RMERF counts, March 7

Thursday, March 7 Mount Lorette [Day 6] 0750-1740 (Blake Weis, assisted by Lori Anderson). The starting temperature was -11C, the high was 2C (1400-1600) and it was -1C at the end of observation. Ground winds were W-SW 0-5 km/h to 1000, 5-10 gusting 20 km/h to 1400 then 5-10 gusting to 33 km/h for the rest of the day. Ridge winds were W-SW all day, moderate to 1000, moderate to strong to 1400 and strong thereafter. Cloud cover was altostratus, altocumulus and cumulus all day, initially 50%, 70% from 1100 to 1300, 40% at 1500 and 70% after 1600. There were persistent light snow flurries after 1100 but the eastern ridges were only 10% obscured between 1300 and 1400, and the west 20% obscured after 1700. The only migrant raptor was an adult Bald Eagle that flew north from the Fisher Range at 1548, and a resident unaged Northern Goshawk was seen over Hummingbird Hill at 1640. Other birds seen were a single Canada Goose at Lorette Ponds, a female American Three-toed Woodpecker at the parking area, 2 Canada Jays, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 8 Common Ravens, 6 Black-capped Chickadees, 4 Mountain Chickadees, 4 Boreal Chickadees, 2 Red-breasted Nuthatches, 2 Common Redpolls and 15 White-winged Crossbills. Four visitors made it to the site.

9.67 hours (52.41) BAEA 1 (2) TOTAL 1 (2)

Thursday, March 7 Beaver Mines [Day 6] 0700-1815 (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Hilary Atkinson). At 0700 the temperature was -14C, the high was 1C at 1100 and was 0.5C until 1300, which is the first time the temperature has risen above freezing here for 33 days, and it was -4C at 1815. Winds were W-WSW all day, light until 1000 then 30-45 gusting 50-65 for the rest of the day. Cloud cover was initially 80% altocumulus and cumulus that gradually reduced to 20% cumulus at 1200 and 1300. Light snow flurries started at 1100 but between 1315 and 1445 heavy snow swept from the SW and obscured the ridge after which cloud cover varied between 10 and 50% cumulus and altocumulus for the rest of the day. The Continental Divide to the SW was completely obscured all day. There was finally a slow but persistent raptor migration of 11 birds between 1022 and 1724 comprising 4 adult Bald Eagles, 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk and 6 adult Golden Eagles with all birds gliding high to the NW or N from the Big Hill. Other birds seen were 2 Canada Geese that flew to the SW at 1702, 9 Rock Pigeons, 3 Downy Woodpeckers, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 6 Blue Jays, 2 Black-billed Magpies, 28 Common Ravens, that included a meagre roosting movement of 17 birds between 1540 and 1615, 4 Black-capped Chickadees, 4 Mountain Chickadees, 9 Evening Grosbeaks, 16 Common Redpolls, 50 Pine Siskins and 6 Dark-eyed Juncos (3 hyamelis and 3 montanus).

11.25 hours (66.25) BAEA 4 (5), RLHA 1 (3), GOEA 6 (7) TOTAL 11 (15)

Thursday, March 7 Steeples [Day 4] 1400-1630 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 3C, winds were strong S and 60-80% cumulus cloud cover provided partly sunny conditions. No migrant or resident raptors were seen.

2.5 hours (13.5) TOTAL 0 (0)