March 4 [Day 17] (Valley View site) It was yet another warm day starting at 0C and climbing to 10C at 1500, before falling to 6C at 1800. Ground winds were generally light W-SW occasionally gusting to 16 km/h, and ridge and upper winds were WNW to 1400 after which they became light W. Cloud cover was mainly 100% altostratus and cumulus allowing hazy sunshine, becoming 100% dark cumulus between 1400 and 1530 after which they broke to 60 % cumulus after 1600 giving a brief period of direct sunshine. The movement of 3 Golden Eagles and 1 Bald Eagle between 1006 and 1051 again raised hopes of good numbers of migrants, but light winds in the afternoon limited movement to only 17 birds, most of which spent long periods soaring before moving slowly to the north. The flight comprised 5 adult Bald Eagles, an adult Northern Goshawk and 11 Golden Eagles: 9 adults, 1 subadult and 1 juvenile. The highlight of the non-raptor movement was a flock of 52 Tundra Swans flying very high to the east and calling continuously, providing the first record for the season [species #28]. 11.42 (187.7) BAEA 5 (107), NOGO 1 (11), GOEA 11 (96) TOTAL 17 (230)
Mount Lorette [Day 4] (Joel Duncan) The temperature rose to 8C at 1500 from a low of -1C, ground winds were light W-SW, ridge winds were light to moderate SW, and cloud cover was mainly 70-80% altocumulus and cirrus reducing to 20% for about an hour around noon giving excellent observing conditions all day. The only migrant raptors were an adult Bald Eagle at 1508, a subadult Golden Eagle at 1518 and an unaged Golden Eagle at 1802. 9.5 hours (43.33) BAEA 1 (4), GOEA 2 (20) TOTAL 3 (30)