Monday, March 30 Beaver Mines [Day 35] 0650-2020 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson). The temperature was 0C at 0650, fell to -1C at 0800 and -3C at 0900 and 1000; it was then variably -1C or -2 C to 1900 and was again 0C at 2000 and 2020. From 0650 to 0825 it was completely clear with a SW wind of 20-30 km/h and cloud cover of 20-30 % altostratus, altocumulus and cumulus. At 0720 an adult female light grey morph Gyrfalcon flew high and steadily overhead towards the NNW: a good start to the day! At 0820, however, a light fog developed on the floor of the valley and by 0825 a thick wall of fog had advanced from the ENE and completely obscured everything. This persisted to 1500 and was joined after 1200 by steady snow. At 0930 an adult female Sharp-shinned Hawk perched briefly before flying low to the north. Between 1720 and 1800 the ridge cleared but no migrants were seen and it again cleared at 1830 and at 1846 4 Golden Eagles were seen gliding high together from the SE: as they began to cross the valley towards to NW the snow returned and they were not seen again. Heavy to moderate snow then fell to 2015 when, almost mockingly, the ridge cleared again just before nightfall when there was 10 cm of fresh snow on the ground. No observation was possible at Mount Lorette as snow fell all day and obscured all ridges.  Other birds seen at Beaver Mines were 17 Canada Geese, 14 Mallards, 1 Eurasian Collared Dove, 2 Downy Woodpeckers, 1 male Red-shafted Flicker, 3 Blue Jays, 7  American Crows, 3 Common Ravens, 4 Black-capped Chickadees, 4 Mountain Chickadees, 2 American Robins, 10 European Starlings, 9 Evening Grosbeaks, 19 Pine Grosbeaks and 37 Dark-eyed Juncos (2 cismontanus and 35 montanus).

13.5 hours (411.7) SSHA 1 (17), GOEA 4 (891), GYRF 1 (2) TOTAL 6 (1268)

Monday, March 30 Steeples (Vance Mattson). No observation possible. It was overcast with rain for most of the day. The ridges slightly cleared at 1630 but were obscured again by 1700, and there was moderate clearing of the cloud by 1800 but the ridges remained mainly obscured.

Sunday, March 29 Beaver Mines [Day 34] 0650-2020 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0650 was 4C, the high at 1500 was 9.5C and it was 4C at 2020. Winds were SW-WSW all day 30-40 gusting 55 km/h to 1800 after which they were 15-20 km/h for the rest of the day. Cloud cover was 70-100% altostratus and altocumulus that formed a Chinook arch until 1300 which then slowly moved to the NE and was replaced by 40-70% altocumulus, cumulus and cirrus that gave sunny conditions to 1600. The ridges to the SW of the site were obscured by low cloud after 1200, and between 1600 and 1820 rain squalls moved from the SW and partially obscured the ridge. After 1820 it cleared and cloud cover was 60-100% cumulus but low cloud persisted to the SW and to the S of the site. A total of 70 migrant raptors of 5 species were seen between 0712 and 1718 that comprised 15 Bald Eagles (9a, 1sa, 5j), 1 adult male Northern Harrier, 2 adult Sharp-shinned Hawks, 2 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks, 1 unidentified light morph Buteo and 49 Golden Eagles (40a, 2sa, 2j, 5u). Movement started early with 5 Golden Eagles counted between 0712 and 0730, but subsequently the migration was generally slow and sporadic with the exceptions of 0900-1000, 1500-1600 and 1600-1700 when 14, 19 and 12 birds were seen respectively. After 1700 the deteriorating weather to the south of the site only allowed movement of only 2 further birds and none were seen after 1718. At Mount Lorette Lori Anderson reported 36 migrants that comprised 1 adult Bald Eagle, 1u Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1 juvenile Northern Goshawk, 1 adult rufous (intermediate) morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk, 1 unidentified Buteo, 28 Golden Eagles (15a, 3sa, 1j, 9u), 2 unidentified eagles and 1 large unidentified falcon in 12.5 hours of observation. Other birds seen at Beaver Mines were 22 Canada Geese, a flock of 150 Northern Pintails that flew very high to the NE at 1534, 8 Rock Pigeons, 1 Eurasian Collared Dove, 1 Killdeer, 1 Downy Woodpecker, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 1 female Red-shafted Flicker, 3 Blue Jays, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 4 American Crows, 24 Common Ravens, 2 Black-capped Chickadees, 3 Mountain Chickadees, 7 American Robins, 7 European Starlings, 17 Pine Grosbeaks and 25 Dark-eyed [montanus] Juncos.

13.5 hours (398.2) BAEA 15 (224), NOHA 1 (5), SSHA 2 (16), RTHA 2 (27), UB 1 (1), GOEA 49 (887) TOTAL 70 (1262)

Sunday, March 29 Steeples [Day 25] 1130-1815 (Vance Mattson). The temperature at 1130 was 11C but by 1800 it had dropped to 5C when cloud enveloped the mountains and rain began. Winds were strong S and cloud cover was 60-80% altostratus, cumulus and stratus. A total of 7 Golden Eagles (5a, 1sa, 1u) moved between 1421 and 1744, with four of the eagles seen between 1613 and 1651. Non-migrants were 1 juvenile Bald Eagle, 1 Red-tailed Hawk and 1 adult Golden Eagle. The forecast for the next three days calls for rain and snow so the prospects for migration are not good.

6.75 hours (131.3) GOEA 7 (300) TOTAL 7 (407)

Saturday, March 28 Beaver Mines [Day 33] 0700-2030 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0700 was 2C, the high at 1300 was 8C and it was 4C at 2030. Winds were WSW-SW all day 40-50 gusting 65 km/h to 1500, 30-45 km/h to 1900 and finally 20-30 km/h for the rest of the day. Cloud cover was 50-100% thin altostratus, altocumulus, cirrus and cumulus that, as yesterday, allowed sunshine or hazy sunshine all day and generally provided excellent observing conditions. A season-high total of 262 migrant raptors of 10 species was counted between 0932 and 2002 that comprised 27 Bald Eagles (24a, 1sa, 2j), 1 adult male Northern Harrier, 3 Sharp-shinned Hawks (1a, 2u), 1u Cooper’s Hawk, 9 Northern Goshawks (7a, 2u), 1 unidentified Accipiter, 3 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks, 213 Golden Eagles (189a, 8sa, 7j, 9u), 1u columbarius Merlin, 1 adult male Peregrine Falcon and 2 Prairie Falcons (1 male, 1u). As yesterday movement was initially slow with only 10 birds seen before 1200, but migration was strong throughout the afternoon culminating in a movement of 61 birds (57 Golden Eagles) between 1900 and 2000 with the last 6 Golden Eagles moving high to the NW at 2002. Both the combined-species and Golden Eagle totals were the second highest ever for a spring count at the site, but well below the highest counts here of 463 and 429 respectively on March 19, 2015. At Mount Lorette Graeme Dunlop reported 46 migrants that comprised 3 adult Bald Eagles and 22 Golden Eagles (15a, 3j, 25u) in 12.75 hours of observation. Other birds seen at Beaver Mines were 2 Canada Geese, a pair of Common Mergansers, 11 Rock Pigeons, 1 Eurasian Collared Dove, 1 Downy Woodpecker, 1 female Red-shafted Flicker, 2 Blue Jays, 3 American Crows, 26 Common Ravens, 4 Black-capped Chickadees, 5 Mountain Chickadees, 2 American Robins, 6 European Starlings, 22 Pine Grosbeaks, a flock of 31 Grey-crowned Rosy Finches that flew north at 1720 and 26 Dark-eyed Juncos (1 cismontanus and 25 montanus).

13.5 hours (384.7) BAEA 27 (209), NOHA 1 (4), SSHA 3 (14), COHA 1 (4), NOGO 9 (32), UA 1 (1), RTHA 3 (25), GOEA 213 (838), MERL 1 (5), PEFA 1 (3), PRFA 2 (5) TOTAL 262 (1192)

Saturday, March 28 [Day 23] 1130-1800 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 7C, winds were strong S and cloud cover was 90-100% altostratus and dark cumulus. The ridges were clear except for the face of Mount Bill Nye which was partly obscured for most of the day. When this mountain begins to cloud over it usually indicates that the migration is going to stop or, as today, that it is not going to start at all! The only resident bird seen was an adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk.

6.5 hours (124.5) TOTAL 0 (400)

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)