Beaver Mines Observations

Beaver Mines is an observation site located in the Crowsnest area. Annual counts are conducted in spring.

See the count reports for historical data. The following observations started in Spring 2022.

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09/20/2021

Observers: Lori Anderson, Ian Dowson

Start Time:

07:15 AM

End Time:

07:45 AM

Temperature:

Low -2 at 7:15, High 11 at 16:00 and 6 at 19:45

Description of the Day:

It was a gorgeous sunny/cloudy fall day. The ground winds were mainly S/SW from Calm to 5 km/h with a few gusts up to 10 km/h. Ridge winds averaged 27 kms/h from the SW.
Today must have been the national migratory day for Robins and Bohemian Waxwings. More than 100 Robins passed before 9 am and more than 300 by the end of the day. It seems that 2 Merlins have taken up residence in the meadow and we were gifted with a gruesome view of one of them feasting on its prey at the riverbank. The two Broad-winged Hawks were harassed by some local Ravens who nipped at them as they passed by above the eastern ridges. A very brave Red-breasted Nuthatch kicked an invading Flicker off the top of his tree.

Migrant Golden Eagle Count:

8 GOEA (4 Adults, 1 Subadult, 3 indeterminate).

Migrant Other Raptor Count By Species:

1 Sharp-Shinned Hawk, 1 Cooper's Hawk, 2 Broad-Winged Hawks.

Period with Most Migrants:

Between 13:00-14:00 the count was 3 Golden Eagles and from 17:00 - 18:00 another 3 Golden Eagles.

Total Migratory Raptors:

Non-Migrant Raptors:

8 total. 2 Northern Goshawks, 2 Golden Eagles, 1 Red-tailed Hawk, 1 Bald Eagle, 2 Merlins.

Other Birds of Note:

1 Dark-eyed Junco, 2 American Dippers, 1 Tree Swallow, A murder of 25 Ravens at Mt.Lorrete. 1 Yellow-shafted Northern Flicker, 5 Snow Geese, 3 Common Mergansers, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 1 Boreal Chickadee, endless Robins 300+, 60 Bohemian Wax-wings, and 2 Ruffed Grouse.