Friday, April 24 Beaver Mines [Day 60] 0900-2030 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0900 was 7C, the high at 1700 was 13.5C and it was 9.5C at 2030. The wind was W in the morning, light at 0900 then 20-30 gusting 40 km/h, and throughout the afternoon it was WSW 30-40 gusting 45 km/h. Cloud cover was variable 10-70% cumulus to 1430 after which 100% thin cirrostratus quickly developed that thickened to 100% grey altostratus after 1700 that made for a gloomy end to the day. A total of 16 migrant raptors of 7 species were counted between 1029 and 1856 that comprised 1 adult Turkey Vulture, 2 Northern Harriers (1 juvenile female and 1 adult male), 4u Sharp-shinned Hawks, 1 adult light morph Broad-winged Hawk, 3 calurus Red-tailed Hawks (1a and 1j light morphs, and 1 adult dark morph), 4 Golden Eagles (1a, 3j) and 1 adult female Peregrine Falcon. Movement was generally slow with maximum hourly counts of only 4 birds between 1700 and 1800 and again between 1800 and 1900. The evening gloom was enlivened, however, by the consecutive appearances of the Turkey Vulture at 1830, the Broad-winged Hawk at 1835 and the Peregrine Falcon at 1844 and suddenly it seemed that the day was not so bad after all! Other birds were 22 Canada Geese, 5 Mallards, 5 Green-winged Teal, 9 Rock Pigeons, the first Mourning Dove of the season, 1 Vaux’s Swift that flew fairly low near the site at 1124 for a first seasonal record and a first April record for the area, 8 Sandhill Cranes that fed SE of the creek and  a pair that flew high to the SW at 1246, 1 Great Blue Heron, 1 Downy Woodpecker, 1 Red-shafted Flicker, 3 Steller’s Jays, 1 Blue Jay, 5 Black-billed Magpies, 16 American Crows, 12 Common Ravens, 3 Tree Swallows, 5 Mountain Chickadees, 11 American Robins, 6 European Starlings, 10 Evening Grosbeaks, 50 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches that flew high to the WNW at 1402, 1 female Spotted Towhee that was a first for the season, 4 Dark-eyed Juncos (2 cismontanus and 2 montanus), 4 male Red-winged Blackbirds, and 1 male and 2 female Common Grackles.

11.5 hours (754.2) TUVU 1 (7), NOHA 2 (40), SSHA 4 (101) BWHA 1 (16), RTHA 3 (270), GOEA 4 (1126), PEFA 1 (12) TOTAL 16 (2129)

Thursday, April 23 Beaver Mines [Day 59] 0900-2030 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0900 was 9C, the high at 1400 was 14C and it was 9C at 2030. Winds were light NW to 1030, WSW-SW 20-35 gusting to 50 km/h to 1600, WNW-NW 20-30 km/h to 2000 and light W at 2030. Cloud cover was 100-60% cumulus, stratocumulus and cirrus to 1330, 20-40% scattered cumulus to 1700 that thickened to 70-90% dark cumulus at 1800 and 1900 and produced scattered showers and brief periods of light rain that stopped at 1930, and then cleared to 20-30% cumulus and altocumulus for the rest of the day. Much of the day saw hazy sunshine, and migration and observing conditions were again very good, producing a total of 35 migrant raptors of 12 species between 1227 and 1842. The count was 1 adult Turkey Vulture, 6 Bald Eagles (3a, 3j), 1u male Northern Harrier, 4u Sharp-shinned Hawks, 1 adult Northern Goshawk, 2u light morph Broad-winged Hawks, 1 adult light morph Swainson’s Hawk, 7 calurus Red-tailed Hawks (5a, 1j light morphs and 1a dark morph), 9 Golden Eagles (1a, 2sa, 6j), 1 adult male columbarius Merlin and 1 adult female Peregrine Falcon. Movement was initially slow but gradually increased with 21 birds moving after 1600 culminating in 9 being seen between 1809 and 1842. Resident birds were a pair of Northern Harriers and a single adult male that displayed alongside the other male at 1618 (the first display by a single male was seen at 0615!), 2 pairs of Red-tailed Hawks that were mainly seen hunting and 1 adult Golden Eagle that was seen twice. Other birds were 9 Canada Geese, 4 Mallards, 8 Green-winged Teal, a pair of Barrow’s Goldeneye, a pair of Common Mergansers, 7 Rock Pigeons, 1 pair of resident Sandhill Cranes and  a pair that flew high to the NE at 1334, 2 Downy Woodpeckers, 3 Red-shafted Flickers, 3 Blue Jays, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 18 American Crows, 6 Common Ravens, 4 Tree Swallows, 1 Black-capped Chickadee, 3 Mountain Chickadees, 1 White-breasted Nuthatch, 9 American Robins, 4 European Starlings, 11 Evening Grosbeaks, 14 Pine Grosbeaks, 90 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches that flew high to the N in 2 flocks at 1350 and 1444, 5 Dark-eyed Juncos (1 cismontanus and 4 montanus), 4 male Red-winged Blackbirds, and 2 male Common Grackles.

11.5 hours (742.7) TUVU 1 (6), BAEA 6 (357), NOHA 1 (38), SSHA 4 (97), NOGO 1 (48), BWHA 2 (15), SWHA 1 (5), RTHA 7 (267), RLHA 1 (63), GOEA 9 (1122), MERL 1 (25). PEFA 1 (11) TOTAL 35 (2113)

Wednesday, April 22 Beaver Mines [Day 58] 0600-2100 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0600 was 5.5C, the high at 1600 was 14 C and it was still 9C at 2100. Winds were WSW all day 30-45 gusting to 65 km/h and cloud cover was 70-100% altostratus, cirrus, cumulus, altocumulus and lenticular with the exception of 1000 when it briefly reduced to 30% cirrus and altocumulus. There was hazy sunshine for most of the day and migration and observing conditions were excellent. A total of 52 migrant raptors of a season-high 14 species moved steadily between 0754 and 1942 that comprised 2 adult Turkey Vultures, 2 Ospreys, 1 adult Bald Eagle, 2 male Northern Harriers (1j, 1u), 14 Sharp-shinned Hawks (3a, 11u), 3 Cooper’s Hawks (1a, 2u), 4 Northern Goshawks (3j, 1u), 5 adult Broad-winged Hawks (4 light, 1 dark). 4 of which soared high above the ridge with 6 ravens at 1942 and were the last migrants of the day, 1 adult light morph Swainson’s Hawk, only 2 adult calurus Red-tailed Hawks (1 light, 1 dark), 1 dark morph unidentified Buteo, 8 Golden Eagles (2a, 1sa, 4j, 1u), 2u American Kestrels, 2 female columbarius Merlins and 3 Peregrine Falcons (1 adult female, 1 adult male and 1u male). The highest single-hour count was 1500-1600 when 13 migrants were seen. Non-migrant birds were a pair and a single adult male Northern Harrier, 2 or 3 pairs of Red-tailed Hawks and 1 adult Golden Eagle. We have decided to extend the Beaver Mines count for a few more days or until the current significant movement has ended. At Mount Lorette Blake Weis reported 17 migrants of 5 species in 11 hours of observation that comprised 4 Bald Eagles (1a, 1sa and 2 undifferentiated immatures), 2u Sharp-shinned Hawks, 1u Cooper’s Hawk, the season’s first Ferruginous Hawk, an adult dark morph, and 9 Golden Eagles (3sa, 1j, 5u). Other birds seen at Beaver Mines were 5 Canada Geese, 13 Mallards, 10 Green-winged Teal, 1 male Common Merganser, 32 Rock Pigeons, 1 pair of resident Sandhill Cranes and 2 pairs that flew high to the SW at 1646 and 1836, 1 Wilson’s Snipe, 1 Red-shafted Flicker, 1 Steller’s Jay, 3 Blue Jays, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 20 American Crows, 27 Common Ravens, 4 Tree Swallows 8 Black-capped Chickadees, 6 Mountain Chickadees, 8 American Robins, 4 European Starlings, 17 Evening Grosbeaks, 7 Pine Grosbeaks, 406 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches that flew high to the NNW in 6 flocks between 0952 and 1626, 4 Dark-eyed [montanus] Juncos, 6 male Red-winged Blackbirds, and 2 male Common Grackles.

15 hours (731.2), TUVU 2 (5), OSPR 2 (6), BAEA 1 (351), NOHA 2 (37), SSHA 14 (93), COHA 3 (17), NOGO 4 (47), BWHA 5 (13), SWHA 1 (4), RTHA 2 (260), UB 1 (9), GOEA 8 (1113), AMKE 2 (12), MERL 2 (24), PEFA 3 (10), TOTAL 52 (2078)

April Summary Beaver Mines to April 22 (with percentage variance compared to 2015-2019 average) 22 days (+5.8%), 306.5.5 hours (+46.5%) TUVU 5 (+212.5%), OSPR 6 (+87.5), BAEA 127 (+30.7%), NOHA 32 (-17.1%), SSHA 74 (-39.1%), COHA 13 (+20.4%), NOGO 15 (-19.4%), UA 0, BWHA 13 (+62.5%), SWHA 4 (+53.8%), RTHA 233 (-62.3%), FEHA 3 (-6.3%), RLHA 12 (-48.7%), UB 8 (-7%), GOEA 218 (+2.1%), UE 0, AMKE 12 (+53.8%), MERL 19 (+111.1%), GYRF 2 (-25%), PEFA 7 (+6.1%), PRFA 1 (-68.8%), UF 0, UU 0 TOTAL 804 (+22.2%)

Beaver Mines spring 2020 summary February 23-April 22 (With percentage variance from the 5-year average 2015-2019). 58 days (+14.6%), 731.2 hours (+56.7%), TUVU 5 (+127.3%), OSPR 6 (+87.5%), BAEA 351 (+30.5%), NOHA 37 (-22.6%), SSHA 93 (+44.4%), COHA 17 (+41.7%), NOGO 47 (-4.9%), UA 1 (-28.6%), BWHA 13 (+51.2%), SWHA 4 (+42.9%), RTHA 260 (+36.7%), FEHA 4 (-25.9%), RLHA 62 (-22.1%), UB 9 (-31.8%), GOEA 1113 (+3.5%), UE 0, AMKE 12 (+20%), MERL 24 (+55.8%), GYRF 4 (-33.3%), PEFA 10 (+25%), PRFA 6 (-16.7%), UF 0, UU 0  TOTAL 2078 (+10.7%) of 18 species.

[The Beaver Mines figures will be updated when the count ends]

April Summary Mount Lorette (with percentage variance compared to 1993-2019 average excluding the anomalously low counts in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2012) 20 days (-5.54%), 243 hours (-0.8%) TUVU 0, OSPR 3 (+56.8%), BAEA 92 (+28.3%), NOHA 4 (+1.1%), SSHA 21 (-1%), COHA 9 (+55.6%), NOGO 15 (+30.7%), UA 6 (+283%), BWHA 0, SWHA 0, RTHA 27 (+6.7%), FEHA 1 (+475%), RLHA 8 (-42.3%), UB 2 (+43.8%), GOEA 367 (-28.6%), UE 1 (-42.5%), AMKE 3 (+176%), MERL 5 (+12.7%), GYRF 0, PEFA 0, PRFA 2 (+84%), UF 2 (+318%), UU 5 (+271%) TOTAL 573 (-16.3%)

Mount Lorette spring 2020 summary March 1-April 22 (With variance from the long-term 1993-2019 23-year average, that excludes the anomalously low counts in 2008-2010 and 2012 which are considered invalid). 45 days (-9.7%), 527.4 hours (-5.3%), TUVU 0, OSPR 3 (+56.8%), BAEA 167 (-9.1%), NOHA 4 (-14%), SSHA 24 (+0.7%), COHA 9 (+39.9%), NOGO 21 (-6.4%), UA 6 (+200%), BWHA 0, SWHA 0, RTHA 33 (+10.2%), FEHA 1 (+475), RLHA 10 (-47.7%), UB 7 (+228.6%), GOEA 1528 (-46.8% and the lowest valid spring count ever), UE 17 (+194%), AMKE 3 (+176%), MERL 5 (-24.8%), GYRF 0, PEFA 0, PRFA 3 (+43.8%), UF 3 (+245%), UU 6 (+193.6%) TOTAL 1850 (-42% and the lowest valid spring count ever) of 13 species

Wednesday, April 22 Steeples [Day 45] 1300-1700 (Vance Mattson).  Observation was from the Wolf Creek site where the temperature was 16C, it was calm with intermittent E winds and cloud cover was 100% altostratus and dark cumulus. No migrants were seen and non-migrants were 2 Bald Eagles and the resident Golden Eagle pair. There was a lengthy and impressive sky-dancing display by the male Golden Eagle that ranged over 1.5 km and 1000 m of elevation, dropping almost to the valley floor.

4 hours (233.3) TOTAL 0 (489)

Steeples April summary to April 22 (With percentage variance from the 10-year average 2010-2019). 20 days (+66.7%), 102 hours (+112.4%), TUVU 2 (-73.7%), OSPR 1 (-23.1%), BAEA 36 (+26.3%), NOHA 1 (+100%), SSHA 3 (-23.1%), COHA 0, NOGO 0, UA 0, BWHA 0, SWHA 0, RTHA 5 (-37.5%), FEHA 0, RLHA 2 (+33.3%), UB 0, GOEA 29 (-18.8%), UE 0, AMKE 0, MERL 2 (first spring records for the site), GYRF 0, PEFA 1 (+100%), PRFA 0, UF 0, UU 0 TOTAL 82 (-8.8%).

Steeples spring 2020 summary (With percentage variance from the 10-year average 2010-2019). 45 days (+33.9%), 233.3 hours (+67.6%), TUVU 2 (-76.7%), OSPR 1 (-23.1%), BAEA 134 (-6.8%), NOHA 1 (+42.9), SSHA 3 (-66%), COHA 0, NOGO 0, UA 0, BWHA 0, SWHA 0, RTHA 8 (-32.1%), FEHA 0, RLHA 3 (-45.5%), UB 0, GOEA 329 (-7.7%), UE 2 (+28.6%), AMKE 0, MERL 2 (first spring records for the site), GYRF 1 (first spring record for the site), PEFA 1 (+25%), PRFA 0, UF 0, UU 0 TOTAL 489 (-9.2%) of 11 species.

Tuesday, April 21 Beaver Mines [Day 57] 0615-2045 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0615 was 8C, the high at 1500 and again at 1700 was 16C and it was 12C at 2045. Winds were WSW-W all day 30-45 gusting to 70 km/h and it was cloudless to 1600 except for between 1230 and 1415 when up to 10% cumulus developed and after 1600 it was 80-100% altostratus, cirrus and cumulus. A total of 55 migrant raptors of 11 species were recorded between 0851 and 1921 that comprised 3 Ospreys, 2 adult Bald Eagles, 4 Northern Harriers (2 juvenile females and 1j and 1u males), 11 Sharp-shinned Hawks (4a, 1j, 6u), 2 Cooper’s Hawks (1a, 1u), 2 Northern Goshawks (1j, 1u), 4 light morph Broad-winged Hawks (3a, 1j) that included a small high-soaring kettle of 3 birds at 1915, 10 light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks (9a, 1u), 1 adult light morph Ferruginous Hawk, 14 Golden Eagles (2a, 1sa, 10j, 1u) and 2 columbarius Merlins (1 male, 1u). Movement was initially slow with only 3 birds seen before 1100 but subsequently migration was steady and peaked at 10 birds between 1700 and 1800. Resident birds were a pair of Northern Harriers and a single adult male that were conspicuous between 0705 and 1856, and 2 or 3 pairs of Red-tailed Hawks the last sighting of which was a hunting bird high above the ridge at 2036. At Mount Lorette Dan Parliament reported 34 migrants of 5 species in 13.92 hours of observation that comprised 6 Bald Eagles (4a, 2sa), 1u Northern Harrier, 1u Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1u Northern Goshawk, and 25 Golden Eagles (4a, 5sa, 4j, 12u). Most birds were flying very high across the valley from the northern end of the Fisher Range to Mount Lorette and they were difficult to locate and age. Other birds seen at Beaver Mines were 8 Canada Geese, 5 Mallards, 4 Green-winged Teal, 1 male Barrow’s Goldeneye, 6 Rock Pigeons, 1 pair of resident Sandhill Cranes and 2 migrants that flew high to the NNW at 1329, 1 Downy Woodpecker, 1 Red-shafted Flicker, 2 Steller’s Jays, 1 Blue Jay, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 35 American Crows, 16 Common Ravens, 4 Tree Swallows 4 Black-capped Chickadees, 4 Mountain Chickadees, 2 Ruby-crowned Kinglets that were new for the year, 6 American Robins, 10 European Starlings, 20 Evening Grosbeaks, 11 Pine Grosbeaks, 80 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches that flew high to the NNW at 1738, 7 Dark-eyed Juncos (1 cismontanus and 6 montanus), 6 male Red-winged Blackbirds, and 2 male and 1 female Common Grackles that were also new for the year.

Tomorrow will be the last day of the spring 2020 count at all three sites.

14.5 hours (716.2) OSPR 3 (4), BAEA 2 (350), NOHA 4 (35), SSHA 11 (79), COHA 2 (14), NOGO 2 (43), BWHA 4 (8), RTHA 10 (258), FEHA 1 (4), GOEA 14 (1105), MERL 2 (22) TOTAL 55 (2026)

Tuesday, April 21 Steeples [Day 44] 1300-1600 (Vance Mattson). The temperature reached 19C, winds were strong SW and it was cloudless. No migrants were seen and resident birds were 15 Turkey Vultures and a pair of Red-tailed Hawks one of which performed a display flight. Vultures and hawks were constantly seen in the air during the observation period.

3 hours (229.3) TOTAL 0 (489)

Monday, April 20 Beaver Mines [Day 56] 0615-2045 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0615 was 5C, the high at 1700 was 16C and it was 12C at 2045. Winds were W 20 km/h to 0800 after which they were steady WSW-W 30-40 gusting 55 and occasionally 60 km/h for the rest of the day. It was cloudless to 1140 after which 70-100% altostratus, altocumulus and cirrus cloud persisted to 1900 when it thinned to 30-20% altocumulus for the rest of the day. Migration and observing conditions were again very good and produced a count of 46 migrant raptors of a season-high 11 species that moved between 0659 and 1913. The count was 1 adult Bald Eagle, 4 Northern Harriers (2 females: 1j, 1u, 1u male and 1 unidentified bird), 8 Sharp-shinned Hawks (1a, 2j, 5u), 1u Cooper’s Hawk, 1 juvenile Northern Goshawk, 1 adult dark morph Broad-winged Hawk, 10 calurus Red-tailed Hawks (7a and 2u light morphs, and 1a dark morph), 11 Golden Eagles (1a, 2sa, 8j), 3 American Kestrels (1 female , 2u), 5 columbarius Merlins (3u males and 1 adult and 1u females) and 1 adult Peregrine Falcon. The highest single-hour count was 9 between 1300 and 1400 and the next two hours each saw the passage of 7 birds. Non-migrants were 3 adult Northern Harriers with the males displaying for much of the day and often together, and 2 or 3 pairs of Red-tailed Hawks. At Mount Lorette Blake Weis reported an April-high count of 69 migrants of 9 species in 13.75 hours of observation that comprised 1 Osprey, 9 Bald Eagles (5a, 4sa), 1 adult female Northern Harrier, 5 Cooper’s Hawks (1a, 4u), 1 adult Northern Goshawk, 1 unidentified Accipiter, 2 adult light morph Red-tailed Hawks (1 borealis and 1 calurus), 45 Golden Eagles (17sa, 21j, 7u) that is the highest count for the species since April 2, 2 columbarius Merlins (1 adult male and 1u), 1 Prairie Falcon and 1 unidentified raptor. Other birds seen at Beaver Mines were 8 Canada Geese, 16 Mallards, 6 Green-winged Teal, 1 Rock Pigeon, 1 American Coot, 1 pair of Sandhill Cranes, 1 Wilson’s Snipe, 3 Downy Woodpeckers, 2 Hairy Woodpeckers, 1 Red-shafted Flicker, 2 Steller’s Jays, 3 Blue Jays, 23 American Crows, 21 Common Ravens, 3 Tree Swallows 1 Black-capped Chickadee, 2 Mountain Chickadees, 11 American Robins, 11 European Starlings, 16 Evening Grosbeaks, 7 Pine Grosbeaks, an estimated  total of 1880 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches that flew high to the NNW in 6 flocks between 1027 and 1855, the largest of which at 1712 contained about 1500 birds and looked like a large elongate plume of smoke snaking from the ridge-top, 16 Dark-eyed Juncos (4 cismontanus and 12 montanus) and 6 male Red-winged Blackbirds.

14.5 hours (701.7) BAEA 1 (348), NOHA 4 (31), SSHA 8 (68), COHA 1 (12), NOGO 1 (41), BWHA 1 (4), RTHA 10 (248), GOEA 11 (1091), AMKE 3 (10), MERL 5 (20), PEFA 1 (7) TOTAL 46 (1971)

Monday, April 20 Steeples [Day 43] 1400-1715 (Vance Mattson). The temperature reached 18C, winds were moderate S and 60% thin altostratus, cumulus and cirrus gave sunny conditions. No migrants were seen, and non-migrants were 11 Turkey Vultures, 2 adult Bald Eagles, 2 Red-tailed Hawks and 1 juvenile Golden Eagle. The highlight of the day, however, was seeing 3 American White Pelicans on the wetlands near Wasa on the return trip from the site.

3.25 hours (226.3) TOTAL 0 (489)