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)