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)