RMERF counts, April 2

Tuesday, April 2 Mount Lorette [Day 31] 0730-2015 (Cliff Hansen, assisted by Rick Robb and Graham Dunlop). The temperature was -4C at 0730, the high at 1700 was 10C and it was 4C at 2015. Ground winds were very light 0-5 km/h to 1300 then S-SW 0-15 km/h to 1700 after which they were again very light, while ridge winds were light to moderate SW all day. It was initially cloudless with a trace of cumulus that gradually increased to a maximum of 40% at 1600 after which it gradually dwindled to a trace of cirrus at the end of observation. There was another strong raptor migration with 173 birds of a season-high 7 species moving between 1015 and 1931 that comprised 16 Bald Eagles (15a, 1sa), 2u Sharp-shinned Hawks, 1u Northern Goshawk, 1 Red-tailed Hawk of unknown age, morph or race, 2u Rough-legged Hawks, 1 unidentified Buteo, 147 Golden Eagles (51a, 3sa, 11j, 82u), 2 unidentified eagles and 1u columbarius Merlin. The lack of detail on many of the birds resulted from back-lighting of very high flying birds against an often clear blue sky. Movement was strong throughout the migration period with 93 birds seen before 1300 that included a maximum hourly count of 49 between 1200 and 1300, and the last 22 moved after 1800. All birds were seen on the western route until 1400 with birds again soaring very high on the southern flank of Mount Allan and Olympic Summit before gliding very high to the NW behind the summit of Mount Allan. After 1400 most birds used the eastern route with birds again soaring very high above the Fisher Range and gliding very high to the NW to Mount Lorette. A resident adult Northern Goshawk was seen on a nest, and the Golden Eagle pair was seen over Olympic Summit where the male displayed. Other birds recorded were 3 Canada Geese on the river, 1 female Common Merganser, 1 drumming Ruffed Grouse, the season’s first Killdeer, 1 Northern Flicker, 1 Pileated Woodpecker, 1 American Crow, 13 Common Ravens, 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch, 2 male Mountain Bluebirds in the meadow, 2 singing Varied Thrushes, 5 American Robins, 10 Bohemian Waxwings, a flock of 30 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches that flew high on the Fisher Range and 2 Dark-eyed Juncos. A single Mule Deer unusually joined 11 White-tailed Deer to feed in the meadow, where a Striped Skunk was also seen. Five visitors were at the site today.

12.75 hours (346.2) BAEA 16 (153), SSHA 2 (3), NOGO 1 (9), RTHA 1 (4), RLHA 2 (6), UB 1 (1), GOEA 147 (1710), UE 2 (21), MERL 1 (2) TOTAL 173 (1918)

Tuesday, April 2 Beaver Mines [Day 31] 0730-2015 (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0730 was 0C, the high at 1400 and again at 1600 was 8C and it was 4C at 2015. Winds were very variable but principally from the NE to the SSE, mainly light but occasionally briefly gusting to 20 km/h. Cloud cover was 100-90% stratocumulus to 1030 that produced light snow flurries to 0830, 20-60% cumulus to 1500, 50-60% cumulus and altostratus to 1600 and finally 40% very thin cirrostratus with traces of altocumulus to 2015. Observation conditions were excellent and thermal lift was strong but the day only produced 9 migrant raptors comprising 5 adult calurus Red-tailed Hawks (4 light and 1 dark) and 4 Golden Eagles (3a, 1j). For much of the day a pair of resident light morph Red-tailed Hawks was present and conspicuous between 1124 and 1815 performing several low and high intensity display flights, soaring as a pair with legs dangling and hunting the valley floor. Other birds recorded were 6 Canada Geese,  6 Mallards, a pair of Common Mergansers that flew north at 1955, 1 calling Wild Turkey, 5 Rock Pigeons, 4 Downy Woodpeckers, 2 Hairy Woodpeckers, 1 Northern Flicker, 6 Blue Jays, 2 Black-billed Magpies, 40 American Crows, 10 Common Ravens, 4 Black-capped Chickadees, 4 Mountain Chickadees, 2 Red-breasted Nuthatches, 14 American Robins, 221 European Starlings, 32 Evening Grosbeaks, 1 female Cassin’s Finch, 8 Pine Siskins and 2 Dark-eyed Juncos (1 hyemalis and 1 montanus. Moderate SW winds are forecast so we are expecting a stronger raptor movement tomorrow.

12.75 hours (360.5) RTHA 5 (21), GOEA 4 (428) TOTAL 9 (645)

Tuesday, April 2 Steeples [Day 28] 1230-1945 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 9-11C, it was calm with intermittent light SE winds and mostly 50% cumulus which provided sunny conditions and a helpful backdrop for detecting high-flying birds throughout most of the day. A total of 33 migrant raptors of 4 species were seen between 1300 and 1908 comprising 13 Bald Eagles (11a, 2j), 3 adult Red-tailed Hawks (1 light calurus and 2 dark harlani), 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk and 16 Golden Eagles (14a, 2j). Nine migrants moved between 1300 and 1400, but only 6 were seen in the next three hours (1400-1700); 12 (including 9 Golden Eagles) moved between 1700 and 1800, 4 between 1800 and 1900 and 2 between 1900 and 1908, the last being a “Harlan’s Hawk”. Movement was very high and fast, especially after 1700 when birds appeared high above the western peak of Mount Bill Nye. There was also much non-migrant activity with 14 sightings of Turkey Vultures, none of which exhibited migratory behaviour although at least one bird was in the air all day, 9 Bald Eagles (4a, 5j). 1u Northern Goshawk, 1 Red-tailed Hawk, and 4 Golden Eagles (3a, 1j) which performed a pair-flight low across the ridge and 2 display flights.

7.25 hours (141.3) BAEA 13 (206), RTHA 3 (8), RLHA 1 (3) GOEA 16 (447) TOTAL 33 (675)