Sunday, March 11 Mount Lorette [Day 10] 0720-1950 (Bill Wilson, assisted by Caroline Lambert). The starting temperature was -10C, the high was 8C at 1600-1800 and it was 0C at the end of observation. Ground winds were SW-SE 2-6 km/h to 1200 and were SW all afternoon: 3-6 gusting 10 km/h to 1500 and then 3-15 gusting 25 km/h before dropping to 2-5 km/h for the last hour. Ridge winds were probably SW-SSW light to moderate all day. It was cloudless to 1500 when very thin altostratus and cirrus cloud developed that reached 100% at 1700 and 1800. There was another fairly strong raptor movement with 52 birds of 4 species seen between 0955 and 1845 comprising 8 Bald Eagles (7a, 1sa), 1u Sharp-shinned Hawk, 42 Golden Eagles (32a, 2sa, 1j, 5u) and 1 dark morph Gyrfalcon that was possibly the same bird that was seen yesterday. Much of the early movement (14 birds) was on the western route, and before 1600 most eagles on the eastern route were initially located soaring over Mount Lorette or Mount McGillivray; after 1600 they were observed moving along the Fisher Range and crossing the valley to Mount Lorette. Twenty-nine of the birds moved after 1600 with a highest hourly count of 13 between 1700 and 1800. The resident pair of Golden Eagles was mainly seen in the vicinity of Olympic Summit, but no display behaviour has yet been reported. Other birds seen were 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 4 Grey Jays, 46 Common Ravens, including an evening roosting flock of 36 birds that soared above Mount Lorette before flying to Mount Allen, 1 Black-capped Chickadee, 1 American Dipper and 1 Common Redpoll. The site had 41 visitors today.

12.5 hours (101.8) BAEA 8 (27), SSHA 1 (3), GOEA 42 (133), GYRF 1 (3) TOTAL 52 (172)

Sunday, March 11 Beaver Mines [Day 15] 0830-1915 (Peter Sherrington). The temperature reached a high of 8.5C at 1200 from a starting low of -3C and was 2C at the end of observation. Winds were mainly light ESE-SE and cloud cover was 0% to 1300 when 20% altostratus moved slowly from the SW that became 80-90% altostratus, altocumulus and cirrus at 1400 for the rest of the day but still allowed hazy sunshine. The spring-like conditions were delightful but only yielded 4 Bald Eagles (3a, 1j) between 1308 and 1611. A non-migrant light morph Rough-legged Hawk was seen on two occasions and an adult resident Golden Eagle was also seen once. The Mount Lorette count today again strongly suggests that migrants by-passed Beaver Mines on ridges farther to the west which again were perfectly clear.

11.75 (135.8) BAEA 4 (60) TOTAL 4 (158)

Sunday, March 11 Steeples [Day 8] 1245-1900 (Vance Mattson, assisted by Virginia Rasch). It was a sunny day with the temperature reaching 10C, conditions were calm and cloud cover was 40-60% thin altostratus and cirrus. As yesterday a total of 68 migrants were tallied comprising 24 Bald Eagles (12a, 12j) and 44 Golden Eagles (41a, 3j). The birds moved between 1320 and 1826 with 19 migrants between 1500 and 1600 and 22 between 1600 and 1700. Compared to yesterday’s count there was far more soaring with kettles of 7 birds and 5 birds each being seen on two occasions. Resident birds were 1 adult Bald Eagle, 1 adult calurus light morph Red-tailed Hawk and 3 Golden Eagles (2a, 1j).

6.25 hours (34.25) BAEA 24 (50), GOEA 44 (115) TOTAL 68 (165)

Saturday, March 10 Mount Lorette [Day 9] 0715-1845 (Jim Davis, assisted by Ruth Morrow). The temperature at 0715 was -14C, the high was 7C at 1600 and it was 2C at the end of observation at 1845. Ground winds were generally very light and variable and calm for the first and last 2 hours of the day, with the exception of 1300-1700 when they were 2-10 gusting 15 km/h. Ridge winds were light to moderate W and skies were cloudless all day. A season-high total of 80 raptors of a season-high 6 species were counted between 0917 and 1740. Of these 28 were seen between 1600 and 1700 and another 28 between 1700 and 1740. The flight comprised a season-high 9 Bald Eagles (7a, 2sa), 2u Sharp-shinned Hawks (the first of the season), 3 adult Northern Goshawks (the first of the season), 2 light morph Rough-legged Hawks that migrated together, a season-high 63 Golden Eagles (43a, 4sa, 9j, 7u) and 1 dark morph Gyrfalcon that flew to the west late in the day. Only 3 birds, including the 2 Rough-legged Hawks, were seen on the western route; the rest used the eastern ridges with about 70% of the birds after 1600 originating from the Wasootch Creek area north of the northern end of the Fisher Range and gliding to Mount Lorette where they soared high before continuing towards the NW. The only resident raptor seen was an adult Northern Goshawk. Other birds were 2 male Common Goldeneyes, 1 Northern Flicker, 1 Pileated Woodpecker, 3 Grey Jays, 64 Common Ravens (29 of which soared above Mount Lorette at 1700), 1 American Dipper and 1 Grey-crowned Rosy Finch. An American Elk was heard bugling south of the site at 1000, and a season-high 45 visitors were lured out by the sunny weather.

12 hours (89.34) BAEA 9 (19), SSHA 2 (2), NOGO 3 (3), RLHA 2 (3), GOEA 63 (91), GYRF 1 (2) TOTAL 80 (120)

Saturday, March 10 Beaver Mines [Day 14] 0730-1830 (Peter Sherrington). The temperature was -2C at 0730, reached a high of 5C at 1200-1600 and was 2C at 1830. Winds were W-NW10-25 km/h to 1500 after which they were light S-SE and calm after 1800. It was essentially cloudless all day although trace to 20% thin stratus briefly developed from time to time. The first migrant was an adult Golden Eagle at 0811 which is the earliest so far this season, but movement was slow and sporadic with a disappointing total of only 19 raptors moving up to 1640. The count was 6 adult Bald Eagles, 2 light morph Rough-legged Hawks that flew north together at 1604 and 11 Golden Eagles (10a, 1sa). For the first time this season the ridges and mountains to the SW were completely clear and most of the birds seen at Mount Lorette today must have passed to the west of the site. Despite the low count a whole day of warm sunny weather was greatly appreciated.

11 hours (125) BAEA 6 (56), RLHA 2 (9), GOEA 11 (85) TOTAL 19 (154)

Saturday, March 10 Steeples [Day 7] 1100-1815 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 0C at 1100, rose to a high of 8C and was 2C at 1815. It was calm or light SE winds, and an initial cloud cover of 30% cumulus gave way to cloudless skies after 1500. A season-high total of 68 eagles were counted between 1120 and 1809 that comprised season-high counts of 16 Bald Eagles (9a, 1sa, 6j) and 52 Golden Eagles (49a, 1sa, 2j). The first two migrants were both adult Golden Eagles, at 1120 and 1142, and the next hour saw 13 migrants (5 Bald Eagles and 8 Golden Eagles). The most concentrated movement occurred between 1300 and 1400 with 27 migrants, and the next two hours saw 9 and 10 migrants respectively. No migrants moved between 1600 and 1700, but the pace again picked up slightly with 7 migrants between 1700 and 1815, including the last, a juvenile Bald Eagle, at 1809. Non-migrants were also all eagles consisting of 9 sightings of Bald Eagles (6a, 3j), including a courtship flight of two adults that soared in unison at close proximity, and 3 sightings of resident Golden Eagles. This peak of migrant eagles is comparable to similar numbers in the last two years: 63 migrants on March 11 in 2016, and 94 migrants on March 12 in 2017.

7.25 hours (28) BAEA 16 (26), GOEA 52 (71) TOTAL 68 (97)

Friday, March 9 Mount Lorette [Day 8] 0710-1835 (Caroline Lambert, assisted by Rick Robb and Alan Hingston). It was 0C at 0710, the high was 5C at 1500 and it was still 3C at 1835. Ground winds were W mainly 0-10 km/h but occasionally gusting to 30 km/h, and ridge winds were also W, moderate in the morning and light to moderate in the afternoon. Cloud cover was mainly variable altostratus and altocumulus, 20-80% in the morning and 40-100% in the afternoon. The east ridges were up to 20% obscured to 0900 and the west 40-60% obscured to 0900, but subsequently both routes were clear for the rest of the day. A season-high total of 16 raptors moved between 0943 and 1710 comprising 2 adult Bald Eagles and a season-high total of 14 Golden Eagles (6a, 2sa, 1j, 5u). All birds moved high to very high above the Fisher Range or the eastern side of the valley and most appeared to continue to the north above the valley: none were seen at Mount Lorette. A resident adult Golden Eagle was seen hunting the slopes of Mount McDougall and 2 Northern Goshawks (1a, 1j) flying low were also considered to be residents. Other birds seen were 1 Pileated Woodpecker, 4 Grey Jays, 12 Common Ravens, 1 Black-capped Chickadee, 1 American Dipper, 20 Bohemian Waxwings and 4 Common Redpolls. The highlight of the day, however, was when the Kananaskis pack of 4 Grey Wolves (3 grey and 1 black morph) crossed the Kananaskis River just north of the site traveling to the east. Six visitors were at the site today.

11.42 hours (77.34) BAEA 2 (10), GOEA 14 (28) TOTAL 16 (40)

Friday, March 9 Beaver Mines [Day 13] 0730-1700 (Peter Sherrington). The temperature at 0730 was 1C, rose to a high of 6C from 1100 to 1300 and was -1C at 1700. Winds were WSW-W 25-35 gusting to 60 km/h to 1600 when the winds shifted to NNE-NE 18-25 gusting 40 km/h. Cloud cover was initially 100% very thin altostratus to 0830 that quickly burned off leaving cloudless skies or up to 10% cumulus cover to 1400 when it rapidly began to cloud over and reached 100% stratus at 1500 and at 1600 low stratocumulus cloud rolled in from the NE bringing steady snow that completely obscured the ridge; at 1700 the count was abandoned for the day. Only one raptor was seen in the morning, an adult Golden Eagle at 0954, but the afternoon saw a steady movement with a further 20 birds mainly gliding high to the NW between 1230 and 1524. The flight comprised 9 adult Bald Eagles, 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk and 11 adult Golden Eagles.

9.5 hours (114) BAEA 9 (50), RLHA 1 (7), GOEA 11 (74) TOTAL 21 (136)

Friday, March 9 Steeples [Day 6] 1430-1730 (Vance Mattson). Rain started at 1100 that turned to wet snow that fell to 1330, after which the mountains slowly cleared. Vance arrived at the site at 1430 and by 1530 the ridges were mainly clear although the higher peaks remained cloud-covered. The temperature was 3C, it was calm and cloud cover ranged from 100% stratus to 80% altostratus, cumulus and altocumulus and, at 1700, reduced to 40% cumulus as the valley finally cleared. Despite the clearing not a single migrant or resident raptor was seen.

3 hours (20.75) TOTAL 0 (29)

Thursday, March 8 Mount Lorette [Day 7] 0745-1810 (Blake Weis, assisted by Alan Hingston). The starting temperature was -14C that rose to a high of 4C at 1500 and 1600 and was 2C at the end of observation. Ground winds were S-SW all day, 0-5 km/h in the morning and 5-10 gusting 20 km/h in the afternoon, and ridge winds were SW light to moderate in the morning and moderate for the rest of the day. Cloud cover was 100% cumulus, altostratus and altocumulus to 1300 after which it was 80-90% cumulus, altostratus and cirrus which gave excellent observing conditions. The eastern ridges were 10% obscured between 1100 and 1300 and the west was 10-20% obscured after 1100. A season-high total of 6 adult Golden Eagles were counted between 1245 and 1657, 4 of which were seen between 1300 and 1400. The first five birds moved from the northern end of the Fisher Range to Mount Lorette and the last was initially located over Mount Lorette. A resident Golden Eagle also soared over Mount Collembola to the west. Other birds present were 5 Canada Geese, 2 Hairy Woodpeckers (male and female), 1 Pileated Woodpecker that called east of the river, 7 Grey Jays, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 7 Common Ravens, 2 Boreal Chickadees, 2 American Dippers, 1 Townsend’s Solitaire and 2 Common Redpolls. There were no visitors today.

10.42 hours (65.92) GOEA 6 (14) TOTAL 6 (24)

Thursday, March 8 Beaver Mines [Day 12] 0730-1700 (Peter Sherrington). At 0730 the temperature was -9C which rose to a high of 7C at 1700. Winds were WSW-W all day, light (<10 km/h) to 1030 after which the velocity increased to 20-35 gusting 50 km/h for the rest of the day. Cloud cover was 100% uniform stratus to 1100 after which it was 70-80% cumulus, altostratus, altocumulus and cirrus which provided periods of sunshine and excellent observing conditions. The first migrant was not seen until 1138 but subsequently there was a fairly steady flow of raptors with a season-high total of 31 birds moving to 1646, 8 of which were seen during the last hour of observation. The count comprised 2 adult Bald Eagles, 2 adult Northern Goshawks, 2 Rough-legged Hawks (1 light, 1 dark) and a season-high 25 adult Golden Eagles. Two Golden Eagles, 1 adult and 1 juvenile, were considered to be residents.

Thursday, March 8 Steeples (Vance Mattson) NO OBSERVATION (Weather). Snow fell until noon, but heavy low cloud persisted and all mountains were obscured.

Wednesday, March 7 Mount Lorette [Day 6] 0740-1805 (Blake Weis). The starting temperature was -17C but reached a high of 2C between 1600 and 1800 and was -1C at 1800. Ground winds were variable 0-5 km/h to 1200 and S-SW 0-10 gusting 15-35 km/h in the afternoon, while ridge winds were SW all day, light to 1100 and then moderate. It was cloudless to 1200 after which cloud cover was 10% variable altocumulus, cumulus and cirrus for the rest of the day. All ridges were clear. Despite the apparently favourable migration conditions the only migrants seen were 2 adult Golden Eagles that soared in the face of Mount Lorette at 1640 before gliding to the NW. Resident or non-migrant birds were 2 adult Bald Eagles that hunted along the river, a pair of resident Northern Goshawks and an adult Golden Eagle that flew to the south along the Fisher Range. Other birds seen were 1 male Hairy Woodpecker, 5 Grey Jays, 16 Common Ravens, 4 Mountain Chickadees, 2 Boreal Chickadees, 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch, 1 American Dipper, 1 Townsend’s Solitaire, 1 White-winged Crossbill and 5 Common Redpolls. The pleasant weather enticed 7 visitors to the site.

10.42 hours (55.5) GOEA 2 (8) TOTAL 2 (18)

Wednesday, March 7 Beaver Mines [Day 11] 0745-1745 (Peter Sherrington). The starting temperature was -2C, the season-high at 1500 was 7C and it was still 3C at 1745. Winds were W-WSW all day 10-20 gusting 30 km/h, and it was cloudless to 1500 after which 20-60% thin altostratus and altocumulus developed. A season-high total of 20 migrant raptors of 4 species moved to the N or NW between 0954 and 1720 that comprised a season-high 12 Bald Eagles (6a, 2sa, 3j, 1u), the season’s first migrant Northern Goshawk (an adult), 6 adult Golden Eagles and the first Gyrfalcon of the season, a grey morph of unknown age. Ten of the birds migrated between 1404 and 1453 raising hopes of a significant movement, but no further birds were seen until 1720 when the last 2 Bald Eagles soared and glided to the north.

10 hours (95) BAEA 12 (39), NOGO 1 (1), GOEA 6 (38), GYRF 1 (1) TOTAL 20 (88)

Wednesday, March 7 Steeples [Day 5] 1500-1745 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 4C at 1500 and fell to 2C at 1745, it was calm and cloudless to 1600 after which 50% thin altostratus developed for the rest of the observation period. A total of 11 raptors moved between 1518 and 1643 that comprised 5 Bald Eagles (2a, 3j) and 6 adult Golden Eagles. Movement was slow and combined soaring and gliding flight. Non-migrants were 2 Bald Eagles (1a, 1j), 1 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk and 2 Golden Eagles (1a, 1j).

2.75 (17.75) BAEA 5 (10), GOEA 6 (19) TOTAL 11 (29)