Saturday, September 22 Mount Lorette [Day 3] 0800-1300 (Blake Weis, assisted by Ruth Morrow). The temperature at 0800 was -1C, the high at 1000 was 0C and it was again -1C at 1300 when steady sleet and rain ended the day’s count. Ground winds were N-NW 5-10 gusting 15 km/h all day, and ridge winds were moderate NW. Cloud cover was 100% stratocumulus to 1200 with slight breaks after 1100, 90% cumulus, altostratus and stratocumulus from 1200-1230 after which it was again 100% stratocumulus. The eastern ridges were 100% obscured to 1200 and after 1230, and 90% obscured from 1200 to 1230, while the west was 100% obscured to 1100, 50% from 1100 to 1200, 90% from 1200-1230 and subsequently again 100%. No migrant raptors were seen, but 1 adult Bald Eagle, 1 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk and a male columbarius Merlin that was seen hunting above the Hay Meadow, were considered to be non-migrants. Other birds, however were fairly common and varied and comprised (including birds seen at Mount Lorette Ponds) 40 Canada Geese migrating to the south, 5 unidentified ducks, 1 Wilson’s Snipe, 2 Belted Kingfishers, 1 Northern Flicker, 1 Pileated Woodpecker, 3 Common Ravens, 1 Black-capped Chickadee, 1 Boreal Chickadee, 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch, 1 Brown Creeper, 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet, 11 Ruby-crowned Kinglets, 1 Swainson’s Thrush, 5 Varied Thrushes, 4 American Robins, 10 American Pipits, 3 White-winged Crossbills, 200 Pine Siskins, 11 Dark-eyed Juncos, 16 White-crowned Sparrows, 15 Savannah Sparrows, 1 Orange-crowned Warbler, 1 female Common Yellowthroat, 8 Yellow-rumped Warblers and 3 Wilson’s Warblers. Unsurprisingly there were no visitors today.

5 hours (21.25) TOTAL 0 (1)

Saturday, September 22 Vicki Ridge NO OBSERVATION. There were E to ESE 10-18 km/h upslope winds all day, the temperature was 2-4C, and low cloud and fog completely obscured the ridge.

Saturday, September 22 Steeples [Day 3] 1200-1700 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 16C, winds were moderate to strong S-SW and cloud cover was 100% stratus, altostratus and cumulus. Light to heavy rain fell between 1330 and 1400 followed by intermittent rain showers and steady rain began at 1700 to bring the day to a close. Only 3 migrants were seen: 1u Sharp-shinned Hawk at 1324, 1 adult dark morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk at 1247 and the season’s first Peregrine Falcon, a juvenile bird, at 1252. Non-migrants were 1 Turkey Vulture, 2 adult Bald Eagles and 1 adult female Northern Harrier.

5 hours (12.5) SSHA 1 (16), RTHA 1 (29), PEFA 1 (1) TOTAL 3 (59)

Friday, September 21 Mount Lorette [Day 2] 0800-1430 (Caroline Lambert, assisted by Patrick Farley). The temperature at 0800 was 1C and reached a high of 5C at 1400; winds were calm to light to 1200 and then N gusting to 15 km/h for the rest of the observation period; ridge winds were probably similar. Cloud cover was 100% stratus with some fog throughout, with a few brief breaks that gave faint but unfulfilled hopes of improvement. The northern end of the Fisher Range was visible between 1100 and 1300, however, but no migrant raptors were seen. Drizzle fell to 0900 and light rain at 1400. Two non-migratory male American Kestrels interacted above the Hay Meadow and an adult Sharp-shinned Hawk hunted near the meadow. Other birds were more numerous and comprised a flock of 60 Canada Geese flying south just below the cloud base, 1 female Common Merganser, 1 Belted Kingfisher, 5 Canada Jays, only 3 Common Ravens, 5 Mountain Bluebirds, 1 Common Yellowthroat, 1 Wilson’s Warbler, 20 American Pipits, 2 Savannah Sparrows, 5 White-crowned Sparrows, 4 Dark-eyed [Oregon] Juncos, 20 White-winged Crossbills and 40 Pine Siskins. Five visitors made it to the site today.

6.5 hours (16.25) TOTAL 0 (1)

Friday, September 21 Vicki Ridge [Day 2] 1000-1815 (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Denise Cocciolone-Amatto, Raymond Toal and Shirley Enzol). Because of the bears on the ridge yesterday I watched from the wellsite, and Denise et al. spent 1215 to 1400 on the western ridge of Kyllo Ridge before returning to assist me. The temperature at 1000 was 9C, the high at 1500 and 1600 was 13C which fell to 12C at the end of observation. Winds were WSW-W 20-40 gusting up to 60 km/h in the mid-afternoon before moderating to WNW 20 km/h at 1800. Cloud cover was 80-100% altostratus, cumulus, cirrostratus and cirrus for most of the day that decreased to 60-70% between 1500 and 1600 and gave period of sunshine. Observing conditions were excellent throughout despite periods of drizzle or very light rain in the morning. A season-high total of 79 raptors of 10 species moved between 1028 and 1731 comprising the season’s first Osprey, 1 juvenile Bald Eagle, 3 male Northern Harriers (1a, 1sa, 1j), 41 Sharp-shinned Hawks (8a, 3j, 30u), 5 Cooper’s Hawks (1a, 1j, 3u), 5 Northern Goshawks (2a, 1j, 2u), 12 adult Red-tailed Hawks (10 light and 1 dark calurus, and 1 dark harlani), 8 Golden Eagles (5a, 3j), 2 columbarius Merlins (1 male, 1 female) and 1u Peregrine Falcon. The total includes 7u Sharp-shinned Hawks, 2u Cooper’s Hawks and 1 adult Golden Eagle counted between 1215 and 1400 on Kyllo Ridge. Other birds included 124 Mountain Bluebirds, 168 American Robins, 50 Cedar Waxwings, 3 Yellow-rumped Warblers, 19 Red Crossbills, 1 White-winged Crossbill and 14 Pine Siskins. No bears were seen today.

8.25 hours (19.0) OSPR 1 (1), BAEA 1 (3), NOHA 3 (6), SSHA 41 (51), COHA 5 (13), NOGO 5 (6), RTHA 12 (15), GOEA 8 (17), MERL 2 (3), PEFA 1 (3) TOTAL 79 (123)

Friday, September 21 Steeples [Day 2] 1430-1800 (Vance Mattson). The weather was similar to that of yesterday with rain falling until the early afternoon and 100% stratus, cumulus and altostratus cloud cover throughout. The temperature was 12C and winds were moderate S that became calm after 1600. The main migration ridge was clear from 1400 onwards. A total of 14 migrant raptors of 5 species were counted between 1434 and 1654 comprising the first Turkey Vulture of the count, 6 Sharp-shinned Hawks (3a, 1j, 2u), 1 juvenile Cooper’s Hawk, 5 calurus Red-tailed Hawks (4 light morphs: 3a, 1j, and 1 dark adult), and 1 adult Golden Eagle. Light rain began again at 1800 and ended observation for the day.

3.5 hours (7.5) TUVU 1 (1), SSHA 6 (15), COHA 1 (2), RTHA 5 (28), GOEA 1 (3) TOTAL 14 (56)

MOUNT LORETTE, BEAVER MINES and STEEPLES RAPTOR COUNTS

FALL 2018

www.eaglewatch.ca

PETER SHERRINGTON

Introduction This is the 27^th consecutive year that RMERF has conducted at least one fall count in the Front Ranges of the Alberta Rocky Mountains. In 1992 an extensive reconnaissance count of 33 days was made at Mount Lorette that produced 2661 migrant raptors of which 2044 were Golden Eagles and demonstrated that the Alberta Front Ranges were a significant flyway for the species. Between 1993 and 2005 full-season counts of 75-101 days were conducted there with the exceptions of 1997 when a full count was conducted at Plateau Mountain about 90 km to the SSE and 2002 when circumstances limited observations at Mount Lorette to only 14 days.

From 2006 to 2009 the principal observation site moved to the Piitaistakis-South Livingstone ridge, which is the southern culmination of the Alberta Front Ranges, near the Crowsnest Pass during which time daily comparative counts of between 40 and 45 days were conducted at Mount Lorette coinciding with the main movement of Golden Eagles. In 2010 Mount Lorette again became the principal observation site with counts conducted over a standard period of September 20 to November 15.

Rosemary 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 or Assistant please contact Rosemary at rosemary.rmerf@gmail.com.  Details of how to find the site and other useful information can be found on our website, www.eaglewatch.ca

Peter Sherrington will also be conducting a count on Vicki Ridge located 4.5 km WNW of the Hamlet of Beaver Mines in SW Alberta, and Vance Mattson will again be watching at his Steeples site which is located on the east side of the Kootenay Valley (Rocky Mountain Trench) 25 km NE of Cranbrook, British Columbia. Information on all the RMERF sites and reports of previous years’ spring and fall counts may be found on our website www.eaglewatch.ca.

Thursday, September 20 Mount Lorette [Day 1] 0735-1720 (Rick Robb and Cliff Hansen). The starting temperature was -1C, the high was 5C at 1300 and it was 4C at the end of observation. It was calm to 1000 and then NE winds 2-5 that occasionally gusted to 15 km/h prevailed for the rest of the day; ridge winds probably reflected this pattern. Cloud cover was 50% stratocumulus and cirrus to 1000 but was subsequently 90-100% stratocumulus and cumulus for the rest of the day that produced light rain and drizzle after 1500 and steady rain and fog after 1700. Conditions were not favourable for raptor migration and the only migrant seen was an indeterminate Buteo over the Fisher Range. Two adult Bald Eagles and 2 American Kestrels, that frequented the Hay Meadow, were considered to be non-migrants. Other birds seen included 1 Belted Kingfisher, 1 Mountain Chickadee, 6 Boreal Chickadees, 6 Yellow-rumped Warblers and 6 White-winged Crossbills, but the highlight of the day was 2 or 3 Grey Wolves heard howling from the adjacent forest at 1130.

9.75 hours UB 1 TOTAL 1

Thursday, September 20 Vicki Ridge [Day 1] 0800-1845 (Peter Sherrington) Observation from the ridge top to 1520 and from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge after 1545. The temperature at 0800 was 3C the high was 9.5C at 1100 and 1200, fell to 5C at 1500, rose again to 8C at 1700 and was 6C at the end of observation. Wind was mainly W all day, light to 0930, then 8-16 gusting 25 km/h to 1130. Between 1130 and 1230 it was moderate NNW-NW that brought thunder-showers and was the essentially calm to 1540 while moderate rain and hail fell during a series of thunderstorms. Winds were then again W 10-20 gusting 25 km/h for the rest of the day. Initial cloud cover was 70% altostratus, cirrostratus and cumulus that gave pleasant hazy sunshine to start the count, but between 0900 and 1540 it was 90-100% mainly stratocumulus cover and subsequently 70-80% cumulus that produced periods of sunshine for the last 3 hours although some light drizzle persisted. A total of 44 migrants of 12 species were counted between 0827 and 1843 that comprised 2 Bald Eagles (1a, 1j), 3 Northern Harriers (1 adult male, 1 juvenile male and 1u), 10 Sharp-shinned Hawks (4a, 4j, 2u), 8 Cooper’s Hawks (2a, 5j, 1u), 1 juvenile Northern Goshawk, 2 adult Broad-winged Hawks (1 light, 1 dark), 2 light morph Swainson’s Hawks (1a, 1u), 3 adult calurus Red-tailed Hawks (2 light, 1 dark), 1 juvenile light morph Ferruginous Hawk, 9 Golden Eagles (5a, 3sa, 1j), 1 male columbarius Merlin and 2 adult Peregrine Falcons (1 male, 1 female). Fifteen of the birds moved between 1000 and 1100 just ahead of the onset of the first thunder-shower. Songbirds were abundant and conspicuous all day and migrants included 4 Mountain Bluebirds, 2 Townsend’s Solitaires, 453 American Robins, 18 Cedar Waxwings, 3 Yellow-rumped Warblers, 1 White-crowned Sparrow, 42 Dark-eyed [Oregon] Juncos, 20 Red Crossbills, 513 Pine Siskins and 2 American Goldfinches. Two Black Bears (1 large adult male and a smaller probable subadult animal) were on the ridge and single Western White and Clouded Sulphur butterflies were seen. Because of the presence of the bears I shall probably watch from the wellsite tomorrow.

10.75 hours BAEA 2, NOHA 3, SSHA 10. COHA 8, NOGO 1, BWHA 2, SWHA 2, RTHA 3, FEHA 1, GOEA 9, MERL 1, PEFA 2 TOTAL 44

Thursday, September 20 Steeples [Day 1] 1415-1615 (Vance Mattson). It was a rainy and overcast day with a temperature of 9C to 1330 when the rain ceased. Winds were moderate S to 1715 after which it was calm and cloud cover was 100% stratus, altostratus and cumulus to 1715 after which it reduced to 70% although the ridges continued to be draped with cloud. Despite the conditions there was a good movement of 42 raptors of 8 species between 1428 and 1745, 31 of which were seen before 1530. The count was 3 Bald Eagles (1a, 2j), 1 adult female Northern Harrier, 9u Sharp-shinned Hawks, 1u Cooper’s Hawk, 2 light morph Broad-winged Hawks (1a, 1j), 23 calurus Red-tailed Hawks (22 light morphs: 13a, 3j, 6u, and 1 adult dark morph, 2 Golden Eagles (1sa, 1j) and 1 adult female American Kestrel. Movement was mainly gliding with some flapping flight into the wind, and there was very little soaring. The day’s last bird, a subadult Golden Eagle at 1745, had a full crop.

4 hours BAEA 3, NOHA 1, SSHA 9, COHA 1, BWHA 2, RTHA 23, GOEA 2, AMKE 1 TOTAL 42

Sunday, April 22 Mount Lorette [Day 48] 0555-2030 (Bill Wilson, assisted by Cliff Hansen and Chris Hunt). The temperature was -2C at 0600, the high was 8C from 1600 to 1800 and it was 7C at 2030. Ground winds were SW 2-10 gusting to 28 km/h to 1700, then NE 3-10 km/h for the rest of the day; ridge winds were SW light to moderate to 0800, moderate SW to 1700 and then NE moderate for the rest of the day. Cloud cover was altostratus and cumulus with occasional cirrus all day, initially 10% increasing to 60-90% between 1100 and 1300 after which it was 100% to the end of the count. The only precipitation was snow flurries at the end of the day, and the ridges were completely clear all day. The last day of the count produced a total of 25 migrant raptors of 5 species between 1150 and 1947 that comprised 4 Bald Eagles (2a, 1sa, 1j), 1 adult Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1 small undifferentiated Accipiter, 1 juvenile light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk and 17 Golden Eagles (2sa, 12j, 3u). All the birds traveled on the eastern route with birds being located over the Fisher Range, above the valley to the north or over Mount Lorette, with the exception of 2 Golden Eagles that glided to the north from the northern end of the Fisher Range. By 1600 only 4 migrants had been seen but the next 3 hours produced 7, 5 and 8 birds respectively and the last bird of the count was an adult Bald Eagle at 1947. Non-migrant raptors were 2 adult Bald Eagles that flew to the south, 1 adult resident Northern Goshawk, several sightings of up to 3 resident Red-tailed Hawks and 2 sightings of resident adult Golden Eagles. Other birds seen were 8 Canada Geese, 9 Mallard, 2 Common Mergansers, 4 Northern Flickers, 2 American Crow, 12 Common Ravens, 6 Tree Swallows, 2 Black-capped Chickadees, 2 Mountain Chickadees, 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch, 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet, 9 Mountain Bluebirds, 7 Varied Thrushes, 14 American Robins, 1 European Starling, 2 American Pipits, 54 Bohemian Waxwings, 27 Dark-eyed Juncos of which 15 were “slate-coloured” morphs of the race cismontanus, and 1 Song Sparrow. There were 23 visitors at the site today.

14.58 hours (549.5) BAEA 4 (182), SSHA 1 (25), COHA 1 (2), UA 1 (4), RTHA 1 (30), GOEA 17 (2390) TOTAL 25 (2714)

Mount Lorette April 1-22 summary (With percentage variance from long-term 21 year average 1993-2017, that excludes the anomalously low counts in 2008-2010 and 2012 which are considered invalid). 21 days (-0.7%), 242.3 hours (-0.6%), TUVU 0, OSPR 3 (+65.8%), BAEA 57 (-20.5%), NOHA 1 (-75.3%), SSHA 18 (-17.8%), COHA 2 (-67.4%), NOGO 2 (-83.2%), UA 4 (+171%), BWHA 1 (+250%), SWHA 0, RTHA 23 (-11%), FEHA 0, RLHA 7 (-51.3%), UB 3 (+142%), GOEA 596 (+20.4%) which is the highest April count since 2014 and the second highest since 2002, UE 5 (+275%), AMKE 2 (+82.6%), MERL 3 (-33.7%), GYRF 0, PEFA 0, PRFA 0, UF 0, UU 4 (+236%) TOTAL 731 (+9.5%) of 12 species.

Mount Lorette spring 2018 summary March 1-April 22 (With percentage variance from long-term 21 year average 1993-2017, that excludes the anomalously low counts in 2008-2010 and 2012 which are considered invalid). 48 days (-3.7%), 549.5 hours (-1.1%), TUVU 0, OSPR 3 (+65.8%), BAEA 182 (-0.3%), NOHA 1 (-79.2%), SSHA 25 (+2.5%), COHA 2 (-70.8%), NOGO 11 (-52.6%), UA 4 (+104.9%), BWHA 3 (+950%), SWHA 0, RTHA 30 (-1.7%), FEHA 0, RLHA 16 (-18%), UB 3 (+46.5%), GOEA 2390 (-18.4%), UE 25 (+540.2%), AMKE 2 (+82.6%), MERL 3 (-56.6%), GYRF 7 (+444.4%), PEFA 1 (-22.2%), PRFA 2 (-4.5%), UF 0, UU 4 (+121.1%) TOTAL 2714 (-16.4%) of 15 species.

Sunday, April 22 Beaver Mines [Day 55] 0700-1845 (Peter Sherrington). The temperature at 0700 was 3C, the high was 10C (1100-1400) and it was 7C at 1845. Winds were mainly SW-WSW 25-35 gusting 40 km/h to 1300, after which they were E-NE 20-30 km/h and light after 1600. Cloud cover was 0-30% altostratus to 0930 after which it was 100% altostratus and cumulus for the rest of the day which produced very hazy sunshine and poor observing conditions. The last day of the count produced 16 migrants of 6 species between 0940 and 1646 that comprised 2 juvenile Bald Eagles, 1 adult female Northern Harrier, 4u Sharp-shinned Hawks, 2 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks, 4 Golden Eagles (1sa, 2j, 1u) and 3 American Kestrels (1 male, 2 females). The maximum hourly count was 4 between 1100 and 1200 and again between 1600 and 1700, and the last bird seen on the count was a female American Kestrel at 1646. No migrants were seen in the last two hours and the 2018 spring count mercifully ended at 1845.

11.75 hours (581.2) BAEA 2 (355), NOHA 1 (24), SSHA 4 (46), RTHA 2 (155), GOEA 4 (1533), AMKE 3 (10) TOTAL 16 (2340)

Beaver Mines April 1-22 summary (With percentage variance from the 3-year average 2015-2017). 20 days (-3.2%), 241.5 hours (+42.3%), TUVU 1 (+200%), OSPR 3 (-18.2%), BAEA 159 (+104.7%), NOHA 24 (-47.8%), SSHA 39 (-36.1%), COHA 4 (-72.1%), NOGO 13 (-35%), UA 0, BWHA 13 (+77.3%), SWHA 2 (-25%), RTHA 120 (-26.1%), FEHA 3 (+12.5%), RLHA 30 (+25%), UB 11 (+26.9%), GOEA 428 (+265.8%), UE 0, AMKE 9 (+22.7%), MERL 9 (+22.7%), GYRF 3 (+200%), PEFA 9 (+42.1%), PRFA 3 (+28.6%), UF 1, UU 1 (-40%) TOTAL 885 (+53.5%) of 18 species.

Beaver Mines spring 2018 summary February 25-April 22 (With percentage variance from the 3-year average 2015-2017). 55 days (+12.2%), 581.2 hours (+55.7%), TUVU 1 (-25%), OSPR 3 (-18.2%), BAEA 355 (+39.2%), NOHA 24 (-60%), SSHA 46 (-39.7%), COHA 6 (-61.7%), NOGO 27 (-56.7%), UA 0, BWHA 13 (+56%), SWHA 2 (-33.3%), RTHA 155 (-31.2%), FEHA 6 (+12.5%), RLHA 101 (+13.5%), UB 15 (+2.3%), GOEA 1533 (+43.7%), UE 3 (+28.6%), AMKE 10 (-6.3%), MERL 14 (-10.6%), GYRF 9 (+80%), PEFA 10 (+25%), PRFA 3 (-60.9%), UF 1 (+200%), UU 3 (-10%) TOTAL 2340 (+20.5%) of 18 species.

Sunday, April 22 Steeples [Day 40] 1130-1930 (Vance Mattson). The initial temperature was 10C that increased to 12C after 1500, winds were mainly calm alternating with light to moderate NE and then W winds after 1500, and cloud cover of 40-60% altocumulus and cumulus provided excellent observing conditions. There was a steady, leisurely flow of migrants between 1341 and 1845 involving 46 birds of a season-high 10 species that comprised 7 Turkey Vultures, 3 Ospreys, 9 Bald Eagles (2a, 2sa, 5j), 5 Sharp-shinned Hawks (3a, 1j, 1u), 1 adult Northern Goshawk, 4 light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks (3a, 1j), 1 dark morph Rough-legged Hawk, 13 Golden Eagles (4a, 1sa, 8j), 1 adult female American Kestrel and 2 adult Peregrine Falcons. Maximum hourly movement was 14 between 1600 and 1700 and the last bird of the count was an adult Golden Eagle that moved to the north at 1845. Two inter-species interactions were observed: an Osprey “bombing” a juvenile Bald Eagle that barrel-rolled away to avoid impact, and a subadult Golden Eagle doing the same thing to an adult Bald Eagle that resulted in the Bald Eagle chasing the Golden Eagle away. Non-migrants were plentiful Turkey Vultures, 2 adult Sharp-shinned Hawks, 3 adult Red-tailed Hawks and 2 Golden Eagles (1a and 1 juvenile which was the first sighting of a non-migratory juvenile bird at the site since March 31).

8 hours (178.5) TUVU 7 (19), OSPR 3 (3), BAEA 9 (181), SSHA 5 (19), NOGO 1 (3), RTHA 4 (31), RLHA 1 (7), GOEA 13 (620), AMKE 1 (3), PEFA 2 (3) TOTAL 46 (891)

Steeples April summary (With percentage variance from the 8-year average 2010-2017). 17 days (+54.5%), 75 hours (+81.8%), TUVU 19 (+166.7%), OSPR 3 (+140%), BAEA 62 (+155.7%), NOHA 0, SSHA 19 (+700%), COHA 0, NOGO 2 (+128.6%), UA 0, BWHA 0, SWHA 0, RTHA 31 (+451.1%), FEHA 0, RLHA 7 (+700%), UB 0, GOEA 97 (+241.9%), UE 2 (+0.13%), AMKE 3 (+242.9%), MERL 0, GYRF 0, PEFA 3 (+1100%), PRFA 0, UF 0, UU 0 TOTAL 829 (+241.5%) of 10 species.

Steeples spring 2018 summary (With percentage variance from the 8-year average 2010-2017). 40 days (+26%), 178.5 hours (+41.8%), TUVU 19 (+137.5%), OSPR 3 (+140%), BAEA 181 (+39.5%), NOHA 0, SSHA 19 (+347.1%), COHA 0, NOGO 3 (+50%), UA 0, BWHA 0, SWHA 0, RTHA 31 (+230.7%), FEHA 0, RLHA 7 (+124%), UB 0, GOEA 620 (+99.3%), UE 2 (+2.4%), AMKE 3 (+200%), MERL 0, GYRF 0, PEFA 3 (+380%), PRFA 0, UF 0, UU 0 TOTAL 891 (+87.9%) of 10 species.

Saturday, April 21 Mount Lorette [Day 47] 0715-1330 (Jim Davis, assisted by Cliff Hansen). The temperature at 0715 was 5C the high was 7C between 1000 and 1300 and it was 6C when the count was abandoned for the day in heavy rain at 1330. Ground winds were SW 10-15 gusting 23 km/h and ridge winds were moderate to 0900 and then strong. Cloud cover was 60-70% cumulus to 1030 and 100% stratus with heavy rain and fog developing at 1300. The east ridges were clear to 1200 but were completely obscured by 1300, and the west was 40% obscured at 0900 and 100% obscured at 1300. A total of 8 migrants of a remarkable 7 species were recorded between 0720 and 1146 which comprised 1 adult Bald Eagle, 1 adult Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1 adult light morph Broad-winged Hawk, 2 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks, 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk, 1 adult Golden Eagle and 1u columbarius Merlin. Most birds soared above the centre of the valley or were located soaring over Mount Lorette. A resident adult Northern Goshawk flew south above the meadow at 0929. Other birds seen were 3 Canada Geese, a pair of Mallard, 1 female Northern Shoveler, 2 Killdeer, 6 Northern Flickers, 1 Pileated Woodpecker, 1 American Crow, 6 Common Ravens, 1 female Mountain Bluebird, 1 Townsend’s Solitaire, 4 Varied Thrushes, 58 American Robins, 73 Dark-eyed Juncos of which 72 were “slate-coloured” morphs of the race cismontanus, 1 male Evening Grosbeak and 2 Common Redpolls. There were 9 visitors to the site today, and if you are planning a visit please note that tomorrow will be the final day of the spring 2018 count at all three sites.

6.25 hours (534.9) BAEA 1 (178), SSHA 1 (24), BWHA 1 (3), RTHA 2 (29), RLHA 1 (16), GOEA 1 (2373), MERL 1 (3) TOTAL 8 (2689)

Saturday, April 21 Beaver Mines [Day 54] 0700-1900 (Peter Sherrington). The temperature at 0700 was 6C, the high was 10C at 1100 and it was again 6C when observation ceased at 1900. Winds were strong WSW all day 30-50 gusting 70-90 km/h and cloud cover was 50-60% altostratus and cumulus to 1045, 100% stratus and cumulus to 1525 and then mainly 0-20% thin altostratus and trace cumulus for the rest of the day. Light rain fell between 1045 and 1245, moderate to heavy snow fell between 1415 and 1515 that completely obscured the ridge, and light snow flurries occurred between 1740 and 1830. Conditions proved to be unfavourable for raptor migration (and for observation!) and only 7 migrants of 5 species were seen between 0936 and 1736. The count was 1 adult Bald Eagle, 1 adult male Northern Harrier, 1 adult Cooper’s Hawk, 3 Golden Eagles (1sa, 2j) and 1 unidentified large falcon. Mercifully, tomorrow’s forecast calls for just moderate west winds for the last day of the count.

12 hours (569.5) BAEA 1 (353), NOHA 1 (23), COHA 1 (6), GOEA 3 (1529), UF 1 (1) TOTAL 7 (2324)

Saturday, April 21 Steeples [Day 39] 1400-1845 (Vance Mattson). Conditions were overcast with strong winds and rain to 1400 when Vance arrived at the site as clearing began. The temperature was 9C, winds were strong NE and cloud cover was 60% cumulus which by 1530 became 100% stratus that produced light rain showers, after which it was 50% cumulus, sunny and mostly calm. Just 6 migrants of 4 species were seen between 1456 and 1717 that comprised 1 adult Bald Eagle, 2u Sharp-Shinned Hawks, 1 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk, 1 adult Golden Eagle and 1 unidentified eagle that disappeared into high cloud while flying north at 1515. Non-migrants were ubiquitous Turkey Vultures of which there were several sightings, 3 Bald Eagles (1a, 2j), 1 Red-tailed Hawk and 1 adult Golden Eagle. The forecast calls for a mix of sun and cloud for Sunday, so conditions should be good for the last day of the count.

4.75 hours (170.5) BAEA 1 (172), SSHA 2 (14), RTHA 1 (27), GOEA 1 (607), UE 1 (2) TOTAL 6 (845)