RMERF counts, April 6
Saturday, April 6 Mount Lorette [Day 35] 0720-1945 (Blake Weis, assisted by Brian McBride, Heinz Unger and Caroline Lambert). The starting temperature was 4C, the high was 7C from 1300 to 1600 and it was 5C at the end of observation. Ground winds were S-SW all day, 5-10 gusting 30 and occasionally to 50 km/h to 1900 after which gusts dropped to 15 km/h, while ridge winds were moderate to strong SW all day. Cloud cover was 100% altocumulus, altostratus, cumulus and stratocumulus to 0900, 100% stratocumulus between 0900 and 1000 that produced snow from 0900 to 0930 and light snow flurries continued throughout the day; between 1000 and 1500 cloud cover was 60-90% altocumulus, cumulus and cirrus and after 1600 it was again 100% stratocumulus with moderate snow flurries. All ridges were 10% obscured to 0900 and 100% obscured by snow between 0900 and 0930 but by 1200 all were clear. After 1600, however, the west was 100% obscured and the east 100-30% obscured for the rest of the day. Despite these conditions there was a moderate raptor migration of 27 birds of 3 species between 1235 and 1750 that comprised 6 Bald Eagles (3a, 1sa and 2 undifferentiated immatures), 1 adult Northern Goshawk and 20 Golden Eagles (7a, 1sa, 3j, 9u). Birds moved slowly but steadily between 1235 and 1600 with maximum hourly counts of 7 (1500-1600 and 1600-1700) but after 1700 only 3 further birds were seen. All used the eastern route where eagles glided high above the Fisher Range to 1500 but as conditions deteriorated birds moved against the face of the range. All the Golden Eagles glided NW to Mount Lorette, but 5 of the 6 Bald eagles flew directly north from the northern end of the Fisher Range. Resident birds were 1 or 2 Northern Goshawks including one calling from the nest site around 1700, and two sightings of adult Golden Eagles but no display behaviour was seen. Other birds in the area were 2 Canada Geese on the river, 1 Mallard, 1 male Common Merganser, 2 Ruffed Grouse (1 drumming and 1 seen), 10 unidentified gulls that flew from the Fisher Range to Mount Lorette at 1440, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 1 Northern Flicker, 10 Common Ravens, 2 Black-capped Chickadees, 4 Mountain Chickadees, 1 Boreal Chickadee, 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch, 1 Brown Creeper, 1 American Dipper, 2 Golden-crowned Kinglets, 1 male Mountain Bluebird, 2 singing Varied Thrushes, 9 American Robins, 1 White-winged Crossbill, 1 Pine Siskin, 1 American Tree Sparrow, 1 Song Sparrow and 9 Dark-eyed Juncos including 1 cismontanus and 1 montanus. Eight White-tailed Deer were in the meadow and one American Mink crossed the river three times as it moved to the south near the site. Thirteen visitors were also at the site today.
12.42 hours (398.6) BAEA 6 (174), NOGO 1 (10), GOEA 20 (1889) TOTAL 27 (2125)
Saturday, April 6 Beaver Mines [Day 35] 0700-2015 (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Mark Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0700 was 4C, the high at 1300 was 8C and it was 5C at 2015. Winds were strong W-WSW 30-50 gusting up to 80 km/h to 1700 after which they moderated with gusts only up the 40 km/h. Cloud cover was 20-50% mainly cumulus to 1230 after which it was 90-100% altostratus, cirrus, cumulus and altocumulus to 1800 and then cleared to 10% cumulus at the end of observation. There was a moderately strong, but again sporadic, raptor movement between 0832 and 1830 that involved 37 birds of 5 species: 7 Bald Eagles (6a, 1j), 5 Sharp-shinned Hawks (1a, 4u), 3 Northern Goshawks (2a, 1u), 4 adult calurus Red-tailed Hawks (2 light, 2 dark), 17 Golden Eagles (14a, 2sa, 1j) and 1 unidentified eagle. There was an encouraging start to the day with 7 raptors including 5 Golden Eagles moving before 0905, but it was not sustained and movement became sporadic with the only double-figure hourly count between 1500 and 1600 when 12 migrants were seen and subsequently only 2 further migrants moved. Resident birds were 1 adult Northern Goshawk, 1 adult Red-tailed Hawk and an adult Golden Eagle that displayed at 1431. Other birds seen were 4 Canada Geese, 3 Mallards, 17 Rock Pigeons, 2 Downy Woodpeckers, 2 Northern Flickers, 6 Blue Jays, 3 Black-billed Magpies, 38 American Crows, 21 Common Ravens, 2 Black-capped Chickadees, 1 Mountain Chickadee, 4 American Robins, 550 European Starlings, 35 Evening Grosbeaks, 16 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches that flew high to the north at 0836, 10 Pine Siskins and 1 male Red-winged Blackbird.
13.25 hours (412.5) BAEA 7 (170), SSHA 5 (14), NOGO 3 (19), RTHA 4 (47), GOEA 17 (476), UE 1 (2) TOTAL 37 (771)
Saturday, April 6 Steeples [Day 31] 1130-1900 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 8C, winds were strong S throughout and cloud cover was 100-70% altostratus and dark cumulus. Only 7 migrants, all eagles, were seen between 1315 and 1834 that comprised 2 juvenile Bald Eagles, 4 Golden Eagles (2a, 2u) and 1 unidentified eagle. Five of the birds moved very high and were mainly silhouettes against a dark grey cloud background. Non-migrants were 4 Turkey Vultures, 2 Bald Eagles (1a, 1j), 1 adult Northern Goshawk that hunted near the site, 2 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks that headed to the SW and 2 adult Golden Eagles that were seen twice including soaring together over the ridge at the end of the day.
7.5 hours (156.5) BAEA 2 (209), GOEA 4 (453), UE 1 (7) TOTAL 7 (685)
| SUMMARY COUNTS, SPRING 2019 | |||
| MOUNT LORETTE March 1-April 22 | BEAVER MINES March 1-April 22 | STEEPLES March 1-April 22 | |
| DAYS | 35 | 35 | 31 |
| HOURS | 398.6 | 412.5 | 156.5 |
| TURKEY VULTURE (TUVU) | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| OSPREY (OSPR) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| BALD EAGLE (BAEA) | 174 | 170 | 209 |
| NORTHERN HARRIER (NOHA) | 1 | 8 | 1 |
| SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (SSHA) | 4 | 14 | 1 |
| COOPER’S HAWK (COHA) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| NORTHERN GOSHAWK (NOGO) | 10 | 19 | 0 |
| Accipiter sp. (UA) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| BROAD-WINGED HAWK (BWHA) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| SWAINSON’S HAWK (SWHA) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| RED-TAILED HAWK (RTHA) | 4 | 47 | 8 |
| FERRUGINOUS HAWK (FEHA) | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (RLHA) | 7 | 16 | 3 |
| Buteo sp. (UB) | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| GOLDEN EAGLE (GOEA) | 1889 | 476 | 453 |
| Eagle sp. (UE) | 22 | 2 | 7 |
| AMERICAN KESTREL (AMKE) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| MERLIN (MERL) | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| GYRFALCON (GYRF) | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| PEREGRINE FALCON (PEFA) | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| PRAIRIE FALCON (PRFA) | 2 | 6 | 0 |
| Falco sp. (UF) | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Unidentified Raptor (UU) | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| TOTALS | 2125 | 771 | 685 |
RMERF counts, April 5
Friday, April 5 Mount Lorette [Day 34] 0740-2040 (Caroline Lambert, assisted by Patrick Farley). The temperature reached a high of 11C from a morning low of -1C and was 5C at 2040 when observation ceased. Ground winds were light all day, variable to 1100, NE to 1400, SE to 1700 and SW after 1800, while ridge winds were SW all day, light to 1500 after which they were moderate. Cloud cover was 100% stratus, altocumulus and altostratus which broke up to 70-80% after 1500. Conditions were hazy with light mist to 1500, and the western mountains were 20-80% obscured after 1000; apart from Mount Lorette being briefly obscured around noon the eastern route was clear all day. There was a fairly strong raptor movement of 57 birds of 3 species between 1038 and 1942 that comprised the season’s first Turkey Vulture, of unknown age, that flew to the north above the eastern valley at 1325, 2 adult Bald Eagles, 53 Golden Eagles (21a, 6sa, 2j, 24u) and 1 unidentified eagle. Only 5 birds were seen before 1400 but movement was then steady and peaked at 15 Golden Eagles between 1800 and 1900. All birds moved on the eastern route to 1345 when they switched to the west where birds again soared high on Olympic Summit before gliding high to the NW behind the summit of Mount Allan; between 1510 and 1660 both routes were used and after 1600 all birds glided high from the Fisher Range to Mount Lorette. Resident birds were 1 adult Sharp-shinned Hawk seen hunting north of the site, 1 adult Northern Goshawk, 1u Bald Eagle and the resident pair of Golden Eagles that spent much of the day around Olympic Summit where the male displayed several times. Other birds seen were 10 Canada Geese, 1 Downy Woodpecker, 2 Hairy Woodpeckers, 2 Northern Flickers, 12 Common Ravens, 1 Black-capped Chickadee, 4 Mountain Chickadees, 4 Boreal Chickadees, 1 American Dipper, 2 Golden-crowned Kinglets that were with the season’s first Ruby-crowned Kinglet, 1 male Mountain Bluebird, 3 singing Varied Thrushes, 14 American Robins, 4 European Starlings, 10 White-winged Crossbills, 2 Pine Siskins, 7 Dark-eyed Juncos and 1 Song Sparrow. Twelve Bighorn Sheep were on Olympic Summit, 4 White-tailed Deer in the meadow and 5 visitors were at the site today.
13 hours (386.2) TUVU 1 (1), BAEA 2 (168), GOEA 53 (1869), UE 1 (22) TOTAL 57 (2098)
Friday, April 5 Beaver Mines [Day 34] 0700-2015 (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Mark Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson). At 0700 the temperature was 0C the high at 1500 was 10.5C and it was 8C at 2015. Winds were light all day, variable but principally SE-ESE and although there was a gentle W upper flow all day it never lowered to ridge level. It was a generally dull day with 100% mainly stratocumulus cloud cover that brought very light rain and light snow to 1100 and again after 1445. The cloud began to break at 1700 and after 1730 it was 40-60% cumulus that gave sunny conditions. The conditions provided a very sporadic movement of 16 raptors of 6 species between 1111 and 1901 that comprised 1 adult Bald Eagle, 1 adult male Northern Harrier, 2u Sharp-shinned Hawks, a season-high 9 adult Red-tailed Hawks (6 light and 2 dark calurus and 1 dark harlani), 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk and only 2 adult Golden Eagles. Five of the birds moved between 1800 and 1900. A resident adult Northern Goshawk made a display flight above the ridge at 1236, and the resident pair of Red-tailed Hawks soared and occasionally displayed between 1147 and 1834. Other birds in the area were 3 Canada Geese, 1 Mallard, 2 Rock Pigeons, 1 Sandhill Crane that soared high and called above the ridge at 1331 before flying high to the SE, 3 Downy Woodpeckers, 2 Hairy Woodpeckers, 2 Northern Flickers, 8 Blue Jays, 3 Black-billed Magpies, 14 American Crows, 16 Common Ravens, 2 Black-capped Chickadees, 2 Mountain Chickadees, 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch, 9 American Robins, 16 European Starlings, 40 Evening Grosbeaks, 20 Pine Siskins and 2 Dark-eyed Juncos (1 cismontanus and 1 montanus).
13.25 (399.3) BAEA 1 (163), NOHA 1 (8), SSHA 2 (9), RTHA 9 (43), RLHA 1 (16), GOEA 2 (459) total 16 (734)
Friday, April 5 Steeples (Vance Mattson). NO OBSERVATION (weather). It was overcast all day with intermittent light drizzle. The mountains were shrouded all day except around 1700 when there was some clearing but they soon clouded over again.
| SUMMARY COUNTS, SPRING 2019 | |||
| MOUNT LORETTE March 1-April 22 | BEAVER MINES March 1-April 22 | STEEPLES March 1-April 22 | |
| DAYS | 34 | 34 | 30 |
| HOURS | 386.2 | 399.3 | 149 |
| TURKEY VULTURE (TUVU) | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| OSPREY (OSPR) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| BALD EAGLE (BAEA) | 168 | 163 | 207 |
| NORTHERN HARRIER (NOHA) | 1 | 8 | 1 |
| SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (SSHA) | 4 | 9 | 1 |
| COOPER’S HAWK (COHA) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| NORTHERN GOSHAWK (NOGO) | 9 | 16 | 0 |
| Accipiter sp. (UA) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| BROAD-WINGED HAWK (BWHA) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| SWAINSON’S HAWK (SWHA) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| RED-TAILED HAWK (RTHA) | 4 | 43 | 8 |
| FERRUGINOUS HAWK (FEHA) | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (RLHA) | 7 | 16 | 3 |
| Buteo sp. (UB) | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| GOLDEN EAGLE (GOEA) | 1869 | 459 | 449 |
| Eagle sp. (UE) | 22 | 1 | 6 |
| AMERICAN KESTREL (AMKE) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| MERLIN (MERL) | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| GYRFALCON (GYRF) | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| PEREGRINE FALCON (PEFA) | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| PRAIRIE FALCON (PRFA) | 2 | 6 | 0 |
| Falco sp. (UF) | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Unidentified Raptor (UU) | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| TOTALS | 2098 | 734 | 678 |
RMERF counts, April 4
Thursday, April 4 Mount Lorette [Day 33] 0640-2020 (Cliff Hansen, assisted by Rick Robb). The starting temperature was 3C, the high was 11C at 1700 and it was 7C at the end of observation. Ground winds were variable but mainly S 5-10 gusting 20 km/h to 1600, SW5-15 gusting 20 km/h to 1900 and then N 5-10 gusting 20 km/h for the rest of the day; ridge winds were mostly WNW moderate to strong to 1800 and then moderate NW. Cloud cover was variable 20-90% cumulus and altocumulus all day that gave good observing conditions and the ridges were clear, but despite this the raptor count was a disappointing 9 birds, made more so as it followed a week of strong movement. The first bird seen was a light morph Rough-legged Hawk at 1345, but eagle movement did not begin until after 1600 and comprised 1 adult Bald Eagle and 6 Golden Eagles (3a, 1sa, 1j, 1u) that moved up to 1943, with 4 of the Golden Eagles seen between 1800 and 1900; a mid-sized unidentified raptor was also seen during this hour. All the eagles glided high above the Fisher Range to Mount Lorette. A resident Northern Goshawk called from the nest site early in the morning and there was a single sighting of an adult resident Golden Eagle. Other birds recorded in the area were 2 Canada Geese, 10 unidentified gulls that soared over the northern end of the Fisher Range in the late afternoon before flying to the east, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 2 Northern Flickers, 11 Common Ravens, 2 Black-capped Chickadees, 1 Boreal Chickadee, 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch, 1 singing Varied Thrush, 6 American Robins, 2 Bohemian Waxwings and 3 Dark-eyed Juncos. Twelve visitors were at the site today.
13.25 hours (373.2) BAEA 1 (166), RLHA 1 (7), GOEA 6 (1816), UU 1 (4) TOTAL 9 (2041)
Thursday, April 4 Beaver Mines [Day 33] 0715-1945 (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Hilary Atkinson). At 0715 the temperature was 5.5C, the high was 11C at 1200 and 1300, and again at 1600 and 1700 and it was still 8C at 2015. Winds were W-WSW all day 25-40 gusting up to 60 km/h and cloud cover was variably 30-70% mainly cumulus to 1830 when 100-70% thin cirrostratus developed. Observing conditions were very good throughout and it was encouraging to see the first Golden Eagle gliding high to the north at 0759, but the second bird, an adult Bald Eagle, did not occur until 1103 and the second Golden Eagle was only seen at 1349. After this, however, the pace quickened and peaked at 21 birds between 1700 and 1800, with the last 3 Bald Eagles moving NNW at 1902. The final count of 57 raptors of 8 species was 14 Bald Eagles (11a, 2sa, 1j), 1 adult male Northern Harrier, 4 Sharp-shinned Hawks (1a, 3u), 1u Northern Goshawk, 8 adult calurus Red-tailed Hawks (5 light, 3 dark), 1 unidentified dark Buteo, 26 Golden Eagles (23a, 3j), 1 dark morph Gyrfalcon and 1 Prairie Falcon. Other birds seen were 1 Canada Goose, 25 Wild Turkeys, 18 Rock Pigeons, 2 Downy Woodpeckers, 1 Northern Flicker, 5 Blue Jays, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 30 American Crows, 18 Common Ravens, 4 Black-capped Chickadees, 4 Mountain Chickadees, 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch, 12 American Robins, 516 European Starlings, 35 Evening Grosbeaks 8 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches that flew north at 1318, 14 Pine Siskins and 3 Dark-eyed Juncos (1 hyemalis, 1 cismontanus and 1 montanus).
13 hours (386) BAEA 14 (162), NOHA 1 (7), SSHA 4 (7), NOGO 1 (16), RTHA 8 (34), UB 1 (2), GOEA 26 (457), GYRF 1 (5), PRFA 1 (6) TOTAL 57 (718)
Thursday, April 4 Steeples [Day 30] 1300-1900 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 11C, winds were moderate to strong S-SE and 60-90% altostratus cloud cover gave partially sunny conditions. Only three migrants were seen: an adult Golden Eagle at 1452, a juvenile Golden Eagle at 1746 and a juvenile Bald Eagle at 1817. Non-migrants consisted of 10 sightings of Turkey Vultures, 3 sightings of adult Bald Eagles, 5 sightings of single adult calurus Red-tailed Hawks including 2 hovering hunting flights over the ridges, and 3 adult Golden Eagles that were seen twice including two birds that soared together while one displayed although there was no perceived antagonism between them.
6 hours (149) BAEA 1 (207), GOEA 2 (449) TOTAL 3 (678)
| SUMMARY COUNTS, SPRING 2019 | |||
| MOUNT LORETTE March 1-April 22 | BEAVER MINES March 1-April 22 | STEEPLES March 1-April 22 | |
| DAYS | 33 | 33 | 30 |
| HOURS | 373.2 | 386 | 149 |
| TURKEY VULTURE (TUVU) | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| OSPREY (OSPR) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| BALD EAGLE (BAEA) | 166 | 162 | 207 |
| NORTHERN HARRIER (NOHA) | 1 | 7 | 1 |
| SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (SSHA) | 4 | 7 | 1 |
| COOPER’S HAWK (COHA) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| NORTHERN GOSHAWK (NOGO) | 9 | 16 | 0 |
| Accipiter sp. (UA) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| BROAD-WINGED HAWK (BWHA) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| SWAINSON’S HAWK (SWHA) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| RED-TAILED HAWK (RTHA) | 4 | 34 | 8 |
| FERRUGINOUS HAWK (FEHA) | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (RLHA) | 7 | 15 | 3 |
| Buteo sp. (UB) | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| GOLDEN EAGLE (GOEA) | 1816 | 457 | 449 |
| Eagle sp. (UE) | 21 | 1 | 6 |
| AMERICAN KESTREL (AMKE) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| MERLIN (MERL) | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| GYRFALCON (GYRF) | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| PEREGRINE FALCON (PEFA) | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| PRAIRIE FALCON (PRFA) | 2 | 6 | 0 |
| Falco sp. (UF) | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Unidentified Raptor (UU) | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| TOTALS | 2041 | 718 | 678 |
RMERF counts, April 3
Wednesday, April 3 Mount Lorette [Day 32] 0640-2020 (Bill Wilson, assisted by Glenn Webber and Graeme Dunlop). The temperature at 0730 was -5C, the high from 1400 to 1700 was 8C and it was 6C at the end of observation. Ground winds were variable 0-2 km/h to 1100 then S-SW for the rest of the day, 2-10 gusting to 27 km/h to 1700 and 2-10 km/h to 2015; ridge winds were moderate SW all day. Cloud cover was 100% altostratus throughout the morning and 100% cumulus and altostratus throughout the afternoon that provided hazy sunshine and good locating conditions but made detailed determination of age difficult. There was yet another strong April raptor migration with 113 birds of 3 species seen between 0914 and 1947. The flight was 12 Bald Eagles (9a, 1sa, 2j), 1u Sharp-shinned Hawk and 100 Golden Eagles (50a, 1sa, 9j, 40u). The Golden Eagle count of 510 for the first three days of April has already exceeded the long-term April average count for the species of 442. Once again birds moved steadily throughout with a highest hourly count of 23, including 18 Golden Eagles, between 1400 and 1500. Birds moved on both ridge systems to 1500 with the western birds again soaring high over Olympic Summit and gliding high to the NW behind the summit of Mount Allan, but after 1500 all birds flew on the eastern ridges gliding high from the Fisher range to Mount Lorette. There were several records of resident birds with a Northern Goshawk heard calling from the nest site early in the morning, 5 sightings of 1 or 2 adult Bald Eagles mainly moving southwards, and 3 of adult Golden Eagles including one that displayed against the face of Mount Bogart at 1221. Other birds recorded in the area were 75 Canada Geese that flew to the north in 6 flocks, 1 Ruffed Grouse, 1 Killdeer, 1 Northern Flicker, 1 Pileated Woodpecker, 15 Common Ravens, 1 unidentified flying swallow, 4 Mountain Bluebirds (1 male, 3u), 3 singing Varied Thrushes, 15 American Robins, 3 European Starlings, 30 Bohemian Waxwings in one flock, 1 singing White-winged Crossbill and 1 singing Dark-eyed Junco. There were 8 visitors at the site today.
13.67 hours (359.9) BAEA 12 (165), SSHA 1 (4), GOEA 100 (1810) TOTAL 113 (2032)
Wednesday, April 3 Beaver Mines [Day 31] 0715-1945 (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Hilary Atkinson). The temperature was initially 0C, the high at 1300 was 10.5C and it was 6.5C at 1945. Winds were WSW-W all day, 10-20 gusting 25 km/h to 1135 after which they strengthened to 25-40 gusting to 65 km/h for the rest of the day. Cloud cover was mainly 100% altocumulus in the morning and 70-90% altostratus, altocumulus, cumulus and cirrus for the rest of the day, all of which provided good viewing conditions. Despite the favourable winds there was yet another desultory raptor movement with 16 birds of 6 species moving sporadically between 1108 and 1855. The flight comprised 4 adult Bald Eagles, the season’s first Cooper’s Hawk (an unaged bird), 1 adult Northern Goshawk, 5 light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks (3a, 2u), the first Ferruginous Hawk of the season, an unaged light morph bird at 1714 and only 3 Golden Eagles (2a, 1sa). A resident pair of Red-tailed Hawks was present with birds seen displaying on a couple of occasions. A rather dull day was greatly enlivened towards the end when the first Sandhill Crane of the season soared high above the ridge at 1803 and flew high to the north and at 1814 a large flock of about 250 Snow Geese in several skeins flew to the east above the ridge: for a couple of minutes the sky was more reminiscent of Saskatchewan than SW Alberta! A more distant flock of 60 geese at 1757 were also probably Snow Geese. These numbers are unprecedented for the area. Other birds seen were 5 Canada Geese, a small flock of 14 Wild Turkeys that included 6 displaying males, 18 Rock Pigeons, 2 Downy Woodpeckers, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, a pair of Northern Flickers, 7 Blue Jays, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 56 American Crows, 19 Common Ravens, 2 Black-capped Chickadees, 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch, 1 Townsend’s Solitaire, 5 American Robins, 30 European Starlings, 27 Evening Grosbeaks and 8 Pine Siskins.
12.5 hours (373) BAEA 4 (148), NOHA 1 (6), NOGO 1 (15), RTHA 5 (26), FEHA 1 (1), GOEA 3 (431) TOTAL 16 (661)
Wednesday, April 3 Steeples [Day 29] 1645-1830 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 10C, winds were strong S and 100% dark altostratus and cumulus cloud brought light precipitation and partially obscured the ridges. No migrant or resident raptors were seen.
1.75 hours (143) TOTAL 0 (675)
| SUMMARY COUNTS, SPRING 2019 | |||
| MOUNT LORETTE March 1-April 22 | BEAVER MINES March 1-April 22 | STEEPLES March 1-April 22 | |
| DAYS | 32 | 32 | 29 |
| HOURS | 359.9 | 373 | 143 |
| TURKEY VULTURE (TUVU) | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| OSPREY (OSPR) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| BALD EAGLE (BAEA) | 165 | 148 | 206 |
| NORTHERN HARRIER (NOHA) | 1 | 6 | 1 |
| SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (SSHA) | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| COOPER’S HAWK (COHA) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| NORTHERN GOSHAWK (NOGO) | 9 | 15 | 0 |
| Accipiter sp. (UA) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| BROAD-WINGED HAWK (BWHA) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| SWAINSON’S HAWK (SWHA) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| RED-TAILED HAWK (RTHA) | 4 | 26 | 8 |
| FERRUGINOUS HAWK (FEHA) | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (RLHA) | 6 | 15 | 3 |
| Buteo sp. (UB) | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| GOLDEN EAGLE (GOEA) | 1810 | 431 | 447 |
| Eagle sp. (UE) | 21 | 1 | 6 |
| AMERICAN KESTREL (AMKE) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| MERLIN (MERL) | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| GYRFALCON (GYRF) | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| PEREGRINE FALCON (PEFA) | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| PRAIRIE FALCON (PRFA) | 2 | 5 | 0 |
| Falco sp. (UF) | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Unidentified Raptor (UU) | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| TOTALS | 2032 | 661 | 675 |
RMERF counts, April 2
Tuesday, April 2 Mount Lorette [Day 31] 0730-2015 (Cliff Hansen, assisted by Rick Robb and Graham Dunlop). The temperature was -4C at 0730, the high at 1700 was 10C and it was 4C at 2015. Ground winds were very light 0-5 km/h to 1300 then S-SW 0-15 km/h to 1700 after which they were again very light, while ridge winds were light to moderate SW all day. It was initially cloudless with a trace of cumulus that gradually increased to a maximum of 40% at 1600 after which it gradually dwindled to a trace of cirrus at the end of observation. There was another strong raptor migration with 173 birds of a season-high 7 species moving between 1015 and 1931 that comprised 16 Bald Eagles (15a, 1sa), 2u Sharp-shinned Hawks, 1u Northern Goshawk, 1 Red-tailed Hawk of unknown age, morph or race, 2u Rough-legged Hawks, 1 unidentified Buteo, 147 Golden Eagles (51a, 3sa, 11j, 82u), 2 unidentified eagles and 1u columbarius Merlin. The lack of detail on many of the birds resulted from back-lighting of very high flying birds against an often clear blue sky. Movement was strong throughout the migration period with 93 birds seen before 1300 that included a maximum hourly count of 49 between 1200 and 1300, and the last 22 moved after 1800. All birds were seen on the western route until 1400 with birds again soaring very high on the southern flank of Mount Allan and Olympic Summit before gliding very high to the NW behind the summit of Mount Allan. After 1400 most birds used the eastern route with birds again soaring very high above the Fisher Range and gliding very high to the NW to Mount Lorette. A resident adult Northern Goshawk was seen on a nest, and the Golden Eagle pair was seen over Olympic Summit where the male displayed. Other birds recorded were 3 Canada Geese on the river, 1 female Common Merganser, 1 drumming Ruffed Grouse, the season’s first Killdeer, 1 Northern Flicker, 1 Pileated Woodpecker, 1 American Crow, 13 Common Ravens, 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch, 2 male Mountain Bluebirds in the meadow, 2 singing Varied Thrushes, 5 American Robins, 10 Bohemian Waxwings, a flock of 30 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches that flew high on the Fisher Range and 2 Dark-eyed Juncos. A single Mule Deer unusually joined 11 White-tailed Deer to feed in the meadow, where a Striped Skunk was also seen. Five visitors were at the site today.
12.75 hours (346.2) BAEA 16 (153), SSHA 2 (3), NOGO 1 (9), RTHA 1 (4), RLHA 2 (6), UB 1 (1), GOEA 147 (1710), UE 2 (21), MERL 1 (2) TOTAL 173 (1918)
Tuesday, April 2 Beaver Mines [Day 31] 0730-2015 (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0730 was 0C, the high at 1400 and again at 1600 was 8C and it was 4C at 2015. Winds were very variable but principally from the NE to the SSE, mainly light but occasionally briefly gusting to 20 km/h. Cloud cover was 100-90% stratocumulus to 1030 that produced light snow flurries to 0830, 20-60% cumulus to 1500, 50-60% cumulus and altostratus to 1600 and finally 40% very thin cirrostratus with traces of altocumulus to 2015. Observation conditions were excellent and thermal lift was strong but the day only produced 9 migrant raptors comprising 5 adult calurus Red-tailed Hawks (4 light and 1 dark) and 4 Golden Eagles (3a, 1j). For much of the day a pair of resident light morph Red-tailed Hawks was present and conspicuous between 1124 and 1815 performing several low and high intensity display flights, soaring as a pair with legs dangling and hunting the valley floor. Other birds recorded were 6 Canada Geese, 6 Mallards, a pair of Common Mergansers that flew north at 1955, 1 calling Wild Turkey, 5 Rock Pigeons, 4 Downy Woodpeckers, 2 Hairy Woodpeckers, 1 Northern Flicker, 6 Blue Jays, 2 Black-billed Magpies, 40 American Crows, 10 Common Ravens, 4 Black-capped Chickadees, 4 Mountain Chickadees, 2 Red-breasted Nuthatches, 14 American Robins, 221 European Starlings, 32 Evening Grosbeaks, 1 female Cassin’s Finch, 8 Pine Siskins and 2 Dark-eyed Juncos (1 hyemalis and 1 montanus. Moderate SW winds are forecast so we are expecting a stronger raptor movement tomorrow.
12.75 hours (360.5) RTHA 5 (21), GOEA 4 (428) TOTAL 9 (645)
Tuesday, April 2 Steeples [Day 28] 1230-1945 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 9-11C, it was calm with intermittent light SE winds and mostly 50% cumulus which provided sunny conditions and a helpful backdrop for detecting high-flying birds throughout most of the day. A total of 33 migrant raptors of 4 species were seen between 1300 and 1908 comprising 13 Bald Eagles (11a, 2j), 3 adult Red-tailed Hawks (1 light calurus and 2 dark harlani), 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk and 16 Golden Eagles (14a, 2j). Nine migrants moved between 1300 and 1400, but only 6 were seen in the next three hours (1400-1700); 12 (including 9 Golden Eagles) moved between 1700 and 1800, 4 between 1800 and 1900 and 2 between 1900 and 1908, the last being a “Harlan’s Hawk”. Movement was very high and fast, especially after 1700 when birds appeared high above the western peak of Mount Bill Nye. There was also much non-migrant activity with 14 sightings of Turkey Vultures, none of which exhibited migratory behaviour although at least one bird was in the air all day, 9 Bald Eagles (4a, 5j). 1u Northern Goshawk, 1 Red-tailed Hawk, and 4 Golden Eagles (3a, 1j) which performed a pair-flight low across the ridge and 2 display flights.
7.25 hours (141.3) BAEA 13 (206), RTHA 3 (8), RLHA 1 (3) GOEA 16 (447) TOTAL 33 (675)
| SUMMARY COUNTS, SPRING 2019 | |||
| MOUNT LORETTE March 1-April 22 | BEAVER MINES March 1-April 22 | STEEPLES March 1-April 22 | |
| DAYS | 31 | 31 | 28 |
| HOURS | 346.2 | 360.5 | 141.3 |
| TURKEY VULTURE (TUVU) | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| OSPREY (OSPR) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| BALD EAGLE (BAEA) | 153 | 144 | 206 |
| NORTHERN HARRIER (NOHA) | 1 | 5 | 1 |
| SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (SSHA) | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| COOPER’S HAWK (COHA) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| NORTHERN GOSHAWK (NOGO) | 9 | 14 | 0 |
| Accipiter sp. (UA) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| BROAD-WINGED HAWK (BWHA) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| SWAINSON’S HAWK (SWHA) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| RED-TAILED HAWK (RTHA) | 4 | 21 | 8 |
| FERRUGINOUS HAWK (FEHA) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (RLHA) | 6 | 15 | 3 |
| Buteo sp. (UB) | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| GOLDEN EAGLE (GOEA) | 1710 | 428 | 447 |
| Eagle sp. (UE) | 21 | 1 | 6 |
| AMERICAN KESTREL (AMKE) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| MERLIN (MERL) | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| GYRFALCON (GYRF) | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| PEREGRINE FALCON (PEFA) | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| PRAIRIE FALCON (PRFA) | 2 | 5 | 0 |
| Falco sp. (UF) | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Unidentified Raptor (UU) | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| TOTALS | 1918 | 645 | 675 |

