April 18 [Day 47] (Brian McBride, assisted by Fred Bowen) 0710-1910. The temperature reached a high of 10C at 1700 and 1800 from a morning low of 0C and it was 8C at the end of observation. Ground winds were very variable, light to 0900, then 10-15 gusting 20 km/h to 1300 after which they were 5-10 km/h for the rest of the day; ridge winds were W moderate to strong from 1000 to 1400, and moderate for the rest of the time. Cloud cover was also variable ranging from 30 to 90% mainly cumulus and altostratus that gave good observing conditions throughout. The east ridges were clear all day, while the west was variably 30-90% obscured until 1700 after which it was also clear. A mixture of snow and rain fell from 1315 to 1345, from 1600 to 1630 and after 1900. Despite the mainly favourable migration and observing conditions only 2 migrant raptors were seen: 1u American Kestrel that soared high above the Hay Meadow at 0842 before drifting northwards, and 1j Golden Eagle that flew north from the northern end of the Fisher Range at 1420. Resident raptors were 2 Northern Goshawks at the nest site near the parking area, at least I pair of Red-tailed Hawks and a pair of Golden Eagles, one of which displayed over the Fisher Range in the afternoon. Other bird species included 1 drumming Ruffed Grouse, 1 singing Northern Pygmy-Owl, 1 Northern Shrike, 2 Tree Swallows, 2 Ruby-crowned Kinglets, 7 Mountain Bluebirds (4m, 3f), 9 American Robins, 1 singing Varied Thrush, 3 American Pipits and 17 Dark-eyed Juncos. There were no visitors today, but a male Grizzly Bear on the Stoney Trail at 1620 was some compensation for the poor raptor migration. The bear had an ear tag # 64 that indicated that it was first captured 20 years ago.

12 hours (543.3) GOEA 1 (2204), AMKE 1 (4) TOTAL 2 (2564)

Beaver Mines [Day 52] (Peter Sherrington) 0800-1945. The temperature at 0800 was 2C, the high was 13.5C at 1400 and it was 8.5C at the end of observation. Winds were W-WSW all day 25-40 gusting 55 km/h, and cloud cover was 50-80% altostratus, cumulus and altocumulus that briefly reached 100% around 1800. It was mainly sunny and observing conditions were good throughout the day. Movement was initially slow with only 2 Golden Eagles recorded between 0959 and 1200, but subsequently migration was steady to 1914 with a maximum hourly count of 10 between 1500 and 1600. The final total was 39 birds of 8 species comprising 1a Bald Eagle, 7a Northern Harriers (6 male, 1 female), 4u Sharp-shinned Hawks, 5 Northern Goshawks (4a, 1u), 7a calurus Red-tailed Hawks (6 light and 1 dark), 1 dark morph Rough-legged Hawk, 1 unidentified Buteo, 12 Golden Eagles (4a, 1sa, 5j, 2u) and 1 adult male columbarius Merlin.

11.75 hours (469.8) BAEA 1 (295), NOHA 7 (51), SSHA 4 (55), NOGO 5 (67), RTHA 7 (179), RLHA 1 (67), UB 1 (16), GOEA 12 (1045), MERL 1 (17) TOTAL 39 (1857)

Steeples (Vance Mattson) No observation.

MOUNT LORETTE SUMMARY COUNT (March 1 to April 22)

DAYS 47

HOURS 543.3

TURKEY VULTURE (TUVU) 0

OSPREY (OSPR) 0

BALD EAGLE (BAEA) 210

NORTHERN HARRIER (NOHA) 3

SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (SSHA) 11

COOPER’S HAWK (COHA) 4

NORTHERN GOSHAWK (NOGO) 24

Accipiter sp. (UA) 0

BROAD-WINGED HAWK (BWHA) 3

SWAINSON’S HAWK (SWHA) 0

RED-TAILED HAWK (RTHA) 47

FERRUGINOUS HAWK (FEHA) 0

ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (RLHA) 22

Buteo sp. (UB) 3

GOLDEN EAGLE (GOEA) 2204

Eagle sp. (UE) 13

AMERICAN KESTREL (AMKE) 4

MERLIN (MERL) 5

GYRFALCON (GYRF) 2

PEREGRINE FALCON (PEFA) 4

PRAIRIE FALCON (PRFA) 1

Falco sp. (UF) 2

Unidentified Raptor (UU) 2

TOTAL 2564

April 17 [Day 46] (George Halmazna, assisted by Dan Parliament) 0600-1815. The temperature was -2C at 0600, rose to a high of 9.5C at 1400 and was 7.5C at 1800. Ground winds were SW 0-5 km/h to 1100, variable SW-NW to 1300 and light NW for the rest of the day, while ridge winds were probably light W-NW all day. Cloud cover was 70-100% altostratus, cumulus, cirrostratus and stratus all day that produced light snow flurries between 1400 and 1700, but visibility was good all day. A total of 21 migrant raptors of 6 species were seen between 1052 and 1332, after which movement completely ceased. Apart from the first 3 Golden Eagles that moved on the western route all others moved from the Fisher Range to Mount Lorette from where they headed directly to the north. The flight comprised 1j Bald Eagle, 1a Sharp-shinned Hawk, 2a Northern Goshawks, 5a light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks, 11 Golden Eagles (1a, 6sa, 4u) and 1 adult male richardsonii Merlin. Eight of the 11 Golden Eagles were recorded between 1200 and 1300. There was a good variety of other bird species including 1 Sandhill Crane that flew to the SW above the Fisher Range at 1335, first records of single Pacific Wren and Savannah Sparrow, 4 drumming Ruffed Grouse, 2 Northern Pygmy-Owls, 1 male Belted Kingfisher, 1 Pileated Woodpecker, 1 Northern Shrike, 9 Tree Swallows, 9 Ruby-crowned Kinglets, 6 Mountain Bluebirds (5m, 1f), 1 Townsend’s Solitaire, 44 American Robins, 9 Varied Thrushes, 1 American Pipit, 5 Song Sparrows, 32 Dark-eyed Juncos, 4 Red-winged Blackbirds, 50 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches and 17 Common Redpolls. The first butterfly of the season, an unidentified Comma (Polygonia sp) was on the wing at 1445. The 17 visitors to the site had plenty to look at.

12.25 hours (531.3) BAEA 1 (210), SSHA 1 (11), NOGO 2 (24), RTHA 5 (47), GOEA 11 (2203), MERL 1 (5) TOTAL 21 (2562)

Beaver Mines [Day 51] (Peter Sherrington) 0800-1945. The starting temperature was 1C, rose to a high of 13C at 1500 and was 6C at 1945 when observation ceased. Winds were variable and light to 1315 after which they were W-SW 30-45 gusting up to 70 km/h for the rest of the day. Cloud cover was mainly 60-100% stratus, cumulus, altostratus and altocumulus to 1900 after which it rapidly reduced to 10% at the end of observation. Viewing conditions were very good throughout. There was a steady raptor migration between 1055 and 1746 involving 35 birds of 9 species. The count was 1 Osprey, 4 Bald Eagles (1a, 1sa, 2j), a season high 12 Northern Harriers (6 males: 5a, 1j, 4a females and 1u), 2 Sharp-shinned Hawks (1a, 1u), 1a Cooper’s Hawk, 7 calurus Red-tailed Hawks (5 light: 4a, 1u and 2a dark), 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk, 1 unidentified light Buteo, 5 Golden Eagles (3a, 1sa, 1j) and 1 juvenile Peregrine Falcon. A male Yellow-rumped [Audubon’s] Warbler was a first for the year at 1050.

11.75 hours (453.1) OSPR 1 (8), BAEA 4 (294), NOHA 12 (44), SSHA 2 (51), COHA 1 (8), RTHA 7 (172), RLHA 1 (66), UB 1 (15), GOEA 5 (1033), PEFA 1 (8) TOTAL 35 (1818)

Steeples (Vance Mattson) observation.

MOUNT LORETTE SUMMARY COUNT (March 1 to April 22)

DAYS 46

HOURS 531.3

TURKEY VULTURE (TUVU) 0

OSPREY (OSPR) 0

BALD EAGLE (BAEA) 210

NORTHERN HARRIER (NOHA) 3

SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (SSHA) 11

COOPER’S HAWK (COHA) 4

NORTHERN GOSHAWK (NOGO) 24

Accipiter sp. (UA) 0

BROAD-WINGED HAWK (BWHA) 3

SWAINSON’S HAWK (SWHA) 0

RED-TAILED HAWK (RTHA) 47

FERRUGINOUS HAWK (FEHA) 0

ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (RLHA) 22

Buteo sp. (UB) 3

GOLDEN EAGLE (GOEA) 2203

Eagle sp. (UE) 13

AMERICAN KESTREL (AMKE) 3

MERLIN (MERL) 5

GYRFALCON (GYRF) 2

PEREGRINE FALCON (PEFA) 4

PRAIRIE FALCON (PRFA) 1

Falco sp. (UF) 2

Unidentified Raptor (UU) 2

TOTAL 2562

April 16 [Day 45] (Bill Wilson, assisted by Caroline Lambert) 0620-2050. The temperature reached a high of 9C at 1700 and 1800 from a starting low of -3C and it was 3C when observation ceased at 2050. Ground winds were variable 0-3 km/h to 1000, SW 5-10 gusting 28 km/h to 1800 after which they were again variable 2-5 km/h for the rest of the day; ridge winds were moderate to strong W for most of the day. Cloud cover was 30% cirrus and altostratus to 0800, 5-10% altocumulus to 1700 and 90% cirrus for the rest of the day. There was a fairly strong raptor movement of 51 birds of 5 species dominated by 39 Golden Eagles which is the highest count for the species here since March 31. Birds were seen between 1048 and 1953, 23 of which (1 Bald Eagle, 1 Red-tailed Hawk and 21 Golden Eagles) moved between 1700 and 1800 and all but one of these birds used the western route. Overall, very few birds were seen above the Fisher Range and most birds that were not located to the west were first seen over Mount Lorette. The count was 1 juvenile Bald Eagle, 3u Sharp-shinned Hawks, 3u Northern Goshawks, 5 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks and 39 Golden Eagles (14a, 1sa, 17j, 7u). This is the first day that juveniles have dominated the Golden Eagle count. Resident birds were 1 adult Northern Goshawk, a pair of Red-tailed Hawks and a pair of Golden Eagles seen just south of Olympic Summit where the male displayed. Other birds near the site included a Great Horned Owl heard shortly after arrival, 1 Northern Pygmy-Owl singing in the morning, 1 male Belted Kingfisher, a pair of Pileated Woodpeckers, 1 Northern Shrike, 3 Tree Swallows, 2 Ruby-crowned Kinglets, 5 Mountain Bluebirds, 1 singing Song Sparrow and 4 Common Redpolls. Six Bighorn Sheep were on Olympic Summit, and 33 visitors enjoyed both the weather and the birds,

14.5 hours (519.1) BAEA 1 (209), SSHA 3 (10), NOGO 3 (22), RTHA 5 (42), GOEA 39 (2192), TOTAL 51 (2541)

Beaver Mines [Day 50] (Peter Sherrington) 0800-1800. The temperature at 0800 was -3C under a blanket of thick fog; by 0900 the fog had lifted above the valley floor and the ridge finally emerged at 1025 revealing a cloudless sky. The temperature rose to a high of 11C at 1500 and was 7C at 1800 when observation ended. Winds were light E-SE to 1400 after which they were E-ESE 20-35 km/h, and cloud cover after 1130 was 30-60% cumulus except at 1800 when it increased to 80% cumulus, altocumulus and cirrus. Observing conditions after 1130 were excellent but, as usual, the easterly winds were not conducive to raptor movement and the day only produced 4 migrants: 1subadult Golden Eagle at 1042, 1 adult female Northern Harrier at 1121, 1 adult Sharp-shinned Hawk at 1152 and 1 unaged light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk at 1707. The resident Red-tailed Hawks often soared to considerable heights in the afternoon but were only seen to the NE of the ridge. The day did have one highlight, however, as a Whooping Crane flew low and slowly to the NE above the centre of the valley below the base of the fog bank at 0913. Brown feathering on its scapulars and wing coverts of an otherwise all-white bird with conspicuous black wing tips showed it to be in its second year. This is only the second record of the species for the area, the first being last year on April 12 when an adult bird migrated over the site to the NNW.

10 hours (446.3) NOHA 1 (32), SSHA 1 (49), RTHA 1 (165), GOEA 1 (1028) TOTAL 4 (1783)

Steeples (Vance Mattson) No observation.

MOUNT LORETTE SUMMARY COUNT (March 1 to April 22)

DAYS 45

HOURS 519.1

TURKEY VULTURE (TUVU) 0

OSPREY (OSPR) 0

BALD EAGLE (BAEA) 209

NORTHERN HARRIER (NOHA) 3

SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (SSHA) 10

COOPER’S HAWK (COHA) 4

NORTHERN GOSHAWK (NOGO) 22

Accipiter sp. (UA) 0

BROAD-WINGED HAWK (BWHA) 3

SWAINSON’S HAWK (SWHA) 0

RED-TAILED HAWK (RTHA) 42

FERRUGINOUS HAWK (FEHA) 0

ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (RLHA) 22

Buteo sp. (UB) 3

GOLDEN EAGLE (GOEA) 2192

Eagle sp. (UE) 13

AMERICAN KESTREL (AMKE) 3

MERLIN (MERL) 4

GYRFALCON (GYRF) 2

PEREGRINE FALCON (PEFA) 4

PRAIRIE FALCON (PRFA) 1

Falco sp. (UF) 2

Unidentified Raptor (UU) 2

TOTAL 2541

April 15 [Day 44] (Jim Davis, assisted by Ruth Morrow) 0800-1900. The temperature high was 5C at 1300 and 1400, and it was 1C at both the start and end of observation. Ground winds were 10-22 gusting to 35 km/h, SW to 1400 then W for the rest of the day, while ridge winds were strong all day and reflected the ground wind directions. Cloud cover was 70-90% cumulus and stratus to noon and 100% stratus for the rest of the day that produced light snow from 0900 to 1100 and moderate snow after 1400. The western ridges were 80-100% obscured all day and the east was completely obscured after 1400. Despite the conditions 15 migrant raptors were seen between 0858 and 1502, 5 of which moved from the northern end of the Fisher Range to Mount Lorette while the rest were seen flying low near the site and either continued low down the valley to the N or flew to the NW across Skogan Pass. The count, which involved 7 species, was 2 Cooper’s Hawks (1a, 1j), 1 adult Northern Goshawk, 2 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks, 6 Golden Eagles (3a, 1sa, 1j, 1u), 2 female American Kestrels, one of which hunted the meadow for 10 minutes before flying to the north, 1u columbarius Merlin and 1 dark morph Gyrfalcon. Resident birds were a pair of Red-tailed Hawks that soared over Hummingbird Plume Hill, and an adult Golden Eagle that flew to the south above the Fisher Range. Other birds recorded included 1 Trumpeter Swan that above the river at 1000, 5 drumming Ruffed Grouse, 7 Mountain Bluebirds (5m, 2f), 5 American Robins, 1 Varied Thrush and 200 Dark-eyed Juncos, most of which were “slate-coloured” morphs, that fed in the meadow with a single European Starling for much of the day. The last hour of the day was spent at the Lusk Creek site where the clouds hovered just above the ridge, but the only birds seen were a single flock of 75 Canada Geese flying north. Surprisingly, considering the weather, 33 visitors made it to the Hay Meadow site.

11 hours (504.6) COHA 2 (4), NOGO 1 (19), RTHA 2 (37), GOEA 6 (2153), AMKE 2 (3), MERL 1 (4), GYRF 1 (2) TOTAL 15 (2490)

Beaver Mines [Day 49] (Peter Sherrington) 0800-1800. It was 0C at 0800, rose to a high of 7C at 1600 and it was 5C when observation ended at 1800. Winds were strong W-WSW all day 40-50 gusting to 70 km/h, and cloud cover was 70-100 % altostratus and cumulus for most of the day apart from 0830-1030 when it cleared to 10% cumulus, and 1600-1730 when it was 20-30% cumulus and altostratus. There were persistent light snow flurries to 1400, after which observing conditions improved considerably. There was a steady movement of 36 raptors of a season-high 12 species between 0833 and 1734, of which 7 birds were seen between 0833 and 0857 which raised the expectation of a significant movement. The final total, however, only equaled the highest count for the month so far and comprised 2 Ospreys, 2 adult Bald Eagles, 6 Sharp-shinned Hawks (2a, 2u), 2 adult Northern Goshawks, 1 dark morph adult Swainson’s Hawk, 5 adult Red-tailed Hawks (4 light calurus and 1 dark harlani), 1 light adult Ferruginous Hawk, 1 dark morph Rough-legged Hawk, 1 unidentified light morph Buteo, 11 Golden Eagles (8a, 1sa, 2j), 1 male American Kestrel, 1 grey morph adult male Gyrfalcon and 2 Peregrine Falcons (1a male, 1u). The 2 resident pairs of Red-tailed Hawks were mainly seen hunting between 0838 and 1743. And only 1 brief display flight was observed.

10 hours (436.3) OSPR 2 (7), BAEA 2 (290), SSHA 6 (48), NOGO 2 (62), SWHA 1 (2), RTHA 5 (164), FEHA 1 (5), RLHA 1 (65), UB 1 (14), GOEA 11 (1027), AMKE 1 (4), GYRF 1 (5), PEFA 2 (7) TOTAL 36 (1779)

Steeples (Vance Mattson) No observation.

MOUNT LORETTE SUMMARY COUNT (March 1 to April 22)

DAYS 44

HOURS 504.6

TURKEY VULTURE (TUVU) 0

OSPREY (OSPR) 0

BALD EAGLE (BAEA) 208

NORTHERN HARRIER (NOHA) 3

SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (SSHA) 7

COOPER’S HAWK (COHA) 4

NORTHERN GOSHAWK (NOGO) 19

Accipiter sp. (UA) 0

BROAD-WINGED HAWK (BWHA) 3

SWAINSON’S HAWK (SWHA) 0

RED-TAILED HAWK (RTHA) 37

FERRUGINOUS HAWK (FEHA) 0

ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (RLHA) 22

Buteo sp. (UB) 3

GOLDEN EAGLE (GOEA) 2153

Eagle sp. (UE) 13

AMERICAN KESTREL (AMKE) 3

MERLIN (MERL) 4

GYRFALCON (GYRF) 2

PEREGRINE FALCON (PEFA) 4

PRAIRIE FALCON (PRFA) 1

Falco sp. (UF) 2

Unidentified Raptor (UU) 2

TOTAL 2490

April 14 [Day 43] (George Halmazna, assisted by Diane Stinson) 0630-1815. The temperature rose to a high of 6.5C at 1500 and 1600 from a morning low of -1C, and was 4.5C at the end of observation. Ground winds were SW 2-5 km/h in the morning, SSW 5-25 km/h to 1700 after which they were again SW 2-10 km/h; ridge winds were strong SW all day. Cloud cover was 40% stratus and cumulus to 1100 after which it was 70-90% cumulus for the rest of the day. Snow flurries occurred regularly after 1600. Raptor migration was slow with only 6 birds moving between 1038 and 1514 comprising 2 Bald Eagles (1a and 1 undifferentiated immature bird), 1 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk and 3 Golden Eagles (1a, 2sa). All the birds moved from the northern end of the Fisher Range to the NW above Skogan Pass and bypassed Mount Lorette. Other birds recorded included 1 drumming Ruffed Grouse, the first Wilson’s Snipe of the season (2 birds flying at 0818), 1 Pileated Woodpecker, 3 Ruby-crowned Kinglets, 9 Mountain Bluebirds (5m, 4f), 26 American Robins, 3 Varied Thrushes, 3 American Pipits, 1 Song Sparrow and 61 Dark-eyed Juncos. A total of 67 Elk were seen, 61 of which were in the Hay Meadow, and 23 visitors made it to the site today.

11.75 hours (493.6) BAEA 2 (208), RTHA 1 (35), GOEA 3 (2147) TOTAL 6 (2475)

Beaver Mines [Day 47] (Peter Sherrington) 0800-2015. The temperature at 0800 was 4C, rose to a high of 10C at 1200 and 1300, fell to 3C at 1600 after a 50 minute snowfall, recovered to 5.5C at 1700 and was again 3C at the end of observation. Winds were mainly W-WSW 30-50 gusting to 70 km/h, and cloud cover was 30-40% cumulus, altocumulus and cirrus to 1000, 60-100% altostratus and cumulus to 1500, and 10-30% mainly cumulus for the rest of the day. There were periods of snow between 1335 and 1355, and 1520 and 1610 that were followed by a few five-minute flurries to 1725. Observation conditions were excellent after 1600 when 19 of the day’s 34 migrants were seen. Birds moved between 0832 and 1930 with a maximum movement of 7 migrants between 1900 and 1930. The count, involving a season-high 10 species, was 2 Osprey, 7 adult Bald Eagles, 4 Sharp-shinned Hawks (2a, 2j), 3 Northern Goshawks (2a, 1j), 4 light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks (2a, 2u), 1 adult light morph Ferruginous Hawk, 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk, 1 unidentified light morph Buteo, 5 Golden Eagles (1a, 1sa, 1j, 2u), 2 Merlins (1u columbarius and 1 female richardsonii), 2 adult male Peregrine Falcons and 2 small unidentified raptors. The 4 resident Red-tailed Hawks were active between 0836 and 1926, apart from the snowfall periods.

12.25 hours (426.3) OSPR 2 (5), BAEA 7 (288), SSHA 4 (42), NOGO 3 (60), RTHA 4 (159), FEHA 1 (4), RLHA 1 (64), UB 1 (13), GOEA 5 (1016), MERL 2 (16), PEFA 2 (5), UU 2 (2) TOTAL 34 (1743)

Steeples (Vance Mattson) No observation.

MOUNT LORETTE SUMMARY COUNT (March 1 to April 22)

DAYS 43

HOURS 493.6

TURKEY VULTURE (TUVU) 0

OSPREY (OSPR) 0

BALD EAGLE (BAEA) 208

NORTHERN HARRIER (NOHA) 3

SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (SSHA) 7

COOPER’S HAWK (COHA) 2

NORTHERN GOSHAWK (NOGO) 18

Accipiter sp. (UA) 0

BROAD-WINGED HAWK (BWHA) 3

SWAINSON’S HAWK (SWHA) 0

RED-TAILED HAWK (RTHA) 35

FERRUGINOUS HAWK (FEHA) 0

ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (RLHA) 22

Buteo sp. (UB) 3

GOLDEN EAGLE (GOEA) 2147

Eagle sp. (UE) 13

AMERICAN KESTREL (AMKE) 1

MERLIN (MERL) 3

GYRFALCON (GYRF) 1

PEREGRINE FALCON (PEFA) 4

PRAIRIE FALCON (PRFA) 1

Falco sp. (UF) 2

Unidentified Raptor (UU) 2

TOTAL 2475