April 11 [Day 47] (Valley View site) The temperature ranged from -2 to a season-equaling high of 14.5C between 1400 and 1600, then falling rapidly to 6C at 2000 as a small system moved through in the late afternoon occluding the Continental Divide to the west. Ground winds were mainly W to SW light in the morning and gusting to 30 km/h in the afternoon, and ridge winds were moderate W to 1700 when they shifted to moderate NW. It was cloudless at 0700 but cumulus cirrus and lenticular cloud progressively thickening to 90-100% altostratus and stratocumulus cloud after 1800. The first migrant raptor was an adult Bald Eagle at 1022 and subsequent movement was slow and sporadic like that of the last couple of days until 1730 when the pace increased significantly with the passage of 42 of the day’s 69 migrants, the last of which went north at 1954. The 46 Golden Eagles counted (22 adults, 11 subadults and 13 juveniles) was the highest total since March 31, and a couple of adult Peregrine Falcons were also among the evening rush. The Golden Eagle at 1921 was the 3000th migrant raptor of the season, the mark being reached 5 days later than last year. 13.25 hours (516.3) BAEA 7 (371), SSHA 2 (11), NOGO 5 (74), RTHA 7 (51), GOEA 46 (2439), PEFA 2 (4) TOTAL 69 (3003)
Mount Lorette (Cliff Hansen) The temperature reached 13C at 1400 from a low of -5C, surface winds were W-SW light in the morning and gusting 20 km/h in the afternoon, and ridge winds were moderate to strong SW all day. It was cloudless to 1000, the cumulus, cirrus and altostratus cover progressively increased to 100% stratus at 1900 with light rain and partial occlusion of the ridges. Only 4 migrant raptors were recorded between 1200 and 1807, the lone Golden Eagle at 1736 being a juvenile. 12.5 hours (432.2) COHA 1 (5), UA 1 (2) RTHA 1 (6) GOEA 1 (821) TOTAL 4 (930)