RMERF counts, March 23

Friday, March 23 Mount Lorette [Day 20] 0730-2000 (Caroline Lambert, assisted by Rick Robb). The temperature at 0800 was -1C, the high was 3C at 1500 and it was 0C at the end of observation. Ground winds were SW 10-20 gusting to 48 km/h that diminished after 1700 and became light E after 1900; ridge winds were strong to very strong SW to 1700 when they became moderate and were light to moderate after 1900. Cloud cover was initially 50% cumulus and altocumulus that reduced to 10% altocumulus between 1000 and 1400, increased to 60-80% altostratus and altocumulus to 1700 after which it was 100% altostratus to the end of observation. The eastern ridges were clear to 1700 after which they were 20% obscured, and the west was clear between 0900 and 1700 but was initially 60% obscured and 40-80% obscured after 1700, reducing to 20% at the end of the day. Light snow and sleet fell between 1800 and 1900. A slightly disappointing total of 104 migrant raptors of 4 species were counted between 0800 and 1824 comprising 3 adult Bald Eagles, 2 light morph Rough-legged Hawks, 98 Golden Eagles (48a, 7sa, 7j, 36u) and 1 Prairie Falcon. The eagles all glided high to very high above the Fisher Range to Mount Lorette and none were seen on the western route. Movement was initially steady but slow and by 1500 only 33 birds had been counted; the next two hours produced 36 and 23 migrants respectively, but only a further 12 birds moved after 1700 as weather conditions deteriorated. Resident and non-migrant raptors were 2 Bald Eagles (1a and 1 late subadult), 1 or 2 adult Northern Goshawks, and the pair of adult Golden Eagles that perched together on Olympic Summit before the presumed male displayed above the female that remained perched. Other birds were hard to find in the high winds and comprised 16 swans that flew high to the east over the Fisher Range, 1 male Common Merganser, 1 Killdeer, 2 Grey Jays, 10 Common Ravens, 3 Black-capped Chickadees and 1 American Dipper. A single Coyote was observed “mousing” in the meadow, and a total of 11 visitors came to the site.

12.5 hours (220.1) BAEA 3 (78), RLHA 2 (6), GOEA 98 (900), PRFA 1 (2) TOTAL 104 (1003)

Friday, March 23 Beaver Mines [Day 27] 0715-1930 (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Denise Cocciolone Amatto, Pat Lucas and Phil Hazelton). The temperature at 0715 was -3C, the high was 4.5C at 1400 and it was 0C at the end of observation. Winds were W to 1030 and then WSW for the rest of the day, 40-50 gusting to 80 km/h that dropped to 20 km/h at 1900. Cloud cover was 0-20% altocumulus to 1530 after which it quickly thickened to 70-100% altostratus and altocumulus for the rest of the day. Observing conditions were good to excellent throughout. Once again W-WSW winds produced a solid count of 191 migrant raptors between 0725 and 1916 of a season-high 8 species. The count comprised 21 Bald Eagles (16a, 3sa, 2j), 2 Sharp-shinned Hawks (1a, 1u), a season-high 3 adult Northern Goshawks, 4 adult calurus Red-tailed Hawks (3 light, 1 dark), the season’s first Ferruginous Hawk, a juvenile light morph, 5 Rough-legged Hawks (3 light, 2 dark), 2 unidentified light morph Buteos, 152 Golden Eagles (149a, 1sa, 1j) and the season’s first Merlin, an adult or juvenile female of the race richardsonii. Seven birds were counted before 0800 and the subsequent flight was remarkably even all day with hourly high counts of only 28 between 1300 and 1400 and again between 1700 and 1800.

12.25 hours (250.2) BAEA 21 (151), SSHA 2 (4), NOGO 3 (12), RTHA 4 (12), FEHA 1 (1), RLHA 5 (63), UB 2 (2), GOEA 152 (675), MERL 1 (1) TOTAL 191 (925)

Friday, March 23 Steeples [Day 18] 1100-1700 (Vance Mattson). The temperature rose to a high of 5C from a low at 1100 of 2C, winds were moderate to strong E-SE and 60% cumulus cloud cover gradually thickened to 100% cumulus and altostratus by the end. Minor flurries occurred between 1500 and 1530 and by 1700 the ridges to the north began to cloud over. No migrant raptors were seen. Non-migrant juvenile Bald Eagles were seen three times, an adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk was seen on four occasions, usually close to the site, and resident adult Golden Eagles were seen several times, usually as a pair. Display flights by one bird were seen twice with the one at 1534 being particularly energetic.

6 hours (81.25) TOTAL 0 (612)