave sunny conditions. No migrants were seen, and non-migrants were 11 Turkey Vultures, 2 adult Bald Eagles, 2 Red-tailed Hawks and 1 juvenile Golden Eagle. The highlight of the day, however, was seeing 3 American White Pelicans on the wetlands near Wasa on the return trip from the site.

3.25 hours (226.3) TOTAL 0 (489)

Sunday, April 19 Beaver Mines [Day 55] 0615-2045 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0615 was 2C, the high at 1700 was 12.5C and it was 9C at 2045. Winds were moderate WSW-SW all day, 20-30 gusting 40 km/h and it was cloudless to 1245 and again after 1740, and between there was cloud cover of 20-30% cumulus that gave sunny conditions throughout. Migration and observation conditions were excellent and a total of 54 migrants of 8 species were seen between 0742 and 1930, which is the highest count at the site since April 9. The total comprised 13 Bald Eagles (6a, 1sa3, 6j), 4 Northern Harriers (2u females, 2 juvenile males), 5 Sharp-shinned Hawks (2a, 3u), 1 adult Cooper’s Hawk, 4 Northern Goshawks (3a, 1sa), 18 calurus Red-tailed Hawks (16a, 2u light morphs and 2a dark morphs), 7 Golden Eagles (3a, 1sa, 3j) and 2 American Kestrels (1 male, 1u). Movement was again high and fairly steady all day with the exception of the period 1524 to 1702 when no migrants were seen. The maximum hourly count was 1800-1900 when 11 migrants passed. Resident birds were a pair of Northern Harriers and a single adult male that were conspicuous for much of the day. Both males displayed vigorously especially when migratory, probably juvenile, females passed above the ridge when both males were seen displaying about 100 m apart: spring was finally in the air! Three pairs of Red-tailed Hawks hunted and occasionally displayed, but no hunting Sharp-shinned Hawks visited the site for the first time in weeks. At Mount Lorette Lori Anderson reported 43 migrants of 4 species in 14.5 hours of observation that comprised 5 Bald Eagles (3a, 1sa2, 1j), 4 Sharp-shinned Hawks (1a, 3u), 2 unidentified Accipiters (1 large and 1 small), 1 light morph Rough legged Hawk and 31 Golden Eagles (1a, 8sa, 15j, 7u). Birds moved steadily and very high under clear skies for much of the day. Other birds seen at Beaver Mines were 10 Canada Geese, 6 Mallards, 16 Green-winged Teal, 1 pair of Common Mergansers, 1 Wild Turkey, 13 Rock Pigeons, a pair of Sandhill Cranes, 1 Red-shafted Flicker, 2 Steller’s Jays, 3 Blue Jays, 31 American Crows, 16 Common Ravens, 3 Tree Swallows 5 Black-capped Chickadees, 3 Mountain Chickadees, 6 American Robins, 28 European Starlings, 13 Evening Grosbeaks, 5 Pine Grosbeaks, a flock of about 500 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches that flew high to the NNW at 1856, 29  Dark-eyed Juncos (4 cismontanus and 25 montanus) and 5 male Red-winged Blackbirds.

14.5 hours (687.2) BAEA 13 (347), NOHA 4 (27), SSHA 5 (60), COHA 1 (11), NOGO 4 (40), RTHA 18 (238), GOEA 7 (1080), AMKE 2 (7) TOTAL 54 (1925)

Sunday, April 19 Steeples [Day 42] 1300-1730 (Vance Mattson). The temperature reached 16C, it was calm and 50% cumulus cloud cover gave mainly sunny conditions, but despite the delightful weather only 3 migrants were seen between 1346 and 1445: 1 adult Bald Eagle and 2 Golden Eagles (1a, 1j). Non-migrants were 6 Turkey Vultures, 2 adult Bald Eagles, 1 adult Northern Goshawk, 2 adult Red-tailed Hawks and 1 juvenile Golden Eagle.

4.5 hours (223) BAEA 1 (134), GOEA 2 (329) TOTAL 3 (489)

Saturday, April 18 Beaver Mines [Day 54] 0630-2045 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0630 was 1C, dropped to the day’s low of 0.5C at 1000, reached a high of 4C at 1600 and was again 1C at 2045. Winds were variable and very light to 0900 after which they ranged from ESE to ENE 10-20 km/h that gusted to 30-40 km/h at 1100 and 1200. Cloud cover was 100% stratus to 1600 that produced 5 cm of snow and obscured the ridge to 1520. At 1700 the cloud cover began to break and at 1800 it was 50% altocumulus and cumulus that gave welcome sunshine, after which it was 80-60% altocumulus and cumulus for the rest of the day. Precipitation fell as rain overnight and by the end of observation most of the snow that fell today had melted. A total of 7 migrants of 4 species were seen between 1721 and 1824 that comprised 1 adult Cooper’s Hawk, 3 adult calurus Red-tailed Hawks (1 light and 2 dark), 2 Golden Eagles (1sa, 1j) and 1 adult male Peregrine Falcon. Non-migrants were a pair of resident Northern Harriers that hunted together at 1828, 4 Sharp-shinned Hawks that visited the site between 1135 and 1859, and 4 adult resident Red-tailed Hawks that were seen between 1426 and 1936. At Mount Lorette Blake Weis reported 8 migrants of 3 species that comprised 2 Bald Eagles (1a, 1j), 3 Rough legged Hawks (2 light. 1u) and 3 Golden Eagles (1a, 1sa, 1j). Snow fell on-and- off all day and 7 of the birds occurred between 1400 and 1600 with the last Golden Eagle seen at 1730. Other birds seen at Beaver Mines were 21 Canada Geese, 34 Mallards, 8 Green-winged Teal,  a lek of 15 Wild Turkeys, 10 Rock Pigeons, 1 American Coot, 3 Wilson’s Snipe, 2 Great Blue Herons, 1 Downy Woodpecker, 3 Red-shafted Flickers, 1 Steller’s Jay, 2 Blue Jays, 22 American Crows, 10 Common Ravens, 2 Black-capped Chickadees, 4 Mountain Chickadees, 90 American Robins, 37 European Starlings, 40 Dark-eyed Juncos (2 hyemalis, 8 cismontanus and 30 montanus) and 1 male Red-winged Blackbird.

14.25 hours (672.7) COHA 1 (10) RTHA 3 (220), GOEA 2 (1073), PEFA 1 (6) TOTAL 7 (1871)

Saturday, April 18 Steeples (Vance Mattson). No observation possible. The ridges were obscured all day.