March 3 [Day 16] (Valley View site) It was yet another warm day reaching 10.5C at 1300 from a low of 1C, and it was still 7C at 1800. Ground winds were mainly SW gusting to 20 km/h, ridge winds were moderate W all day and cloud cover was mainly 100% thin altostratus and altocumulus allowing hazy sunshine until 1700 after which it thinned to 80% altocumulus and cirrus. Raptor migration was again slow but steady with 18 birds moving between 1120 and 1813 with maximum movement of 5 birds between 1200 and 1300. Eagles again dominated the flight with 7 adult Bald Eagles and 9 adult Golden Eagles, and the Bald Eagle at 1645 was the 100th of the season. For the last 2 years Golden Eagle numbers showed a marked increase on March 2 with 25 and 35 birds passing respectively but this year we are still waiting: maybe it will happen tomorrow? A total of 30 Canada Geese in 4 flocks flew high to the east and a Blue Jay at 0928 was the 27th bird species for the year. An adult male Moose on the Piitaistakis Ridge at 0734 was a first for the season. 11.58 (176.3) BAEA 7 (102), NOGO 1 (10), RLHA 1 (13), GOEA 9 (85) TOTAL 18 (213)
Mount Lorette [Day 3] (George Halmazna) The temperature was -4C at 0640 but rose to a high of 9C, ground winds were light to noon, then SSW-W 5-10 gusting 28 km/h to1600, after which they became light again, and ridge winds appeared to follow the same pattern. Cloud cover ranged from 100% altostratus to 60% cirrus and cumulus thickening again in late afternoon to 80% altostratus and cumulus giving excellent observing conditions all day. A season high total of 20 raptors migrated between 1053 and 1716 of which 15 were Golden Eagles (14a,1j), but the highlight was the season’s first Gyrfalcon at either site, which was probably a juvenile grey morph bird at 1617. A male Mountain Bluebird was a very early record, a male American Robin was the first for the season and other birds included 70 Bohemian Waxwings, 1 Northern Shrike and singing Great Horned and Northern Pygmy Owls. 11.58 hours (33.83) BAEA 2 (3), NOGO 1 (2), RLHA 1 (3), GOEA 15 (18), GYRF 1 (1) TOTAL 20 (27)