RMERF counts, March 30

Friday, March 30 Mount Lorette (Bill Wilson). NO OBSERVATION (Weather). A widespread northern front hit the area early in the morning bringing moderate NNE winds and steady snow that obscured all the mountains. Bill stayed to 1050 but as the forecast called for heavy snow all day he wisely decided to leave.

Friday, March 30 Beaver Mines [Day 34] 0730-1200 and 1700-2000 (Peter Sherrington). The temperature was 2C at 0730, rose to a high of 7C at 1100 but after the passage of the northern front around 1130 it quickly dropped and was -5C at 1200. Winds were WSW 30-50 gusting 70 km/h to 1130 when they became NE 35-45 km/h although the flow at height. Cloud cover was 20-80% cumulus with periods of 100% thin stratus and cumulus to 1130 when 100% low stratocumulus moved upslope that brought snow and quickly enveloped the ridge by 1200.

A total of 10 migrant raptors were seen between 0931 and 1126 comprising 3 Bald Eagles (2sa, 1j), 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk and 6 Golden Eagles (5a, 1u). A Golden Eagle at 1111 and the Rough-legged Hawk at 1121 soared very high over the “Big Hill” and disappeared into the base of the approaching up-slope cloud which they probably penetrated to reach the higher still prevailing strong WSW winds after they probably glided to the north above the cloud layer, out of sight. Ten centimetres of heavy snow fell all afternoon to 1700 that completely obscured the ridge and brought observation to a close at 1200. At 1700 the snow became light and the ridge re-emerged and was completely clear by 1850. The temperature was -11C at 1700 and the stratus cloud cover began to break, reducing to 80% altocumulus at 1900. ESE winds 10-15 km/h blew in the valley but an upper WSW light to moderate flow gave hope of further migration which did not materialise. The count ended at 1800 when the temperature was -13C.

7.5 hours (328.5) BAEA 3 (192), RLHA 1 (71), GOEA 6 (1078) TOTAL 10 (1420)

Friday, March 30 Steeples [Day 22] 1230-1730 (Vance Mattson). Conditions west of the Rockies were much better with a temperature of 9-10C, strong N-NE winds that became W after 1500 and 50-60% cumulus, altostratus and altocumulus cloud cover that gave mainly sunny conditions. Only one migrant raptor was seen, however: an adult Bald Eagles at 1407. Non-migrant birds were 1 Turkey Vulture, 1 juvenile Bald Eagle and a pair of light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks with two display flights performed by the noticeably smaller male.

5 hours (98) BAEA 1 (118) TOTAL 1 (635)