Saturday, April 04 Beaver Mines [Day 40] 0645-2030 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0645 was -11C, the high at 1400, 1600 and 1700 was -5C and it was -7C at 2030, and winds were NE-NNE all day 6-18 km/h. Cloud cover was 100% stratus to 1025 that produced steady light snow that mostly obscured the ridge and added a further 2 cm to the overnight accumulation of 4 cm. After 1025 cloud cover was 60-100% cumulus that gave hazy sunshine and a clear ridge for the rest of the day, although the cloud thickened to 90-100% cumulus and stratus after 1700 and at 2015 light snow again began to fall. There was a slow, sporadic but varied raptor migration with 18 birds of 7 species moving between 1116 and 1812 that comprised 1 adult Bald Eagle, 1 adult male Northern Harrier, 2u Sharp-shinned Hawks, 1 adult Northern Goshawk, 4 adult Red-tailed Hawks (3 light morph calurus and 1 dark morph harlani), 6 Golden Eagles (5a, 2sa, 1j) and 1 adult female light grey morph Gyrfalcon. Twelve of the birds were counted between 1416 and 1548. At Mount Lorette Blake Weis reported 46 migrants in 12.58 hours of observation that comprised 2 Bald Eagles (1a, 1j), 2 adult Northern Goshawks, 1 adult dark morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk, 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk, 39 Golden Eagles (21a, 5sa, 3j, 10u) and 1u female columbarius Merlin that was a first for the season. Other birds seen at Beaver Mines were 2 Canada Geese, 6 Mallards, 1 male Common Merganser, 18 Rock Pigeons, 1 Eurasian Collared Dove, 2 Killdeer, 1 Northern Shrike, 2 Blue Jays, 71 American Crows, 18 Common Ravens, 5 Black-capped Chickadees, 4 Mountain Chickadees, 1 American Robin, 15 European Starlings and 33 Dark-eyed Juncos (3 cismontanus, 30 montanus). The site was again regularly visited by 2 or 3 non-migratory adult Sharp-shinned Hawks between 0910 and 2003 that again periodically cleared the area of birds but no catches were observed. The total lack of grosbeaks and significantly reduced junco numbers today suggest that many songbirds had moved to safer feeding areas.

13.75 hours (478.7) BAEA 1 (230), NOHA 1 (7), SSHA 2 (29), NOGO 1 (33), RTHA 4 (35), GOEA 8 (930), GYRF 1 (3) TOTAL 18 (1338)

Saturday, April 04 Steeples [Day 29] 1215-1815 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 4C, it was calm and cloud cover was 80-50% cumulus that gave mainly sunny conditions. The only migrants were single adult Golden Eagles at 1528 and 1653. Non-migrant birds were 3 Golden Eagles (2a, 1j) that included pair flights by the adults and included strong display flights by the male bird; 1 adult Bald Eagle, 1 adult Sharp-shinned Hawk and two sightings of Red-tailed Hawks.

6 hours (153.3) GOEA 2 (308) TOTAL 2 (422)

Thursday, April 03 Beaver Mines [Day 39] 0645-1945 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0645 was -15C, the high at 1500 and 1700 was -4C and it was -8C at 1945 when we gave up for the day. Winds were SW 10-20 km/h to 1225 when they switched to ENE-NE 10-15 km/h for the rest of the day. Cloud cover was 100-80% cumulus and stratus to 1225 that brought occasional flurries that briefly obscured the ridge, but at 1225 steady snow began that persisted to 1850 that, apart from brief periods, completely obscured the ridge to 1850 when there was 6 cm of fresh snow on the ground. The ridge completely cleared between 1850 and 1935 but was obscured again at 1945 when snow again began to fall. Only 5 migrant raptors were seen: 1adult Sharp-shinned Hawk that flew high to the NNW at 0951, an adult Golden Eagle that flew high to the north at 1056, 2 adult Golden Eagles that flew high to the NNW at 1151, and a second adult Sharp-shinned Hawk that flew low to the north in a brief period of lighter snow at 1355. Caroline Lambert reported that observation was not possible at Mount Lorette because of persistent snow that obscured the ridges. Other birds seen at Beaver Mines were 2 Canada Geese, 4 Mallards, 10 Rock Pigeons, 1 Northern Shrike, 2 Blue Jays, 2 Black-billed Magpies, 68 American Crows that flew to the SW to roost at 1825, 27 Common Ravens, 4 Black-capped Chickadees, 5 Mountain Chickadees, 5 European Starlings, 2 Evening Grosbeaks, 53 Pine Grosbeaks, 1 American Tree Sparrow and 55 Dark-eyed Juncos (5 cismontanus, 50 montanus). The site was regularly visited by about 3 non-migratory adult Sharp-shinned Hawks between 0856 and 1709 that periodically cleared the area of birds and caught and dined on at least two Juncos. It is notable that the only large feeding flock of about 50 birds occurred after 1800 when the hawks had gone to roost.

13 hours (465) SSHA 2 (27), GOEA 3 (922) TOTAL 5 (1320)

Thursday, April 03 Steeples [Day 28] 1100-1400 and 1900-1915 (Vance Mattson). At 1100 the temperature was -3C, winds were light SW and it was sunny with 50% altostratus, cumulus and cirrus cloud cover. By 1400, however, 100% low stratus obscured the ridges, snow began to fall and Vance went home without having seen any migrants. The mountains remained obscured until 1700 when Vance returned to the site where cloud cover quickly reduced to 50% altostratus and cumulus with moderate SW winds that again failed to produce any migrants. Non-migrants were resident adult Golden Eagles seen on three occasions and a single Red-tailed Hawk.

5 hours (147.3) TOTAL 0 (420)

Thursday, April 02 Beaver Mines [Day 38] 0615-2030 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0645 was -16C, the high at 1500 and 1700 was -9C and it was  -14C at 2030. Winds were mainly light NE-NNE 0-12 km/h all day although there was a high gentle SW flow above the ridge that was discernible after 1000. Cloud cover was 100% stratus and stratocumulus to 1400 and light snow fell to 1045 (0.5 cm) that partially obscured the ridge. After 1400 cloud cover was 80-30% cumulus and the ridge was clear apart from 1600-1730 when an ice-crystal haze developed that made observation difficult. A total of 24 raptors of 4 species were counted between 0925 and 1754 that comprised 4 Bald Eagles (3a, 1sa3), 2 adult Sharp-shinned Hawks, 3 adult dark morph Red-tailed Hawks (2 calurus and 1 harlani), 1 light morph unidentified Buteo that disappeared into the crystal haze above the ridge and 14 Golden Eagles (12a, 2sa). Twelve of the Golden Eagles moved between 1316 and 1433 and the 3 Red-tailed Hawks were seen between 1457 and 1513. At Mount Lorette Joel Duncan reported 58 migrants in 12.25 hours of observation that comprised 4 Bald Eagles (3a, 1j), 1 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk, 52 Golden Eagles (33a, 2sa, 2j, 15u) and 1 unidentified eagle.  Other birds seen at Beaver Mines were 2 Canada Geese, 4 Mallards, 10 Rock Pigeons, 2 Killdeer, 4 Blue Jays, 2 Black-billed Magpies, 71 American Crows, 24 Common Ravens, 6 Black-capped Chickadees, 7 Mountain Chickadees, 1 European Starling, 2 Bohemian Waxwings, 10 Evening Grosbeaks, 17 Pine Grosbeaks and 36 Dark-eyed Juncos (1 hyamalis, 5 cismontanus, 30 montanus).

13.75 hours (452) BAEA 4 (229), SSHA 2 (25), RTHA 3 (31), UB1 (2), GOEA 14 (919) TOTAL 24 (1315)

Thursday, April 02 Steeples [Day 27] 1315-1915 (Vance Mattson). The mountains were completely shrouded in cloud to 1300 but were fully clear by 1500. The temperature at 1315 was -4C that rose to a high of -1C, it was calm alternating with light variable winds and 100% altostratus and stratus cloud cover gave way to 10% cumulus and cirrus that provided sunny conditions. The final clearing of the ridges did not result in the hoped for “bottleneck effect” and just 7 migrant Bald Eagles (5a, 1sa, 1j) were counted. The resident pair of Golden Eagles were seen several times throughout the observation period.

6 hours (142.3) BAEA 7 (105) TOTAL 7 (420)

Wednesday, April 01 Beaver Mines [Day 37] 0700-2030 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0700 was -15C, the high from 1300 to 1500 was -12C and it was again -15C at 2030. Winds were ENE-NE all day 10-20 km/h with occasional gusts to 30 km/h. Cloud cover was 100% stratus with light snow to 1500 that largely obscured the ridge, but subsequently the ridge remained clear with 90-100% cumulus and altostratus cloud cover that produced only occasional flurries. There was 2 cm of fresh snow at 0700 and a further 1.5 cm fell during the day. A total of 17 raptors were seen between 0927 and 1755 that comprised 1 adult Bald Eagle, 1 adult male Northern Harrier, 4 adult Sharp-shinned Hawks, 1 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk and 10 Golden Eagles (6a, 3sa, 1j). The Golden Eagles flew to the NNE between 1605 and 1755 when a brief snow flurry obscured the ridge-top for five minutes, but despite the ridge subsequently being completely clear for the rest of the day no further eagles were seen.  Poor weather continued at Mount Lorette with low temperatures, snow and mainly obscured ridges. Graeme Dunlop reported 0 migrants in 7.5 hours of observation.  Other birds seen at Beaver Mines were 12 Canada Geese, 3 American Wigeons, 8 Mallards, 1 Rock Pigeon, 1 Killdeer, 37 American Crows, 6 Common Ravens, 4 Black-capped Chickadees, 4 Mountain Chickadees, 6 European Starlings, 37 Evening Grosbeaks, 23 Pine Grosbeaks, 40 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches, 1 American Tree Sparrow and 47 Dark-eyed Juncos (2 hyamalis, 5 cismontanus, 40 montanus).

13.5 hours (438.2) BAEA 1 (225), NOHA 1 (6), SSHA 4 (23), RTHA 1 (28), GOEA 10 (905) TOTAL 17 (1291)

Wednesday, April 01 Steeples [Day 26] 1430-1930 (Vance Mattson). The ridges were totally obscured to 1430 after which they were partially obscured. The temperature was -1C, conditions were calm, cloud cover was 100% altostratus and stratus and there was 8 cm of fresh snow on the ground. A total of 6 Golden Eagles (5a, 1j) were seen, 3 between 1645 and 1700 and the remaining 3 at 1801, 1810 and 1914.

5 hours (136.3) GOEA 6 (306) TOTAL 6 (413)

Tuesday, March 31 Beaver Mines [Day 36] 07000-2000 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0700 was -8C and varied throughout the day between -8 and -10C until 2000 when it was -11C. Winds were NNE-NE all day 9-18 km/h and cloud cover was 100% stratus with light to moderate snow for most of the day that deposited 7 cm by 2000. The ridge was only clear between 1515 and 1536, 1610 and 1625, 1630 and 1655, and 1755 and 1835, and between 1527 and 1535 4 adult Golden Eagles flew high to the NW. Two low-flying Sharp-shinned hawks, a juvenile at 1843 and an adult at 1910, completed the count of 6 migrant raptors. No observation was possible at Mount Lorette as snow again fell all day and obscured all ridges.  Other birds seen at Beaver Mines were 14 Canada Geese, 2 pairs of American Wigeon, 7 Mallards, 1 Eurasian Collared Dove, 1 Downy Woodpecker, 3 Blue Jays, 56 American Crows, 4 Common Ravens, 6 Black-capped Chickadees, 4 Mountain Chickadees, 2 American Robins, 5 European Starlings, 30 Evening Grosbeaks, 29 Pine Grosbeaks, 152 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches, 1 American Tree Sparrow, 45 Dark-eyed Juncos (2 hyamalis, 3 cismontanus, 40 montanus) and 1 male Red-winged Blackbird.

13 hours (434.7) SSHA 2 (19) GOEA 4 (895) TOTAL 6 (1274)

March Summary Beaver Mines (with percentage variance compared to 2015-2019 average) 29 days (+2.8%), 358.5 hours (+44.7%) TUVU 0, OSPR 0, BAEA 177 (+5%), NOHA 5 (-45.7%), SSHA 19 (+69.6%), COHA 4 (+233.3%), NOGO 28 (-0.1%), BWHA 0, SWHA 0, RTHA 27 (-42.1%), FEHA 1 (-54.5%), RLHA 29 (-47.8%), GOEA 843 (-1.4%), AMKE 0, MERL 5 (-21.9%), GYRF 2 (-52.4%), PEFA 3 (+114.3%), PRFA 5 (+25%), UA 1 (+100%), UB 1 (-76.2%), UE 0, UF 0, UU 0 TOTAL 1150 (-4.8%)

March Summary Mount Lorette (with percentage variance compared to 1993-2019 average excluding the anomalously low counts in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2012) 25 days (-13.6 %), 284.4 hours (-8.8%) TUVU 0, OSPR 0, BAEA 75 (-27.4%), NOHA 0, SSHA 3 (+19.1%), COHA 0, NOGO 6 (-41.5%), BWHA 0, SWHA 0, RTHA 6 (+40.9%), FEHA 0, RLHA 2 (-59.7%), GOEA 1161 (-45.8%), AMKE 0, MERL 0, GYRF 0, PEFA 0, PRFA 1 (+12.5%), UA 0, UB 5 (+542.9%), UE 16 (+285.7), UF 1 (+170%), UU 1 (+35%) TOTAL 1277 (-44%)

Tuesday, March 31 Steeples (Vance Mattson). No observation possible. The ridges were obscured all day.

March Summary Steeples (with percentage variance compared to 2010-2019 average) 25 days (+20.2 %), 131.3 hours (+50.3%) TUVU 0, OSPR 0, BAEA 98 (-8.8%), NOHA 0, SSHA 0, COHA 0, NOGO 1 (-23.1%), BWHA 0, SWHA 0, RTHA 4 (-20%), FEHA 0, RLHA 1 (-54.5%), GOEA 300 (+1.5%), AMKE 0, MERL 0, GYRF 1 (first spring record), PEFA 0, PRFA 0, UA 0, UB 0, UE 2 (-9.1%), UF 0, UU 0 TOTAL 407 (-3%).