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)

Sunday, March 22 Beaver Mines [Day 27] 0710-2010 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson).The temperature at 0710 was -9C and there was 5 cm of overnight snow on the ground; the high at 1700 and 1800 was 7C and it was 5C at 2010. Winds were SW and occasionally WSW all day at a remarkably constant velocity of 30-40 gusting 50 km/h to 1830 after which they dropped below 20 km/h. It was cloudless to 1130 when 20% very thin altocumulus developed and 30-80% thin altocumulus and altostratus then persisted to 1700 after which it was 100% altostratus for the rest of the day. Observing conditions after 1130 were excellent. Presumed high-level border negotiations last night resulted in migrant raptors again being rightly placed in the “essential” category and today produced a season-high total of 104 migrants of a season-high 9 species that moved between 1002 and 1942. The flight comprised a season-high 25 Bald Eagles (16a, 4sa, 5j), 1 adult male Northern Harrier, 1 adult Sharp-shinned Hawk that was the first for the season, 3 Red-tailed Hawks (1u light morph calurus and 2a harlani: 1 dark and 1 light), 1 adult light morph Ferruginous Hawk that was also a first migrant for the season, 6 Rough-legged Hawks (4 light, 2 dark), 63 Golden Eagles (56a, 4sa, 3j) and 1 adult female columbarius Merlin. Nine migrants were seen between 1000 and 1100 but only 7 more moved up to 1400 after which migration was steady with the next three hours producing 20, 19 and 12 birds respectively. 1700 to 1800 saw 5 birds and 1800-1900 4 birds and it appeared that the movement was winding-down for the day, but then a surprising 28 birds, that included 14 Bald Eagles, moved between 1900 and 1942. At Mount Lorette Lori Anderson reported a season-high count of 189 birds of 5 species in 12.83 hours that comprised 9 Bald Eagles (6a, 1sa3, 1 undifferentiated immature and 1u). 3 Northern Goshawks (2a, 1j), 3 light morphcalurus Red-tailed Hawks (2a, 1j), 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk, 1 unidentified Buteo, 168 Golden Eagles (103a, 7sa, 1j, 57u), 3 unidentified eagles and 1 small unidentified raptor. It is probable that a high number of these Golden Eagles moved on ridges to the west of Beaver Mines today. Other birds seen at Beaver Mines were 20 Canada Geese, 7 Rock Pigeons, 1 Eurasian Collared Dove, 2 Downy Woodpeckers, 1male Red-shafted Flicker, 1 Steller’s Jay, 4 Blue Jays, 2 American Crows, 34 Common Ravens, 6 Black-capped Chickadees, 6 Mountain Chickadees, 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch, 3 American Robins, 23 European Starlings, 4 Evening Grosbeaks, 18 Pine Grosbeaks and 32 Dark-eyed Juncos (2 cismontanus and 30 montanus).

13 hours (305.3) BAEA 25 (143), NOHA 1 (3), SSHA 1 (1), NOGO 3 (14), RTHA 3 (6), FEHA 1 (1), RLHA 6 (48), GOEA 63 (383), MERL 1 (2) TOTAL 104 (602)

Sunday, March 22 [Day 18] 1045-1845 (Vance Mattson). The temperature at the start of observation was -2C and it rose to a high of 9C, but winds that were originally light SW became moderate to strong S and later W that made it feel much colder. It was cloudless to 1430 when 60% cumulus and altocumulus formed that became 100% stratus by 1730. After a week of fairly strong movement today saw only 8 migrants, 5 Bald Eagles (1a, 1sa, 3j) and 3 adult Golden Eagles, which moved as single birds between 1254 and 1759. Non-migrant birds were 9 Bald Eagles (6a, 3j) and 3 resident Golden Eagles (1a, 2j). Both of the juvenile Golden Eagles were seen hunting.

8 hours (84.25) BAEA 5 (86), GOEA 3 (250) TOTAL 8 (344)

Saturday, March 21 Beaver Mines [Day 26] 0715-2015 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0715 was 0C, the high at 1200 was 7C and it was again 0C at 2015. Winds were moderate SSW-WSW 10-20 gusting 30 km/h to 1300 after which they were ENE-NNE 10-15 km/h and finally N at 2000 with very light snow beginning at 2015. It was cloudless to 1300 when trace amounts to 30% cumulus developed to 1800 after which cloud cover was 100% stratus for the rest of the day. In an attempt to control the spread of the COVID-19 virus, at midnight last night the Canada-US border was closed with the exception of passage of essential goods. It appears that migratory raptors fall into the category of inessential goods as not one was seen today despite ideal migration conditions, at least up to early afternoon. I recall that a similar coincidence occurred on the infamous date of September 11, 2001when all air traffic in North America was brought to a halt. I was counting at Mount Lorette where ideal migration conditions again produced zero migrants, and this proved to be the only day in the 101-day count when this happened! The only resident raptor seen today was an undifferentiated immature Bald Eagle that soared very low above the ridge and flew off to the SE at 1849. At Mount Lorette Blake Weis reported 23 migrants in a snow-shortened 8.67 hours that comprised 4 Bald Eagles (3a, 1j), 1u Sharp-shinned Hawk, 2 unidentified Buteos and 16  Golden Eagles (13a, 3u), a count very similar to that at Beaver Mines yesterday.  Other birds seen at Beaver Mines were 50 Canada Geese that flew high to the NE at 1030, 7 Rock Pigeons, 1 Eurasian Collared Dove, 3 Downy Woodpeckers, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 4 American Crows, 8 Common Ravens, 10 Black-capped Chickadees, 8 Mountain Chickadees, 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch, 3 American Robins, 13 European Starlings, a flock of 25 Bohemian Waxwings that flew low to the NE down the valley, 6 Evening Grosbeaks, 26 Pine Grosbeaks, 31 Dark-eyed Juncos (1 cismontanus and 30 montanus) and 1 male Red-winged Blackbird.

13 hours (292.3) TOTAL 0 (498)

Saturday, March 21 [Day 17] 1145-1930 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was initially 2C and reached a high of 9C before dropping to 7C at the end of observation. It was calm and cloudless to 1700 when 60% cumulus cloud cover and moderate NW winds developed. A total of 28 migrant raptors of 3 species moved sporadically between 1401 and 1916 comprising 11 Bald Eagles (9a, 2j), 2 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks and 15 Golden Eagles (13a, 1j, 1u). Birds generally moved low above the ridges but the last pulse between 1817 and 1916 involving 12 migrants (of which 8 were Bald Eagles), occurred at a great height above the valley to the east of the ridges above the site. Non-migrants were 9 Bald Eagles (7a, 2j) with two pair-flights observed, the resident pair of Red-tailed Hawks that were vocal near the site at 1436, and 4 Golden Eagles (2a, 2j) with the juvenile birds interacting. Spring is much more advanced west of the Rockies!

7.75 hours (76.25) BAEA 11 (81), RTHA 2 (4), GOEA 15 (247) TOTAL 28 (336)