RMERF counts, March 21

Wednesday, March 21 Mount Lorette [Day 19] 0750-1935 (Blake Weis, assisted by Dan Parliament). The starting temperature was -5C and the high was 4C from 1400 to the end of observation. Ground winds were SW 0-5 gusting to 10-15 km/h after 1100 and ridge winds were light to moderate SW all day. Cloud cover was 80-90% altocumulus and cirrus with minor cumulus to 1700 and then 90-100% altostratus and altocumulus for the rest of the day. All ridges were clear all day. A season-high total of 216 raptors of 4 species migrated between 0836 and 1822 comprising a season-high 13 Bald Eagles (10a, 3j), the season’s first Red-tailed Hawk: an adult dark morph harlani, 1 dark morph Rough-legged Hawk and a season-high 201 Golden Eagles (157a, 1sa, 1j, 42u). The first few birds were seen over the Fisher Range but between 1000 and 1625 all but 13 birds used the western route and moved from Olympic Summit and Mount Allan to Skogan Pass. After 1625 all the eagles moved from the Fisher Range to Mount Lorette with most birds gliding high above the ridge. Fourteen birds moved before noon and subsequently the flow was very steady with hourly counts of 43, 16, 31, 23, 46 (1600-1700), 33 and 10 throughout the afternoon. Non-migrants or residents were 1 adult Bald Eagle perched by the river, 1 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk over Hummingbird Plume Hill and 1 adult and 1 juvenile Golden Eagle seen flying to the south. Other birds were flocks of 40 and 35 Canada Geese that flew to the north above the valley, a pair of Hairy Woodpeckers, 1 Killdeer, 4 Grey Jays, 1 American Crow, 18 Common Ravens, 3 Black-capped Chickadees, 3 Mountain Chickadees, 1 Boreal Chickadee, 1 American Dipper singing on the river, 1 singing Townsend’s Solitaire, 1 American Robin, 1 European Starling, 58 Bohemian Waxwings, 1 Dark-eyed Junco, and 1 Common Redpoll. Eight visitors shared the experience.

11.75 hours (207.6) BAEA 13 (75), RTHA 1 (1), RLHA 1 (4), GOEA 201 (802) TOTAL 216 (899)

Wednesday, March 21 Beaver Mines [Day 25] 0800-1900 (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Denise Cocciolone Amatto, Gord Petersen and Doug and Teresa Dolmen). The temperature at 0800 was -1C, the high of 7C was reached between 1300 and 1500 and it was 4C at 1900. Winds were W-WSW 10-20 km/h to 1600 after which they were SE 20 km/h for the rest of the day. Cloud cover was 100-90% altostratus to 1100, 70-90% cumulus and altocumulus to 1700 and 100% altostratus for the rest of the day. Viewing conditions were good throughout. A total of 126 migrants of a season-high 6 species were counted between 1059 and 1812 that comprised 11 adult Bald Eagles, 2u Sharp-shinned Hawks (the first of the season), 2 adult Northern Goshawks, 1 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk, 8 Rough-legged Hawks (6 light, 2 dark), 99 Golden Eagles (88a, 1sa, 1j, 9u), 2 unidentified eagles and 1 unidentified large raptor. Eighty-five of the birds were seen moving extremely high to the N and NW between 1500 and 1600, and if there had not been 5 pairs of eyes scanning the clouds many would have been undetected.

11 hours (229.4) BAEA 11 (130), SSHA 2 (2), NOGO 2 (9), RTHA 1 (8), RLHA 8 (58), GOEA 99 (523), UE 2 (2), UU 1 (1) TOTAL 126 (734)

Wednesday, March 21 Steeples [Day 17] 1500-1900 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 11C and it was calm to 1800 after which winds were strong S. Cloud cover was 60-80% altostratus, altocumulus and cumulus that allowed mainly sunny conditions. A total of 31 migrants, all eagles, were seen between 1515 and 1805 comprising 4 Bald Eagles (1a, 3j) and 27 Golden Eagles (22a, 3j, 2u). Fifteen birds moved between 1515 and 1600, 7 between 1600 and 1700, 8 between 1700 and 1800 and 1 adult Golden Eagle was seen at 1805. Resident Golden Eagles were conspicuous with the adult pair displaying at 1535, and between 1825 and 1845 one of the adults soared high in the strong wind before breaking into further display flights. A single juvenile Bald Eagle was seen once, and an adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk was seen on four occasions.

4 hours (75.25) BAEA 4 (109), GOEA 27 (502) TOTAL 31 (612)