RMERF counts, March 12

Tuesday, March 12 Mount Lorette NO OBSERVATION (weather). Rosemary Power and Kathleen Peterson were at Barrier Lake between 1045 and 1330 where the temperature was 1C, winds were light, cloud cover was 100% low stratus and an ice crystal fog greatly reduced visibility. By 1330 the crystal fog thickened and obscured the ridges and the count was abandoned for the day just before it began to snow.

Tuesday, March 12 Beaver Mines [Day 11] 0730-1600 (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0730 was 0C which fell to -1C at 0800, rose to a high of 4C at 1400 and was 1C at 1600 when observation ceased. Winds were WSW-W 20-30 gusting 40 km/h to 1200, then N 10-20 km/h to 1400 and finally ESE-SE 20 km/h to 1600. Cloud cover was 30-60% cumulus, altocumulus and cirrus to 0830 after which it was 100% stratus and cumulus for the rest of the day although it was thin enough to allow hazy sunshine between 1000 and 1400. Light snow began to fall at 1515 which became moderate at 1600 obscuring the ridge and bringing the day’s count to an end. Raptor migration was slow with just 5 eagles moving between 0844 and 1405: 1 adult Bald Eagle and 4 Golden Eagles (3a, 1sa). Other birds seen were 4 Canada Geese that flew high to the NE at 0940, 23 Rock Pigeons, 1 Downy Woodpecker, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 1 first winter Northern Shrike, 8 Blue Jays, 1 American Crow, 19 Common Ravens, 5 Black-capped Chickadees, 2 Mountain Chickadees, 3 European Starlings, 9 Bohemian Waxwings, 36 Evening Grosbeaks, 28 Common Redpolls, 60 Pine Siskins and 6 Dark-eyed Juncos (3 hyamelis and 3 montanus).

8.5 hours (120) BAEA 1 (32), GOEA 4 (37) TOTAL 5 (77)

Tuesday, March 12 Steeples (Vance Mattson). NO OBSERVATION (weather). Snow and rain fell all day and obscured the mountains.