RMERF counts, March 24

Sunday, March 24 Mount Lorette [Day 22] 0715-2015 (Bill Wilson, assisted by Lori Anderson). The temperature at 0800 was 1C, the high was 4C (1400-1600) and it was 2C at the end of observation. Ground winds were NW-N but mainly NNW all day, 0-10 gusting 20 km/h except between 1500 and 1700 when they gusted to 32 km/h and ridge winds could not be assessed but were probably light to moderate and variable. Cloud cover was 100% stratus to 1200 that provided a very light snow flurry at 0900 and then reduced to 30% cumulus and altostratus at 1400 which gradually increased to 100% altostratus and cumulus by the end of the day. The eastern ridges were 100% obscured to 1200 and variably 40-90% obscured throughout the afternoon and were again 100% obscured at the end of the day; the western mountains were essentially 100% obscured all day. Despite these unpromising weather conditions there was a reasonably strong raptor movement of 76 birds between 1125 and 1735 that involved a season-high 17 Bald Eagles (11a, 2sa, 4j) 1 juvenile dark morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk and 58 Golden Eagles (52a, 1sa, 3j, 2u). Just 3 migrants were seen before 1300 but 33 eagles (9 Bald and 24 Golden) moved between 1300 and 1400 and 19 (2 Bald and 17 Golden) between 1400 and 1500 after which movement slowed but 5 Bald Eagles and 5 Golden Eagles migrated between 1700 and 1735. Movement was mainly on the western route over the western part of the valley to 1340 with many birds soaring into the base of the low cloud cover, but after 1400 all the movement was on the Fisher Range with some soaring before they glided at various altitudes to Mount Lorette. Non-migrant raptors included 5 Bald Eagles (4a, 1j) that were soaring with 4 Golden Eagles above the northern end of the Fisher Range but which were not seen to have proceeded any farther and may have settled to roost for the night; 2 sightings of adult Bald Eagles near the river; 2 sightings of hunting adult Northern Goshawks, and a resident adult Golden Eagle that hunted in front of the Fisher Range ridge. Other birds recorded in the area were 7 swans of undetermined species that flew south above the east valley, 13 Canada Geese including a flock of 10 that flew north, 2 male Mallards and 4 male American Wigeons on the river, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 1 male Pileated Woodpecker, 2 Canada Jays, 16 Common Ravens, 1 Black-capped Chickadee, 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch, 1 Varied Thrush, 1 American Robin and 70 European Starlings. Thirty-one visitors were at the site today.

13 hours (237.3) BAEA 17 (58), RTHA 1 (2), GOEA 58 (473) TOTAL 76 (546)

Sunday, March 24 Beaver Mines (Peter Sherrington) NO OBSERVATION (weather). Light snow and rain fell to mid-afternoon, the temperature ranged from 1C to -1C, and low cloud and fog obscured the ridge all day preventing any possibility of movement.

Sunday, March 24 Steeples [Day 19] 1200-1915 (Vance Mattson). The temperature at 1200 was 6C and rose to a high of 13C, it was calm mixed with light SE winds, and 60% altostratus, cumulus and altocumulus cloud cover gave mostly sunny conditions until 1630 when dark cumulus moved in from the south bringing light rain from 1640 to 1730 that slightly obscured the ridges. These quickly cleared after 1745 when calm conditions resumed. There was another strong raptor movement with 112 migrants of 4 species seen between 1226 and 1833 comprising 16 Bald Eagles (8a, 8j), 1 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk, the season’s first 2 Rough-legged Hawks (1 light morph, 1u), 92 Golden Eagles (87a, 4j, 1u) and 1 unidentified eagle. Hourly counts were 18 (1200-1300), 55 including 46 Golden Eagles (1300-1400), 18 (1400-1500), 13 (1500-1600), 3 (1600-1700), 1 (1700-1800) and 3 (1800-1833). Most of the birds moved even higher today and many moved west of the ridge and were initially spotted very high over the flank of Mount Bill Nye. Many of the birds also soared at length to impressive heights over the gap between ridges. At 1633 a gliding migrant Golden Eagle suddenly made a controlled hunting stoop, the result of which was unknown as it disappeared behind a ridge. There were three separate pair flights from non-migrant adult Bald Eagles and just one sighting of an adult resident Golden Eagle.

7.25 hours (97) BAEA 16 (166), RTHA 1 (3), RLHA 2 (2), GOEA 92 (368), UE 1 (4) TOTAL 112 (544)