RMERF counts, March 6

Tuesday, March 6 Mount Lorette [Day 5] 0745-1825 (Blake Weis, assisted by Brian McBride). The starting temperature was -16C, the high at 1300-1700 was -2C and it was -3C when observation ceased. Ground winds were W-SW 0-3 km/h to 1000 and variable SW-SE for the rest of the day, 0-5 gusting 15 km/h to 1200 and 5-10 gusting 20 km/h throughout the afternoon; ridge winds were moderate SW all day. Cloud cover was 70-90% cumulus, altocumulus and altostratus to 1600 after which it gradually reduced to 20% cumulus and altocumulus by the end of the day. The eastern ridges were clear all day and the western ridges were only 10-20% obscured between 1100 and 1300. A season-high total of 7 raptors moved between 1150 and 1588 that comprised 5 adult Bald Eagles, 1 adult Golden Eagle and the season’s first Gyrfalcon at 1445, an adult grey morph bird. This is the earliest record of the species at the site. Other birds were scarce and comprised 1 Grey Jay, 13 Common Ravens and 1 American Dipper, and there were fresh Canada Lynx tracks in the snow at the site. There were only 2 visitors at the site today.

10.67 hours (45.08) BAEA 5 (8), GOEA 1 (6), GYRF 1 (1) TOTAL 7 (16)

Tuesday, March 6 Beaver Mines [Day 10] 0800-1800 (Peter Sherrington). The temperature was -13C at 0800, reached a high of 1.5C at 1300 and was -3C at 1800. Winds were light NW in the morning and WSW-W 15-20 gusting 30 km/h in the afternoon, and cloud cover was 100% altostratus and cumulus to 1200 and 90-50% cumulus and altocumulus in the afternoon. Very light snow fell between 1400 and 1520, but observing conditions were good throughout. A season high total of 19 migrants were recorded between 1203 and 1718, as yesterday coincident with the onset of moderate WSW winds. The count was 7 adult Bald Eagles and a season-high 12 Golden Eagles (9a, 1sa, 2j), with an hourly high count of 2 Bald Eagles and 4 Golden Eagles between 1600 and 1700. It appears that the migration is finally gathering momentum. A skein of 38 Canada Geese migrated high to the NE at 1613.

10 hours (85) BAEA 7 (27), GOEA 12 (32) TOTAL 19 (63)

Tuesday, March 6 Steeples [Day 4] 1515-1800 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 2C, winds were light S and cloud cover was 50-40% cumulus. No migrant were counted, but there were two sightings of resident Golden Eagles, and 1 non-migratory Bald Eagle.

2.75 hours (15) TOTAL 0 (18)