The South Livingstone Raptor Count for the spring migration of 2009 has now begun. First official day of counting began on 15th February 2009. Follow the daily movement of raptors on this blog updated daily by Peter Sherrington.

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

March 31 [Day 37] (Valley View site) The temperature ranged from -2C to 7C and ground winds were very variable in the morning becoming westerly in the afternoon gusting 25-30 km/h. Ridge winds were W moderate until 1400 when they moved to NW, and cloud cover was a mixture of cumulus, altostratus, lenticular and cirrus ranging from 50 to 100% and usually providing good viewing conditions. At 1800 dark stratus cloud started moving from the north and at 1830 a cold front passed quickly reducing the temperature to -1C with N winds bringing heavy snow that completely obscured everything. Raptor movement started fairly early with a Bald Eagle moving at 0742 followed by 2 Golden Eagles before 0800, but movement was generally fairly slow and sporadic until after 1400 when the next 2 hours produced 16 migrants each. The day saw movement of a season high 9 species of raptor including the first Gyrfalcon (a grey morph adult) at 1159, the first Ferruginous Hawk (a light morph adult) at 1747, a season high 5 Red-tailed Hawks (all light morph calurus adults) and the second highest Northern Goshawk count of 9 birds (all adults). Of the 56 Golden Eagles recorded, 25% were immature birds: 9 subadults and 5 juveniles. The last Golden Eagle of the day came through at 1804 after which time the black clouds to the north would have given clear notice to the birds that further progress to the north was inadvisable. 12 hours (391.8) BAEA 9 (253), SSHA 2 (7), NOGO 9 (48), RTHA 5 (15), FEHA 1 (1), RLHA 1 (16), GOEA 56 (2264), GYRF 1 (10, PRFA 1 (11) TOTAL 85 (2623)
March Summary During the month we lost a RMERF record 5 complete days to inclement weather and a further 4 days were curtailed (2 severely) because of weather, so the number of days (26) and hours (282) were 10.3% and 11.7% below last year’s numbers respectively. Despite this the combined species count of 2488 was only 72 (-2.8%) below last year’s count and the Golden Eagle count of 2200 was actually 11 more than last March (+0.5%). The main reason for the lower combined species count was relatively low counts for Bald Eagle (190, -27.5%), Northern Goshawk (48, -20.7%) and Red-tailed Hawk (15, -40%). Sharp-shinned Hawk (7, +600%), Rough-legged Hawk (11, +57.1%), Merlin (5, +66.7%) and Prairie Falcon 10 (+233%) were all higher than last year, while Peregrine Falcon (2) was recorded for the first time in March at the site. Single Ferruginous Hawk and Gyrfalcon were the same as last year, while single Northern Harrier, Cooper’s Hawk and American Kestrel recorded last year were not seen this March.

Mount Lorette (Cliff Hansen) Conditions were very similar to those at P-SL with a temperature range of -2C to 7C, moderate to strong SW ridge winds and 60-100% cumulus, altostratus and cirrus cloud cover giving excellent observing conditions. The cold front hit the site at 1700 bringing snow and obscuring all ridges. The similarity in the weather unfortunately did not extend to the raptor movement as only 5 migrants were seen, including the first 2 Sharp-shinned Hawks of the season. 11.75 hours (295.7) BAEA 1 (33), SSHA 2 (2), GOEA 2 (676) TOTAL 5 (728)

Monday, March 30, 2009

March 30 [Day 36] (Valley View site) Temperatures ranged from -10C to a high of 5C at 1400, ground winds were N to SW gusting to 60 km/h around noon and diminishing to 20-25 km/h in the afternoon and ridge winds were WNW-W moderate to strong all day. Cloud cover was 40-80% cumulus, altostratus, cirrus and altocumulus to 1430, after which the cloud thickened to 100% altostratus and cumulus for the rest of the day. Raptor movement was steady all day between the first Golden Eagle at 0850 and the last 4 Bald Eagles at 1925 with the highest hourly count of 20 birds (2 Bald Eagles, 17 Golden Eagles and a Merlin) between 1300 and 1400. The only Buteo of the day was an adult dark morph Harlan’s Hawk at 1738, and the season’s second Peregrine Falcon flew high to the north at 1044. 12.75 hours (379.8) BAEA 11 (244), NOGO 5 (39), RTHA 1 (10), GOEA 97 (2208), MERL 1 (5), PEFA 1 (2), PRFA 2 (10) TOTAL 118 (2538)
Mount Lorette (George Halmazna) The temperature reached 1C from a low of -11C, ridge winds were SW moderate to strong all day and Chinook-type cloud cover ranged from 30-100%. All but one of the day’s 47 migrant raptors were Golden Eagles with most of the movement occurring in the mid afternoon and the last bird was at 1805. 13 hours (283.9) BAEA 1 (32), GOEA 46 (674) TOTAL 47 (723)

Sunday, March 29, 2009

March 29 [Day 35] (Valley View site) It snowed heavily until 1540, and I arrived at the site at 1525 to find 12cm of fresh snow and all ridges obscured. Soon after the snow stopped all ridges cleared quickly and by 1900 there was a 50% cumulus and cirrus cloud cover. Unfortunately, winds were fairly light
NE then E and so not conducive to raptor movement, and the 2 Golden Eagles that did go north were very low and flapping most of the way. With the barometric pressure rising quickly, tomorrow promises a better day. 3.5 hours (367) GOEA 2 (2111) TOTAL 2 (2420)
Mount Lorette [No observation] Snow all day and although it stopped in the early evening the ridges didn’t clear.

Saturday, March 28, 2009

March 28 [Day 34] (Valley View site) The day started with an un-forecasted 5 cm of fresh snow on the ground but the ridges had almost cleared by 0740. At 0810, however, everything was obscured and snow persisted to 1215 after which the ridges were clear by 1300 for the rest of the day, with the exception of a wet snow squall from 1635-55 and later brief flurries. The temperature ranged from -3C to 6C and winds were mainly light at ground level all day and light to moderate westerly on the ridges. Cloud cover was 100-80% mainly stratus and cumulus all day. Once the ridges cleared the first migratory Golden Eagle did not appear until 1417 but the rest of that hour yielded another 16 migrants. Movement, mainly of Golden Eagles, slowed over the next 2 hours but picked up again after the mid afternoon snow finished at 1655 with a further 29 migrants moving, the last being a juvenile Bald Eagle at 1901. A heavy snowfall warning has been issued for overnight and tomorrow so I might be able to catch up on some sleep. 12.16 hours (363.5) BAEA 3 (233), NOGO 2 (34), RTHA 1 (9), GOEA 48 (2109), TOTAL 54 (2418)
Mount Lorette (Bill Wilson) The snow at Mount Lorette fell only until 0800 and the rest of the day was clear with the temperature reaching a high of 5.5C from a low of -6.5C at 0640. Winds at the ridges were W light to moderate and cloud cover was generally 80-100% cumulus and stratus, although it briefly thinned to 30% cumulus at 1000. The first migrant raptor, a Golden Eagle, did not move until 1401 and when the last Golden Eagle was seen at 1932 only 12 eagles (4 Bald and 8 Golden) had been counted. The highlight of the day, however, was the season’s first Peregrine Falcon at 1908. 13.58 hours (270.9) BAEA 4 (31), GOEA 8 (628), PEFA 1 (1) TOTAL 13 (676)

Friday, March 27, 2009

March 27 [Day 33] (Valley View site) Temperatures ranged from -3C to 4.5C, but it felt considerable cooler with ground winds N-NW gusting 50 km/h to 1330 then W-WSW gusting 60 km/h until 1800 when they moderated somewhat. Ridge winds were WNW strong to moderate all day, and cloud cover ranged from 30-100% mainly cumulus and altostratus giving good to excellent observation conditions. The day’s first migrant raptor was a Golden Eagle at 0751 but raptor movement was generally sporadic and slow throughout the day with maximum passage of only 12 birds (1700-1800) although migration conditions appeared to be ideal. It is probable that adverse weather conditions to the south is disrupting the flow. Despite the slowness we had a number of seasonal firsts including a female/juvenile Richardson’s Merlin at 1055, an adult dark morph Harlan’s Red-tailed hawk at 1723 and the last bird of the day at 1912 was an adult Peregrine Falcon, the first to be seen in March at the site. At 1150 the resident pair of Golden Eagles was seen to copulate for the first time this season and were otherwise busy displaying and chasing out the intrusive second male. Resident Prairie Falcons were also conspicuous including one hunting within a flock of 200 Grey-crowned rosy-Finches from which it appeared to emerge empty-taloned. A couple of flocks of Canada Geese flew high to the east as did a flock of 13 Trumpeter Swans at 1138. 12.5 hours (351.4) BAEA 8 (230), NOGO 3 (32), RTHA 3 (8), RLHA 3 (15), GOEA 49 (2061), MERL 1 (4), PEFA 1 (1) TOTAL 68 (2364)
Mount Lorette (Michael Woertman) The temperature ranged from -1C to 3C, ridge winds were SW moderate to strong all day and cloud cover was 40-70% cumulus providing a reasonable backdrop. Birds moved between 0755 and 1759 with many of the day’s 43 Golden Eagles being detected for the first time over Mount Lorette or Mount McGillivray, well to the NW. Maximum passage was 9 birds between 1500 and 1600. 12.67 hours (257.3) BAEA 3 (27), SSHA 1 (3) GOEA 43 (620), TOTAL 47 (663)

Thursday, March 26, 2009

March 26 [Day 32] (Valley View site) Clear skies allowed the temperature to fall to -18C at 0715, but clear skies all day also provided the sunshine that allowed the temperature to rise to 2C. Winds were initially NNE and relatively light, but changed to SW after 1500 gusting to 40 km/h and huge plumes of snow combing off the Livingstone Range indicated strong ridge-level winds. The cold temperatures and adverse winds meant that the first migrant Golden Eagle did not appear until 1134 and then movement was fairly steady peaking at 25 from 1300 to 1400 and again at 24 from 1800 to 1900 with the last Golden Eagles at the relatively early time of 1907. The Golden Eagle at 1834 was the 2000th of the season and occurred at almost exactly the same time as the 2000th bird last year. Fifteen percent of the Golden Eagles were immature: 5 subadults and 10 juveniles. The resident pair of Golden Eagles was conspicuous with the male displaying on several occasions, but there was no sign of the third “resident” adult. Yesterday at 1707, however, I saw an adult Golden Eagle fly south that was missing a couple of primary feathers: probably the loser in last Tuesday’s fight! At 1414 the season’s first gull flew high to the north above the ridge closely pursued by what appeared to be a dark-morph jaeger: there are very few spring jaeger records in Alberta. 12.42 hours (338.9) BAEA 15 (222), NOGO 2 (29), RTHA 2 (5), GOEA 103 (2012) TOTAL 122 (2296)
Mount Lorette (Cliff Hansen) Conditions were very similar with the temperature ranging from -16C to 3C, cloudless skies alleviated only by aircraft contrails and ridge winds strong SW. Movement also started late with the first bird, a Bald Eagle, not moving until 1248 and the first Golden Eagle not until 1410, but movement was then fairly steady until the last Golden Eagle flew to the NW at 1842. Birds were often flying high away from the ridge and were hard to detect in the blue sky. 12.5 hours (244.7) BAEA 2 (24), GOEA 42 (577) TOTAL 44 (616)

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

March 25 [Day 31] (Valley View site) It snowed steadily until around 1515 when the mountains quickly cleared but winds remained moderate NE to NNE and no migrant raptors were seen. The barometric pressure rose 11 hPa between 0730 and 1900 promising a much better day tomorrow. It was on this date in 1993 that I counted a total of 849 Golden Eagles at Mount Lorette which remains the highest ever spring count for the species: those were the days! 3.5 hours (326.5) No migrant raptors.
Mount Lorette (Cliff Hansen) At Lorette snow persisted until around 1600 before clearing and ridge winds were also moderate to strong NE to NNE, but Cliff did record 4 migrant Golden Eagles between 1842 and 1935. 5.67 hours (532) GOEA 4 (535) TOTAL 4 (572)

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

March 24 [Day 30] (Valley View site) With the exception of 0900 to 1000 when it snowed, the ridges were clear all day and the temperature ranged from-3C to 5C. Ridge winds were W light to moderate in the morning becoming WNW moderate at 1100, and W moderate to strong after 1700, and cloud cover was 80-100% cumulus and altostratus giving hazy sunshine for most of the day. Raptor movement started early with the first Golden Eagle at 0739 with 4 more and a Bald Eagle before 0800, and by 0900 41 migrants had passed to the north. After the hour of snow when nothing moved, migration resumed at 1008 and was thereafter steady until the last 2 Golden Eagles went north at 1957, 12 hours and 18 minutes after the day’s first bird and peak movement was 48 birds between 1400 and 1500. Both the Golden Eagle total of 335 and the combined species total of 364 are new spring high counts for the site and the Golden Eagle total is the highest daily RMERF site count since the 358 counted at Mount Lorette on March 21 2004. The 12 Northern Goshawks are also the highest daily spring count ever at the site. For the past week we have again been seeing 3 adult (1 female 2 male) resident Golden Eagles apparently happily coexisting as they appeared to do last year. Today these birds were particularly conspicuous with both males on occasion displaying simultaneously at the same location. At 1410 the 3 were gliding south above the Piitaistakis ridge when the 2 males grasped talons for a couple of seconds and all 3 birds briefly interacted before continuing to fly together to the south. At 1945 the 3 birds were again soaring close together and interacting about 200m above the valley just to the east of me when again the 2 males clasped each other’s talons, but this time they did not let go and fell spinning down into the Gold Creek gorge all the time pecking at each other and beating each other with their wings, falling out of my sight behind the trees to the east. The female circled over where they had fallen for about 3 minutes, but neither male bird reappeared and she finally flew off. A Varied Thrush sang briefly at 0820 as did a Barred Owl at 1324, and a couple of high-flying Trumpeter Swans called at 1538: all were first records for the season. Non-raptor migrants included 165 Bohemian Waxwings, 720 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches and 16 White-winged Crossbills. It was quite a good day! 13 hours (323 hours) BAEA 12 (207), SSHA 1 (5), NOGO 12 (27), RTHA 1 (3), GOEA 335 (1919), MERL 2 (3), PRFA 1 (8) TOTAL 364 (2174)
Mount Lorette (Brian McBride) The temperature ranged from -6C to 4C, ridge winds were moderate SW all day and cloud cover was altostratus and cumulus varying from 50% to 100%. The only migrant raptors recorded were 96 Golden Eagles that moved between 1125 and 1840, with 26 of the birds occurring between 1700 and 1800. 12 hours (226.5) GOEA 96 (531) TOTAL 96 (568)

Monday, March 23, 2009

March 23 [Day 29] (Valley View site) It snowed all morning and I arrived at 1155 when all ridges were still obscured. Steady snow continued until 1400 and light flurries persisted to 1600. The cloud lifted somewhat at 1500 although the ridge tops never fully cleared and lowered again after 1830. The temperature ranged from 0C to 4C and winds were light SW. An adult Bald Eagle flapped low to the north at 1601 and between 1609 and 1722 17 Golden Eagles flapped to the north occasionally soaring below the cloud base, and then the movement stopped as suddenly as it started. A couple of days ago Bob Pisko attempted to access the ridge-top site. He had to walk the upper 1.5 km of the access road and was turned back just 200m above the parking area by thigh-deep soft snow. It is obviously going to be a few more weeks before we can get up there. 7.25 hours (310) BAEA 1 (195), GOEA 17 (1574) TOTAL 18 (1810)
Mount Lorette (Brian McBride) Snow persisted until noon and the Fisher Range only cleared at 1230. Winds were light and the temperature rose to 3C from a low of 0C. The first Golden Eagle appeared flapping low to the NW at 1338 and the last moved at 1857 with maximum movement of 15 between 1600 and 1700. Lift was poor throughout and no birds reached the ridge top. 9.5 hours (214.5) BAEA 4 (22), SSHA 1 (2), NOGO 1 (5), GOEA 45 (435) TOTAL 51 (472)

Sunday, March 22, 2009

March 22 [No observation] Snow all day with moderate SE winds: all ridges obscured. It was the same situation at Mount Lorette.

Saturday, March 21, 2009

March 21 [Day 28] (Valley View site) It was another delightful day with the temperature reaching a season high 12.5C from a low of 4C, with mainly SW ground winds gusting to 40 km/h at 0900 then diminishing to almost calm conditions after 1600. Ridge winds were WNW moderate to strong to 1600, and then west mainly light after 1600, and cloud conditions were a mixture of mainly thin altostratus, cirrus and cumulus producing an excellent observation backdrop. The cloud thickened and lowered quickly after 1800 and rain began at 1845 becoming fairly heavy at 1915 at which point I left. Raptor movement started at 0839 and became progressively stronger with a dip in numbers only from 1300 to 1400 when15 birds passed. Birds glided high and fast along the Livingstone Range until 1630 when the wind died and birds then resorted to slow soaring flight with spectacular kettles of Bald and Golden Eagles forming over the ridges. The day’s maximum passage was 48 birds between 1700 and 1800 which comprised 10 Bald Eagles and 37 Golden Eagles and the day’s only Sharp-shinned Hawk which proved to be the day’s last migrant at 1755. Everything then closed down for the rest of the day. The total of 35 Bald Eagles is the highest daily spring count for the site and the 204 Golden Eagles is the second highest behind yesterday’s count. For the first time this season the Golden Eagle count included 8% immature birds: 11 subadults and 6 juveniles, and the total of 8 migrant raptor species is the highest recorded so far this season. Of the non-raptor migrants the most spectacular was a line of 25 Tundra Swans flying high to the east over the Livingstone Range against a blue sky at 1050. 12 hours (302.7) BAEA 35 (194), SSHA 1 (4), NOGO 2 (15), RTHA 1 (2), RLHA 3 (12), GOEA 204 (1557), MERL 1 (1), PRFA 1 (7) TOTAL 248 (1792)
Mount Lorette (Cliff Hansen) Until 1500 conditions were very similar to those at Piitaistakis-South Livingstone with the temperature climbing to 10C from a low of 0C, strong SW ridge winds and a 5-10% cirrus and cumulus cloud cover. After 1500 the winds shifted to NE, the temperature fell to 2C at 1900 and the cloud thickened to 100% and lowered, partially obscuring the Fisher Range for most of the afternoon. Raptor migration started quite promisingly with the first Golden Eagle seen at 0904 and 6 birds moving before 1000. When the day’s last 2 Golden Eagles were recorded at 1327, however, the day’s count was a disappointing 13 birds. 11.75 hours (205) GOEA 12 (390), UE 1 (4) TOTAL 13 (421)

Friday, March 20, 2009

March 20 [Day 27] (Valley View site) For the first day of spring it actually felt spring-like (for the morning at least) with the temperature rising to 9.5C from a low of 0C, light ground winds (to 1140), moderate to strong WNW ridge winds and 10-80% cumulus cloud cover generally giving good observation conditions. At 1140 the ground winds suddenly hit SW 70 km/h and remained fairly strong for the rest of the day quickly dispelling the illusion that spring had actually arrived. As there was late movement yesterday evening I started watching at 0715 assuming an early start to the migration but the first Golden Eagle didn’t appear until 0936 and by noon I had only seen 8 migrant raptors. At 1218, however, Golden Eagles started gliding very high above the Piitaistakis Ridge and movement was thereafter strong and continuous until the last Golden Eagle glided high to the north just after 2000, the latest yet. Maximum movement was 48 raptors from 1800 to 1900 and a further 24 birds moved after 1900. The Golden Eagle total of 252 is the highest ever daily spring total at the site and the first over 200, while the combined species total of 275 is also a new high. Three migrant Prairie Falcons is also a new daily high for the site, and the first Red-tailed Hawk of the season at 1557 was 2 days later than last year’s first occurrence. It was a good way to celebrate the 17th anniversary of seeing the first Golden Eagles at Mount Lorette in 1992. 12.91 hours (290.7) BAEA 14 (159), SSHA 1 (3), NOGO 3 (13), RTHA 1 (1), RLHA 1 (9), GOEA 252 (1353), PRFA 3 (6) TOTAL 275 (1544)
Mount Lorette (Brian McBride) It was also a warm day with moderate SW ridge winds and 10-20% cumulus cloud cover which was fortunately mainly over the Fisher Range making detection of high-flying eagles possible. Brian counted a total of 102 Golden Eagles between 1029 and 1908, 24 of which moved between 1700 and 1800. Both the Golden Eagle total and the combined species total of 106 are season highs, but are well below the numbers expected at this time of year. 11.33 hours (193.3) BAEA 4 (18), GOEA 102 (378) TOTAL 106 (408)

Thursday, March 19, 2009

March 19 [Day 26] (Valley View site) It was another pleasant day with temperatures ranging from 0-7C, ground winds NW to WSW generally 10-20 km/h but gusting to 60km/h in the early afternoon and ridge winds moderate to strong WNW all day. Cloud cover ranged from 40-80% cumulus and altostratus giving good observation conditions all day. The first two migrant Golden Eagles were seen at 0759 and raptor migration was fairly continuous until the last Golden Eagle glided high to the north at 1945, the latest yet this season. Peak movement was 38 between 1300 and 1400 (4 Bald Eagles and 34 Golden Eagles) and 37 between 1500 and 1600 (5 Bald Eagles and 32 Golden Eagles) and the combined species total of 208 and Golden Eagle total of 189 are the second highest spring totals for the site. At 1445 the season’s 1000th Golden Eagle moved north, one day later than last year. The bird of the day, however was the count’s first American Dipper that flew high to the north at 0742. Seasonal firsts were a male Mountain Bluebird at 0815 and 4 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches flying north at 1524. 12.33 hours (277.8) BAEA 15 (145), SSHA 1 (2), NOGO 2 (10), GOEA 189 (1101) PRFA 1 (3) TOTAL 208 (1269)
Mount Lorette (Joel Duncan) Once again weather conditions were very similar with a temperature range of 0-8C, ridge winds moderate to strong westerly and cumulous cloud cover giving good observation conditions. A season high total of 64 Golden Eagles moved high to the NW between 0823 and 1926 with 16 of the birds seen between 1600 and 1700. A Western Meadowlark was the first seen this season. 11.5 hours (181.9) BAEA 1 (14), NOGO 1 940, GOEA 64 (276) TOTAL 66 (302)

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

March 18 [Day 25] (Valley View site) It was finally a reasonably pleasant day with the temperature reaching 4C from a low of -7, ground winds WNW to SW moderate in the morning but gusting 60-70 km/h between 1430 and 1630 (ensuring that it wasn’t too pleasant!) and ridge winds WNW moderate to strong all day. Cloud cover was mainly cumulus and altostratus gradually thickening from 20% early in the morning to 100% at 1900 which provided excellent observation conditions all day. Raptor movement started at 0818 and steadily increased throughout the day peaking between 1700 and 1900 with the passage of 35 Golden Eagles and persisting until 1936 when the last Golden Eagle went north (the latest yet). The Golden Eagle total of 197 (193 adults, 2 subadults and 2 juveniles) is the highest ever daily spring count for the site (cf. 192 on March 17 last year), as is the combined species total of 214 (cf. 201 on March 17 last year). The 15 Bald Eagles (all adults) is the second highest count for season after the 18 counted on February 21. A Golden Eagle recorded at 1719 was the 1000th migrant raptor of the season, the mark being reached 2 days later than it was last year. 12.42 hours (265.5) BAEA 15 (130), RLHA 1 (8), GOEA 197 (912), PRFA 1 (2) TOTAL 214 (1061)
Mount Lorette (Alan Hingston) Conditions were similar with the temperature ranging from -7C to 3C with moderate to strong W winds all day, and the count of 48 Golden Eagles was also the highest for the site so far this year. 11.67 hours (170.4) BAEA 1 (13), GOEA 48 (212), UE 1 (3) TOTAL 50 (236)

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

March 17 [Day 24] (Valley View site) Heavy snow and -4C greeted me at the site at 0735 but it quickly cleared, with W-WSW winds gusting to 30 km/h and the first Golden Eagle came through at 0846. With the cloud cover thinning to 60% cumulus and mainly sunny skies raptor movement became steady and included the year’s first Sharp-shinned Hawk soaring with a resident Golden Eagle at 1030. Movement peaked at 1200-1300 with passage of a Bald Eagle, 2 Northern Goshawks and 16 Golden Eagles and with the temperature reaching 2C and the Flathead Range to the west clearing for the first time in several days at 1400 prospects looked good. What proved to be the last Golden Eagle, however, went north at 1411and then snow moved quickly from the west and remained for the rest of the day, obscuring the ridges and completely shutting down movement. 10.67 hours (253.1) BAEA 2 (115), SSHA 1 (1), NOGO 2 (8), GOEA 52 (715) TOTAL 57 (847)
Mount Lorette (Alan Hingston) The temperature ranged from -10C to 2C, ridge winds were strong SW all day and cloud cover was generally 60-70% cumulus and stratocumulus interrupted once in the morning and three times in the afternoon by snow squalls of about 30 minutes duration that each time obscured the Fisher Range to the east. The mountains to the west were obscured all day. Golden Eagle movement was fairly steady with 11 of the day’s 28 birds occurring between 1300 and 1400, and 1 Bald Eagle completed the count. Single American Tree Sparrow and Northern Shrike were first occurrences at the site this season. 11.67 hours (158.8) BAEA 1 (12), GOEA 28 (164) TOTAL 29 (186)

Monday, March 16, 2009

March 16 [Day 23] (Valley View site) The temperature reached 1C from a low of -4C at 0800 and fell back again to -4C at 1900, ground winds were mainly SW-WSW 10-15 gusting 25 km/h, ridge winds were W moderate all day and cloud cover ranged from 70-100% mainly stratocumulus and cumulus. There was an additional 5cm of snow on the ground this morning and snow fell for most of the day, stopping only between 1300 and 1530. The Livingstone Range was clear until 1700 but the ridges to the south were mainly occluded except for a break between 1300 and 1600. Raptor movement only occurred in this period with the exception of a single Golden Eagle that flew north in snow at 1730. The first Golden Eagle appeared at 1318 and movement was continuous to 1550 during which period 80 Golden Eagles and 5 Bald Eagles moved north, and 51 of the Golden Eagles moved between 1400 and 1500 establishing a new spring hourly record for the species at the site. As soon as we finally get a day of decent weather we should expect a large movement of eagles as we are currently running 204 Golden Eagles behind last year’s total at this time and 319 behind last year’s combined species total. 11.5 hours (242.4) BAEA 5 (113), GOEA 81 (663) TOTAL 86 (790)
Mount Lorette (Alan Hingston) 10 cm of fresh snow greeted the observers, the temperature ranged from -5C to 2C and ridge winds were moderate W-SW all day. The west and south were obscured all day, but the Fisher Range to the east remained clear. The only migrant raptors seen were 11 Golden Eagles that moved between 1056 and 1345, with 6 of the birds seen between 1200 and 1300. 11.67 hours (147.1) GOEA 11 (136), TOTAL 11 (157)
March 15 [No observation] The Piitaistakis Ridge was visible for the first hour but by 0845 everything was obscured. It snowed all day with 1.5cm of fresh snow on the ground at the beginning and 4cm more by 1500. By 1600 the snow was heavy and wet and I left.
Mount Lorette (Bill Wilson) The temperature briefly reached 4.5C at 1400 from a low of -2C with ridge winds S-SW moderate to strong decreasing to moderate in the afternoon. Cloud cover was 90-100% stratocumulus and cumulus with light snow to 1430, then low stratus and snow after. The Fisher Range was partially obscured to 1400 after which it was completely obscured. Only 3 migrants made it through: an adult Golden Eagle flying north with and occasionally interacting with a large falcon at 1026, and an adult Bald Eagle at 1336. The lynx appeared on a gravel bar in the river at 0850. 9.5 hours (135.4) BAEA 1 (11), GOEA 1 (125), UE 1 (1) TOTAL 3 (146)

Saturday, March 14, 2009

March 14 [Day 22] (Valley View site) The temperature ranged from 0C to 4C and back down to 1C at 1900 with mainly W winds that gusted to between 60 and 80 km/h between 1200 and 1430 before moderating somewhat. Ridge winds were strong for most of the day and the cloud cover ranged from 70% altostratus and cumulus merging into thick stratocumulus to the west. We had a few flurries in the early morning and again after 1700, when the ridges to the south became progressively clouded over. Golden Eagle movement was again very steady from the first bird at 0816, with every hour between 0800 and 1600 yielding between 9 and 15 birds. After 1600 movement slowed and became very sporadic as ridges to the south became obscured and only a further 8 birds were counted. All the birds were adult as was the day’s only Bald Eagle at 1104. 12 hours (230.9) BAEA 1 (108), GOEA 96 (582) TOTAL 97 (704)
Mount Lorette (Cliff Hansen) Conditions were again similar with temperatures ranging from 0C to 5C, ridge winds SW strong, moderating after 1700 and altostratus and cumulus cloud cover ranging from 10% to 80%. Golden Eagle movement started at 0837 and increased during the afternoon with maximum passage of 9 birds from 1500 and 1600, with the last seen at 1815. The Golden Eagle total of 41 is the highest so far this season and all birds identified to age were adults. The single unaged Sharp-shinned Hawk equaled the second earliest occurrence of the species at the site, the earliest being March 13 in 1995. 11.75 hours (125.9) BAEA 1 (10), SSHA 1 (1), NOGO 2 (3), UA 1 (1), GOEA 41 (124) TOTAL 46 (143)

Friday, March 13, 2009

March 13 [Day 21] (Valley View site) After a low of -4C we finally went above freezing at 1100 and reached a high of 6C at 1600. Ground winds were variable but generally below 20km/h in the morning, but increased in the afternoon with gusts to 60 km/h making for much less pleasant observing conditions. Ridge winds were W mainly strong all day and a Chinook arch behind the Livingstone Range to noon and then 20-50% variable thin altostratus and cumulus cloud provided excellent viewing conditions all day. The first Golden Eagle appeared at 0751 followed by another at 0758, by far the earliest birds this season, and movement throughout the day was steady and remarkably even with the highest hourly count only 16 (1300-1400, 1400-1500 and 1800-1900). Migratory Golden Eagles occurred during every hour of observation with the last moving north at 1925. The last bird of the day, however, was the second of the day’s Rough-legged Hawks (the first this month) at 1931, the latest raptor seen so far this season. The Golden Eagle total of 111 is the highest so far and apart from 1 subadult bird all were adults. Bald Eagle numbers reached double figures for the first time since March 2 with 8 of the day’s 12 birds moving between 1816 and 1852. At 1112, three non-migratory Prairie Falcons were seen flying together and interacting over the Piitaistakis Ridge before flying south: they weren’t seen again. Canada Geese that flew high across the ridge to the east in 2 flocks (4 at 0954 and 20 at 1700) were probably migrants, as were 3 different Clark’s Nutcrackers that flew high to the north over the valley. 12.16 hours (218.9) BAEA 12 (107), NOGO 1 (6), RLHA 2 (7), GOEA 111 (486) TOTAL 126 (607)
It was even warmer at Mount Lorette where the temperature reached 8C from a low of 0C, ridge winds were W strong all day and an average of 30% cumulus cloud made detection of high flying eagles possible. Brian McBride counted a season high total of 30 Golden Eagles (29 adults and 1 subadult) between 1306 and 1900 with all the birds flying high and to the west of the Fisher Range ridge. 11.5 hours (114.2) BAEA 1 (9), GOEA 30 (83) TOTAL 31 (97)

Thursday, March 12, 2009

March 12 [Day 20] (Valley View site) (Vance Mattson) For the 8th consecutive day the temperature failed to get above freezing, but it was close as -0.5C was reached at 1700 from a 0800 low of -11C. Ground winds were variable W to NE usually 20-30 occasionally gusting 55 km/h and skies were generally sunny with variable amounts of thin high cloud. Ridge winds were W mainly strong all day. Raptor movement started early with the first Golden Eagle seen at 0846, but the second was not seen until 1055. After 1100 movement became steady culminating in a season-high hourly count of 28 Golden Eagles between 1500 and 1600 and it remaining fairly strong until the last Golden Eagle went north at 1902. The total of 87 Golden Eagles (84 adults and 3 juveniles) is the highest so far this season. A single Bald Eagle was the first at the site in 6 days and the single Northern Goshawk was the first for 10 days. 12.08 hours (206.7) BAEA 1 (95), NOGO 1 (5), GOEA 87 (375) TOTAL 89 (481)
Once again the weather was similar at Mount Lorette, albeit warmer with a temperature low of -2C and a high well above freezing, with similar sky conditions and ridge winds. Once again, however, Golden Eagle numbers were significantly lower than at Piitaistakis-South Livingstone, although Brian McBride counted a season high 15 birds, 7 of which moved between 1400 and 1500 but none were seen after 1500. The Canada Lynx was again seen, walking across the Hay Meadow near the site. 11.5 hours (102.7) BAEA 1 (8), GOEA 15 (53) TOTAL 16 (66)

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

March 11 [Day 19] (Valley View site) The temperature rose to a high of -6C from -15C but ground winds gusting to 60 km/h in the morning made it feel considerably cooler. Ridge winds were WNW all day strong in the morning moderating in the afternoon to moderate to strong. Thin altostratus, cumulus and cirrus cloud in the early morning gave way to almost cloudless skies after 1030. Raptor migration was confined to Golden Eagles and the day’s total of 85 was the highest so far this season. Movement started fairly early at 0911 and by 1146 I had counted 26 birds, but movement then became sporadic with only 9 more birds seen before 1500. After 1500 movement again became steady with the peak of 18 birds between 1600 and 1700 being the highest hourly count to date. For the first time this season birds moved after 1900 (1800 MST) with 5 counted, the last at 1928. Today’s flight comprised 82 adults and 3 juveniles. 11.83 hours (194.6) GOEA 85 (288) TOTAL 85 (392)
At Mount Lorette weather conditions were similar with temperatures ranging from -26C to -3C, ridge winds NW to SW moderate to strong and cloudless for most of the day. Cliff Hansen, however, only recorded a single adult migrant Golden Eagle at 1428, and a resident bird was also seen in the area for the first time this year. A Wilson’s Snipe calling from the river was a season’s first. 11.67 hours (91.16) GOEA 1 (38) TOTAL 1 (50)

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

March 10 [Day 18] (Valley View site) I started the count at 1030 when the ridges were almost clear, but there was thick ice fog to the south until 1500. The starting temperature was -25C but it “warmed” up to -21C in the afternoon and quickly fell to -28C after the sun fell below Bluff Mountain. Ground winds were SW to W generally 5-10 km/h and upper winds were W-NW light to moderate, and the sky was essentially cloudless after 1500 when both cloud and fog dissipated. The first Golden Eagle flapped low to the north at 1530 and a further 9 followed it, the last moving at 1809, most of which also failed to get any significant lift. 9 hours (182.8) GOEA 10 (203) TOTAL 10 (307)
It was a little warmer at Mount Lorette where Ron Dutcher enjoyed temperatures that ranged from -24C to -15C with light W winds and an ice crystal fog that cleared around 1300. Raptor movement started around 1500 and lasted until just after 1700 with the passage of 14 birds, few of which managed to rise above the Fisher Range ridge. 7.5 hours (79.49) BAEA 1 (7), RLHA 1 (2), GOEA 10 (37), UE 2 (2) TOTAL 14 (49)

Monday, March 9, 2009

March 9 [No observation] It was another miserable day with the temperature rising to just -19C from a low of -23C, E-SE winds from 10 to 25 km/h and snow all day obscuring everything. The forecast calls for clearing tomorrow afternoon and then a week of reasonable weather so we can finally look forward to good raptor movement.
Joel Duncan spent 6 uncomfortable hours at Mount Lorette where the temperature ranged from -16C to -24C, with upslope winds and an ice fog that obscured everything. Not surprisingly, no migrant raptors were seen.

Sunday, March 8, 2009

March 8 [No observation] Today was the first day of Mountain Daylight Time (MDT) with the clocks advancing by one hour: subsequent reported times will be MDT. I spent 2 hours at the site from 0800 when the temperature was -17C with light snow (3 cm fresh) and the Piitaistakis Ridge just visible. By 1000 all was obscured and I left the site. There was a brief clearing in the late afternoon and I watched again from 1735 to 1815 after which the ridges again became partially obscured, but no raptors were seen. While driving to the site the second time, however, I saw a grey morph Gyrfalcon near Lee Lake, which is a species that has been very uncommon in southern Alberta this winter.
At Mount Lorette slightly better conditions had Cliff Hansen spending 8 hours at the site, but the only birds he saw were 1 Common Raven and 1 American Dipper. The day was more than justified, however, by the visit of a Canada Lynx to the site, the first seen this season.

Saturday, March 7, 2009

March 7 [Day 17] (Valley View site) Winds were strong W to WSW gusting to 80 km/h causing blowing snow and ridge winds were strong westerly. The temperature rose to -2.5C from a low of -6 and cloud cover was 70-90% cumulus and stratocumulus until 1200 when it became completely overcast. Light snow began at 1120 and turned into steady moderate snow with all ridges obscured at 1330 and remained so for the rest of the day. Between 1041 and 1231 6 adult Golden Eagles moved to the north, and that was it for the day. A male Dark-eyed (Oregon) Junco was a first for the year. 8.5 hours (173.8) GOEA 6 (193) TOTAL 6 (297)
Conditions at Mount Lorette were similar with the temperature rising to 0C from a low of -3C and moderate to strong W ridge winds in the morning, diminishing in the afternoon. By noon cloud was beginning to cover the peaks and by 1400 all the ridges were obscured and light snow was falling. Bill Wilson counted 1 Bald Eagle and 9 Golden Eagles between 0925 and 1144 which were probably the birds that I counted between 1500 and 1600 yesterday. 10 hours (57.99) BAEA 1 (6), GOEA 9 (27) TOTAL 10 (27)

Friday, March 6, 2009

March 6 [Day 16] (Valley View site) The sky had completely cleared overnight allowing the temperature at 0700 to drop to -27C, and the rest of the day was essentially cloudless apart from the development of 10% cirrus between 1400 and 1500. The temperature reached -5.5C at 1600 but by that time variable winds were gusting to 50 km/h and liberally blowing about the 9 cm of snow that fell yesterday, making it feel colder than at 0700. Ridge winds were moderate WNW in the morning becoming moderate to strong in the afternoon and strong after 1700, lifting spectacular plumes of snow from the peaks and ridges. Raptor movement did not start until 1136 when a Bald Eagle flapped low to the north and only 4 Golden Eagles followed before 1400, none of which were able to find much lift. The next two hours, however, produced 6 Bald Eagles and 18 Golden Eagles all of which glided high along the Piitaistakis Ridge, followed by 3 more Golden Eagles after 1600, the last of which proved to be the last bird of the day at 1633. All 32 eagles seen today were adults. The resident pair of Golden Eagles was conspicuous throughout the afternoon, with the male giving a high-intensity display in the wind which on a couple of occasions involved complete backward loops. 11.16 (165.3) BAEA 7 (94), GOEA 25 (187) TOTAL 32 (291)
At Mount Lorette the temperature ranged from -26C up to 3C, and the sky was also cloudless until 1630 after which up to 50% cirrus developed. Ridge winds were moderate in the morning becoming strong in the afternoon with snow combing off the ridges. George Halmazna had to wait until after 1600 for the first raptor and then 3 adult Bald Eagles and 5 adult Golden Eagles migrated in the next hour with the last seen at1702, after which movement again stopped for the rest of the day. I suspect that the birds were the ones that passed the Piitaistakis-South Livingstone site between 1400 and 1500. 11.5 hours (47.99) BAEA 3 (5), GOEA 5 (18) TOTAL 8 (25)

Thursday, March 5, 2009

March 5 [No observation] It snowed steadily all day obscuring all the ridges. Temperatures fell steadily from -6C at 0700 to -14C at 1800, and winds were moderate SE all day. Conditions were also similar at Mount Lorette where no observation was possible.

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

March 4 [Day 15] (Valley View site) Ground winds were light until 1000 after which they were W-SW generally 15-25 occasionally gusting to 55 km/h. Ridge and upper winds were W moderate to strong all day. The temperature only rose to 4C from a low of -1C, and cloud cover was 40-90% cumulus all day giving good observation conditions for much of the time. There were light snow flurries to 0840 and again after 1800, but most of the day was sunny. Despite the seemingly ideal migration conditions only 1 Golden Eagle moved north in the morning but things finally picked up in the afternoon with 1500-1600 yielding 17 migrants (4 Bald Eagles and 13 Golden Eagles), the highest hourly count so far. The last bird, the day’s 33rd Golden Eagle, was recorded at the relatively early time of 1656 and the day ended as it had started with the addition of periodic appearances of the resident Golden Eagle pair. 11.08 hours (154.2) BAEA 7 (87), GOEA 33 (162) TOTAL 40 (259)
Conditions at Mount Lorette also appeared conducive to raptor migration but snow to the south of the site again severely limited movement. Cliff Hansen recorded the day’s only 2 Golden Eagles at 1000, while Des Allen, who took over from Cliff in the afternoon, added a Bald Eagle and a Northern Goshawk. 11.16 hours (36.49) BAEA 1 (2), NOGO 1 (1), GOEA 2 (13) TOTAL 4 (17)

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

March 3 [Day 14] (Valley View site) Wet snow fell from 0700 to 0835 (1cm) and again from 1440-1615 (1cm) with all the ridges obscured. For the rest of the time the ridges were essentially clear and winds were moderate to strong WNW to W all day giving good lift. The temperature rose to 6C from a low of 1C, and cloud cover apart from the snow periods was 30-80% mainly cumulus giving excellent observation conditions. Raptor movement was fairly steady between 0945 and 1726, with the exception of the period of afternoon snow, with most bird gliding high to the north above the Piitaistakis Ridge. The Golden Eagle total of 19 is the second highest so far this season, and comprised 17 adults, 1 subadult and 1 juvenile. 11.25 hours (143.1) BAEA 5 (80), GOEA 19 (129) TOTAL 24 (219)
At Mount Lorette the mountains were cloud covered until around 1400 and Ron Dutcher started watching at 1415 when the ridges were mainly clear with a 40-80% cumulus cover, but no raptors were seen. 4.33 hours (25.33) TOTAL 0 (13)

Monday, March 2, 2009

March 2 [Day 13] (Valley View site) The temperature was already 3C at 0715 and rose to a season high 10C at 1400. Ground winds were W-WNW occasionally gusting to 30 km/h but often less than 10 km/h, while the ridge and upper winds were consistently W moderate to strong. Cloud cover was 80-100% stratocumulus and cumulus until 1800 when the cloud cleared to 40%. For the first time this year we had light rain showers in the morning and again in the late afternoon, but apart from some minor cloud drape in the early morning the ridges were clear all day. The day’s first bird, a Golden Eagle, did not appear until 1054 but subsequently raptor movement was steady until the passage of the day’s second adult Northern Goshawk at 1730. The total of 35 Golden Eagles was the highest so far, all birds were adults and 10 of them occurred between 1200 and 1300. The season’s 100th Golden Eagle passed at 1412, the earliest date that we have reached the three-figure mark for the species by one day: the previous earliest was March 3 2000 at Mount Lorette. Bald Eagles, which have been rather sparse for a few days, suddenly moved in good numbers with 11 of the day’s 12 birds migrating between 1408 and 1614: all were adults with the exception of 1 late subadult bird. The spring-like morning weather inspired a male Pine Grosbeak to sing, and produced the season’s first American Robin at 0948. 11.16 hours (131.8) BAEA 12 (75), NOGO 2 (4), GOEA 35 (110) TOTAL 49 (195)
The weather conditions at Mount Lorette were similar, but Joel Duncan recorded only 5 adult Golden Eagles, the first 2 of which did not appear until around 1417 and the last 3, together with a Rough-legged Hawk didn’t move until around 1700. Joel also recorded an American Robin and a probable Varied Thrush sang once late in the day. 9.5 hours (21) RLHA 1 (1), GOEA 5 (11) TOTAL 6 (13)

Sunday, March 1, 2009

March 1 [Day 12] (Valley View site) It was 0C at 0715, and the temperature briefly reached a pleasant 8C at 1500, with WNW to W moderate to strong winds all day, occasionally gusting in the morning to 60 km/h on the valley floor, but moderating in the afternoon. Cloud cover was 80-100% cumulus, altostratus and cirrostratus giving excellent observation conditions. The apparently ideal migration conditions was reflected in the fact that 5 adult Golden Eagles had moved north before 1100, but subsequently only 6 more adult migrant Golden Eagles were seen, the last at the relatively early time of 1558, suggesting that poor weather farther south was impeding their progress. 11 hours (120.7) GOEA 11 (75) TOTAL 11 (146)
The Mount Lorette comparison count started today, where Bill Wilson counted a total of 1 Bald Eagle and 6 Golden Eagles (all adults) moving between 0759 and 1639 under similar weather conditions to ours. Also similar was the fact that 4 of the 6 Golden Eagles also moved before 1100. Highlights of the passerine count were a Townsend’s Solitaire and an American Tree Sparrow. 11.5 hours (11.5) BAEA 1 (1), GOEA 6 (6) TOTAL 7 (7)
February 28 [Day 11] (Valley View site) Doug and Teresa Dolmen took over from me at 1045 so I could go to Calgary to give a talk. It was a day of calm to light winds generally SSW at the valley bottom, and probably light NW aloft, although it was difficult to assess as the sky generally ranged from cloudless to 100% thin cirrus or cirrostratus. The temperature which was -15C at 0710 finally rose to a high of -1 at 1700. The calm conditions meant that the first bird, an adult Bald Eagle, did not appear until 1334, but subsequent movement was fairly steady with a maximum hourly passage of 6 birds (2 Bald Eagles and 4 Golden Eagles) from 1500 to 1600, and the last raptor of the day, a Rough-legged Hawk, moved north at 1753, the latest migrant seen so far this season. A Townsend’s Solitaire at 1035 was the first seen at the site in February. 11.16 hours (109.7) BAEA 5 (63), RLHA 1 (5), GOEA 8 (64) TOTAL 14 (135)
February Summary During the month we spent 11 days (109.7 hours) in the field (10% and 12.85% above last years totals respectively) and counted a site and RMERF February combined species total of 135 birds, 45.16% above last year’s previous record count of 93 birds. New high February counts were recorded for Bald Eagle (63, +28.6%), Rough-legged Hawk (5, +25%) and Golden Eagle (64, +82.86%).

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