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)