Thursday, March 7 Mount Lorette [Day 6] 0750-1740 (Blake Weis, assisted by Lori Anderson). The starting temperature was -11C, the high was 2C (1400-1600) and it was -1C at the end of observation. Ground winds were W-SW 0-5 km/h to 1000, 5-10 gusting 20 km/h to 1400 then 5-10 gusting to 33 km/h for the rest of the day. Ridge winds were W-SW all day, moderate to 1000, moderate to strong to 1400 and strong thereafter. Cloud cover was altostratus, altocumulus and cumulus all day, initially 50%, 70% from 1100 to 1300, 40% at 1500 and 70% after 1600. There were persistent light snow flurries after 1100 but the eastern ridges were only 10% obscured between 1300 and 1400, and the west 20% obscured after 1700. The only migrant raptor was an adult Bald Eagle that flew north from the Fisher Range at 1548, and a resident unaged Northern Goshawk was seen over Hummingbird Hill at 1640. Other birds seen were a single Canada Goose at Lorette Ponds, a female American Three-toed Woodpecker at the parking area, 2 Canada Jays, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 8 Common Ravens, 6 Black-capped Chickadees, 4 Mountain Chickadees, 4 Boreal Chickadees, 2 Red-breasted Nuthatches, 2 Common Redpolls and 15 White-winged Crossbills. Four visitors made it to the site.

9.67 hours (52.41) BAEA 1 (2) TOTAL 1 (2)

Thursday, March 7 Beaver Mines [Day 6] 0700-1815 (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Hilary Atkinson). At 0700 the temperature was -14C, the high was 1C at 1100 and was 0.5C until 1300, which is the first time the temperature has risen above freezing here for 33 days, and it was -4C at 1815. Winds were W-WSW all day, light until 1000 then 30-45 gusting 50-65 for the rest of the day. Cloud cover was initially 80% altocumulus and cumulus that gradually reduced to 20% cumulus at 1200 and 1300. Light snow flurries started at 1100 but between 1315 and 1445 heavy snow swept from the SW and obscured the ridge after which cloud cover varied between 10 and 50% cumulus and altocumulus for the rest of the day. The Continental Divide to the SW was completely obscured all day. There was finally a slow but persistent raptor migration of 11 birds between 1022 and 1724 comprising 4 adult Bald Eagles, 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk and 6 adult Golden Eagles with all birds gliding high to the NW or N from the Big Hill. Other birds seen were 2 Canada Geese that flew to the SW at 1702, 9 Rock Pigeons, 3 Downy Woodpeckers, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 6 Blue Jays, 2 Black-billed Magpies, 28 Common Ravens, that included a meagre roosting movement of 17 birds between 1540 and 1615, 4 Black-capped Chickadees, 4 Mountain Chickadees, 9 Evening Grosbeaks, 16 Common Redpolls, 50 Pine Siskins and 6 Dark-eyed Juncos (3 hyamelis and 3 montanus).

11.25 hours (66.25) BAEA 4 (5), RLHA 1 (3), GOEA 6 (7) TOTAL 11 (15)

Thursday, March 7 Steeples [Day 4] 1400-1630 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 3C, winds were strong S and 60-80% cumulus cloud cover provided partly sunny conditions. No migrant or resident raptors were seen.

2.5 hours (13.5) TOTAL 0 (0)

Wednesday, March 6 Mount Lorette [Day 5] 0750-1740 (Caroline Lambert, assisted by Rosemary Power). The temperature at 0750 was -24C, the high at 1500 was -6C and it was -9C at the end of observation. Ground winds were light and variable in the morning and NE-N 5-10 gusting 20 km/h throughout the afternoon and ridge winds were probably moderate NE. Cloud cover was 80-90% cirrostratus and altostratus to noon when it quickly cleared to 10% after which it steadily increased throughout the afternoon reaching 60% cumulus and cirrostratus at 1400 and 100% by 1700. The ridges were clear all day but no migrant or resident raptors were seen. Other bird species in the area were 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 6 Canada Jays, 4 Black-capped Chickadees, 4 Mountain Chickadees, 3 Boreal Chickadees and 8 White-winged Crossbills. Five visitors made it to the site today.

9.83 hours (42.74) TOTAL 0 (1)

Wednesday, March 6 Beaver Mines [Day 5] 0730-1830 (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0730 was -17C, the high was -12C (1100-1500) and it was -14.5C at 1830. Winds were again mainly light, W-NE to 1300 and then E-ESE for the rest of the day. Cloud cover was 100% stratus for most of the day that produced light to moderate snow and occasional freezing rain, apart from 1340-1410 when the snow stopped and cloud cover was briefly 100% altostratus and cumulus with small patches of blue sky. Once again migration conditions were poor and the only migrant raptor was a light morph Rough-legged Hawk at 1716. At 1747 a non-migrant juvenile Bald Eagle flapped low from the NE and roosted in a tree low on the NE flank of the ridge. Other birds seen were 2 Rock Pigeons, 4 Downy Woodpeckers, 15 Blue Jays, 17 Black-billed Magpies, 51 Common Ravens, 48 of which flew high towards the SW to roost between 1646 and 1759, 8 Black-capped Chickadees, 3 Mountain Chickadees, 7 Bohemian Waxwings, 40 Evening Grosbeaks, 14 Common Redpolls, 60 Pine Siskins and 8 Dark-eyed Juncos (3 hyamelis, 2 cismontanus and 3 montanus).

11 hours (55) RLHA 1 (2) TOTAL 1 (4)

Wednesday, March 6 Steeples (Vance Mattson). NO OBSERVATION.

Tuesday, March 5 Mount Lorette [Day 4] 0830-1745 (Blake Weis, assisted by Katherine Peterson). Most of the day was spent in the Hay Meadow but for the last half-hour observation was from the Mount Allan viewpoint. The starting temperature was -19C the high was a pleasant -2C at 1500 and it was -4C at the end of observation. Ground winds were SW 0-3 gusting 10 km/h to 1100, then variable 0-5 km/h to 1300 and finally NNW-NE 5-10 gusting to 28 km/h for the rest of the day. Ridge winds probably reflected the ground winds but were difficult to assess as the sky was again cloudless all day with traces of cirrus developing after 1500. No migrant or resident raptors were seen, but other birds present were 6 Canada Jays, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 8 Common Ravens, 2 Black-capped Chickadees, 1 Mountain Chickadee, 2 Boreal Chickadees, 2 Brown Creepers, 2 Common Redpolls and 1 Pine Siskin. Ten Bighorn Sheep were seen on Olympic Summit, and there were 9 visitors to the site.

9.25 hours (32.91) TOTAL 0 (1)

Tuesday, March 5 Beaver Mines [Day 4] 0730-1830 (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0730 was -20C the high at 1400 was -6.5C and it was -13C at 1830. Winds were generally light all day, WNW to 1300 and mainly E-SE for the rest of the day. It was cloudless in the morning after which cirrus and altostratus cloud developed to the south which gradually increased during the afternoon and reached 100% at 1700 before breaking to 70% altocumulus at 1830. Despite the excellent observing conditions the light winds again proved inimical to raptor migration and once again none were seen. An adult Bald Eagle that perched in the morning for an hour and a half on a Douglas Fir on the NE flank of the ridge was probably the same bird that was seen yesterday at 1813, and was seen again perched in a cottonwood at the SW end of Beaver Mines at 1615 before flying low to the NE at 1638. A resident adult Golden Eagle soared briefly above the Big Hill at 1112 before perching near the summit, and was not seen again. The flock of 9 American Crows today appeared from the NE at 1746 and for 14 minutes moved high above the Hill in a tight group moving repeatedly to the SW then back to the NE. This “dance” was repeated about a dozen times with each leg becoming progressively shorter until they final descended vertically to roost in trees on the summit at 1800. Other birds seen were 5 Canada Geese, the first of the season, that flew above the valley to the SW at 1744, 4 Downy Woodpeckers, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 6 Blue Jays, 5 Black-billed Magpies, 47 Common Ravens of which 40 flew high towards the SW to roost between 1700 and 1804, 8 Black-capped Chickadees, 6 Mountain Chickadees, 12 Evening Grosbeaks, 10 Common Redpolls, 17 Pine Siskins and 5 Dark-eyed Juncos (3 hyamelis and 2 montanus).

11 hours (44) TOTAL 0 (3)

Tuesday, March 5 Steeples [Day 3] 1300-1630 (Vance Mattson). The temperature reached -2C under sunny calm conditions with 30-50% thin altostratus and altocumulus cloud cover. No migrants were seen, and an adult Golden Eagle that soared above the flank of Mount Bill Nye and which later moved to the north above the ridge was considered to be a resident.

3.5 hours (11) TOTAL 0 (0)

Monday, March 4 Mount Lorette [Day 3] 0955-1745 (George Halmazna, assisted by Dan Parliament). The temperature was -19C at 0800, the high was a balmy -2C at 1500 and it was -4C at the end of observation. It was essentially calm during the morning but winds became E 2-10 km/h to 1500 after which they were NE 3-4 km/h for the rest of the day. Upper winds were probably also light but the direction could not be determined as the sky was again cloudless all day. No migrants were seen and the only raptor recorded was a resident adult Northern Goshawk at 1032. Other birds recorded were 1 American Three-toed Woodpecker, 2 Canada Jays, 3 Common Ravens, 2 Black-capped Chickadees, 4 Mountain Chickadees, 2 Red-breasted Nuthatches, 1 American Dipper and 10 Pine Siskins. The highlight of the day, however, was a Grey Wolf that crossed the Kananaskis River towards the east, just north of the site at 1625, and 2 Bighorn Sheep were also seen on Mount Allan. There were 5 visitors to the site today.

7.83 hours (23.66) TOTAL 0 (1)

Monday, March 4 Beaver Mines [Day 3] 0730-1845 (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0730 was -27C, but rose to a high of -8C at 1300 and 1400 and was -16C at 1845. Winds in the morning were W-WNW 10-20 km/h but were light and variable in the afternoon. It was again completely cloudless all day. No migrant raptors were seen but a juvenile Golden Eagle perched on a pole to the NE of the ridge in the late morning and at 1134 an adult made a low-level, low-intensity display flight near the perched bird before flying off to the NE. The juvenile also flew to the NE at 1146. What was probably the same adult bird flew from the top of the ridge to the SE at 1236. An adult Bald Eagle flew low along the valley towards the SW at 1813. Other birds seen were 4 Downy Woodpeckers, 2 Red-shafted Flickers, 13 Blue Jays, 4 Clark’s Nutcrackers, 5 Black-billed Magpies, a flock of 9 American Crows, 32 Common Ravens with only 26 flying high towards the SW to roost between 1600 and 1820, 6 Black-capped Chickadees, 6 Mountain Chickadees, 6 Evening Grosbeaks, 12 Common Redpolls, 26 Pine Siskins and 7 Dark-eyed Juncos (3 hyamelis, 1 cismontanusand 3 montanus). As yesterday the flock of American Crows flew high from the NE, circled high above the Big Hill for several minutes before descending to the trees at the top of the hill to roost at 1730, exactly the same time as yesterday!

11.25 hours (33) TOTAL 0 (3)

Monday, March 4 Steeples (Vance Mattson). NO OBSERVATION. Because of teaching commitments Vance will generally be unable to observe on Mondays and Wednesdays this season.

MOUNT LORETTE, BEAVER MINES and STEEPLES RAPTOR COUNTS

SPRING 2019

www.eaglewatch.ca

PETER SHERRINGTON

Introduction 2019 is the 28th consecutive year that a spring raptor count has been conducted at the Mount Lorette site. In 1992 an eight-day reconnaissance count starting on March 20 at the site established that Golden Eagles moved to the northwest in significant numbers through the Rocky Mountain Front Ranges. Most of the birds moved along the Fisher Range, crossing the Kananaskis Valley to Mount Lorette before continuing their migration to the northwest. A 48 day (393 hour) count at the site in the spring of 1993 yielded 4140 migrating Golden Eagles and the following year a seventy day (649 hour) count produced 4213 birds which remains the highest spring count ever for the species at Mount Lorette. Between 1994 and 2007 extensive spring counts averaging 82 days (897 hours) were conducted at the site with a maximum count in 2005 of 94 days (1238 hours). Despite the steady increase in observer effort during this period, the number of migrating Golden Eagles counted has steadily and significantly decreased since 1995. In 2006 RMERF conducted it first complete fall count at the Piitaistakis-South Livingstone site near the Crowsnest Pass in SW Alberta and in 2008-10 also conducted full spring counts there. During this period extensive comparative counts were made at Mount Lorette between March 1 and April 15 which is coincident with the height of the Golden Eagle migration and during which period over 90% of the population moves north. Observer effort from 2008-10 at Mount Lorette averaged 43 days (487 hours) with a maximum count of 46 days (519 hours) in 2010 when no days were lost to inclement weather. In 2011 and subsequent years the count period was extended by 1 week (March 1 to April 22) and we will use the same period this spring.

Last year’s (2018) spring count saw a combined species passage of 2715 birds that included a Golden Eagle count of 2390. The March combined species count of 1794 represented 66.1% of the total count and was 18.1% below average, while April’s count of 596 was 34.9% above average and represented 33.9% of the count.  The maximum Golden Eagle count was 307 on March 25 and 6 other days had counts exceeding 100 birds. Bald Eagles (216) and Sharp-shinned Hawks (25) were close to average counts; 4 species were above average: Osprey (3), Broad-winged Hawk (3), American Kestrel (2) and Gyrfalcon (7), while 9 species occurred in below-average numbers: Northern Harrier (1), Cooper’s Hawk (2), Northern Goshawk (11), Red-tailed Hawk (30), Rough-legged Hawk (16), Golden Eagle (2390), Merlin (3), Peregrine Falcon (1) and Prairie Falcon (2). The combined species median passage date was March 26, 4 days later than average.

Last year saw the third complete (55 days) count at Beaver Mines which produced a record 2340 migrants of 18 species: 1 Turkey Vulture, 3 Ospreys, 355 Bald Eagles, 24 Northern Harriers, 46 Sharp-shinned Hawks, 6 Cooper’s Hawks, 27 Northern Goshawks, 13 Broad-winged Hawks, 2 Swainson’s Hawks, 155 Red-tailed Hawks, 6 Ferruginous Hawks, 101 Rough-legged Hawks, 1533 Golden Eagles, 10 American Kestrels, 14 Merlins, 9 Gyrfalcons, 10 Peregrine Falcons, and 3 Prairie Falcons. This year will be the fifth consecutive count at the site which is conducted from Peter Sherrington’s house in Beaver Mines.

Vance Mattson’s 2018 40-day reconnaissance count at the Steeples site on the western flanks of the Rocky Mountains near Cranbrook, BC produced a record 891 birds of 10 species. This year will be the ninth consecutive count at the site.

Rosemary Power is organizing the Mount Lorette count and welcomes visitors to the site. If you are interested in volunteering as a “Sky-sweeper” (no previous experience needed: just good eyes and binoculars) or as an Observer please contact Rosemary at 403-707-6117 (rosemarypower1010@gmail.com). Details of how to find the site and other useful information can be found on our website, www.eaglewatch.ca.  Generally the best time to see migrating eagles is in the afternoon, and the chart below gives an indication of the dates when other raptors are expected to be moving at the site.

Friday, March 1 Mount Lorette (Caroline Lambert) NO OBSERVATION (weather). Snow fell until early afternoon, but the mountains remained obscured all day. The temperature was -16C to -18C and winds were moderate ENE-NE all day.

Friday, March 1 Beaver Mines (Peter Sherrington) NO OBSERVATION (weather). Light snow fell for most of the day with an accumulation of 16 cm. The ridge was obscured until 1800 when the snow finally stopped. The temperature was -15C at 0800 but fell throughout the day to -23C at 1800 with moderate E to ENE winds up to 30 km/h giving wind chill temperatures of -31C to -33C after 1100. Clear skies are forecast for tomorrow.

Friday, March 1 Steeples (Vance Mattson) NO OBSERVATION (Weather). Light snow fell for most of the day and the mountains were fully obscured.

Saturday, March 2 Mount Lorette [Day 1] 0930-1145 Mount Allan viewpoint, 1155-1510 Hay Meadow, 1545-1720 Mount Allan viewpoint (Blake Weis). The temperature at 0930 was -30C and the high at 1200 was -25C that persisted for the rest of the day. Ground winds were N-NE all day, 0-5 km/h in the morning and 0-10 gusting to 20 km/h in the afternoon that produced wind-chill values close to -40C. Because of this Blake wisely spent the start and end of the day watching from his car at the Mount Allan viewpoint on highway 40. The sky was essentially cloudless with up to 10% cumulus developing close to ridges which were clear all day. Not surprisingly no migrant raptors were seen but a resident subadult Bald Eagle flew low to the south above the Kananaskis River at 1500. Despite the conditions a good variety of other bird species were noted comprising 1 female Common Merganser on the river, 1 male Hairy Woodpecker, 3 Common Ravens, 2 Mountain Chickadees, 3 Boreal Chickadees, 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet, 1 Brown Creeper, 2 Pine Grosbeaks (heard), 1 Common Redpoll and 10 White-winged Crossbills.

7.58 hours TOTAL 0

Saturday, March 2 Beaver Mines [Day 1] 0730-1815 (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0730 was -35C (wind-chill of -46C), the high was -24C at 1500 and 1600 and at 1815 it was -30C. Winds were light all day, W-NW to 1400 and E-ESE thereafter, and it was cloudless all day apart from traces of cumulus cloud to the SE. Two migrant raptors were seen: a juvenile Bald Eagle flapped low towards the north at 1201, and at 1611 a juvenile Golden Eagle also flapped to the north after perching atop a Douglas Fir for 50 minutes near the top of the ridge. Other birds seen were 6 Downy Woodpeckers, 1 male Red-shafted Flicker, 8 Blue Jays, 4 Black-billed Magpies, 42 Common Ravens most of which flew high towards the SW to roost in the late afternoon, 8 Black-capped Chickadees, 32 Evening Grosbeaks, 17 Common Redpolls, 8 Pine Siskins and 7 Dark-eyed Juncos (3 hyamelis, 1 cismontanus and 3 montanus).

10.75 hours BAEA 1, GOEA 1 TOTAL 2

Saturday, March 2 Steeples [Day 1] 1230-1630 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was -12C but it was calm and sunny with 20-30% cumulus cloud cover. There was 38 cm of snow at the site which made accessing the site challenging. No migrants were seen but a resident adult Golden Eagle glided north along the ridge and then west above the valley at 1310.

4 hours TOTAL 0

Sunday, March 3 Mount Lorette [Day 2] 0950-1805 (Bill Wilson, assisted by Lori Anderson). The starting temperature was -23C, the high was -11C at 1500 and it was -16C at the end of observation. Ground winds were E-ESE 2-8 km/h to 1200, NNW-NNE 5-14 to 1700 after which they were W 2-8 km/h and ridge winds were probably mainly moderate NW although cloudless skies all day made them difficult to determine. The only migrant was an adult Bald Eagle that flapped and glided to the north against the face of the Fisher Range at 1632. Other birds seen were 1 Black-billed Magpie, 2 Common Ravens, 2 Mountain Chickadees, 2 Common Redpolls and 5 White-winged Crossbills. There were 5 visitors to the site.

8.25 hours (15.83) BAEA 1 (1) TOTAL 1 (1)

Sunday, March 3 Beaver Mines [Day 2] 0730-1830 (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Hilary Atkinson). It was another very cold day with a temperature at 0800 of -34C (wind chill -46C), a high of -20C from 1400 to 1700 and -23C at 1830. Winds were W 15 km/h to 0900 then light and variable for the rest of the day. The sky was completely cloudless all day. The only migrant raptor was a dark morph Rough-legged Hawk that was initially seen feeding on a snow bank from where it flew low to the north at 1226. A non-migrant juvenile Bald Eagle flew to the SW at 1147 and an adult briefly perched on the ridge at 1815 before flying low behind the ridge presumably to roost for the night. Other birds seen were 6 Downy Woodpeckers, 2 Red-shafted Flickers (male and female), 10 Blue Jays, 9 Black-billed Magpies, a flock of 9 American Crows, 92 Common Ravens 77 of which flew high towards the SW to roost between 1500 and 1756, 7 Black-capped Chickadees, 3 Mountain Chickadees, 12 Bohemian Waxwings, 29 Evening Grosbeaks, 12 Common Redpolls, 40 Pine Siskins and 8 Dark-eyed Juncos (4 hyamelis, 1 cismontanus and 3 montanus).

11 hours (21.75) RLHA 1 (1) TOTAL 1 (3)

Sunday, March 3 Steeples [Day 2] 1230-1600 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was -12C that warmed to -9C under cloudless sunny skies, and it was calm. No migrants were seen, but a juvenile Golden Eagle moved south along the ridge, perched briefly and continued to the south after being harassed by a Clark’s Nutcracker.

3.5 hours (7.5) TOTAL 0 (0)