Sunday, March 17 Mount Lorette [Day 15] 0715-2015 (Bill Wilson, assisted by Lori Anderson and Rosemary Power). The temperature at 0800 was -8C, the high between 1600 and 1800 was 8C and it was 0C at the end of observation. Ground winds were variable 0-3 km/h to 1000, SE-NE 0-12 km/h to 1400 then SW-W 10-20 km/h for the rest of the day, while ridge winds were probably light to moderate SW throughout. It was essentially cloudless with traces of altocumulus cloud all day with the exceptions of 1200 when 50% cumulus developed and 1300 when there was 30% cumulus. The count was almost exactly the same as yesterday’s with total of 37 eagles that comprised 2 Bald Eagles (1adult and 1 late subadult) and 35 Golden Eagles (29a, 3sa, 3j, 1u) that moved between 1117 and 1927. By 1700 only 8 Golden Eagles had been recorded but 11 were counted between 1700 and 1800, 8 between 1800 and 1900 and 8 between 1900 and 1927. With the exception of 1 Golden Eagle that flew high to the NW above the centre of the valley, all birds glided high from the northern end of the Fisher Range to Mount Lorette where they moved to the NW against the face of the mountain. A resident adult Golden Eagle perched and hunted on Mount Lorette, and possibly the same bird flew high from the centre of the valley to Mount Allan later in the day. A Northern Goshawk called from the nest-site near the parking area early in the morning and an adult was also seen hunting north of the site. Other birds seen were 1 Canada Goose on the river, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 1 Pileated Woodpecker, 3 Canada Jays, 25 Common Ravens, 3 Black-capped Chickadees, 1 Mountain Chickadee, 3 Boreal Chickadees, 1 American Robin (the first of the season), 2 Common Redpolls, 20 White-winged Crossbills and 1 male Red-winged Blackbird. A season high total of 71 visitors were at the site today.

13 hours (151.6) BAEA 2 (16), GOEA 35 (112) TOTAL 37 (129)

Sunday, March 17 Beaver Mines [Day 16] 0730-1900 (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Hilary Atkinson). The temperature was 0C at 0730, dropped to -1.5C at 0800 but reached a high of 8C at 1600 and was still 4C at the end of observation. Winds were light all day, mainly NE and ESE and it was essentially cloudless with just occasional traces of altocumulus cloud. The light easterly winds produced only 2 adult Bald Eagles, 1 at 1438 and 1 at 1806 and it is probable that raptors were migrating farther to the west where the mountains were completely clear to the Continental Divide. No resident raptors were seen. Clear skies overnight led to an exodus of many of the birds that had been wintering here which produced a strangely quiet day in the sunshine. The other birds seen were 2 Canada Geese that flew to the SW at 0832, 2 Rock Pigeons, 3 Downy Woodpeckers, 1 male Northern [Red-shafted] Flicker, 6 Blue Jays, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 12 Common Ravens, 2 Black-capped Chickadees, 4 Mountain Chickadee, 5 European Starlings, 10 Evening Grosbeaks, 1 Common Redpoll, 5 Pine Siskins and 1 Dark-eyed [hyemalis] Junco.

11.5 hours (177.8) BAEA 2 (62) TOTAL 2 (175)

Sunday, March 17 Steeples [Day 12] 1145-1845 (Vance Mattson). The temperature at 1145 was 2C but rose to a high of 11C, winds were occasionally light N but mainly calm and it was cloudless all day. The conditions produced a season-high count of 38 migrants that comprised a season-high 13 Bald Eagles (6a, 2sa, 5j) and 24 Golden Eagles (19a, 4j, 1u) and 1 unidentified eagle that moved between 1328 and 1819. Six eagles were seen before 1400 then 11, 7 and 11 in each of the next three hours, and 3 between 1800 and 1819. Movement was low to 1600 after which it was very high. Also seen were 2 non-migratory adult Bald Eagles, 1 adult resident Golden Eagle and 5 sightings of the resident juvenile Golden Eagle including it perching between 1730 and 1800 on a rocky outcrop near the site.

7 hours (57.75) BAEA 13 (41), GOEA 24 (82), UE 1 (2) TOTAL 38 (125)

Saturday, March 16 Mount Lorette [Day 14] 0750-1930 (Blake Weis, assisted by Ruth Morrow). The starting temperature was -9C, the high was 7C at 1700 and 1800 and was 4C at 1930. Ground winds were W-SW 0-5 km/h to 1300 after which they were WSW 5-10 gusting to 26 km/h, while ridge winds were moderate SW to 1300 and then SW moderate to strong. Cloud cover was 30% cirrus to 1000 and then 50-100% cirrus, altocumulus, altostratus and lenticular cloud for the rest of the day. All ridges were clear. A season-high total of 37 eagles were counted between 1025 and 1846 comprising 1 adult Bald Eagle and 36 Golden Eagles (29a, 1sa, 1u) which is the highest count for the site so far this season. Only 3 birds were seen before 1400 after which movement became steady with 9, 8 and 8 eagles migrating in each of the next 3 hours. All the movement was on the eastern ridge system with most birds kiting high above the northern end of the Fisher Range before gliding high to Mount Lorette. Two resident adult Northern Goshawks flew low to the south over the site at 1127 and 1128, and an assumed non-migrant adult Bald Eagle flew high from Olympic Summit to the east above the Fisher Range. Other birds in the area were 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 2 Canada Jays, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 5 Clark’s Nutcrackers, 12 Common Ravens, 7 Black-capped Chickadees, 4 Mountain Chickadees, 2 Red-breasted Nuthatches, 1 American Dipper, 25 Bohemian Waxwings, 2 Common Redpolls and 3 White-winged Crossbills. There was no shortage of company with 29 visitors making it to the site today.

11.67 hours (138.6) BAEA 1 (14), GOEA 36 (77) TOTAL 37 (92)

Saturday, March 16 Beaver Mines [Day 15] 0730-1930 (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Hilary Atkinson). For the first time this season the starting temperature at 0730 was above freezing (1C) although it dropped to 0C at 0800 before reaching a season high of 8C at 1700 and was still 4C at 2000. Winds were moderate W all day 20-30 gusting 40 km/h and cloud cover was 100-60% thin cirrostratus and altocumulus in the morning, with 100% grey uniform altostratus cover for the rest of the day that gave hazy sunshine. There was a very disappointing movement of only 5 raptors between the first Golden Eagle at 0836 and an adult Bald Eagle at 1541. The paltry fare comprised 2 adult Bald Eagles, 1 adult Northern Goshawk and 2 adult Golden Eagles with 9 hourly counts producing no birds at all. Single birds of the resident Golden Eagle family (2a and 1j) were seen hunting over the ridge on four occasions. Other birds seen were also fewer today and comprised 8 Rock Pigeons, 3 Downy Woodpeckers, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 1 male Northern [Red-shafted] Flicker, 6 Blue Jays, 16 Black-billed Magpies, 18 American Crows, 36 Common Ravens, 4 Black-capped Chickadees, 1 Mountain Chickadee, 5 European Starlings, 45 Evening Grosbeaks, 4 Common Redpolls, 12 Pine Siskins and 2 Dark-eyed Juncos (1 hyemalis and 1 montanus).

12.5 hours (166.3) BAEA 2 (60) NOGO 1 (2), GOEA 2 (102) TOTAL 5 (173)

Saturday, March 16 Steeples [Day 11] 1130-1700 (Vance Mattson, assisted by Virginia Rasch and Penny Ohanjanian). Observation was from the usual Mount Bill Nye site where the temperature rose to 6C from a low of 1C, conditions were mainly calm and cloud cover was 100% thin altostratus that reduced to 40% thin altostratus and cumulus. A total of 16 migrants, 8 adult Bald Eagles, 7 adult Golden Eagles and 1 unidentified eagle, were seen between 1245 and 1708, with 13 of the birds moving between 1500 and 1700. The first migrant, a Golden Eagle, perched for 25 minutes on the ridge before finally flying to the north, and the calm conditions produced much slow soaring and low flight. Many resident or non-migrant birds were seen comprising 4 adult and 1 late subadult Bald Eagles, and single adult resident Golden Eagles were seen on 7 occasions and the juvenile twice.

7 hours (50.75) BAEA 8 (28), GOEA 7 (58), UE 1 (1) TOTAL 16 (87)

Friday, March 15 Mount Lorette [Day 13] 0805-2005 (Caroline Lambert, assisted by Rick Robb). The starting temperature was -4C, the high was 5C at 1600 and it was 1C at the end of observation. Ground winds were 0-5 gusting 20 km/h, variable to 1400 then SW to 1800 and finally 0-5 km/h for the rest of the day, while ridge winds were moderate NW all day. Cloud cover was initially 80% cirrus and stratus that became 70-60% cumulus and stratus between 1000 and 1300 after which it gradually diminished to 20% cumulus and cirrus by 2000. The eastern ridges were clear all day, and the west was 40% obscured to 1100 after which it was also clear. The conditions produced a season-high count of 23 eagles between 1217 and 1614 that comprised 2 Bald Eagles (1a, 1sa) and a season-high count of 21 Golden Eagles (18a, 3u). The birds moved steadily with hourly high counts of 6 between 1217 and 1300 and 7 between 1400 and 1500. Up to 1300 the birds were initially located over Mount Lorette having presumably originated in the Wasootch Creek area, but subsequently they glided from the northern end of the Fisher Range to Mount Lorette with only occasional soaring flight. A resident adult Northern Goshawk was also seen on a couple of occasions hunting near the site. Other birds seen were 2 Hairy Woodpeckers, 1 Pileated Woodpecker, 5 Canada Jays, 8 Common Ravens, 6 Black-capped Chickadees, 5 Mountain Chickadees, 4 Boreal Chickadees, 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch, 8 Common Redpolls and 5 White-winged Crossbills. Six visitors were at the site today.

11.67 hours (126.9) BAEA 2 (13), GOEA 21 (41) TOTAL 23 (55)

Friday, March 15 Beaver Mines [Day 14] 0730-1930 (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0730 was -2C the high at 1600 was a season high 5C and it was 2C at 1930. Winds were again W-WSW all day, 30-40 gusting 50 km/h that moderated to 20-30 km/h after 1800. Cloud cover was 100% altostratus to 1200 and the afternoon saw 60-100% altostratus, cumulus and altocumulus that provided extended sunny periods. The day started encouragingly with single Golden Eagles moving NW at 0858 and 0859, but the next raptors, two Bald Eagles, were not seen until 1100 and the 3^rd Golden Eagle did not appear until 1241. Movement was then sporadic throughout the afternoon despite apparently ideal migration conditions and it was only between 1706 and 1747 when 8 of the day’s 24 migrants were counted that there was any sustained movement. The final count was 10 Bald Eagles (9a, 1sa), 1 adult Northern Goshawk, the first of the season that flew N with the subadult Bald Eagle at 1532, and 13 Golden Eagles (10a, 2sa, 1j). An adult resident Golden Eagle soared briefly on the ridge at 1810. Other birds seen were 10 Rock Pigeons, 3 Downy Woodpeckers, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 1 male Northern [Red-shafted] Flicker, 4 Blue Jays, 2 Clark’s Nutcrackers, 18 American Crows that flew to the SW at 1816, 45 Common Ravens only 5 of which flew to roost between 1807 and 1914, 4 Black-capped Chickadees, 2 Mountain Chickadee, 2 European Starlings inspecting possible nest sites, 40 Evening Grosbeaks, 6 Common Redpolls, 50 Pine Siskins, 3 Dark-eyed Juncos (2 hyemalis and 1 montanus) and 3 male Red-winged Blackbirds.

12 hours (153.8) BAEA 10 (58), NOGO 1 (1) GOEA 13 (100) TOTAL 24 (168)

Friday, March 15 Steeples [Day 10] 1130-1700 (Vance Mattson, assisted by Andrena Heigh). Observation today was from the South Lakit site where the temperature was initially 2C but by 1600 it was 9C and caused significant snow melt. Winds were light SW but became calm after 1600 and cloud cover was 60% altostratus and cumulus that reduced to 30% cumulus after 1600. A total of 15 migrants were counted between 1149 and 1530 comprising 3 Bald Eagles (2a, 1j) and 12 adult Golden Eagles. The resident pair of Golden Eagles were visible nearly the entire day with extended soaring, hunting and a minor display flight by one of the birds. Six non-migrant adult Bald Eagles were also present with a pair-flight seen at 1408.

5.5 hours (43.75) BAEA 3 (20), GOEA 12 (51) TOTAL 15 (71)

Thursday, March 14 Mount Lorette [Day 12] 0805-2005 (Cliff Hansen, assisted by Heinz Unger and Eric Langshaw). The starting temperature was -18C, the high at 1500 was 2C and it was 0C at the end of observation. Ground winds were SW all day, light (<5 km/h) to 1400 then 5-10 gusting 25 km/h to 1800 after which gusts ceased, while ridge winds were moderate to strong SW all day. It was cloudless to 1100 when 100% thin cirrostratus developed that reduced to 30% with cumulus and altocumulus from 1600 to the end of the day. Observing and migration conditions were excellent throughout the afternoon and a season high 12 migrant raptors were counted between 1448 and 1659 all of which moved from the northern end of the Fisher Range to Mount Lorette. The flight comprised 1 adult Bald Eagle, 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk (the first for the season) and 10 adult Golden Eagles, 8 of which were recorded between 1600 and 1659. A non-migrant adult Bald Eagle also moved to the south above the Fisher Range. Other birds recorded were 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 2 Canada Jays, 9 Common Ravens, 20 Mountain Chickadees and the season’s first Red-winged Blackbird, a singing male. Fresh Canada Lynx tracks were again seen, and there were 3 human visitors to the site.

12 hours (115.3) BAEA 1 (11), RLHA 1 (1), GOEA 10 (20) TOTAL 12 (32)

Thursday, March 14 Beaver Mines [Day 13] 0730-1930 (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0730 was -5C, the high at 1400 and again at 1600 was 2C and it was -1C at 1930. Winds were WNW 15-20 km/h to 0950 after which they were W-WSW for the rest of the day 20-40 gusting to 60 km/h. It was cloudless to 1050 when cumulus cloud started to develop that became 40-100% altostratus to 1630 after which it was again cloudless with minor cirrus after 1900. Both migration and, with the exception of blowing snow, observing conditions were excellent throughout and allowed a season high total of 64 migrants to be counted between 0901 and 1856. The count comprised 15 Bald Eagles (12a, 3j), 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk and a season high 48 Golden Eagles (45a, 3j). Birds moved steadily all day with a maximum hourly count of 16 (10 Golden Eagles) between 1300 and 1400, and 13 birds (10 Golden Eagles) moved between 1800 and 1856. The resident juvenile Golden Eagle soared briefly close to the ridge at 1803. This first significant movement of the season coincides with last year’s first significant movement when 61 migrants (41 Golden Eagles) were counted on March 14. Other birds in the area were 30 Mallards that flew to the NE at 1751, 8 Rock Pigeons, 2 Downy Woodpeckers, 1 male Northern [Red-shafted] Flicker, 8 Blue Jays, 1 American Crow, 44 Common Ravens 23 of which to the SW to roost between 1828 and 1914, 3 Black-capped Chickadees, 1 Mountain Chickadee, 5 European Starlings,  30 Bohemian Waxwings, 45 Evening Grosbeaks, 6 Common Redpolls, 100 Pine Siskins, 4 Dark-eyed Juncos (2 hyemalis and 2 montanus) and 3 male Red-winged Blackbirds.

12 hours (141.8) BAEA 15 (48), RLHA 1 (6), GOEA 48 (87) TOTAL 64 (144)

Thursday, March 14 Steeples [Day 9] 1300-1700 (Vance Mattson). The temperature reached a high of 4C from a starting temperature of -1C, winds were moderate S, and 20-70% thin altostratus and cumulus cloud gave mostly sunny skies with excellent observing conditions. A season high 32 eagles glided north between 1332 and 1818, 26 of which were seen after 1600 including 13 between 1700 and 1800. The flight was 5 Bald Eagles (4a, 1j) and a season high 27 Golden Eagles (23a, 3j, 1u). Non-migrants were 4 adult Bald Eagles including a pair-flight at 1732, and a juvenile Golden Eagle that hunted above the ridge at 1845 and then moved south.

6 hours (38.25) BAEA 5 (17), GOEA 27 (39) TOTAL 32 (56)

Wednesday, March 13 Mount Lorette [Day 11] 0900-1940 (Caroline Lambert, assisted by Brian McBride). The temperature at 0900 was -8C, the high at 1500 and 1600 was 1C and it was -1C at the end of observation. Ground winds were SW 0-5 km/h all day with the exception of 1700-1730 when they were N 5-10 km/h during a brief snow shower, and ridge winds were light SW all day. Cloud cover was 100% stratocumulus to 1400 after which it was 70-90% stratus. The east ridges were variably obscured 20-100% all day only completely clearing around 1300, and the west was 80-100% obscured all day. Conditions were not conducive for migration and the only migrant seen was an adult Golden Eagle that moved north along the Fisher Range at 1741. Other birds seen were a Pileated Woodpecker, 3 Canada Jays, 1 Common Raven, 1 Mountain Chickadee, 3 Boreal Chickadees, 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch, 1 Brown Creeper, 1 American Dipper, 75 Common Redpolls and 3 White-winged Crossbills. A set of fresh Canada Lynx tracks were seen next to the tracks of a Snowshoe Hare that was obviously running at high speed! There were 9 visitors at the site today.

10.67 hours (103.3) GOEA 1 (10), TOTAL 1 (20)

Wednesday, March 13 Beaver Mines [Day 12] 1000-1945 (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0800 was -4C but steady snowfall that completely obscured the ridge meant that observation did not begin until 1000 when the ridge cleared and the temperature was -2C. Snow resumed at 1020 and only finally stopped at 1200 leaving 17 cm of fresh snow on the ground but the ridge remained clear for the rest of the day. The temperature high was 1C at 1300 and it was -3C at 1945. Winds were variable all day with a velocity of only 0-5 km/h, and cloud cover was 100% stratus to 1900 when it reduced to 80% cumulus and quickly cleared to 20% cumulus at the end of the day. The light winds produced a paltry raptor count of 3 eagles with adult Golden Eagles moving at 1250 and 1639 and an adult Bald Eagle at 1928. A resident juvenile Golden Eagle perched on a Douglas Fir near the top of the ridge between 1630 and 1715, and an adult Bald Eagle perched in a similar position between 1550 and 1750. Other birds in the area were 26 Canada Geese that flew high to the N at 1646, 8 Rock Pigeons, 4 Downy Woodpeckers, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 1 Northern [Red-shafted] Flicker, 1 first winter Northern Shrike that caught and carried away a hyemalis Dark-eyed Junco at 1624,  1 Canada Jay, 8 Blue Jays, 6 Black-billed Magpies, 123 Common Ravens 101 of which flew high to the SW to roost between 1815 and 1847, 8 Black-capped Chickadees, 6 Mountain Chickadees, 2 European Starlings,  a flock of 200 Bohemian Waxwings that flew high to the SW at 1839, 60 Evening Grosbeaks, 30 Common Redpolls, 120 Pine Siskins, 8 Dark-eyed Juncos (5 hyamalis and 3 montanus) and 1 male Red-winged Blackbird.

9.75 hours (129.8) BAEA 1 (33), GOEA 2 (39) TOTAL 3 (80)

Wednesday, March 13 Steeples [Day 8] 1630-1800 (Vance Mattson). It was a cloudy day but started to clear in the late afternoon but when Vance arrived at the site the ridges were still partially obscured. The temperature was 5C, conditions were calm and cloud cover was 90% cumulus and stratus. No migrant nor resident raptors were seen.

1.5 hours (32.25) TOTAL 0 (24)