Monday, April 1 Mount Lorette [Day 30] 0700-1950 (George Halmazna, assisted by Dan Parliament and Graham Dunlop). The temperature was -3C at 0700, the high was 4C at 1600 and 1700 and it was 2C at the end of observation. It was calm to 1100, then ground winds were NE 2-8 km/h to 1400, SW2-5 km/h at 1500 and 1600 and NE 5-20 km/h after 1700; ridge winds were probably light to moderate W-NW. Cloud cover was 100-70% altostratus, altocumulus, cumulus and stratus all day with the exceptions of 1100 and 1900 when it reduced to 50%, and there were frequent snow flurries that swept from the west between 1300 and 1800. The eastern ridges were 90% obscured to 1200, 50% to 1400, 30% at 1500, clear at 1600 and 1700 and then 80-90% obscured after 1800; the west was 30% obscured to 0900 and then variably obscured to 1600 after which it was mainly clear. Remarkably these unpromising conditions produced a season-high total of 283 migrant raptors of 6 species between 1050 and 1845 that comprised 15 Bald Eagles (10a, 3sa, 2j), the season’s first Northern Harrier, a juvenile bird of unknown sex, 2 adult Northern Goshawks, 1 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk, a season-high 263 Golden Eagles (174a, 4sa, 10j, 75u) and 1u columbarius Merlin. Movement was mainly on the western route to 1500 with birds soaring high with kettles of up to 20 eagles that often disappeared into the cloud base, and then glided high to the NW either behind the summit of Mount Allan or above Skogan Pass. After 1500 the movement was entirely on the eastern route which saw the highest single hour count of 78 birds (76 Golden Eagles) between 1500 and 1600. Resident birds were 1 adult Bald Eagle, 1 calling and displaying adult Northern Goshawk, and the pair of resident Golden Eagles to the west where the male displayed above the southern flank of Mount Allan. Other birds recorded on a busy day were 4 Canada Geese, 1 drumming Ruffed Grouse, 1 Northern Flicker, 1 Pileated Woodpecker, 9 American Crows, 19 Common Ravens, 2 Black-capped Chickadees, 2 Red-breasted Nuthatches, 1 male Mountain Bluebird, 5 singing Varied Thrushes, 19 American Robins, 7 European Starlings, 10 Bohemian Waxwings and 8 Dark-eyed [Oregon] Juncos. Eight visitors were at the site today.

12.83 (333.5) BAEA 15 (137), NOHA 1 (1), NOGO 2 (8), RTHA 1 (3), GOEA 263 (1563), MERL 1 (2) TOTAL 283 (1745)

Monday, April 1 Beaver Mines [Day 30] 0730-1930 (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Everett Hanna and 22 biology students from Lethbridge College, and Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0730 was 0C, the high was 7C at 1600 and 1700 and it was 4C at 1930. Winds were light W-SSW to 1030, light NE –E to 1330 when they were mainly SW-SSW 5-10 gusting 15 km/h to 1900, after which it was calm. Heavy snow fell at 0730 that left 4 cm of fresh snow on the ground when it stopped at 0830 and the ridge cleared. Cloud cover was 100-70% stratocumulus, cumulus and altostratus in the morning that cleared throughout the afternoon giving excellent observing conditions to 1700 after which it was essentially cloudless. The day saw a season-high migration of 95 raptors of 6 species that moved between 1052 and 1841 and comprised 13 Bald Eagles (8a, 3sa, 2j), 1 adult male Northern Harrier, a season-high 7 adult Red-tailed Hawks (6 light and 1 dark calurus, and 1 dark harlani), a season-high 71 Golden Eagles (51a, 8sa, 10j, 2u), 1 unidentified eagle and 1 Prairie Falcon. The highest hourly count was 1400-1500 when 44 raptors were counted that included 35 Golden Eagles, 11 of which soared high together at 1440. A resident Golden Eagle displayed vigorously above the centre of the valley at 1429. Other birds in the area were 2 Canada Geese, 2 Tundra Swans that flew north at 1120 a distant flock of unidentified swans that flew north at 1444, 3 Mallards, 11 Wild Turkeys, 12 Rock Pigeons, a flock of 15 California Gulls, the first of the season, that flew north at 1205, 3 Downy Woodpeckers, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 1 Northern Flicker, 1 Pileated Woodpecker, 1 adult Northern Shrike, 7 Blue Jays, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 37 American Crows, 23 Common Ravens, 2 Black-capped Chickadees, 3 Mountain Chickadees, 1 Red-breasted Nuthatches, a pair of Mountain Bluebirds, 17 American Robins, 70 European Starlings, 20 Evening Grosbeaks1 male Cassin’s Finch and 20 Pine Siskins.

12 hours (347.8), BAEA 13 (144), NOHA 1 (5), NOGO 1 (14), RTHA 7 (16), GOEA 71 (424), UE 1 (1), PRFA 1 (5) TOTAL 95 (636)

Monday, April 1 Steeples [Day 27] 1630-1945 (Vance Mattson). Afternoon teaching commitments again resulted in a late start, but despite not arriving at the site at 1630 Vance counted 13 migrants: 3 adult Bald Eagles, 1 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk and 9 Golden Eagles (8a, 1u) between 1648 and 1919, the last of which was the latest bird seen this season. Most of the Golden Eagles moved in pairs. Non-migrants were 9 Turkey Vultures and the season’s first American Kestrel that mobbed a Golden Eagle as it flew low above the flank of Mount Bill Nye. The temperature was 11C, it was calm and 30-50% cumulus and altocumulus cloud cover gave sunny conditions.

3.25 (134) BAEA 3 (193), RTHA 1 (5), GOEA 9 (431) TOTAL 13 (642)

Sunday, March 31 Mount Lorette [Day 29] 0710-2030 (Bill Wilson, assisted by Lori Anderson, Doug Pederson, Heinz Unger and Graham Dunlop). The starting temperature was -1C, the high was 7C at 1400 and 1500 and it was 1C at the end of observation. Ground winds were SSE-SSW 2-10 gusting 24 km/h to 1400, NNE 5-20 gusting 35 km/h to 1700 and then NNE-NNW 5-15 km/h for the rest of the day; ridge winds were probably moderate SW all day. Cloud cover was 100% stratus to 0900, 90-100% altostratus to 1200 and then 100% stratus for the rest of the day that gave light to moderate flurries between 1500 and 1700 and then light to moderate snow for the rest of the day. Ridges were mostly clear to 1300 becoming 20-30% obscured at 1400 and completely obscured after 1500. Despite the weather conditions there was a fairly strong raptor movement of 133 birds of 4 species between 0848 and 1736 that comprised 8 Bald Eagles (7a, 1j), 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk, 121 Golden Eagles (70a, 2sa, 2j, 47u), 2 unidentified eagles and 1 large unidentified falcon. One hundred and one birds moved between 1100 and 1500 with a high hourly count of 38 between 1300 and 1400 and 2 Bald Eagles and 2 Golden Eagles moved in the falling snow between 1700 and 1736. Birds used both the western and eastern routes throughout the day with the majority (88 birds) using the west where they mainly soared over the southern flank of Mount Allan and Olympic Summit before gliding high to the NW behind the summit of Mount Allan. Resident birds were 2 adult Bald Eagles that soared at Mount Lorette and flew south at 1527, 2 records of Northern Goshawks, a resident adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk that soared over the valley at 1147 and glided to the south, and 2 sightings of adult Golden Eagles including one that displayed over Mount Old Baldy at 1339. Other birds recorded were 4 Snow Geese that flew low, appropriately in the snow, above the river with Canada Geese where they landed at 1913, a further 120 Canada Geese that flew north in flocks of 50, 40 and 30, 1 Mallard, 1 female Common Merganser, 1 or 2 Ruffed Grouse, 9 (1+8) unidentified gulls that flew high to the north at 1511 and 1734 respectively, 2 Northern Flickers, 1 adult Northern Shrike, 2 Canada Jays, 17 Common Ravens, 2 Black-capped Chickadees, 1 Mountain Chickadee, 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch, 4 male Mountain Bluebirds in the meadow, 3 singing Varied Thrushes, 42 American Robins, 2 European Starlings, 160 Bohemian Waxwings in two flocks of 80 birds, 4 Red Crossbills, 1 Song Sparrow singing east of the river and 3 Dark-eyed Juncos. Twenty-five visitors were at the site today.

14.16 (320.7) BAEA 8 (122), RLHA 1 (4), GOEA 121 (1300), UE 2 (19) UF 1 (1) TOTAL 133 (1462)

March summary (With variance from the long-term 1993-2018 22-year average, that excludes the anomalously low counts in 2008-2010 and 2012 which are considered invalid). 29 days (+0.5%), 320.7 hours (+2.9%) BAEA 122 (+9.4%), SSHA 1 (-62.7%), NOGO 6 (-46.3%), RTHA 2 (-58.1%), RLHA 4 (-24.1%), GOEA 1300 (-46% and the lowest ever total for a valid March count), MERL 1 (-56%), GYRF 1 (-4.3%), PRFA 2 (+109.5%), UE 19 (+464.9%), UF 1 (+175%), UU 3 (+407.7%) TOTAL 1329 (-48% and the lowest ever combined-species total for a valid March count). Species previously recorded in March but not recorded this year were TUVU, NOHA, COHA, BWHA and PEFA; OSPR, SWHA, FEHA and AMKE have never been recorded in March.

Sunday, March 31 Beaver Mines [Day 29] 0730-2000 (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0730 was -1C the high at 1600 was 11C and it was 4C at the end of observation at 2000. Winds were variable and light to 1400 when they became mainly WSW 10-15 gusting 30 km/h to 1900, after which they were NE 10-15 km/h for the rest of the day. Cloud cover was mainly 100% stratocumulus to 1430 when it became 40-60% cumulus and cirrus to 1800 after which it was again 100% stratus and stratocumulus that produced light rain showers between 1900 and 1920. The day saw a moderate raptor movement of 70 birds (the second highest count of the season) of 6 species between 1121 and 1752. The flight was 9 Bald Eagles (6a, 3sa), 1 adult Northern Goshawk, 2 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks, 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk, 55 Golden Eagles (31a, 4sa, 5j, 15u) and 1 male Prairie Falcon. Sixty-six birds moved between 1424 and 1752 coincident with the development of the moderate WSW winds, and the highest hourly count was 23 between 1600 and 1700. Other birds seen were 34 Canada Geese including a flock of 30 that flew high to the north at 0938, a leck of 36 Wild Turkeys including 2 displaying males, 9 Rock Pigeons, 3 Downy Woodpeckers, 5 Blue Jays, 20 American Crows, 12 Common Ravens, 4 Mountain Chickadees, 8 American Robins, 23 European Starlings, 40 Evening Grosbeaks, and 2 Pine Siskins.

12.5 hours (335.8) BAEA 9 (131), NOGO 1 (13), RTHA 2 (9), RLHA 1 (15), UB 1 (1), GOEA 55 (353), PRFA 1 (4) TOTAL 70 (541)

March summary (with variance from the 2015-2018 average in parenthesis). 29 days (+3.6%), 335.8 hours (+48.8%), BAEA 131 (-26.4%), NOHA 4 (-61.9%), SSHA 3 (-77.4%), NOGO 13 (-63.1%), RTHA 9 (-83.9%), RLHA 15 (-77.2%), GOEA 353 (-64%), MERL 2 (-73.3%), GYRF 4 (-5.9%), PEFA 1 (-33.3%), PRFA 4 (=), UB 1 (-80%), UU1 (-42.9%) TOTAL 541 (-60.6%). Species previously recorded in March but not recorded this year were TUVU, COHA, BWHA, SWHA and AMKE; OSPR has never been recorded in March.

Sunday, March 31 Steeples [Day 26] 1230-1930 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was initially 8C that rose to a high of 10C, conditions were calm throughout and cloud cover was 100% altostratus and dark cumulus that brought rain and obscured the ridges from 1430 to 1530, but was then 40% cumulus and thin altostratus that gave sunny conditions. Despite the weather interruption the day produced 35 migrant raptors of 4 species between 1253 and 1757 comprising 3a Turkey Vultures, the first migrants of the season, 14 Bald Eagles ((8a, 2sa, 4j), 1u Sharp-shinned Hawk that was the first bird seen and a first record for the season, and 17 Golden Eagles (13a, 2j, 2u). Migration was initially slow with just 4 birds seen before 1530, but 14 migrants were seen between 1533 and 1600 with many of the birds moving in light rain between the ridge and the site as the ridge was clearing. The ridges were clear by 1600 but only 1 migrant moved before 1700, but the following hour produced 16 migrants with the last Golden Eagle seen at 1757. Non-migrants were 6 Turkey Vultures, 5 adult Bald Eagles including 2 pair-flights, 1 resident Sharp-shinned Hawk and 3 Golden Eagles (2a, 1j) with one adult seen displaying. Forty Tundra Swans moved to the NE at 1317.

7 hours (130.8) TUVU 3 (3), BAEA 14 (190), SSHA 1 (1), GOEA 17 (422) TOTAL 35 (692)

March summary (with variance from the 2010-2018 average in parenthesis). 26 days (+28.6% and equals highest days), 130.8 hours (+58.4%, new high), BAEA 190 (+93.2%, new high), NOHA 1 (+200%), SSHA 1 (-50%), RTHA 4 (-21.7%), RLHA 2 (-10%), GOEA 422 (+49.9%), UE 6 (+237.6%) TOTAL 629 (+58.7%, second highest March count after 643 last year. Species previously recorded in March but not recorded this year were OSPR, NOGO, AMKE, MERL and PEFA, while COHA, BWHA, SWHA, FEHA, GYRF and PRFA have never been recorded on a spring count.

Saturday, March 30 Mount Lorette [Day 28] 0710-2030 (Blake Weis, assisted by Cliff Hansen and Doug Pederson). The temperature reached a high of 12C from 1600 to 1900 from a starting low of -7C and it was 5C at the end of observation. Ground winds were WSW 0-5 km/h to 1500, variable 0-5 gusting 10 km/h to 1800 and NW-NE 5-10 gusting 20 km/h for the rest of the day; while ridge winds were light to moderate SW to 1600 after which they were moderate WSW. Cloud cover was 10-20% cirrus to 1500 after which it was 20% altocumulus and cirrus which gradually increased to 90% at the end of the day. The first migrant at 0943 was the first Merlin of the season and by 2010 a total of 143 raptors of a season-high 5 species had been counted. The flight was 11 Bald Eagles (9a, 1 undifferentiated immature bird and 1u), 1u Sharp-shinned Hawk (the first of the season), 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk, 127 Golden Eagles (103a, 1sa, 4j, 19u), 1 unidentified eagle, 1 Merlin of undetermined race, sex or age and 1 unidentified raptor. The highest hourly count was 52 Golden Eagles between 1100 and 1200 that was followed by 2 Bald Eagles and 30 Golden Eagles the next hour. Only 12 further raptors were seen up to 1900 but 1900-2000 produced 4 Bald Eagles, 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk and 38 Golden Eagles, and the unidentified eagle at 2010 was the latest seen so far this season. All birds moved on the western route to 1300, soaring high on Olympic Summit and gliding high to the NW behind the summit of Mount Allan or to the NW over Skogan Pass, between 1300 and 1900 one-third of the birds used the west and two-thirds the east and the last big movement after 1900 was exclusively on the eastern route from the Fisher Range to Mount Lorette. Resident birds were 1 or 2 Northern Goshawks, a pair of adult Bald Eagles that soared together for 10 minutes above the northern end of the Fisher Range and drifted slowly to the south, and an adult Golden Eagle that displayed to 4 migrant birds over Olympic Summit at 1120. Other birds in the area were 43 Canada Geese including a flock of 35 that flew to the north, 1 male Common Merganser, 1 singing Northern Pygmy-Owl on Hummingbird Plume Hill that was reported by a visitor to the site, 1 drumming Ruffed Grouse, 40 unidentified gulls that flew high to the north over the western route at 1130, 1 Hairy Woodpecker drumming, 2  Pileated Woodpeckers, 1 Northern Flicker, 1 Canada Jay, 2 American Crows, 13 Common Ravens, 1 Black-capped Chickadee, 4 Mountain Chickadees, 1 Boreal Chickadee, 3 Red-breasted Nuthatches,  1 Golden-crowned Kinglet, 3 male and 1 female Mountain Bluebirds in the meadow, 4 singing Varied Thrushes, 60 American Robins, 3 European Starlings, 1 Pine Siskin, 1 White-winged Crossbill and 6 Dark-eyed Juncos. Ten White-tailed Deer were in the Meadow and 23 Bighorn Sheep were on Olympic Summit, and butterflies seen were 1 Mourning Cloak, 3 Milbert’s Tortoiseshells and 1 unidentified Comma. There was much to enjoy for the 38 visitors to the site today.

13.33 hours (306.5) BAEA 11 (114), SSHA 1 (1), RLHA 1 (3), GOEA 127 (1179), UE 1 (17), MERL 1 (1), UU 1 (3) TOTAL 143 (1329)

Saturday, March 30 Beaver Mines [Day 28] 0730-2000 (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Gord Petersen and Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0730 was 2C, the high from 1300 to 1800 was 12C and it was 7C at 2000. Winds were SW-WNW 5-10 gusting 30 km/h to 1345, after which they were variable but mainly ESE-NE 5-10 gusting 15 km/h. It was mainly cloudless with trace amounts to 10% cirrus to 1900 when 10% scattered cumulus developed that became 50% at 2000. There was yet another disappointing raptor movement of only 13 birds between 0935 and 1715 that comprised 1 adult Bald Eagle, 1 adult Northern Goshawk, 1u Rough-legged Hawk and 10 Golden Eagles (7a, 2sa, 1j). Seven of the Golden Eagles moved between 0935 and 1028, and the other 3 were seen between 1540 and 1545. A non-migrant light morph Rough-legged Hawk flew low to the SW at 1530 before perching on a cottonwood tree for an hour. Other birds were also sparse and comprised 2 Canada Geese, 38 Wild Turkeys, 9 Rock Pigeons, 3 Downy Woodpeckers, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 1 Northern Flicker, 1 adult Northern Shrike, 1 Blue Jay, 14 American Crows, 21 Common Ravens, 2 Mountain Chickadees, 2 Townsend’s Solitaires, 2 American Robins, 40 European Starlings, 28 Evening Grosbeaks, 30 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches that flew high to the north at 1620, 3 Pine Siskins and 1 montanus (“Oregon”) Junco. Butterflies seen were 1 Mourning Cloak and 1 probable Green Comma.

12.5 hours (323.3) BAEA 1 (122), NOGO 1 (12), RLHA 1 (14), GOEA 10 (298) TOTAL 13 (471)

Saturday, March 30 Steeples [Day 25] 1200-1900 (Vance Mattson). It was a beautiful day with the temperature reaching 14C from a starting low of 7C, conditions were calm and cloud cover was 10-40% thin altostratus, altocumulus and cirrus. A total of 24 migrants were seen between 1225 and 1746 comprising 7 Bald Eagles (8a, 7j), 1 dark morph Red-tailed Hawk of undetermined race, morph or age, 15 Golden Eagles (8a, 7j) and 1 unidentified eagle. Six birds moved between 1300 and 1400, 10 between 1400 and 1500 and 5 between 1500 and 1600. Non-migrants were the season’s first Turkey Vultures, none of which exhibited migratory behaviour, 13 Bald Eagles (6a, 1sa, 6j) and the first resident adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk. No resident Golden Eagles were seen today.

7 hours (123.8) BAEA 7 (176), RTHA 1 (4), GOEA 15 (405), UE 1 (6) TOTAL 24 (594)

Friday, March 29 Mount Lorette [Day 27] 0715-2005 (Caroline Lambert, assisted by Patrick Farley, Patricia Farley and Doug Pederson). The temperature at 0715 was -1C, the high was 8C at 1700 and 1800 and it was 1C at 2000. Ground winds were light and variable all day with the exception of around 1500 when they gusted to 15 km/h from the S, while ridge winds were also mainly light and variable all day. Cloud cover was initially 90% cumulus, altocumulus and altostratus that gradually dwindled to 10% cirrus at 1800 before increasing to 50% cirrus and expanded contrails late in the day. Both ridge systems were initially obscured with the east clearing after 0900 and the west clear after 1100. There was a moderate raptor movement that involved only eagles between 1040 and 1940 comprising 2 adult Bald Eagles, 55 Golden Eagles (45a, 4sa, 1j, 5u) and 1 unidentified eagle. With the exception of one bird all movement was on the western route until 1720 where birds mainly soared high over Olympic Summit before gliding high to the NW behind the summit of Mount Allan, but after 1720 soaring birds were located on the eastern route over the Fisher Range or Mount Lorette. Movement was steady throughout the day but significantly increased after 1800 with 14 and 10 Golden Eagles seen between 1800 and 1900, and 1900 to 1940 respectively. A resident adult Northern Goshawk were heard calling east of the river early in the morning and 1 later hunted over the west valley, and a juvenile hunted above Hummingbird Plume Hill in the mid-afternoon; and the Golden Eagle pair was seen once, hunting against the face of Mount Bogart. Other birds in the area were 6 Canada Geese, 1 drumming Ruffed Grouse, 1  Pileated Woodpecker, 1 Northern Shrike, 1 Canada Jay, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 16 Common Ravens, 3 Black-capped Chickadees, 6 Mountain Chickadees, 3 Boreal Chickadees, 2 Red-breasted Nuthatches,  2 male Mountain Bluebirds that riskily shared the meadow with the shrike around 1500, 5 singing Varied Thrushes, 3 American Robins, 20 European Starlings, a flock of 20 Bohemian Waxwings that flew north and 7 singing Dark-eyed Juncos. Four Bighorn Sheep were on Olympic Summit and an American Mink was seen on the river bank at the site and entertained several of today’s 20 visitors.

12.58 hours (293.2) BAEA 2 (103), GOEA 55 (1052), UE 1 (16) TOTAL 58 (1186)

Friday, March 29 Beaver Mines [Day 27] 0730-2000 (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Gord Petersen and Hilary Atkinson). The starting temperature at 0730 was -1C, the high was 6.5C at 1800 and it was 2C at 2000. Winds were mainly NE 5-15 km/h in the morning that became light to 1600, after which they were light SW-SSW for the rest of the day. Cloud cover was 100-70% mainly stratocumulus and cumulus to 1730, with the exception of 1000 and 1100 when it was 30-40% cumulus and cirrus, but after 1730 the sky cleared to 40-20% cumulus, cirrostratus and expanded contrails which gave sunny conditions at the end of the day. The day started promisingly with a Sharp-shinned Hawk flying north at 0929 and 2 Golden Eagles gliding high to the north at 1048 and 1055, but a third Golden Eagle was not seen until 1510 and the only sustained movement was when 20 Golden Eagles soared high above the SW flank of the ridge between 1641 and 1742 including 8 that soared together at 1655. The last bird of the day was an adult Bald Eagle at 1841. The final count of 29 birds was 2 Bald Eagles (1a, 1j), 1a Sharp-shinned Hawk, 2a Northern Goshawks and 24 Golden Eagles (22a, 2sa). The resident pair of Golden Eagles soared above the ridge together between 1141 and 1155, and the resident juvenile perched at the top of the hill at 1545. Other birds seen were 4 Canada Geese, 2 Mallards, a flock of 60 Northern Pintails that flew high to the north at 1054, 53 Wild Turkeys, 16 Rock Pigeons, 4 Downy Woodpeckers, 1 Northern Flicker, 5 Blue Jays, 2 Black-billed Magpies, 10 American Crows, 19 Common Ravens, 2 Black-capped Chickadees, 2 Mountain Chickadees, 4 American Robins, 36 European Starlings, 21 Evening Grosbeaks, 55 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches that flew high to the north in 2 flocks at 1825 and 1845, 2 female Cassin’s Finches, 8 Pine Siskins and 8 Dark-eyed Juncos (1 hyemalis, 2 cismontanus and 5 montanus).

12.5 hours (310.8) BAEA 2 (121), SSHA 1 (3), NOGO 2 (11), GOEA 24 (288) TOTAL 29 (458)

Friday, March 29 Steeples [Day 24] 1200-1830 (Vance Mattson). The temperature reached 13C from a starting low of 7C, conditions were initially calm with light E winds developing later and 80% cumulus cloud cover at the start reduced to 20% at the end of the day. Only 3 migrants were seen between 1418 and 1757: 1 adult Bald Eagle and 2 Golden Eagles (1a, 1j). Non-migrant activity was somewhat more eventful with a resident Golden Eagle soaring high above the site from 1630 to 1641, 7 Bald Eagles (5a, 2j) that included a pair-flight and extended dueling of the juvenile birds in which an adult briefly joined in, and the first sightings of the resident pair of Northern Goshawks that chased and dived at each other at 1659. The ice was fully melted on Wasa Lake and 7 Bald Eagles (3a, 1sa and 2j) fished the lagoon and a spirited territorial battle between 2 adults was seen after which to two combatants parted the scene in opposite directions.

6.5 hours (116.8) BAEA 1 (169), GOEA 2 (290) TOTAL 3 (570)

Thursday, March 28 Mount Lorette [Day 26] 0715-2005 (Blake Weis, assisted by Rick Robb). The starting temperature was -2C, the high at 1600 and 1700 was 5C and it was 4C at the end of observation. Ground winds were N-NE 0-5 km/h to 1100, S-SW 0-5 gusting 10 km/h to 1700 and then N-NE 0-5 km/h again for the rest of the day, while ridge winds were light NW to 1100 and then W-NW light to moderate. Cloud cover was 100-90% cumulus, altocumulus and stratocumulus to 1000, variable 60-90% altostratus, altocumulus and cumulus to 1700 and then 60% altocumulus to the end. All ridges were initially obscured but gradually cleared throughout the morning and all were completely clear by 1300. Light snow fell to 1000. There was  fairly strong raptor movement of 144 birds of 4 species between 1018 and 1915 that comprised a season-high 36 Bald Eagles (26a, 3sa, 1j, 3 undifferentiated immature birds and 3u), 102 Golden Eagles (79a, 1sa, 1j, 21u), 4 unidentified eagles, the season’s first Gyrfalcon, a grey morph and 1 Prairie Falcon. With a couple of exceptions movement was exclusively on the western route from Mount Kidd to Olympic Summit and thence to the NW over Skogan Pass to 1300, after which movement was equally divided between the western and eastern routes (Fisher Range to Mount Lorette). The light winds produced much soaring flight with a maximum kettle of 7 Golden Eagles over Olympic Summit. Movement was persistent and steady to 1800 with a high hourly count of 26 (2 Bald Eagles, 22 Golden Eagles and 2 unidentified eagles) between 1500 and 1600, but 1800-1900 produced just 1 Golden Eagle and 1900-2000 just 1 Bald Eagle. A resident Northern Goshawk called early in the morning near the parking area, and later 2 probable adult males flew above the western valley with one bird performing a display flight before harassing the second bird, and the resident Golden Eagle pair were seen several times displaying and perching together in the vicinity of Olympic Summit. Other birds seen in the area were a flock of 25 Snow Geese that flew north above the Fisher Range at 1415, 6 Canada Geese, 1 drumming Ruffed Grouse, 1 Hairy Woodpecker1 Northern Flicker, 2 Pileated Woodpeckers, 2 Canada Jays, 1 American Crow, 16 Common Ravens, 4 Black-capped Chickadees, 4 Mountain Chickadees, 2 Boreal Chickadees, 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch,  4 singing Varied Thrushes, 4 American Robins, 55 Bohemian Waxwings in 3 flocks all of which flew south, 1 Common Redpoll, 4 White-winged Crossbills, the first American Tree Sparrow of the season and 7 Dark-eyed Juncos. Ten visitors were at the site today.

12.83 hours (280.6) BAEA 36 (101), GOEA 102 (997), UE 4 (15), GYRF 1 (1), PRFA 1 (1) TOTAL 144 (1128)

Thursday, March 28 Beaver Mines [Day 26] 0900-2000 (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0900 was -3C, the high at 1600 was 3C and it was 0C at 2000. Winds were light (<10 km/h) and variable to 1800 when they became light SW-W. Cloud cover was 100% stratus 1745 when it began to quickly break and by 1800 it was 30% cumulus and at 1900 it was cloudless, after which altostratus developed that reached 80% at 2000. The ridge cleared at 0900 that allowed observation to start, but snow persisted to 1150 that left 8 cm of fresh snow on the ground. There was again a disappointing and very sporadic raptor movement involving 28 birds of 3 species that moved to the north between 1304 and 1653 comprising 3 Bald Eagles (2a. 1sa), 1 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk and 24 Golden Eagles (21a, 1sa, 2j). With the exception of a juvenile Golden Eagle at 1419 all birds moved in two waves, the first of 9 birds between 1304 and 1352 and the second involving 18 birds between 1522 and 1653 that included the highest hourly count of 13 (all Golden Eagles) between 1600 and 1700. All birds soared high above the ridge before gliding to the north, with some birds disappearing into the base of the stratus cloud. Other birds seen were 33 Canada Geese, 16 Rock Pigeons, 4 Downy Woodpeckers, 2 Hairy Woodpeckers, 1 Northern Flicker, 6 Blue Jays, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 60 Common Ravens, 5 Black-capped Chickadees, 1 Mountain Chickadee, 1 Townsend’s Solitaire, 9 American Robins, 111 European Starlings, 30 Evening Grosbeaks, 1 singing Cassin’s Finch, 50 Pine Siskins and 9 Dark-eyed Juncos (1 hyemalis, 3 cismontanus and 5 montanus).

11 hours (298.3) BAEA 3 (119), RTHA 1 (7), GOEA 24 (264) TOTAL 28 (429)

Thursday, March 28 Steeples [Day 23] 1400-1830 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 9C to 10C, conditions were calm and cloud cover was 80-100% altostratus and dark cumulus. A total of 7 eagles that comprised 2 Bald Eagles (1a, 1sa), 4 Golden Eagles (3a, 1u) and 1 unidentified eagle. With the exception of the subadult Bald Eagle at 1734, all birds migrated between 1416 and 1535. Non-migrant birds were 6 Bald Eagles (3a, 1sa, 2j) that included a pair that flew west together into the valley, and three sightings of adult Golden Eagles including one that made a brief display flight.

4.5 hours (110.3) BAEA 2 (168), GOEA 4 (388), UE 1 (5) TOTAL 7 (567)