RMERF counts, April 4

Thursday, April 4 Mount Lorette [Day 33] 0640-2020 (Cliff Hansen, assisted by Rick Robb). The starting temperature was 3C, the high was 11C at 1700 and it was 7C at the end of observation. Ground winds were variable but mainly S 5-10 gusting 20 km/h to 1600, SW5-15 gusting 20 km/h to 1900 and then N 5-10 gusting 20 km/h for the rest of the day; ridge winds were mostly WNW moderate to strong to 1800 and then moderate NW. Cloud cover was variable 20-90% cumulus and altocumulus all day that gave good observing conditions and the ridges were clear, but despite this the raptor count was a disappointing 9 birds, made more so as it followed a week of strong movement. The first bird seen was a light morph Rough-legged Hawk at 1345, but eagle movement did not begin until after 1600 and comprised 1 adult Bald Eagle and 6 Golden Eagles (3a, 1sa, 1j, 1u) that moved up to 1943, with 4 of the Golden Eagles seen between 1800 and 1900; a mid-sized unidentified raptor was also seen during this hour. All the eagles glided high above the Fisher Range to Mount Lorette. A resident Northern Goshawk called from the nest site early in the morning and there was a single sighting of an adult resident Golden Eagle. Other birds recorded in the area were 2 Canada Geese, 10 unidentified gulls that soared over the northern end of the Fisher Range in the late afternoon before flying to the east, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 2 Northern Flickers, 11 Common Ravens, 2 Black-capped Chickadees, 1 Boreal Chickadee, 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch, 1 singing Varied Thrush, 6 American Robins, 2 Bohemian Waxwings and 3 Dark-eyed Juncos. Twelve visitors were at the site today.

13.25 hours (373.2) BAEA 1 (166), RLHA 1 (7), GOEA 6 (1816), UU 1 (4) TOTAL 9 (2041)

Thursday, April 4 Beaver Mines [Day 33] 0715-1945 (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Hilary Atkinson). At 0715 the temperature was 5.5C, the high was 11C at 1200 and 1300, and again at 1600 and 1700 and it was still 8C at 2015. Winds were W-WSW all day 25-40 gusting up to 60 km/h and cloud cover was variably 30-70% mainly cumulus to 1830 when 100-70% thin cirrostratus developed. Observing conditions were very good throughout and it was encouraging to see the first Golden Eagle gliding high to the north at 0759, but the second bird, an adult Bald Eagle, did not occur until 1103 and the second Golden Eagle was only seen at 1349. After this, however, the pace quickened and peaked at 21 birds between 1700 and 1800, with the last 3 Bald Eagles moving NNW at 1902. The final count of 57 raptors of 8 species was 14 Bald Eagles (11a, 2sa, 1j), 1 adult male Northern Harrier, 4 Sharp-shinned Hawks (1a, 3u), 1u Northern Goshawk, 8 adult calurus Red-tailed Hawks (5 light, 3 dark), 1 unidentified dark Buteo, 26 Golden Eagles (23a, 3j), 1 dark morph Gyrfalcon and 1 Prairie Falcon. Other birds seen were 1 Canada Goose, 25 Wild Turkeys, 18 Rock Pigeons, 2 Downy Woodpeckers, 1 Northern Flicker, 5 Blue Jays, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 30 American Crows, 18 Common Ravens, 4 Black-capped Chickadees, 4 Mountain Chickadees, 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch, 12 American Robins, 516 European Starlings, 35 Evening Grosbeaks 8 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches that flew north at 1318, 14 Pine Siskins and 3 Dark-eyed Juncos (1 hyemalis, 1 cismontanus and 1 montanus).

13 hours (386) BAEA 14 (162), NOHA 1 (7), SSHA 4 (7), NOGO 1 (16), RTHA 8 (34), UB 1 (2), GOEA 26 (457), GYRF 1 (5), PRFA 1 (6) TOTAL 57 (718)

Thursday, April 4 Steeples [Day 30] 1300-1900 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 11C, winds were moderate to strong S-SE and 60-90% altostratus cloud cover gave partially sunny conditions. Only three migrants were seen: an adult Golden Eagle at 1452, a juvenile Golden Eagle at 1746 and a juvenile Bald Eagle at 1817. Non-migrants consisted of 10 sightings of Turkey Vultures, 3 sightings of adult Bald Eagles, 5 sightings of single adult calurus Red-tailed Hawks including 2 hovering hunting flights over the ridges, and 3 adult Golden Eagles that were seen twice including two birds that soared together while one displayed although there was no perceived antagonism between them.

6 hours (149) BAEA 1 (207), GOEA 2 (449) TOTAL 3 (678)