RMERF counts, April 9

Monday, April 9 Mount Lorette [Day 36] 0900-2030 (George Halmazna, assisted by Dan Parliament to 1430, and Dan Parliament, assisted by Rosemary to 2030). The starting temperature was -4C but rose to a very pleasant high of 7C (1200-1400 and 1600-1800) and was still 5C at 2030. Ground winds were SW all day, 0-5 gusting 15 km/h to 1200, 10-15 gusting 25 km/h to 1800 and then 5-10 gusting 15 km/h to the end of the day; ridge winds were moderate SW to 1700, then light to moderate. The ridges were clear all day. The conditions produced the highest April count this season with 72 raptors of 4 species moving between 1047 and 2003, that comprised 3 Bald Eagles (1a, 2j), 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk, 66 Golden Eagles (39a, 3sa, 4j) and 2 unidentified eagles. The movement was exclusively high from the Fisher Range to Mount Lorette to 1736 after which birds were initially located high above Mount Lorette and presumably originated from the Wasootch Creek area. Movement was fairly steady all day with high hourly counts of 16 (1200-1300), 20 (1300-1400) and 11 (1900-2000). The resident pair of Golden Eagles and a non-migrant juvenile Bald Eagle were also noted. Other birds in the area were 2 unidentified swans that flew to the south at 2005, 52 Canada Geese, 1 Common Goldeneye, 2 Ruffed Grouse, one of which was drumming, 1 Killdeer, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 1 Northern Flicker, 2 Grey Jays, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 13 Common Ravens, 1 Black-capped Chickadee, 2 Golden-crowned Kinglets, 2 Varied Thrushes, 65 American Robins and 4 European Starlings. Eight visitors were at the site today.

13.58 (408.8) BAEA 3 (150), RLHA 1 (10), GOEA 66 (2079), UE 2 (24) TOTAL 72 (2309)

Monday, April 9 Beaver Mines [Day 43] 0700-2015 (Peter Sherrington). The temperature at 0700 was 3C, the high was 10C at 1300 and 1400 and it was 6C at 2015. Winds were W-WSW all day, 20-40 gusting 50 km/h and cloud cover was 0-60% cumulus and altocumulus to 1800 after which it was 80-100% thin cirrostratus, altocumulus and cumulus. Observing and migration conditions were excellent all day and produced the highest ever April count of 113 birds of a season-high 10 species that moved between 0950 and 2006. The count was a spring record 48 Bald Eagles (40a, 5sa, 3j), 1 adult female Northern Harrier, 6 Sharp-shinned Hawks (4a, 2u), 1 adult light morph Broad-winged Hawk, 16 Red-tailed Hawks (14 calurus: 12 light morphs (11a, 1u) and 2 adult dark morphs; and 2 adult dark morph harlani), 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk, 36 Golden Eagles (32a, 1sa, 3j), 2 male American Kestrels, 1 female columbarius Merlin and 1 adult female light grey morph Gyrfalcon. Movement was very steady after 1100 with high hourly counts of 20 between 1500 and 1600 and again between 1900 and 2000. A Great Blue Heron that landed in Beaver Creek at 1655 was the first for the season.

13.25 hours (429.7) BAEA 48 (260), NOHA 1 (2), SSHA 6 (16), BWHA 1 (2), RTHA 16 (72), RLHA 1 (90), GOEA 36 (1290), AMKE 2 (3), MERL 1 (8), GYRF 1 (7) TOTAL 113 (1790)

Monday, April 9 Steeples [Day 29] 1530-1830 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 12C, winds were moderate S, and 60-80% altostratus and cumulus cloud gave sunny periods. Three hours observing from the Bill Nye site produced only 4 migrant Golden Eagles (2sa, 2j) between 1731 and 1812. Non-migrants, however, were more plentiful with 5 Bald Eagles (3a, 1sa, 1j), 1 adult Northern Goshawk, 1 hunting Red-tailed Hawk and 1 adult Golden Eagle present. Most common, however, were Turkey Vultures with up to 15 in the air for much of the observation period in kettles of up to 7 birds: none showed any signs of moving to the north however. The season’s first Osprey was seen along the Kootenay River in the morning, and was seen rebuilding its nest in the afternoon.

3 hours (126.3) GOEA 4 (564) TOTAL 4 (727)