RMERF counts, April 6

Friday, April 6 Mount Lorette [Day 33] 0625-2025 (Bill Wilson, assisted by Rick Robb and Patrick and Patricia Farley). The temperature at 0700 was -14C which reached a high of -4C at 1600 and was -9C when observation ceased. Ground winds were mainly NNE and occasionally NNW 0-3 km/h to 1000 and then 0-4 gusting to 35 km/h for the rest of the day, and ridge winds were probably light NE to 1400 and light to moderate SW thereafter. Cloud cover was 100% stratus to 1400 that brought light to moderate snow and obscured all ridges to 1100 and then very light snow to 1400. After 1400 the cloud cover was 60-90% stratus with cumulus and altostratus developing during the last two hours of the day. The east ridges were 10-20% obscured between 1100 and 1400 after which they were clear, and the west continued to be completely obscured to 1400 after which it remained 10% obscured. Despite the brutal “spring” conditions there was a surprisingly robust raptor migration with 36 birds of 3 species moving between 1228 and 1833, although the second Golden Eagle of the day was not seen until 1455. The count was 1 adult Bald Eagle, 33 Golden Eagles (19a, 6j 8u), 1 unidentified eagle and the season’s first Merlin of unknown race, sex or age. Only three of the birds were seen on the western route and the rest moved low with flapping flight against the face of the Fisher Range to Mount Lorette and Mount McGillivray where several of the eagles were initially located. Maximum movement was 11 birds between 1700 and 1800 and 9 between 1800 and 1900. A non-migrant adult Bald Eagle and a resident adult Golden Eagle were also noted. Other birds recorded were 1 Tundra Swan, 1 male Common Merganser, 1 Killdeer, 14 Common Ravens, 12 American Robins, 4 European Starlings and 1 Dark-eyed Junco of the race cismontanus. Eight visitors were seen at the site but none lingered long in the bitter conditions.

14 hours (373.9) BAEA 1 (140), GOEA 33 (1942), UE 1 (22), MERL 1 (1) TOTAL 36 (2157)

Friday, April 6 Beaver Mines [Day 40] 0700-2000 (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Raymond Toal). The starting temperature was -15C, the high was -8C (1400-1600) and it was -10C at 2000. Winds were mainly light (<10 km/h) E all day, and cloud cover was 100% stratus to 1300 that produced light snow and mainly obscured the ridge to 1145, when 8 cm of fresh snow was on the ground. Cloud cover from 1400-1700 was 60-80% altostratus and altocumulus and 1800-2000 was 90% cirrostratus, cirrus and altocumulus. Hazy sunshine prevailed throughout the afternoon and observing conditions were good once the snow stopped. The light upslope winds produced a slow migration of 18 raptors of 4 species between 1255 and 1715 that comprised 1 adult Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk, 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk and 15 Golden Eagles (12a, 2sa, 1j). Many of the birds soared high and all interspersed flapping with their high glides to the N and NNW. Twelve of the birds were seen between 1424 and 1531 and nothing moved after 1715 when wind on the ridge appeared to be completely lacking.

13 hours (397.2) SSHA 1 (10), RTHA 1 (50), RLHA 1 (87), GOEA 15 (1244) TOTAL 18 (1653)

Friday, April 6 Steeples [Day 27] 1230-1830 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 0C at 1230 and rose to a high of 3C, conditions were calm and cloud cover was 80-100% altostratus and altocumulus with the ridges partially obscured until 1430. A total of 10 Golden Eagles (9a, 1j) moved between 1401 and 1717 with some of the birds flapping in the calm air. Three of the birds were seen between 1401 and 1430 and 4 between 1604 and 1622; single birds occurred at 1559 and 1651 and the juvenile was the last bird of the day at 1717. Non-migrant birds were a juvenile Bald Eagle and an adult Golden Eagle. Fresh Bobcat tracks in yesterday’s thin blanket of snow were clearly visible near the site.

6 hours (118) GOEA 10 (544) TOTAL 10 (665)