Saturday, March 31 Mount Lorette [Day 27] 0800-2015 (Jim Davis, assisted by Ruth Morrow). The starting temperature was a bone-chilling -22C but it warmed to a high of -4C at 1700 and 1800, and was -5C at the end of observation. Ground winds were variable SW-E 5-15 km/h to 1600 when they switched to NE and became light late in the day. Ridge winds were generally SSW-SW light to 1300 increasing in the afternoon becoming strong after 1700 but diminishing again to light at the end of the day. At 1800 the clouds indicated SW winds on the E ridges and moderate to strong winds on the west ridges! Cloud cover was 20-30% cumulus all day, but valley fog to the west curtailed visibility until 1000. With the exception of Mount Lorette that was obscured to 1000, the eastern ridges were clear all day, but the west was 50% obscure to 1200, 70% to 1400 after which it rapidly cleared. Following the complete shutdown yesterday, there was a strong raptor movement of 199 birds of a season-high 6 species between 1000 and 1944. The count was a season-high 16 Bald Eagles (11a, 3sa, 2j), 1 adult Northern Goshawk, 2 light morph Broad-winged Hawks (1a, 1j) that were the earliest ever seen at the site, one day earlier that the 3 birds seen last year, 5 adult calurus Red-tailed Hawks (3 light, 1 rufous and 1 dark), 2 light morph Rough-legged Hawks, 171 Golden Eagles (112a, 8sa, 12j, 39u) and 2 unidentified eagles. About 75% of the movement between 1000 and 1600 was on the western route with birds moving in-and-out of cloud from Mount Kidd over Olympic Summit and on to the NW over Skogan Pass. After 1600 movement was low along the Fisher Range to Mount Lorette with much soaring flight but after 1700 birds glided very high above the Fisher Range that resulted in most birds being unaged. Thirty-five birds were recorded between 1000 and 1100 and peak movement was 50 (1300-1400). After 1500 the pace lessened but 14 birds moved between 1919 and 1994 in a late pulse. Other birds seen were 7 Canada Geese, 1 Pileated Woodpecker, 3 Grey Jays, 11 Common Ravens, 14 American Robins in a single flock and 2 European Starlings. The 46 visitors to the site all had fantastic views of migrating raptors.

12.25 (307.2) BAEA 16 (125), NOGO 1 (9), BWHA 2 (2), RTHA 5 (7), RLHA 2 (9), GOEA 171 (1794), UE 2 (20) TOTAL 199 (1983)

March summary (With variance from the long-term 1993-2016 20 year average, that excludes the anomalously low counts in 2008-2010 and 2012 which are considered invalid). 27 days (-6.7%), 307.2 hours (-1.5%): BAEA 125 (+12.8%), SSHA 7 (+182.7%), NOGO 9 (-20.3%), RTHA 7 (+50%), RLHA 9 (+76.6%), GOEA 1794 (-26.3%, the third-lowest valid March count at the site), UE 20 (+677.8%), GYRF 7 (+ 818.8%, and the highest ever March count), PEFA 1 (+200% and only the 8^th March record for the site) and 2 Prairie Falcons (+121.2%) TOTAL 1983 (-23.2%, the third-lowest valid combined species March count at the site) (10 species).

Saturday, March 31 Beaver Mines [Day 35] 0700-1815 (Peter Sherrington). The temperature at 0700 was -19C, the high was -8C at 1100 and 1300-1500 and it was -9C at 1815. Winds were light WSW to 0930 and again from 1600 to the end of observation, but between they were E-ESE 10-15 km/h. Cloud cover was 80-100% stratus and altocumulus to 0900, 80-20% cumulus to 1500 after which it was cloudless for the rest of the day. There was an ice crystal haze between 0700 and 1500 that thickened to a crystal fog between 1000 and 1100 that significantly reduced visibility. A total of 35 migrants of 5 species were seen between 1201 and 1801 comprising 4 adult Bald Eagles, 1 adult female Sharp-shinned Hawk, 4 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks, 1 adult dark morph Ferruginous Hawk and 27 Golden Eagles (23a, 1sa, 3j). Peak hourly movement was 10 birds between 1300 and 1400 and again between 1600 and 1700. At 1450 an adult Northern Shrike was seen feeding on a starling that it had just killed. After pecking at it a few times it flew up to an adjacent low branch of an aspen and perched for a couple of minutes before again flying to the starling and pecking at it. It repeated this sequence twice more, and then flew back from its perch, picked the bird up from the snow with its feet and flew low downslope with it for about 50m. Sibly gives the average mass of a shrike as 65g and that of a starling as 82g so it was somewhat surprising that the shrike could carry something significantly heavier than itself over such a distance.

11.25 hours (339.75) BAEA 4 (196), SSHA 1 (7), RTHA 2 (35), FEHA 1 (3), GOEA 27 (1105) TOTAL 35 (1455)

March summary (with variance from the 2015-2017 average in parenthesis) 31 days (+14.8%), 305.7 hours(+53.7%), BAEA 183 (+3.8%), SSHA 7 (-54.3%), COHA 2, (+50%), NOGO 14 (-66.9%), RTHA 35 (-44.4%), FEHA 3 (+12.5%), RLHA 68 (+4.6%), UB 4 (-25%), GOEA 1092 (+15.8% and the highest ever March count), UE 3 (+80%), AMKE 1 (-70%), MERL 5 (-40%), GYRF 6 (+63.6%) and PEFA 1(-40%) TOTAL 1426 (+5.1%) (12 species compared to 17 species last year). Notably absent this March was Northern Harrier (average 14) and Prairie Falcon (average 5.3).

Saturday, March 31 Steeples [Day 23] 1230-1800 (Vance Mattson, assisted by Virginia Rasch). The temperature was -2C at the start and rose to a high of 4C. Conditions were calm and cloud cover of 30-50% cumulus gave continuous sunshine. A total of 8 migrants, 1 juvenile Bald Eagle and 7 Golden Eagles (6a, 1j), moved, between 1407 and 1645, with 6 of the birds seen between 1407 and 1451. Non-migrants were 3 Turkey Vultures, 3 Bald Eagles (2a, 1j) and 2 Red-tailed Hawks.

5.5 hours (103.5) BAEA 1 (119), GOEA 7 (523) TOTAL 8 (643)

March summary (with variance from the 2010-2017 average in parenthesis) 23 days (+15%), 103.5 hours (+25.8%) BAEA 119 (+16.4%), NOGO 1 (-11.1%) and GOEA 523 (+86.6%, which is the highest ever March count). TOTAL 643 (+62.4%, which is the highest March combined-species count). Only 3 migrant species were seen, which is the lowest March species count ever). The number of raptors/hour was 6.21, 5.33% above average.

Friday, March 30 Mount Lorette (Bill Wilson). NO OBSERVATION (Weather). A widespread northern front hit the area early in the morning bringing moderate NNE winds and steady snow that obscured all the mountains. Bill stayed to 1050 but as the forecast called for heavy snow all day he wisely decided to leave.

Friday, March 30 Beaver Mines [Day 34] 0730-1200 and 1700-2000 (Peter Sherrington). The temperature was 2C at 0730, rose to a high of 7C at 1100 but after the passage of the northern front around 1130 it quickly dropped and was -5C at 1200. Winds were WSW 30-50 gusting 70 km/h to 1130 when they became NE 35-45 km/h although the flow at height. Cloud cover was 20-80% cumulus with periods of 100% thin stratus and cumulus to 1130 when 100% low stratocumulus moved upslope that brought snow and quickly enveloped the ridge by 1200.

A total of 10 migrant raptors were seen between 0931 and 1126 comprising 3 Bald Eagles (2sa, 1j), 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk and 6 Golden Eagles (5a, 1u). A Golden Eagle at 1111 and the Rough-legged Hawk at 1121 soared very high over the “Big Hill” and disappeared into the base of the approaching up-slope cloud which they probably penetrated to reach the higher still prevailing strong WSW winds after they probably glided to the north above the cloud layer, out of sight. Ten centimetres of heavy snow fell all afternoon to 1700 that completely obscured the ridge and brought observation to a close at 1200. At 1700 the snow became light and the ridge re-emerged and was completely clear by 1850. The temperature was -11C at 1700 and the stratus cloud cover began to break, reducing to 80% altocumulus at 1900. ESE winds 10-15 km/h blew in the valley but an upper WSW light to moderate flow gave hope of further migration which did not materialise. The count ended at 1800 when the temperature was -13C.

7.5 hours (328.5) BAEA 3 (192), RLHA 1 (71), GOEA 6 (1078) TOTAL 10 (1420)

Friday, March 30 Steeples [Day 22] 1230-1730 (Vance Mattson). Conditions west of the Rockies were much better with a temperature of 9-10C, strong N-NE winds that became W after 1500 and 50-60% cumulus, altostratus and altocumulus cloud cover that gave mainly sunny conditions. Only one migrant raptor was seen, however: an adult Bald Eagles at 1407. Non-migrant birds were 1 Turkey Vulture, 1 juvenile Bald Eagle and a pair of light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks with two display flights performed by the noticeably smaller male.

5 hours (98) BAEA 1 (118) TOTAL 1 (635)

Thursday, March 29 Mount Lorette [Day 26] 0730-2030 (Blake Weis, assisted by Patrick Farley). The temperature at 0730 was -5C, the high was 4C at 1600 and 1700 and it was -4C at 2030. Ground winds were light SW to 1600 when they changed to N 5-15 gusting 20 km/h, while ridge winds were W all day, light to 1100 and then moderate for the rest of the day. Cloud cover was 30-40% altocumulus and cirrus to 1600 and then 50-100% altocumulus, cirrus, altostratus and cumulus for the rest of the day. The ridges were clear all day but after 1600 hazy mist developed as cool moist air brought by the low-level north winds mixed with the warmer west winds aloft that made identification of high-flying eagles difficult. There was another strong raptor movement with 136 birds of 4 species moving between 1033 and 2002 comprising 9 Bald Eagles (6 adults and 3 undifferentiated immature birds), 1 adult Northern Goshawk, 1 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk, 109 Golden Eagles (42a, 67u) and 16 unidentified eagles. Only the goshawk and 2 Golden Eagles were seen to the west and all other birds used the eastern route with eagles initially located over Mount Lorette between 1430 and 1800 probably originating from the Wasootch Creek area. Most birds glided high and soaring flight was minimal. The highest hourly count was 45 between 1600 and 1700 which comprised mainly unaged Golden Eagles and unidentified eagles because of the misty conditions. Four Bald Eagles (2a, 1sa, 1j) and 1 Red-tailed Hawk that flew south above the river were considered non-migrants, and a resident adult Golden Eagle soared high above Hummingbird Plume Hill. Other birds were 2 Hairy Woodpeckers, 1 Northern Shrike, 3 Grey Jays, 11 Common Ravens, 1 Black-capped Chickadee, 4 Mountain Chickadees, 2 Red-breasted Nuthatches, 1 Townsend’s Solitaire, 2 American Robins, 1 European Starling, 10 Bohemian Waxwings, 1 Song Sparrow, 1 Dark-eyed [Oregon] Junco and 1 Common Redpoll. Only 4 visitors came to the site today.

13 hours (294.9) BAEA 9 (109), NOGO 1 (8), RTHA 1 (2), GOEA 109 (1623), UE 16 (18) TOTAL 136 (1784)

Thursday, March 28 Beaver Mines [Day 33] 0715-1815 (Peter Sherrington and Gord Petersen 1100-1300). The temperature at 0715 was -4C at 0715, the high was 7C at 1500 and 1600, and it was 1C at 1815. Winds were WNW 10-15 km/h to 1100 and W 20-30 gusting 40 km/h to 1700 when they abruptly changed to E 35-45 km/h that, as yesterday, essentially terminated the raptor migration. It was cloudless in the morning and 60-80% cumulus, altocumulus, altostratus and cirrus to 1700 that gave excellent observing conditions after which the east winds brought 100% stratocumulus that eventually obscured the ridge. Raptor movement was initially slow with only 2 eagles seen before 1100 but the pace increased and there was a steady migration of 74 raptors of 5 species up to 1700 when the wind shifted after which only 2 further Bald Eagles were seen. The 78 migrants comprised 14 Bald Eagles (12a, 2j), 1 adult Cooper’s Hawk, 6 light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks (5a, 1u), 1 dark morph Rough-legged Rough-legged Hawk and 76 Golden Eagles (65a, 3sa, 3j, 5u). Maximum movement was 28 (1400-1500) and 23 (1600-1700). A resident pair of Red-tailed Hawks displayed and interacted throughout the day.

11 hours (321) BAEA 14 (189), COHA 1 (2), RTHA 6 (33), RLHA 1 (70), GOEA 76 (1072) TOTAL 98 (1410)

Thursday, March 28 Steeples (Vance Mattson). NO OBSERVATION. The weather was clear but because of other commitments Vance was unable to observe.

Wednesday, March 28 Mount Lorette [Day 25] 0730-2020 (Blake Weis, assisted by Rick Robb and Cliff Hansen). The temperature at 0730 was -2C, the high 3C (1300-1800) and it was 0C when observation finished. Ground winds were NW-NE 5-10 gusting 15 km/h to 1200 and S-SW 5-10 gusting 20 km/h in the afternoon, while ridge winds were NW all day, light to moderate to 1200, moderate to 1800 after which they were again light to moderate. Cloud cover was 70-80% altocumulus, cumulus and altostratus to 1800 that gradually dwindled to 20% by the end of the day. The eastern ridges were 10-20% obscured to 1100 and were then clear, and the west was 90% obscured to 0830, 10-20% obscured to 1200 after which it was mainly clear. Raptor migration consisted entirely of eagles with 104 birds moving between 1040 and 1944: 5 Bald Eagles (4a, 1j), 98 Golden Eagles (83a, 3sa, 3j, 10u) and 1 unidentified eagle. With the exception of 3 birds the entire movement was high to very high above the Fisher Range to Mount Lorette. Only 10 birds were seen before 1500 after which the pace increased with subsequent hours yielding 11 (15-1600), 26, (16-1700), 31 (17-1800), 18 (18-1900) and 8 (1900-1944) eagles. Other birds recorded in the area were 14 Canada Geese, 3 Mallards, 1 Killdeer, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 1 Pileated Woodpecker, 2 Grey Jays, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 1 American Crow, 16 Common Ravens, 3 Black-capped Chickadees, 4 Mountain Chickadees, 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch, 2 American Dippers, 1 Townsend’s Solitaire, 2 American Robins, 183 European Starlings, 1 Dark-eyed Junco and 1 Common Redpoll. Only 3 visitors came to the site today.

13.83 hours (281.9) BAEA 5 (100), GOEA 98 (1514), UE 1 (2) TOTAL 104 (1648)

Wednesday, March 28 Beaver Mines [Day 32] 0730-1930 (Peter Sherrington). The temperature was 1C at 0730, the high was 6C at 1100 and it was -2C at 1930. Winds were light NW-WNW to 1100 when 30-40 km/h W-WSW winds developed which changed abruptly at 1300 to E-ESE 30-40 km/h that diminished to 15 km/h after 1700. Cloud cover was 40-100% cumulus and altostratus to 1300 when 100% dark stratocumulus moved quickly from the east and briefly obscured the ridge, after which mainly uniform grey stratus persisted for the rest of the day. The first migrant Golden Eagle glided high to the NW at 0951 but the only persistent movement was 1128 to 1258, coincident with the W-WSW winds, when 26 of the day’s 29 migrants were seen. The weather disturbance at 1300 completely shut down the migration and subsequently the only eagle seen was a late-moving Bald Eagle at 1922. The final count was 1 adult Bald Eagle, 1u Sharp-shinned Hawk, 3 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks, 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk and 23 adult Golden Eagles.

12 hours (310), BAEA 1 (175), SSHA 1 (6), RTHA 3 (27), RLHA 1 (69), GOEA 23 (996), TOTAL 29 (1312)

Wednesday, March 28 Steeples [Day 21] 1530-1730 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 9C, winds were W light to moderate, cloud cover was 60% cumulus and the ridges were clear. Despite favourable conditions no migrant raptors were seen, but non-migrants were 1a Turkey Vulture, 3 Bald Eagles (1a, 2j), 1 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk and 2 adult Golden Eagles one of which performed a high altitude display flight.

2 hours (93) TOTAL 0 (634)

Tuesday, March 27 Mount Lorette [Day 24] 0730-1955 (Blake Weis, assisted by Brian McBride). The starting temperature was 2C, the high was 4C between 1100 and 1300 and again at 1500 and 1600, and it was 3C at the end of observation. Ground winds were SW all day, 10-15 gusting 35 km/h in the morning and 5-10 gusting 15 km/h in the afternoon, and ridge winds were strong SW in the morning and moderate to strong in the afternoon. Morning cloud cover was 70-90% mixed cloud that became 90-100% stratus and cumulus in the afternoon. Light snow flurries began at 0930 and became light to moderate snow after 1200. The eastern route was clear to noon but was then 20-80% variably obscured and 100% obscured at 1700, and the west was 50-60% obscured to 1700 when it also became completely obscured. A total of 6 Golden Eagles (3a, 3u) were seen from the Hay Meadow site between 0945 and 1258, all on the eastern route. Because of the weather Blake moved to the Lusk Creek site at 1625, but Brian stayed in the Hay Meadow to 1700 before joining him. At Lusk Creek the winds were similar but cloud cover was only 20-30% cumulus, altocumulus and altostratus, and a further 13 migrants: 5 adult Bald Eagles and 8 adult Golden Eagles, were seen between 1815 and 1911. The final combined count was 5 adult Bald Eagles and 14 Golden Eagles (11a, 3u). Other birds seen at the Hay Meadow were 2 Canada Geese flying north, 1 male Northern Flicker, 1 Grey Jay, 9 Common Ravens and 1 Black-capped Chickadee. There were no visitors today.

12.42 hours (268.1) BAEA 5 (95), GOEA 14 (1416), TOTAL 19 (1544)

Tuesday, March 27 Beaver Mines [Day 31] 0730-1930 (Peter Sherrington and Gird Petersen 0900-1130). The temperature at 0730 was 1C, the high at 1300 was 7C and it was 3C at 1930. Winds were strong W-WSW all day 50-60 gusting 80-100 km/h. Cloud cover was mainly 20-50% altostratus, cumulus and altocumulus to 1100 when it became 100% altostratus and cumulus to 1600 after which it was 20-50% cumulus with the sky completely clearing by 1930. Migration started early with Golden Eagles gliding high to the NW at 0736 and 0752, but it was not to be sustained and subsequent movement was very sporadic with the exception of 1611-1637 when 8 adult Golden Eagles were seen. The final count of 23 raptors between 0736 and 1715 was 1 adult Sharp-shinned Hawk, 19 Golden Eagles (16a, 3u), 1u columbarius Merlin, 1 probable female grey morph Gyrfalcon and 1 adult male Peregrine Falcon, which was the first for the season.

12 hours (298) SSHA 1 (5), GOEA 19 (973), MERL 1 (5), GYRF 1 (6), PEFA 1 (1) TOTAL 23 (1283)

Tuesday, March 27 Steeples [Day 20] 1530-1730 (Vance Mattson). The  temperature was 9C but strong W winds made it feel much cooler, and cloud cover was 60% cumulus. The ridges cleared by 1630 but the only migrant seen was a juvenile Bald Eagle. Two juvenile Bald Eagles in the area were considered to be non-migrants.

2 hours (91) BAEA 1 (117) TOTAL 1 (634)