RMERF counts March 4

Monday, March 4 Mount Lorette [Day 3] 0955-1745 (George Halmazna, assisted by Dan Parliament). The temperature was -19C at 0800, the high was a balmy -2C at 1500 and it was -4C at the end of observation. It was essentially calm during the morning but winds became E 2-10 km/h to 1500 after which they were NE 3-4 km/h for the rest of the day. Upper winds were probably also light but the direction could not be determined as the sky was again cloudless all day. No migrants were seen and the only raptor recorded was a resident adult Northern Goshawk at 1032. Other birds recorded were 1 American Three-toed Woodpecker, 2 Canada Jays, 3 Common Ravens, 2 Black-capped Chickadees, 4 Mountain Chickadees, 2 Red-breasted Nuthatches, 1 American Dipper and 10 Pine Siskins. The highlight of the day, however, was a Grey Wolf that crossed the Kananaskis River towards the east, just north of the site at 1625, and 2 Bighorn Sheep were also seen on Mount Allan. There were 5 visitors to the site today.

7.83 hours (23.66) TOTAL 0 (1)

Monday, March 4 Beaver Mines [Day 3] 0730-1845 (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0730 was -27C, but rose to a high of -8C at 1300 and 1400 and was -16C at 1845. Winds in the morning were W-WNW 10-20 km/h but were light and variable in the afternoon. It was again completely cloudless all day. No migrant raptors were seen but a juvenile Golden Eagle perched on a pole to the NE of the ridge in the late morning and at 1134 an adult made a low-level, low-intensity display flight near the perched bird before flying off to the NE. The juvenile also flew to the NE at 1146. What was probably the same adult bird flew from the top of the ridge to the SE at 1236. An adult Bald Eagle flew low along the valley towards the SW at 1813. Other birds seen were 4 Downy Woodpeckers, 2 Red-shafted Flickers, 13 Blue Jays, 4 Clark’s Nutcrackers, 5 Black-billed Magpies, a flock of 9 American Crows, 32 Common Ravens with only 26 flying high towards the SW to roost between 1600 and 1820, 6 Black-capped Chickadees, 6 Mountain Chickadees, 6 Evening Grosbeaks, 12 Common Redpolls, 26 Pine Siskins and 7 Dark-eyed Juncos (3 hyamelis, 1 cismontanusand 3 montanus). As yesterday the flock of American Crows flew high from the NE, circled high above the Big Hill for several minutes before descending to the trees at the top of the hill to roost at 1730, exactly the same time as yesterday!

11.25 hours (33) TOTAL 0 (3)

Monday, March 4 Steeples (Vance Mattson). NO OBSERVATION. Because of teaching commitments Vance will generally be unable to observe on Mondays and Wednesdays this season.