RMERF counts, March 27

Tuesday, March 27 Mount Lorette [Day 24] 0730-1955 (Blake Weis, assisted by Brian McBride). The starting temperature was 2C, the high was 4C between 1100 and 1300 and again at 1500 and 1600, and it was 3C at the end of observation. Ground winds were SW all day, 10-15 gusting 35 km/h in the morning and 5-10 gusting 15 km/h in the afternoon, and ridge winds were strong SW in the morning and moderate to strong in the afternoon. Morning cloud cover was 70-90% mixed cloud that became 90-100% stratus and cumulus in the afternoon. Light snow flurries began at 0930 and became light to moderate snow after 1200. The eastern route was clear to noon but was then 20-80% variably obscured and 100% obscured at 1700, and the west was 50-60% obscured to 1700 when it also became completely obscured. A total of 6 Golden Eagles (3a, 3u) were seen from the Hay Meadow site between 0945 and 1258, all on the eastern route. Because of the weather Blake moved to the Lusk Creek site at 1625, but Brian stayed in the Hay Meadow to 1700 before joining him. At Lusk Creek the winds were similar but cloud cover was only 20-30% cumulus, altocumulus and altostratus, and a further 13 migrants: 5 adult Bald Eagles and 8 adult Golden Eagles, were seen between 1815 and 1911. The final combined count was 5 adult Bald Eagles and 14 Golden Eagles (11a, 3u). Other birds seen at the Hay Meadow were 2 Canada Geese flying north, 1 male Northern Flicker, 1 Grey Jay, 9 Common Ravens and 1 Black-capped Chickadee. There were no visitors today.

12.42 hours (268.1) BAEA 5 (95), GOEA 14 (1416), TOTAL 19 (1544)

Tuesday, March 27 Beaver Mines [Day 31] 0730-1930 (Peter Sherrington and Gird Petersen 0900-1130). The temperature at 0730 was 1C, the high at 1300 was 7C and it was 3C at 1930. Winds were strong W-WSW all day 50-60 gusting 80-100 km/h. Cloud cover was mainly 20-50% altostratus, cumulus and altocumulus to 1100 when it became 100% altostratus and cumulus to 1600 after which it was 20-50% cumulus with the sky completely clearing by 1930. Migration started early with Golden Eagles gliding high to the NW at 0736 and 0752, but it was not to be sustained and subsequent movement was very sporadic with the exception of 1611-1637 when 8 adult Golden Eagles were seen. The final count of 23 raptors between 0736 and 1715 was 1 adult Sharp-shinned Hawk, 19 Golden Eagles (16a, 3u), 1u columbarius Merlin, 1 probable female grey morph Gyrfalcon and 1 adult male Peregrine Falcon, which was the first for the season.

12 hours (298) SSHA 1 (5), GOEA 19 (973), MERL 1 (5), GYRF 1 (6), PEFA 1 (1) TOTAL 23 (1283)

Tuesday, March 27 Steeples [Day 20] 1530-1730 (Vance Mattson). The  temperature was 9C but strong W winds made it feel much cooler, and cloud cover was 60% cumulus. The ridges cleared by 1630 but the only migrant seen was a juvenile Bald Eagle. Two juvenile Bald Eagles in the area were considered to be non-migrants.

2 hours (91) BAEA 1 (117) TOTAL 1 (634)