Saturday, April 11 Beaver Mines [Day 47] 0645-2030 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0645 was -5C, it dropped to -7C from 1000 to 1200, rose briefly to a high of  -4C at 1600 and was -8C at 2030. Winds were NNE-NE 10-30 gusting to 40 km/h around noon and light ENE after 1900. Cloud cover was 100% stratus that produced moderate to heavy snow to 1230 when the ridge cleared to 1310 although very light snow persisted. Light to moderate snow then resumed and apart from a few flurries the ridge remained clear after 1450. There was 9 cm of fresh snow on the ground at 0700 and a further 16 cm fell to 1450. After 1450 cloud cover was 80-40% cumulus to 1900 that gave mainly sunny and good observing conditions, and was then 100% broken stratocumulus for the rest of the day. A total of 9 migrants of 4 species were seen between 1610 and 1836 that comprised 1 adult Bald Eagle, 1 adult Sharp-shinned Hawk, 6 adult Red-tailed Hawks (4 calurus (3 light and 1 dark) and 2 dark morph harlani) and 1 adult Golden Eagle that was the first migrant of the day. Because of persistent heavy snow at Mount Lorette Blake Weis could not start the count until 1545, but although the ridges partially cleared 4.5 hours of observation failed to locate any migrants. At Beaver Mines when the snow cleared for the first time at 1230 it revealed that the shallow pond adjacent to the creek was covered with water birds that comprised 17 Canada Geese, 2 Northern Shoveler, 4 American Wigeon, 56 Mallards, 4 Northern Pintails, 16 Green-winged Teal, 1 Semipalmated Plover, 10 Killdeer, 8 Semipalmated Sandpipers and 3 Wilson’s Snipe; they were joined at 1648 by a pair of Sandhill Cranes that fed and allopreened, and at 1730 by a Great Blue Heron. Other birds seen were 6 Wild Turkeys, 1 Eurasian Collared Dove, 2 adult California Gulls that flew SW at 1648, 1 Downy Woodpecker, 1 Red-shafted Flicker, 5 Blue Jays, 2 Black-billed Magpies, 4 American Crows, 5 Common Ravens, 6 Black-capped Chickadees, 4 Mountain Chickadees, 2 White-breasted Nuthatches, 29 American Robins, 7 European Starlings, 2 Evening Grosbeaks, 1 Pine Grosbeak, 111 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches of which 11 were the subspecies littoralis, 2 Common Redpolls, 1 American Tree Sparrow and 112 Dark-eyed Juncos (2 hyemalis, 10 cismontanus and 100 montanus).

13.75 hours (574.2) BAEA 1 (314), SSHA 1 (45), RTHA 6 (163), GOEA 1 (1040), TOTAL 9 (1718)

Saturday, April 11 Steeples (Vance Mattson). No observation possible. The ridges were mostly or partly obscured all day with some brief clearings. Vance went to the site from 1430 to 1500 but by the time he arrived the ridge was obscured again. He continued to monitor the ridge from home but conditions did not improve.

Friday, April 10 Beaver Mines [Day 46] 0645-1945 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0645 was 5C, the high at 1400 was 9C and it was 8C at 1500, but with the passage of a cold front at 1510 the temperature quickly fell to 4C and was 0C after 1800. Winds were mainly E-NE 10-20 occasionally gusting to 30 km/h to 1510 after which they were NNE 10-20 gusting 30 km/h. Cloud cover was mainly 100% altostratus, altocumulus and cumulus that reduced to 50-70% cumulus cirrostratus and altostratus between 1200 and 1400. After 1510, however, cloud cover was 100% stratocumulus that produced light rain and sleet to 1715 when heavy snow fell that completely obscured the ridge to 1840. The ridge cleared again at 1840 but the snow intensified and obscured the ridge at 1945 when the count was abandoned for the day. Only 4 migrant birds were seen: an adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk at 0720 and an adult Cooper’s Hawk at 0751 and then a subadult Golden Eagle and a second adult Red-tailed Hawk at 1120 and 1125 respectively. Resident birds were a displaying adult male Northern Harrier and 4 pairs of Red-tailed Hawks 5 birds of which soared high together over the NE flank of the ridge before dispersing in various directions with the exception of northwards! At Mount Lorette Lori Anderson reported 11 migrants in a weather-shortened 10.5 hours of observation which comprised 1 adult Bald Eagle, 2u Sharp-shinned Hawks, 1 unidentified large Accipiter, 2 adult calurus Red-tailed Hawks (1 light, 1 dark), 1 unidentified dark morph Buteo and 4 adult Golden Eagles. Other birds seen at Beaver Mines were 19 Canada Geese, 27 Mallards, 16 Green-winged Teal, 1 male Barrow’s Goldeneye on the creek at 1934 for a first yearly record, 10 Wild Turkeys, 1 Rock Pigeon, 1 Eurasian Collared Dove, a pair of Sandhill Cranes, 1 Wilson’s Snipe feeding in a meltwater stream at 1755 (also a first seasonal record), 3 Downy Woodpeckers, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 5 Red-shafted Flickers, 6 Blue Jays, 22 American Crows, 6 Common Ravens, 6 Black-capped Chickadees, 6 Mountain Chickadees, a pair of Mountain Bluebirds, 79 American Robins, 100 European Starlings, 6 Evening Grosbeaks, 17 Pine Grosbeaks, 1 male Purple Finch, 44 Dark-eyed Juncos (1 hyemalis, 3 cismontanus, 40 montanus) and 2 male Red-winged Blackbirds.

13 hours (560.5) COHA 1 (7), RTHA 2 (157), GOEA 1 (1039) TOTAL 4 (1709)

Friday, April 10 Steeples [Day 35] 1230-1800 (Vance Mattson). The temperature reached 18C, it was calm to light SW winds and cloud cover averaged 50% providing an excellent observation backdrop. Unfortunately raptors failed to take advantage of the conditions and no migrants were seen. Non-migrants were 7 sightings of Turkey Vultures, 2 Bald Eagles (1a, 1j), a single Red-tailed Hawks seen three times and 1 adult resident Golden Eagle.

5.5 hours (187.3) TOTAL 0 (459)

Thursday, April 09 Beaver Mines [Day 45] 0640-2040 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0640 was -4C, the high at 1500 and 1700 was a very pleasant 15C and it was still 11C at 2040. The wind was light (5 km/h) E-NNE to 0815 when it changed to SW-WSW 30-40 gusting to 55 km/h to 1830 after which it moderated to 20-25 km/h. Cloud cover was 100% altostratus, altocumulus and cumulus to 1200 after which it was mainly 100-70% thin altostratus, cirrus and cumulus that gave sunshine or hazy sunshine and very good observing conditions for the rest of the day. A total of 104 migrant raptors of 10 species were seen between 0825 and 1918 that comprised 24 Bald Eagles (20a, 1sa2, 3j), 4 male Northern Harriers (3a, 1u), 5 Sharp-shinned Hawks (1a, 4u), 2 Cooper’s Hawks (1a, 1u), 1 adult light morph Broad-winged Hawk that was the first for the season, a season-high 41 Red-tailed Hawks (39 calurus: 30a, 1j, 2u light morphs and 6a dark morphs, and 2a dark harlani). 4 Rough-legged Hawks (2 light, 2 dark), 20 Golden Eagles (12a, 3sa, 5j), 2 male columbarius Merlins and 1 female grey morph Gyrfalcon. Movement was slow and intermittent until 1600-1700 and 1700-1800 when 30 and 26 birds were seen respectively after which only 8 more birds moved. Resident birds were a displaying male Northern Harrier and 3 pairs of Red-tailed Hawks that were conspicuous for much of the day hunting, interacting and occasionally making display flights. At Mount Lorette Graeme Dunlop reported 40 migrants of 6 species in 13 hours of observation which comprised 8 Bald Eagles (7a, 1j), 1 adult male Northern Harrier (the first for the season), 1 adult Cooper’s Hawk (also a first for the season), 4 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks, 24 Golden Eagles (5a, 5sa, 5j, 9u), 1 Prairie Falcon and 1 large unidentified falcon. Other birds seen at Beaver Mines were 22 Canada Geese, a pair of Northern Shoveler, a pair of American Wigeon, 29 Mallards, 12 Green-winged Teal, 3 male Common Mergansers, 14 Wild Turkeys, 4 Rock Pigeons, 2 Eurasian Collared Doves, a pair of Sandhill Cranes and 1 Great Blue Heron that fed in the pond near the creek, 3 Downy Woodpeckers, 1 Red-shafted Flicker, 1 Blue Jay, 20 American Crows, 11 Common Ravens, the first Tree Swallow of the year at 1807, 4 Black-capped Chickadees, 4 Mountain Chickadees, 8 American Robins, 6 European Starlings, 10 Evening Grosbeaks, 23 Pine Grosbeaks, 1 female Purple Finch that was erroneously identified as a Cassin’s Finch yesterday, and 58 Dark-eyed Juncos (1 hyemalis, 6 cismontanus, 25 montanus and 1 mearnsi (“Pink-sided Junco”)).

14 hours (547.5) BAEA 24 (313), NOHA 4 (20), SSHA 5 (44), COHA 2 (6), BWHA 1 (1), RTHA 41 (155), RLHA 4 (58), GOEA 20 (1038), MERL 2 (11), GYRF 1 (4) TOTAL 104 (1705)

Thursday, April 09 Steeples [Day 34] 1130-1800 (Vance Mattson). The temperature reached a high of 17C, it was calm and cloud cover was up to 20% altostratus, cumulus and lenticular cloud that gave sunny conditions. A total of 13 migrants moved between 1341 and 1720 that consisted of 7 Bald Eagles (6a, 1j), 5 Golden Eagles (3a, 1sa, 1j) and 1u Merlin that was the first for the season. Most birds soared at length as they moved north including the last 4 eagles, 2 Bald and 2 Golden, at 1720. Non-migrants were 9 Turkey Vultures, 3 Bald Eagles (2a, 1j) and 2 adult Golden Eagles.

6.5 hours (181.8) BAEA 7 (122), GOEA 5 (323), MERL 1 (1) TOTAL 13 (459)

Wednesday, April 08 Beaver Mines [Day 44] 0645-2030 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0645 was -3C, the high at 1799 was 5.5C and it was 1C at 2030; and winds were mainly light (2-12 km/h) NNE-E all day. Cloud cover was initially 100% stratocumulus that obscured the top of the ridge to 0755 after which it was clear. At 1100 the cloud cover started to break with 60% cirrus and cumulus at 1200 and it was cloudless from 1230 to 1400. After 1400 100% uniform grey altostratus developed that persisted to 1700 after which it was 80-90% altostratus, altocumulus and increasing cirrus, 100% cirrostratus at 2000 and completely cloudless at 2030. Observing conditions were generally good and it was a pleasant day but the light upslope winds were unfavourable for migration and only 10 birds of 5 species were seen between 1324 and 1805, five of which occurred between 1608 and 1656. The count was 1 adult Sharp-shinned Hawk, 2 adult calurus Red-tailed Hawks. 2 light morph Rough-legged Hawks, 4 adult Golden Eagles and 1 adult female Peregrine Falcon. Non-migrants were 1 adult male Northern Harrier and 2 adult Sharp-shinned Hawks. At Mount Lorette Caroline Lambert reported 48 migrants in 13.25 hours of observation that comprised a season-high 14 Bald Eagles (4a, 9sa, 1j), 1 adult Northern Goshawk, 3 adult  calurus Red-tailed Hawks (2 light morphs and 1 rufous morph) and 30 Golden Eagles (9a, 6sa, 7j, 8u). Other birds seen at Beaver Mines were 36 Canada Geese, 1 pair of Northern Shoveler that were the first for the year, 18 Mallards, 1 Green-winged Teal, a lek of 18 Wild Turkeys, 14 Rock Pigeons, 2 Killdeer, 2 Downy Woodpeckers, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, a pair of Red-shafted Flickers, 1 Blue Jay, 13 American Crows, 21 Common Ravens, 4 Black-capped Chickadees, 4 Mountain Chickadees, 10 American Robins, 90 European Starlings, 28 Pine Grosbeaks, 1 female House Finch, 1 female Cassin’s Finch that was the first of the season, and 27 Dark-eyed Juncos (2 cismontanus and 25 montanus).

13.75 hours (533.5) SSHA 1 (39) RTHA 2 (114), RLHA 2 (54), GOEA 4 (1018), PEFA 1 (5) TOTAL 10 (1601)

Wednesday, April 08 Steeples [Day 33] 1200-1830 (Vance Mattson). It was another pleasant day with the temperature reaching 12C, it was calm and cloud cover was up to 20% cumulus, altostratus and lenticular apart from between 1500 and 1600 when 80% thin altostratus formed. Conditions were mainly sunny. Six migrant raptors, 1 adult Turkey Vulture and 5 Bald Eagles (3a, 2j) were seen between 1215 and 1440. Non-migrants were 13 Turkey Vultures, 6 Bald Eagles (3a, 1sa, 2j) with one of the adults seen carrying nesting material, 1 Red-tailed Hawk, and one adult resident Golden Eagle that dive-bombed a migrating adult Bald Eagle at 1245.

6.5 hours (175.3) TUVU 1 (2), BAEA 5 (115) TOTAL 6 (446)

Tuesday, April 07 Beaver Mines [Day 43] 0645-2030 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0645 was 4C, the high from 1600 to around 1830 was 9C when a cold front passed that reduced the temperature to 1.5C at 1900 and at 2030 it was -1C. Winds were favourable SW-WSW 40-50 gusting 65 km/h to 1830 when the ground winds switched to ENE 20-30 gusting 50 km/h although the WSW winds persisted on the ridge to 1900. Cloud cover was 60-100% cirrostratus, altostratus, cirrus and cumulus to 1500 that reduced to 10% scattered cumulus at 1600 and was then 30-70% cumulus for the rest of the day. There was no precipitation of any kind and viewing conditions were excellent all day. The day started promisingly with the first Golden Eagle gliding high to the NNW at 0657, but the second Golden Eagle, that was the 1000^th of the season, did not appear until 0912 and by 1100 only 4 migrants had been seen. The pace then quickened and there was a steady movement of raptors to 1900 after which only a single Bald Eagle moved north at 1932. The final count was 91 birds of 10 species that comprised 2 Turkey Vultures (1a, 1u) that were the first of the season, 25 Bald Eagles (15a, 1sa2, 9j), 3 adult Northern Harriers (1 male, 2 females), a season-high 7 Sharp-shinned Hawks (2a, 5u), 30 Red-tailed Hawks (28 calurus: 23 light (21a, 1j, 1u), 5a dark; and 2a dark harlani), 1 adult light morph Ferruginous Hawk, 1 dark morph Rough-legged Hawk, 1 unidentified dark morph Buteo, 16 Golden Eagles (11a, 5j), a season-high 4 columbarius Merlins (3 males, 1 female) and 1 adult female Peregrine Falcon. At Mount Lorette George Halmazna reported 18 migrants in 12.42 hours of observation that comprised 5 Bald Eagles (2a, 2j, 1u), 1 adult Northern Goshawk, 1 adult dark morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk, 10 Golden Eagles (7a, 1sa, 1j, 1u) and 1u American Kestrel that was the first of the year. Other birds seen at Beaver Mines were 8 Canada Geese, 18 Mallards, 1 pair of Hooded Mergansers that were new for the year, 5 Wild Turkeys, 6 Rock Pigeons, 2 Greater Sandhill Cranes that flew high to the NE at 1030 for the first seasonal record, 1 Killdeer, 1 Great blue Heron that perched beside the creek for 2 hours, 1 Blue Jay, 42 American Crows, 19 Common Ravens, 4 Black-capped Chickadees, 1 Mountain Chickadee, 35 American Robins, 70 European Starlings, 24 Evening Grosbeaks, 13 Pine Grosbeaks, 60 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches and 37 Dark-eyed Juncos (2 cismontanus and 35 montanus). Two adult Sharp-shinned Hawks briefly passed through the site but caused little disturbance.

13.75 hours (519.7) TUVU 2 (2), BAEA 25 (289), NOHA 3 (16), SSHA 7 (38), RTHA 30 (112), FEHA 1 (2), RLHA 1 (52), UB 1 (4), GOEA 16 (1014), MERL 4 (9), PEFA 1 (4) TOTAL 91 (1591)

Tuesday, April 07 Steeples [Day 32] 1200-1830 (Vance Mattson). It was a beautiful day with a temperature that reached 12C, moderate SW winds and 0-30% cumulus, altocumulus and thin altostratus that gave sunny skies. Despite these apparently ideal conditions only 4 migrants were seen: 1u Turkey Vulture that was the first migratory bird of the species seen, 2 adult Bald Eagles, and 1u Golden Eagle. Non-migrants were 8 Turkey Vultures, 1 adult Bald Eagle, 1 adult female Northern Harrier (the first of the year), 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk and a pair of Red-tailed Hawks that were active throughout including a brief display flight over the site.

6.5 hours (168.8) TUVU 1 (1), BAEA 2 (110), GOEA 1 (318) TOTAL 4 (440)