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)

Friday, March 20 Beaver Mines [Day 25] 0715-2015 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0720 was -15C the high at 1600 was 7C that dropped quickly to 0.5C at 1700 and was -4C at 2015. Winds were light N-NE to 1130 after which they were SW 20 gusting to 35 km/h to 1900 after which they were again light N-ENE. It was cloudless all day but after 1500 there was an unexpected and persistent shimmering heat haze above the ridge that made observation difficult. This probably was caused by the mixing of warm and cold air that was reflected in the sudden drop in temperature at the site after 1600. A total of 34 migrant raptors of a season-high 6 species were counted between 1046 and 1922 that comprised 10 adult Bald Eagles, 1 juvenile female Northern Harrier, 1 adult Northern Goshawk, 2 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks, 4 light morph Rough-legged Hawks and 16 Golden Eagles (15a, 1sa). Only 5 birds occurred before 1400 after which movement steadily increased and peaked at 10 birds between 1700 and 1800. At Mount Lorette Caroline Lambert reported 46 migrants in 12 hours that comprised 7 Bald Eagles (6a, 1sa), 37 Golden Eagles (35a, 2u) and 2 unidentified eagles. Other birds seen at Beaver Mines were 1 Canada Goose, 4 Rock Pigeons, 1 Eurasian Collared Dove, 1 Downy Woodpecker, 1 male Red-shafted Flicker, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 21 American Crows that flew high to the SW late in the day, 34 Common Ravens, 6 Black-capped Chickadees, 8 Mountain Chickadees, 194 European Starlings that included flocks of 100 and 60 flying high to the SW, 20 Pine Grosbeaks and 30 Dark-eyed [montanus] Juncos.

13 hours (279.3) BAEA 10 (118), NOHA 1 (2), NOGO 1 (11), RTHA 2 (3), RLHA 4 (42), GOEA 16 (320) TOTAL 34 (498)

Friday, March 20 [Day 16] 1130-1930 (Vance Mattson). It was another beautiful day with the temperature reaching 8C from a low of 1C and it was calm and cloudless. A total of 35 migrants were seen that comprised a season-high 22 Bald Eagles (14a, 2sa, 6j), 12 Golden Eagles (7a, 1sa, 4j) and 1 unidentified eagle. This is the first time this season that Bald Eagles have outnumbered Golden Eagles. Nine migrants moved before 1500 and 12 after 1600 with 1500-1600 producing 14 birds 10 of which were Bald Eagles. Non-migrants were 4 adult Bald Eagles and 2 resident Golden Eagles (1a, 1j). At Wasa Lake, on the way to the site, 6 young Bald Eagles were waiting for the ice to melt. They made several practice attempts at fish seen under the ice and one finally succeeded in catching a small fish after which it was vigorously pursued by the other eagles. In addition to the approximately 50 Canada Geese coming and going, 45 Tundra Swans were also active and included 25 that passed over Vance’s house when he returned home at 1945.

8 hours (68.6) BAEA 22 (70), GOEA 12 (232), UE 1 (2) TOTAL 35 (308)

Thursday, March 19 Beaver Mines [Day 24] 0720-2010 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0720 was -10C, the high at 1400 was -6C and it was again -10C at 2010. Winds were NE-ENE all day 7-16 km/h and cloud cover was 100% stratus all day with the exception of 1400-1640 when it was 80-90% cumulus. Light snow fell all day that completely or partially obscured the ridge with the exception of 1540 to 1640 when the snow stopped with 4 cm fresh on the ground, and the ridge completely cleared. After six days of zero or poor movement today produced 25 migrants comprising 1 adult Bald Eagle, 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk and 23 Golden Eagles (21a, 1sa, 1u) between 1336 and 1639. The first birds started moving when persistent light snow was still falling and included 6 adult Golden Eagles that soared high together at 1351 before gliding high to the north. The movement ceased as soon as the snow resumed and although the ridge partially cleared again after 1900 no further birds were seen. There was a similar result at Mount Lorette where Cliff Hansen reported a count of 26 birds that included 23 Golden Eagles and first seasonal occurrences of a Sharp-shinned Hawk and 2 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks. Other birds seen at Beaver Mines were 2 Canada Geese, 8 Rock Pigeons, 1 Eurasian Collared Dove, 2 Downy Woodpeckers, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 1 male Red-shafted Flicker, 1 Northern Shrike, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 5 Common Ravens, 8 Black-capped Chickadees, 14 Mountain Chickadees, 2 Red-breasted Nuthatches, 9 European Starlings, 14 Bohemian Waxwings, 25 Evening Grosbeaks, 47 Pine Grosbeaks and 37 Dark-eyed Juncos (1 hyemalis, 1 cismontanus and 35 montanus).

12.83 hours (266.3) BAEA 1 (108), RLHA 1 (38), GOEA 23 (304) TOTAL 25 (464)

Thursday, March 19 [Day 15] 1200-1915 (Vance Mattson). The temperature ranged from 2C to 5C, winds were moderate SE between 1630 and 1700 but it was otherwise calm, and cloud cover was 70% thin to moderate altostratus, cumulus, cirrus and altocumulus that gave partly sunny conditions. There was another fairly strong raptor movement of 30 birds up to 1847 that comprised 8 Bald Eagles (5a, 3j), 1 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk and 21 Golden Eagles (18a, 2j, 1u). Thirteen migrants were seen before 1400 but subsequently movement became more sporadic with only 2 birds moving between 1600 and 1800 and 6 after. The last bird was a Bald Eagle that flapped north in the calm conditions. Non-migrants were 4 Bald Eagles (1a, 3j), the resident pair of Red-tailed Hawks, one of which again soared low over the site and single adult resident Golden Eagles that were seen on three occasions.

7.25 hours (60.5) BAEA 8 (48), RTHA 1 (2), GOEA 21 (220) TOTAL 30 (273)