March 7 [Day 6] (Brian McBride, assisted by Fred Bowen) 0730-1730. The temperature was a numbing -25C at 0730 but rose to a high of -6C at 1400 and 1500 before falling to -9C at 1730. Ground winds were NW all day, light to 1400 and 5-20 km/h after, while ridge winds were moderate W all day causing blowing snow on the western ridges. Cloud cover was cumulus and stratus all day, 10-20% in the morning and 30-60% in the afternoon, and although there was deep snow on the ground no fresh snow fell today. The ridges were clear all day except for a brief 30% occlusion of the western ridges around 1500. Despite the apparent favourable migration and observing conditions no migrant raptors were seen, and the only birds seen were 2 Grey Jays and 3 Common Ravens. Much more common were visitors with a total of 33 making it to the site today including a party of 27 students and staff from Crescent Heights High School in Calgary.

10 hours (58.34) TOTAL 0 (13)

Beaver Mines [Day 11] (Peter Sherrington) 1000-1800. There was dense fog in the valley that did not clear until 0950 after which the ridge was clear all day. The temperature at the start of observation at 1000 was -10C that briefly rose to a high of -6C at 1200 and was -10C at 1800. Winds were E-ESE all day, 10-20 gusting 30 km/h and cloud cover was 90-50% cumulus with minor stratus to 1630 that gave hazy sunshine, after which uniform stratus developed. Although observing conditions were ideal, the east winds, and possible snowfall to the south were not conducive to migration and no migrant raptors were seen. The highlight of the day, however, was a Northern Saw-whet Owl that I first saw flying in my yard at 0930 and it subsequently perched and hunted there until 1710. During this time it caught and ate at least one White-footed Mouse and made other unsuccessful vertical hunting plunges from aspen branch perches. It was quite confiding and I managed to take 57 very good photographs of it under excellent light conditions. “Fortunately” with a total absence of migrants I had plenty of time on my hands!

8 hours (69.25) TOTAL 0 (126)

Steeples (Vance Mattson) No observation.

MOUNT LORETTE SUMMARY COUNT (March 1 to April 22)

DAYS 6

HOURS 58.34

TURKEY VULTURE (TUVU) 0

OSPREY (OSPR) 0

BALD EAGLE (BAEA) 4

NORTHERN HARRIER (NOHA) 0

SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (SSHA) 0

COOPER’S HAWK (COHA) 0

NORTHERN GOSHAWK (NOGO) 0

Accipiter sp. (UA) 0

BROAD-WINGED HAWK (BWHA) 0

SWAINSON’S HAWK (SWHA) 0

RED-TAILED HAWK (RTHA) 0

FERRUGINOUS HAWK (FEHA) 0

ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (RLHA) 0

Buteo sp. (UB) 0

GOLDEN EAGLE (GOEA) 9

Eagle sp. (UE) 0

AMERICAN KESTREL (AMKE) 0

MERLIN (MERL) 0

GYRFALCON (GYRF) 0

PEREGRINE FALCON (PEFA) 0

PRAIRIE FALCON (PRFA) 0

Falco sp. (UF) 0

Unidentified Raptor (UU) 0

TOTAL 13

March 6 [Day 5] (George Halmazna, assisted by Dan Parliament) 0700-1740. The starting temperature was -19C, rose to a high of -6.5C at 1600 and was -8C at the end of observation. Ground winds were light NE all day, while ridge winds were strong SW creating blowing snow that obscured the western ridges from 20% in the morning to 90% in mid-afternoon. Cloud cover was initially 20% stratus that increased to 100% at 1600 bringing snow after 1630 that obscured the eastern ridges for the rest of the day. Five migrant Golden Eagles (4a, 1j) were counted between 0945 and 1426, 2 of which were located over the northern end of the Fisher Range and 3 above Mount Lorette. A resident adult male Northern Goshawk was present, and an immature Bald Eagle flew to the south, while the only other birds recorded were 1 Downy Woodpecker, 7 Common Ravens and 2 American Dippers. Cliff Hansen also found 3 Canada Geese and 1 male Common Goldeneye at the beaver ponds north of the site.

10.67 hours (48.34) GOEA 5 (9) TOTAL 5 (13)

[Corrections to March 5: the starting time was 0645 so the hours were 11.75 (37.67); the Northern Pygmy-Owl was seen at the site where it was photographed by Lori.]

Beaver Mines [Day 10] (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Connie Simmons and Phil Hazelton) 0800-1745. The temperature at 0800 was -10C, rose to a high of 0C from 1200-1400 and at 1745 was -3C. Winds were W-WSW all day, 15-30 gusting 45 km/h to 1700 when they became light and at the end of observation it was calm. Cloud cover was 0-30% thin altostratus to 1000 after which it was 60-80% cumulus and altostratus apart from 1400 when it was 30% cumulus. There were light snow flurries in the morning and persistent light snow from1245 to 1340 but otherwise the ridge was clear all day. The mountain ridges to the SW, however, were obscured by snow until 1630 after which they completely cleared. The day got off to an encouraging start with 9 raptors moving between 0808 and 0859 that included 6 Golden Eagles and the season’s first Prairie Falcon. Only 1 bird, a Northern Goshawk, was then seen before 1128 after which movement became steady and peaked at 10 migrants both between 1600 and 1700 and 1700 to 1732. The flight was a season-high 54 birds of 6 species comprising 11 Bald Eagles (8a, 1j, 2u), 2 Northern Goshawks (1a, 1u), 3 light morph Rough-legged Hawks, 36 Golden Eagles (34a, 2j), the season’s first columbarius Merlin, a male that vigorously mobbed the resident Golden Eagle after a steep stoop at 1732, and 1 Prairie Falcon.

9.75 hours (61.25) BAEA 11 (25), NOGO 2 (6), RLHA 3 (7), GOEA 36 (84), MERL 1 (1), PRFA 1 (1) TOTAL 54 (126)

Steeples (Vance Mattson) No observation.

MOUNT LORETTE SUMMARY COUNT (March 1 to April 22)

DAYS 5

HOURS 48.34

TURKEY VULTURE (TUVU) 0

OSPREY (OSPR) 0

BALD EAGLE (BAEA) 4

NORTHERN HARRIER (NOHA) 0

SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (SSHA) 0

COOPER’S HAWK (COHA) 0

NORTHERN GOSHAWK (NOGO) 0

Accipiter sp. (UA) 0

BROAD-WINGED HAWK (BWHA) 0

SWAINSON’S HAWK (SWHA) 0

RED-TAILED HAWK (RTHA) 0

FERRUGINOUS HAWK (FEHA) 0

ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (RLHA) 0

Buteo sp. (UB) 0

GOLDEN EAGLE (GOEA) 9

Eagle sp. (UE) 0

AMERICAN KESTREL (AMKE) 0

MERLIN (MERL) 0

GYRFALCON (GYRF) 0

PEREGRINE FALCON (PEFA) 0

PRAIRIE FALCON (PRFA) 0

Falco sp. (UF) 0

Unidentified Raptor (UU) 0

TOTAL 13

March 5 [Day 4] (Bill Wilson, assisted by Lori Anderson) 0710-1830. The temperature on arrival was -16C, rose to a high at 1500 of -8C and was -10C at the end of observation. Ground winds were SW 0-3 km/h to 1100 after which they were NNW-NNE 3-15 gusting 21 km/h, and ridge winds were probably mainly NNE light to moderate. Cloud cover was 100% stratus that occasionally reduced to 60-80% between 1200 and 1500. Both east and west ridges were essentially clear to 1000 after which the west was 100% and the east 60-100% obscured for the rest of the day. There was 30 cm of fresh snow at the site on arrival, and light to moderate snow fell continuously after 1030. Remarkably, four migrant raptors were seen: a subadult Bald Eagle flew to the north east of the river at 1053 at a height of 100 m, an adult Bald Eagle flew similarly at 300 m at 1257 and 2 adult Golden Eagles flew from the eastern part of the valley or the Fisher Range towards Mount Lorette, between 1300 and 1400, but both were lost in cloud. Other birds recorded were a total of 11 Canada Geese, 1 male Common Merganser flying low downstream at 1730, 1 Northern Pygmy-Owl that was heard singing east of the river, 1 Northern Shrike that hung around the site for most of the day, 1 Grey Jay, just 1 raven that was heard calling and 1 American Dipper.

11.33 hours (37.25) BAEA 2 (4), GOEA 2 (4) TOTAL 4 (8)

Beaver Mines [Day 9] (Peter Sherrington) 1430-1830. The temperature throughout the observation period was -10C. Winds were E-ESE 10-15 km/h to 1800 when a light W flow developed. Light to moderate snow fell to 1750 and the ridge was obscured except for 1430-1545, 1640-1700 and after 1750. The only migrant raptor seen was an adult Golden Eagle that glided and flapped to the NW in light snow at 1437.

4 hours (51.5) GOEA 1 (48) TOTAL 1 (72)

Steeples (Vance Mattson) No observation. The mountains were partially to totally obscured all day, with intermittent snow flurries. Vance ventured out at 1400 but immediately returned.

MOUNT LORETTE SUMMARY COUNT (March 1 to April 22)

DAYS 4

HOURS 37.25

TURKEY VULTURE (TUVU) 0

OSPREY (OSPR) 0

BALD EAGLE (BAEA) 4

NORTHERN HARRIER (NOHA) 0

SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (SSHA) 0

COOPER’S HAWK (COHA) 0

NORTHERN GOSHAWK (NOGO) 0

Accipiter sp. (UA) 0

BROAD-WINGED HAWK (BWHA) 0

SWAINSON’S HAWK (SWHA) 0

RED-TAILED HAWK (RTHA) 0

FERRUGINOUS HAWK (FEHA) 0

ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (RLHA) 0

Buteo sp. (UB) 0

GOLDEN EAGLE (GOEA) 4

Eagle sp. (UE) 0

AMERICAN KESTREL (AMKE) 0

MERLIN (MERL) 0

GYRFALCON (GYRF) 0

PEREGRINE FALCON (PEFA) 0

PRAIRIE FALCON (PRFA) 0

Falco sp. (UF) 0

Unidentified Raptor (UU) 0

TOTAL 8

March 4 (Jim Davis) No observation possible. 0800-1200. The temperature was -7C, it was calm and low overcast with steady heavy snow throughout. There was 25 cm of fresh snow at the parking area on arrival and a further 20 cm had fallen before Jim left at noon with the conditions showing no sign of changing.

Beaver Mines [Day 8] (Peter Sherrington) 0900-1745. The temperature at 0900 was 4C, reached a high of 6C at 1200 and 1300 and was 2C at 1745. Winds were W-WSW 40-55 gusting 67 km/h to 1600 after which they dropped below 20 km/h and were light E just before the end of observation. Cloud cover was initially 10-20% cumulus t0 1300 when altostratus cloud began to form reaching 70-80% throughout the afternoon that gave good observing conditions. Apart from 1300-1500 the mountain ridges to the SW were clear. Raptor movement was initially slow with only 5 Golden Eagles seen between 0954 and 1236. After 1400, however, the pace quickened somewhat and a further 11 migrants moved to the NW before 1721. The count was 4 adult Bald Eagles, 1 adult Northern Goshawk, 2 light morph Rough-legged Hawks and 9 Golden Eagles (8a, 1j).

8.75 hours (47.5) BAEA 4 (14), NOGO 1 (4), RLHA 2 (4) GOEA 9 (47) TOTAL 16 (71)

Steeples [Day 1] (Vance Mattson) 1200-1600. Because the access road to the Bill Nye site is still barred by heavy snow drifts Vance observed from the Bull Mountain site which is the most southerly peak of the Steeples Range. The temperature was 6C with calm or moderate W winds, cloud cover was 40-60% cumulus and altostratus that gave mainly sunny conditions. The ridges were generally clear but no migrants were seen; however 6 Bald Eagles (5a, 1j) and 3 Golden Eagles (1a, 2j) were in the area but none showed any signs of migratory behaviour. The adult Golden Eagle was seen displaying.

4 hours (4) TOTAL 0 (0)

MOUNT LORETTE SUMMARY COUNT (March 1 to April 22)

DAYS 3

HOURS 25.92

TURKEY VULTURE (TUVU) 0

OSPREY (OSPR) 0

BALD EAGLE (BAEA) 2

NORTHERN HARRIER (NOHA) 0

SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (SSHA) 0

COOPER’S HAWK (COHA) 0

NORTHERN GOSHAWK (NOGO) 0

Accipiter sp. (UA) 0

BROAD-WINGED HAWK (BWHA) 0

SWAINSON’S HAWK (SWHA) 0

RED-TAILED HAWK (RTHA) 0

FERRUGINOUS HAWK (FEHA) 0

ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (RLHA) 0

Buteo sp. (UB) 0

GOLDEN EAGLE (GOEA) 2

Eagle sp. (UE) 0

AMERICAN KESTREL (AMKE) 0

MERLIN (MERL) 0

GYRFALCON (GYRF) 0

PEREGRINE FALCON (PEFA) 0

PRAIRIE FALCON (PRFA) 0

Falco sp. (UF) 0

Unidentified Raptor (UU) 0

TOTAL 4

March 3 [Day3] (Blake Weis, assisted by Dan Parliament) 0745-1610. The temperature was 0C apart from 0900-1200 when the temperature was 1C. Ground winds were SW 10-20 gusting to 43 km/h and ridge winds were SW very strong in the morning and strong in the afternoon. Cloud cover was initially 10-20% altocumulus and cumulus but it rapidly thickened in late morning and was 100% stratus throughout the afternoon. The eastern ridges were clear to 1100 and afterwards were 20-90% variably obscured before reaching 100% at 1600. The west was 20% obscured to 1100 and was 100% obscured throughout the afternoon. Light snow fell between 0900 and 1000 that became steady after 1200 and heavy at 1610 when the count was abandoned for the day. No migrant raptors were seen but a non-migrant adult Bald Eagle flapped low to the south into the wind above the river. The only other birds seen were 15 Common Ravens, 2 Black-capped Chickadees, 1 Boreal Chickadee and 1 American Dipper.

8.42 hours (25.92) TOTAL 0 (4)

Beaver Mines [Day7] (Peter Sherrington) 0900-1715. The temperature was 3C at both the start and finish of the count and the high at 1300 and 1400 was 6C. winds were WSW-W all day, 40-60 gusting to 87 km/h. Cloud cover was 20-30% altocumulus and cumulus to 1200 after which it thickened to 60-70% altostratus, altocumulus and cumulus, and 100% stratus after 1500. After 1300 the mountains to the southwest were obscured and sporadic very light snow flurries occurred after 1400. It was a disappointing migration with only 8 birds seen: 2 adult Bald Eagles and 6 adult Golden Eagles between 0931 and 1602. Three of the birds moved between 1330 and 1356.

8.25 hours (38.75) BAEA 2 (10), GOEA 8 (38) TOTAL 8 (55)

Steeples (Vance Mattson) No observation. It was overcast all day with light rain, with the mountains partially to totally obscured by cloud.

MOUNT LORETTE SUMMARY COUNT (March 1 to April 22)

DAYS 3

HOURS 25.92

TURKEY VULTURE (TUVU) 0

OSPREY (OSPR) 0

BALD EAGLE (BAEA) 2

NORTHERN HARRIER (NOHA) 0

SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (SSHA) 0

COOPER’S HAWK (COHA) 0

NORTHERN GOSHAWK (NOGO) 0

Accipiter sp. (UA) 0

BROAD-WINGED HAWK (BWHA) 0

SWAINSON’S HAWK (SWHA) 0

RED-TAILED HAWK (RTHA) 0

FERRUGINOUS HAWK (FEHA) 0

ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (RLHA) 0

Buteo sp. (UB) 0

GOLDEN EAGLE (GOEA) 2

Eagle sp. (UE) 0

AMERICAN KESTREL (AMKE) 0

MERLIN (MERL) 0

GYRFALCON (GYRF) 0

PEREGRINE FALCON (PEFA) 0

PRAIRIE FALCON (PRFA) 0

Falco sp. (UF) 0

Unidentified Raptor (UU) 0

TOTAL 4