Wednesday, March 27 Mount Lorette [Day 25] 1430-1945 (Caroline Lambert). Snow, sometimes heavy, fell all day and the mountains were obscured, but Caroline arrived in the area at 1945 when it appeared that the snow was easing. She spent a couple of hours unsuccessfully searching for a clear ridge between Kananaskis Village and Lusk Creek before finally arriving at the Hay Meadow site. The temperature was 0C at 1430, reached a high of 2C at 1600 and was again 0C at 1945. Ground winds were NE-NW 0-5 gusting 10 km/h and ridge winds were also probably light. Cloud cover was 100% stratocumulus that briefly cleared to 80%, the east ridges were 100% obscured to 1800 but cleared to 80% late in the afternoon and the west was 100% obscured all day. Snow continued to fall throughout. The only migrant raptor was an unidentified eagle that glided to the north from Mount Old Baldy along the Fisher Range at 1611; an adult bird that soared low on the southern flank of Mount Allan and flew to the north was considered to be one of the resident pair. Other birds seen were 1 Black-billed Magpie, 1 Common Raven, 2 Black-capped Chickadees and 2 Mountain Chickadees and, not surprisingly, there were no visitors today.

5.25 hours (267.8) UE 1 (11) TOTAL 1 (984)

Wednesday, March 27 Beaver Mines [Day 25] 0730-1915 (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0730 was -3C, the high at 1400 was 4C and it was 0C at 1915 when heavy snow ended observation. Winds were light (5 km/h) and variable to 1330 after which they were NE-ENE 5-10 gusting up to 18 km/h. Cloud cover was 100% low stratus all morning that obscured the ridge to 1015 and produced light freezing rain to 0830. The afternoon saw 100% stratocumulus cloud except between 1630 and 1715 when it reduced to 60-80% and allowed brief sunny breaks. At 1830 thick dark stratocumulus moved from the north bringing snow that persisted to the end of observation. Despite the generally unfavourable conditions there was a slow but persistent raptor movement of 20 birds of 6 species between 1052 and 1850 that comprised 2 Bald Eagles (1a, and 1 undifferentiated immature bird that was just discernible in the snow at 1850), 2 female Northern Harriers (1a, 1j), 1 adult Sharp-shinned Hawk, 2 light morph Rough-legged Hawks the second of which moved just ahead of the advancing snow storm at 1834, 12 adult Golden Eagles 11 of which were seen between 1506 and 1705, and 1 juvenile female Prairie Falcon that flew north at 1052. Other birds seen were 49 Canada Geese, a flock of 10 Trumpeter Swans that flew high to the north at 1338, 2 Mallards, 20 Rock Pigeons, 4 Downy Woodpeckers, 2 Northern Flickers, 14 Blue Jays, 2 Black-billed Magpies, 16 American Crows, 18 Common Ravens, 4 Black-capped Chickadees, 4 Mountain Chickadees, 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch, 3 American Robins, 121 European Starlings, 20 Evening Grosbeaks and 14 Pine Siskins. Yesterday (March 26) Cornell VanRyk reported the area’s first Ferruginous Hawk this year, an adult light morph bird, at his home on the lower Castle River 10 km ENE of Beaver Mines.

11.75 hours (287.3) BAEA 2 (116), NOHA 2 (4), SSHA 1 (2), RLHA 2 (13) GOEA 12 (140), PRFA 1 (3) TOTAL 20 (401)

Wednesday, March 27 Steeples [Day 22] 1645-1830 (Vance Mattson). A Wednesday teaching commitment again prevented Vance from arriving at the site before 1645 where the temperature was 11C, conditions were calm and cloud cover was 40-80% cumulus and altostratus. No migrants were seen, but a resident and juvenile Golden Eagle were present with the juvenile soaring low near the site, and a subadult Bald Eagle was soaring when Vance arrived, but glided to the south.

1.75 hours (105.8) TOTAL 0 (560)

Tuesday, March 26 Mount Lorette [Day 24] 0735-1950 (Blake Weis, assisted by Katherine Peterson). The temperature at the start was -2C, the high was 7C at 1300 and it was 0C at the end of observation. Ground winds were S-SW all day, 0-3 km/h to 1000 then 0-5 gusting 20 km/h to 1800 after which they were 0-5 gusting 10 km/h for the rest of the day, while ridge winds were moderate SW all day. Cloud cover to 1200 was 90-30% altocumulus, altostratus, cumulus and cirrus, but by 1300 it was 100% stratocumulus that brought snow flurries. The eastern ridges were clear to 1100 but by 1500 were 100% obscured, while the west was 10% obscured to 1000, 70-80% obscured to 1400 and by 1500 it was also 100% obscured. At 1535 the observers decided to relocate to the Lusk Creek site where the ridges were clear and cloud cover was 50-70% altostratus, altocumulus and cumulus. The first 6 Golden Eagles were seen from the Hay Meadow at 0918 and a total of 112 migrants, 1 Bald Eagle, 1 Northern Goshawk and 110 Golden Eagles were seen before the move to Lusk Creek with high hourly counts of 37 Golden Eagles between 0900 and 1000, and 25 Golden Eagles between 1100 and 1200. Lusk Creek produced a further 108 migrants up to 1930 comprising 102 Golden Eagles, 5 unidentified eagles and 1 small unidentified raptor, with the 3 hours after 1600 producing 27, 25 and 38 migrants respectively. The final combined count was a season-high 220 birds that comprised 1 adult Bald Eagle, 1u Northern Goshawk, a season-high 212 Golden Eagles (53a, 1sa, 158u), 5 unidentified eagles and 1 small unidentified raptor. At Hay meadow all birds initially moved high from the Fisher Range to Mount Lorette but moved at lower elevations as the weather deteriorated. The cloud conditions produced mainly silhouetted views of the migrants that resulted in the high number of unaged Golden Eagles. Resident birds seen at Hay Meadow were 1 subadult Bald Eagle, 1 adult Northern Goshawk and 1 adult Golden Eagle, while at Lusk Creek 1u Northern Goshawk and 1 adult Golden Eagle that moved to the south were considered to be non-migrants. Other birds seen at Hay Meadow were 1 Canada Goose on the river, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 2 Canada Jays, 16 Common Ravens, 1 Black-capped Chickadee, 1 Mountain Chickadee, 1 Boreal Chickadee, 1 American Dipper, 4 singing Varied Thrushes, 5 American Robins, 4 European Starlings, 6 White-winged Crossbills, 1 Pine Siskin and 5 Dark-eyed Juncos. Only 2 visitors came to the Hay Meadow site today. Additional bird species seen at Lusk Creek were 1 Northern Pygmy-Owl that was chased away by 4 White-winged Crossbills, 2 Red-breasted Nuthatches, 1 Brown Creeper and a flock of 100 Bohemian Waxwings.

12.25 hours (262.5) BAEA 1 (65), NOGO 1 (6), GOEA 212 (895), UE 5 (10), UU 1 (2) TOTAL 220 (983)

Tuesday, March 26 Beaver Mines [Day 24] 0730-2000 (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0730 was 4C, the high was 9.5C at 1500 and it was 3C at 2000. Winds were strong WSW all day 40-50 gusting to 70 km/h, and cloud cover was mainly 40% altostratus, cumulus and cirrostratus that gave excellent observing conditions, except at 1300 and 1400 when 90% cumulus and altostratus gave occasional rain and sleet showers, and after 1900 when it was essentially cloudless. The conditions produced a moderate raptor migration of 56 birds, with a season-high 10 species moving between 0805 and 1913. The count was 6 Bald Eagles (5a, 1sa), 1u Sharp-shinned Hawk (the first of the season), 3a Northern Goshawks, a season-high 3 adult calurus Red-tailed Hawks (2 light, 1 dark), a season-high 3 Rough-legged Hawks (2 light, 1 dark), a disappointing 35 Golden Eagles (33a, 1sa, 1j), the first 2 columbarius Merlins of the season (1a female, 1u), 1 female grey morph Gyrfalcon, the first Peregrine Falcon of the season, an adult male and 1 Prairie Falcon. The first Peregrine Falcon also occurred on this date last year. Movement was again sporadic with high hourly counts of only 10 birds between 1100 and 1200, and again between 1400 and 1500. Other birds seen were 2 Canada Geese, 18 Rock Pigeons, 1 Downy Woodpecker, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 8 Blue Jays, 3 American Crows, 32 Common Ravens, 1 Black-capped Chickadee, 4 American Robins, 98 European Starlings, 37 Evening Grosbeaks and 5 Pine Siskins.

12.5 hours (275.5) BAEA 6 (114), SSHA 1 (1), NOGO 3 (9), RTHA 3 (6), RLHA 3 (11), GOEA 35 (228), MERL 2 (2), GYRF 1 (4), PEFA 1 (1), PRFA 1 (2) TOTAL 56 (381)

Tuesday, March 26 Steeples [Day 21] 1400-1900 (Vance Mattson). Initially the temperature was 9C, winds were strong S and cloud cover was 50-80% cumulus and altostratus. The ridges were obscured from 1600 to 1650 after which cloud reduced to 30% cumulus and winds became moderate S. A total of 7 Golden Eagles (4a, 1sa, 1j, 1u) migrated between 1501 and 1814 with 3 moving between 1501 and 1533 and 4 between 1756 and 1814. One non-migrant adult Bald Eagle was also seen.

5 hours (104) GOEA 7 (384) TOTAL 7 (560)

Monday, March 25 Mount Lorette [Day 23] 0715-2015 (George Halmazna, assisted by Dan and Cindy Parliament). The temperature reached 10C at 1600 and 1700 from a morning low of -2C and was 3C at 2015. Ground winds were NW-W 0-2 km/h to 1100 after which they were SW for the rest of the day, mainly 5-10 km/h but 8-15 km/h between 1400 and 1700 and again 0-2 km/h after 1700, while ridge winds were SW light to moderate. Cloud cover was 100% altostratus with minor cumulus to 1000 that diminished to 30% cumulus at 1400 and 90% thin cirrostratus formed for the last 2 hours of observation. Location of high-flying birds in the blue sky was often challenging where cloud was absent and during the last 2 hours birds could only be aged when they flew against the face of Mount Lorette. The day produced a season-high count of 217 migrant raptors between 1101 and 1942 that comprised 6 Bald Eagles (5a, 1j), 1 adult Northern Goshawk and a season-high 210 Golden Eagles (202a, 1sa, 5j, 2u). All birds moved high or very high on the eastern route above the Fisher Range ridge to Mount Lorette where a few birds soared. Migration was strong and steady throughout the migration period and peaked between 1800 and 1900 when 65 Golden Eagles were seen. Resident birds were 3 adult Bald Eagles, a pair and a single bird, and 1 adult Golden Eagle that flew south from Hummingbird Plume Hill to Olympic Summit at 1242. Other birds seen in the area were 2 Snow Geese that flew from the Fisher Range to Mount Lorette at 1658, 2 Canada Geese, 25 adult white-headed gulls of unknown species that flew high to the north, 1 Northern Flicker, 1 Pileated Woodpecker, 2 Canada Jays, 19 Common Ravens, 1 Black-capped Chickadee, 2 Mountain Chickadees, 3 Red-breasted Nuthatches, 2 Varied Thrushes, 3 American Robins, 1 American Dipper, 1 Lapland Longspur and 4 “Slate-coloured” morph Dark-eyed Juncos. Twenty-four visitors were at the site today.

12.92 (250.3) BAEA 6 (64), NOGO 1 (5), GOEA 210 (683) TOTAL 217 (763)

Monday, March 25 Beaver Mines [Day 23] 0730-2000 (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0730 was -3C, the high was 10.5C at 1500 and it was 6C at 2000. Winds were W-WSW 20-40 gusting to 55 km/h to 1700 after which they were WNW15-25 km/h and became light after 1900. Yesterday’s fog persisted to 0730 when the top of the hill became visible but by 1800 it was completely clear. Cloud cover was 10-40% cumulus to 1300, 80-100% altostratus and cumulus to 1500, 20-60% altocumulus, cumulus and cirrostratus to 1800 and 100% cirrostratus for the rest of the day, all of which gave excellent observing conditions. There was a moderately strong raptor movement of 86 birds of 5 species between 0901 and 1859 which was the highest count so far this season. The flight comprised 20 Bald Eagles (15a, 3sa, 2j), 1 adult male Northern Harrier, a season-high 3 Northern Goshawks (1a, 2u), 1 adult dark morph harlani Red-tailed Hawk and a season-high 61 adult Golden Eagles. Most birds soared high above the ridge, sometimes for extended periods, before gliding high to the N or NW. Movement was often sporadic with several raptor-free periods and the highest hourly count was 15 between 1100 and 1200 and again between 1400 and 1500. Ten Golden Eagles moved between 1806 and 1859. Other birds seen were 9 Canada Geese, 1 male Common Merganser that flew high to the NE at 1905. 27 Wild Turkeys, 12 Rock Pigeons, 3 Downy Woodpeckers, 1 Northern Flicker, 1 Pileated Woodpecker, 2 Blue Jays, 5 Black-billed Magpies, 7 American Crows, 55 Common Ravens 35 of which flew high to the SW to roost between 1700 and 1909, 3 American Robins, 50 European Starlings, 20 Evening Grosbeaks, 70 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches that flew high to the north in 2 flocks at 1217 and 1558, and 2 Pine Siskins.

12.5 hours (263) BAEA 20 (108), NOHA 1 (2) NOGO 3 (6), RTHA 1 (3), GOEA 61 (193) TOTAL 86 (325)

Monday, March 25 Steeples [Day 20] 1645-1845 (Vance Mattson). Teaching commitments again restricted observation to the late afternoon when the temperature was 12C, conditions were calm and cloud cover was 80% thin altostratus, altocumulus and cirrus. A total of 9 Golden Eagles (6a, 2j, 1u) migrated between 1652 and 1718. A resident Golden Eagle soared low in the gap and a non-migrant juvenile Bald Eagle soared high over the ridge and then high over Mount Bill Nye to the south. It was rainy and overcast in the morning but the mountains were clear by 1300 so it is probable that several birds migrated before 1645.

2 hours (99) GOEA 9 (377) TOTAL 9 (553)

Sunday, March 24 Mount Lorette [Day 22] 0715-2015 (Bill Wilson, assisted by Lori Anderson). The temperature at 0800 was 1C, the high was 4C (1400-1600) and it was 2C at the end of observation. Ground winds were NW-N but mainly NNW all day, 0-10 gusting 20 km/h except between 1500 and 1700 when they gusted to 32 km/h and ridge winds could not be assessed but were probably light to moderate and variable. Cloud cover was 100% stratus to 1200 that provided a very light snow flurry at 0900 and then reduced to 30% cumulus and altostratus at 1400 which gradually increased to 100% altostratus and cumulus by the end of the day. The eastern ridges were 100% obscured to 1200 and variably 40-90% obscured throughout the afternoon and were again 100% obscured at the end of the day; the western mountains were essentially 100% obscured all day. Despite these unpromising weather conditions there was a reasonably strong raptor movement of 76 birds between 1125 and 1735 that involved a season-high 17 Bald Eagles (11a, 2sa, 4j) 1 juvenile dark morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk and 58 Golden Eagles (52a, 1sa, 3j, 2u). Just 3 migrants were seen before 1300 but 33 eagles (9 Bald and 24 Golden) moved between 1300 and 1400 and 19 (2 Bald and 17 Golden) between 1400 and 1500 after which movement slowed but 5 Bald Eagles and 5 Golden Eagles migrated between 1700 and 1735. Movement was mainly on the western route over the western part of the valley to 1340 with many birds soaring into the base of the low cloud cover, but after 1400 all the movement was on the Fisher Range with some soaring before they glided at various altitudes to Mount Lorette. Non-migrant raptors included 5 Bald Eagles (4a, 1j) that were soaring with 4 Golden Eagles above the northern end of the Fisher Range but which were not seen to have proceeded any farther and may have settled to roost for the night; 2 sightings of adult Bald Eagles near the river; 2 sightings of hunting adult Northern Goshawks, and a resident adult Golden Eagle that hunted in front of the Fisher Range ridge. Other birds recorded in the area were 7 swans of undetermined species that flew south above the east valley, 13 Canada Geese including a flock of 10 that flew north, 2 male Mallards and 4 male American Wigeons on the river, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 1 male Pileated Woodpecker, 2 Canada Jays, 16 Common Ravens, 1 Black-capped Chickadee, 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch, 1 Varied Thrush, 1 American Robin and 70 European Starlings. Thirty-one visitors were at the site today.

13 hours (237.3) BAEA 17 (58), RTHA 1 (2), GOEA 58 (473) TOTAL 76 (546)

Sunday, March 24 Beaver Mines (Peter Sherrington) NO OBSERVATION (weather). Light snow and rain fell to mid-afternoon, the temperature ranged from 1C to -1C, and low cloud and fog obscured the ridge all day preventing any possibility of movement.

Sunday, March 24 Steeples [Day 19] 1200-1915 (Vance Mattson). The temperature at 1200 was 6C and rose to a high of 13C, it was calm mixed with light SE winds, and 60% altostratus, cumulus and altocumulus cloud cover gave mostly sunny conditions until 1630 when dark cumulus moved in from the south bringing light rain from 1640 to 1730 that slightly obscured the ridges. These quickly cleared after 1745 when calm conditions resumed. There was another strong raptor movement with 112 migrants of 4 species seen between 1226 and 1833 comprising 16 Bald Eagles (8a, 8j), 1 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk, the season’s first 2 Rough-legged Hawks (1 light morph, 1u), 92 Golden Eagles (87a, 4j, 1u) and 1 unidentified eagle. Hourly counts were 18 (1200-1300), 55 including 46 Golden Eagles (1300-1400), 18 (1400-1500), 13 (1500-1600), 3 (1600-1700), 1 (1700-1800) and 3 (1800-1833). Most of the birds moved even higher today and many moved west of the ridge and were initially spotted very high over the flank of Mount Bill Nye. Many of the birds also soared at length to impressive heights over the gap between ridges. At 1633 a gliding migrant Golden Eagle suddenly made a controlled hunting stoop, the result of which was unknown as it disappeared behind a ridge. There were three separate pair flights from non-migrant adult Bald Eagles and just one sighting of an adult resident Golden Eagle.

7.25 hours (97) BAEA 16 (166), RTHA 1 (3), RLHA 2 (2), GOEA 92 (368), UE 1 (4) TOTAL 112 (544)

Saturday, March 23 Mount Lorette [Day 21] 0735-1955 (Blake Weis, assisted by Patrick Farley). The initial temperature was -5C, the high at 1500 and 1600 was 12C and it was 7C at the end of observation. Ground winds were WSW 0-5 km/h to 1500 after which they were variable NW, N and NE 5-10 gusting 20 km/h, and ridge winds were light WSW to 1500 after which they were moderate N. Cloud cover was initially 30% cirrus that increased to 90% at 1200; it was 90% cirrus and altostratus to 1500 and then 100-80% Cirrus, altostratus and altocumulus for the rest of the day. There was a moderately strong raptor movement of 85 birds between 1005 and 1756 that comprised 6 Bald Eagles (4a, 2sa), 1u Northern Goshawk, 76 Golden Eagles (48a, 1j, 27u) and 2 unidentified eagles. The highest hourly counts were 34 between 1200 and 1300, 18 between 1300 and 1400 and 15 between 1400 and 1500 after which only another 8 migrants were seen. With the exception of 3 birds all movement was on the western route to 1430 with birds soaring high over Olympic Summit with some gliding to the NW behind Mount Allan and others gliding NW over Skogan Pass. After 1500 all birds switched to the eastern route and moved from the northern end of the Fisher Range to Mount Lorette. Non-migrant birds were an adult Northern Goshawk that hunted over Hummingbird Hill at noon, a resident adult Golden Eagle that displayed within a kettle of 9 migrant Golden Eagles over Olympic Summit at 1425, and an adult Bald Eagle that soared aimlessly over the Fisher Range late in the day. other birds in the area were 12 Canada Geese, 1 pair of Mallard, 1 drumming Ruffed Grouse, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 5 Canada Jays, 1 American Crow, 14 Common Ravens, 6 Black-capped Chickadees, 5 Mountain Chickadees, 3 Boreal Chickadees, 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch, 2 Brown Creepers, 2 American Dippers, 2 singing Varied Thrushes, 1 American Robin, 2 European Starlings, 1 Common Redpoll, 2 Pine Siskins and 4 Dark-eyed Juncos. Many of the 37 visitors coincided with the peak raptor movement today.

12.33 hours (224.3) BAEA 6 (41), NOGO 1 (4), GOEA 76 (415) UE 2 (5) TOTAL 85 (470)

Saturday, March 23 Beaver Mines [Day 22] 0730-2000 (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Gord Petersen and Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0730 was 6C, the high at 1500 was 12C and it was 7C at 2000. Winds were favourable W-WSW 30-40 gusting 50 km/h to 1800 when they became NE10-20 km/h. Cloud cover was 100% cirrostratus to 1100 that gave hazy sunshine which subsequently turned to uniform grey altostratus for the rest of the day that allowed only very hazy sunshine. Patchy cumulus cloud was developing below the stratus at the end of the day and there was very light drizzle after 1915. The winds produced a moderate raptor movement, which was the first for a week, of 55 birds of a season-high 6 species between 0931 and 1851, with a high hourly count of 17 between 1400 and 1500. The flight comprised a season-high 22 Bald Eagles (19a, 3j), the season’s first Northern Harrier, an adult male that glided high to the NW at 1439, 1 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk, 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk, 28 adult Golden Eagles and 2 grey morph Gyrfalcons (1 adult female and 1u). Other birds seen were 34 Canada Geese that flew to the SW in 4 flocks between 1802 and 1918, a pair of Mallard, 1 female Common Merganser that flew high to the NE at 1030. 58 Wild Turkeys, 20 Rock Pigeons, 2 Downy Woodpeckers, 8 Blue Jays, 2 Clark’s Nutcrackers, 6 Black-billed Magpies, 11 American Crows, 26 Common Ravens, 2 Black-capped Chickadees, 1 Mountain Chickadee, 3 American Robins, 200 European Starlings, 55 Evening Grosbeaks, 115 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches, the first of the season, that flew high to the north in 3 flocks between 0904 and 1003, and 8 Pine Siskins.

12.5 hours (250.5) BAEA 22 (88), NOHA 1 (1), RTHA 1 (2), RLHA 1 (8), GOEA 28 (132), GYRF 2 (3) TOTAL 55 (239)

Saturday, March 23 Steeples [Day 18] 1130-1930 (Vance Mattson, assisted by Virginia Rasch). The temperature rose to a high of 14C from a low of 4C, winds were variable and light or calm and cloud cover was 100% thin altostratus that reduced to 20% at the end of the day that greatly assisted the two observers. The 152 raptors counted between 1144 and 1851 is a new spring site record behind the previous record of 133 on March 17, 2017. The flight comprised 26 Bald Eagles (8a, 1sa, 17j) which is the highest count so far this season, and 126 Golden Eagles (124a, 1j, 1u) which is the second-highest spring count ever at the site, the highest being 133 on March 17, 2017. Only 4 eagles moved before 1300, 14 were seen in the following hour, but 1400 to 1500 saw the passage of 59 eagles including 55 Golden Eagles. The next 2 hours saw 19 and 17 eagles respectively, 24 were seen between 1700 and 1800 and 15 between 1800 and 1851 that included 10 Bald Eagles, 9 of which were juveniles. In contrast to the previous week, movement today was generally fast, steady and high with extended soaring occurring only later in the day. Non-migrants were also plentiful, especially Bald Eagles (5a, 7j), but resident adult Golden Eagles were seen only twice, including one that perched high on the snow-covered peak of the front face of Mount Bill Nye.

8 hours (89.75) BAEA 26 (150), GOEA 126 (276) TOTAL 152 (432)