RMERF counts, April 7

Saturday, April 7 Mount Lorette [Day 34] 0710-1700 (Caroline Lambert, assisted by Ruth Morrow). The temperature at 0710 was -16C, the high was -3C at 1400 and 1500 and it was -5C at 1700. It was calm to 0900 after which NE winds gradually increased throughout the day and reached 15-20 gusting 30 km/h late in the afternoon. Ridge winds could not be determined but probably reflected the ground winds. It was cloudless until 0900 after which 80% cirrus and altostratus developed to 1500, after which it was 80% altostratus. Ridges were clear all day apart from after 1600 when Mounts Kidd and Bogart became obscured. A total of 10 Golden Eagles (5a, 4u) moved sporadically between 0920 and 1415. The first 3 birds, like the last birds yesterday, were located between 0920 and 1000 over Mount McGillivray; the next 5 birds moved directly from Mount McDougall at the southern end of the Fisher Range to Skogan Pass between 1200 and 1400, and the last 2 birds were located over Hummingbird Plume Hill. All birds flapped extensively. A single Red-tailed Hawk was considered a resident. Other birds seen were a pair of American Wigeon, 3 Common Goldeneyes, 5 Common Mergansers, 1 Killdeer, 2 American Crows, 10 Common Ravens, 1 Mountain Chickadee, 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch, 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet, 7 American Robins and 1 Song Sparrow. Sixteen visitors to the site were enlightened by Ruth’s explanations of the RMERF project.

9.83 hours (383.7) GOEA 10 (1952) TOTAL 10 (2167)

Saturday, April 7 Beaver Mines [Day 41] 0700-1445 (Peter Sherrington). The temperature at 0700 was -17C, the high was -7C at 1300 and it was –9C when heavy snow brought observation to an end at 1445, Winds were light throughout, W-NNW to 1000 then E-ESE for the rest of the observation period. Cloud cover was initially 10% altostratus but it rapidly clouded over and was 100% stratus by 0830 that then persisted for the rest of the day. Light snow commenced at 1430 that became heavy and completely obscured the ridge at 1445. Once again light winds proved inimical to raptor movement and only 4 migrants were seen: a late subadult Bald Eagle at 1352, adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks at 1244 and 1251 and a juvenile Golden Eagle at 1433 that soared high above the ridge as the snow began to fall before it flew north into the increasingly heavy snowfall. At 1056 two Trumpeter Swans and a Tundra Swan flew together to the north in a tight triad low and immediately overhead, and the contrast in the size, proportions and rapidity of the wing beats of the two species were striking. Like raptors, the species of swan are often easier to distinguish in flight than when they are on the ground! The snow is now forecast to end around midnight and west winds are expected tomorrow so there is the prospect of a decent raptor movement.

7.75 hours (405) BAEA 1 (208), RTHA 2 (52), GOEA 1 (1245)

Saturday, April 7 Steeples (Vance Mattson). NO OBSERVATION (Weather). Heavy wet snow began to fall at 1330 and showed no signs of stopping.