April 22 [Day 48] (Bill Wilson, assisted by Cliff Hansen) The last day of the spring 2012 count started with a temperature of -2C at 0600 that rose to a high of 18C at 1500 and 1600 and was still 15C at 2000. Ground winds were initially WSW (occasionally SE) 2-7 km/h, but by 0900 they were SW gusting to 25 km/h, and after 1100 10-20 gusting 40 km/h, while ridge winds were strong WSW to SW gusting to a maximum of 104 km/h at 1500. The count ended with the highest daily total since April 15 with 22 birds moving between 0807 and 1958 with 14 of the birds occurring after 1800. The first 2 birds moved along the western ridges but the rest were generally first seen over or approaching Mount Lorette and probably originated from Wasootch Creek having moved to the NW below and east of the Fisher Range ridge. The flight comprised 2 adult Bald Eagles, 2 Sharp-shinned Hawks (1j,1u), 2 Red-tailed Hawks of unknown race, morph or age and 16 Golden Eagles (2a,1sa,10j,3u). Other birds included 1 drumming Red-naped Sapsucker, 1 Tree Swallow, 3 Ruby-crowned Kinglets, 3 Mountain Bluebirds, at least 22 American Pipits, 40 Bohemian Waxwings and 1 Song Sparrow. 14 hours BAEA 2 (90), SSHA 2 (25), RTHA 2 (52), GOEA 16 (1034) TOTAL 22 (1259)

LORETTE SUMMARY COUNT (March 1 to April 22)

(With the variance from the average of the 1993-2011 spring counts for the period in parenthesis)

DAYS 48 (-1.3%)

HOURS 495.4 (-8.1%)

TURKEY VULTURE (TUVU) 0 (-100%)

OSPREY (OSPR) 1 (-40.6%)

BALD EAGLE (BAEA) 90 (-49.3%)

NORTHERN HARRIER (NOHA) 2 (-50.6%)

SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (SSHA) 25 (+8.7%)

COOPER’S HAWK (COHA) 6 (-8.1%)

NORTHERN GOSHAWK (NOGO) 16 (-26%)

Accipiter sp. (UA) 7

BROAD-WINGED HAWK (BWHA) (-100%)

SWAINSON’S HAWK (SWHA) 0 (never recorded in this count period)

RED-TAILED HAWK (RTHA) 52 (+107.6%)

FERRUGINOUS HAWK (FEHA) 0 (-100%)

ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (RLHA) 7 (-53.3%)

Buteo sp. (UB) 3

GOLDEN EAGLE (GOEA) 1034 (-62.8%)

Eagle sp. (UE) 4

AMERICAN KESTREL (AMKE) 2 (+123.5%)

MERLIN (MERL) 5 (-18.8%)

GYRFALCON (GYRF) 1 (-17.4%)

PEREGRINE FALCON (PEFA) 3 (+235.3%)

PRAIRIE FALCON (PRFA) 1 (-52.5%)

Falco sp. (UF) 0

Unidentified Raptor (UU) 0

TOTAL 1259 (-59.1%)

April 21 [Day 47] (Cliff Hansen, assisted by Chris Hunt) The temperature rose to a high of 12C between 1600 and 1800 from -3C and was 6.5C at 2030. Ground winds were W to 1100, SW to 1800 and then S, 5-10 km/h to noon, with gusts to 22 km/h to 2000 after which it was 5-10 km/h again, while ridge winds were probably SW light to moderate. Cloud cover was initially 10% cirrostratus becoming 40% at 1100 and decreasing after 1200 to 10% for the rest of the day with a trace of cumulus developing after 2000. The only migrant raptors seen were 2 unaged Bald Eagles that glided high overhead as silhouettes at 1258 and 1 juvenile Golden Eagle at 1922. Other birds included 5 American Pipits, 36 dark-eyed Juncos and 1 male Brewer's Blackbird, while butterflies comprised 1 Mourning Cloak and 6 Milbert's Tortoiseshells. 13.33 hours (481.4) BAEA 2 (88), GOEA 1 (1018) TOTAL 3 (1237)

April 20 [Day 46] (Terry Waters) Heavy rain obscured all ridges until 1300, when the temperature was 5C that reached a high of 10C at 1800, ground winds were SW 20-30 gusting 50 km/h all afternoon, while ridge winds were SW-WSW gusting to 84 km/h at 1300 and 42-55 km/h in the late afternoon. The 100% low stratus cleared after 1300 giving way to 70-80% cumulus for the rest of the day. The eastern ridges cleared quickly after 1300 as did the western ridges which, however, clouded over again to 70% from 1500 to the end of the day. The only migrant raptor seen was an adult male columbarius Merlin that flew low and fast to the north over the centre of the valley. Other birds in a rather thin day included 2 Ruby-crowned Kinglets, 3 Mountain Bluebirds and 14 Dark-eyed Juncos. 5 hours (468.07) MERL 1 (5) TOTAL 1 (1234)

April 19 [Day 45] (Terry Waters) The temperature was -4C at 0830, rose to a high of 9C from 1500-1900 and was 7C at 1900. Ground winds were light SE at first becoming light SW at 1100 and SW 10-20 gusting 30 km/h after 1400 before they diminished late in the day, while ridge winds were moderate SW with a maximum gust of 67 at 1800. Cloud cover was initially 10% scattered cumulus which gradually increased throughout the day reaching 80% cumulus and stratocumulus by late afternoon. Viewing conditions were excellent and there was a slow but steady movement of raptors with 11 birds seen between 1125 and 1710. Five adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks all moved to the north above the centre of the valley, and 1 adult Bald Eagle and 5 Golden Eagles (2sa,3u) moved to the NW from the Fisher Range to Mount Lorette. A single Greater Yellowlegs was presumably one of those seen yesterday, while other bird species included 4 Tree Swallows, 3 Mountain Bluebirds, 2 Varied Thrushes, 36 American Robins, 4 Bohemian Waxwings, 12 Dark-eyed Juncos and 1 male Red-winged Blackbird. 10.5 hours (463.07) BAEA 1 (86), RTHA 5 (50), GOEA 5 (1017) TOTAL 11 (1233) 

April 18 [Day 44] (Cliff Hansen, assisted by Kevin Barker) the day's high temperature was 9C at 1700, rising from a morning low of 5C and falling to 3.5C at 2000. Ground winds were S 5-10 gusting 15 km/h to 1400 after which they were variably SW-SE 5-10 gusting 15 km/h for the rest of the day, while ridge winds were mainly moderate SW-WSW gusting to 56 km/h in mid-afternoon. Low stratus and fog obscured everything until 0900 after which the ridges started to clear and were all clear by 1100. The cloud cover began to break slightly at 0900 producing 80-100% cumulus, altocumulus and cirrus to 1900 and 80-90% altocumulus and altostratus after that. Two short but intense snow squalls briefly obscured everything from 1430 to 1455 and from 1935 to 1955. Once again raptor movement was disappointing with only 1 juvenile Golden Eagle at 1530 and 1 adult Golden Eagle at 1914, although the resident pair was seen briefly clasping talons during a courtship flight. Other birds seen included the season's first 2 Greater Yellowlegs, 10,75 hours (452.57) GOEA 2 (1012) TOTAL 2 (1222)

April 17 [Day 43] (Joel Duncan) The temperature at 0900 was 2C, fell to the day's low of 1C at 1000, rose to a high of 3C at 1500 and was still 2C at 1900. Ground winds were NE all day 8-15 gusting 30 km/h while ridge winds were light to moderate SW (occasionally WSW or SSW) gusting to 29 km/h at 1400. Cloud cover was initially 100% low altostratus that produced very light snow flurries, which gradually decreased to 30% altocumulus, cumulus and altostratus at 1500 before increasing again to 70% at the end of the day. All ridges were obscured until 1100 after which they gradually cleared with the east fully clear at 1330 and all ridges clear at 1500. Raptor movement was disappointing with only 3 birds seen: 1 adult Sharp-shinned Hawk at 1140 and 2 adult Bald Eagles at 1242. Because of the lack of birds Joel moved to the Lusk Creek site from 1700 to 1900 but found that it was no better there. A flock of 25 Dark-eyed Juncos in the Hay Meadow included 2 male “Pink-sided” Juncos (J.h.mearnsi). 10 hours (441.82) BAEA 2 (85), SSHA 1 (23) TOTAL 3 (1220)

April 16 [Day 42] (George Halmazna) The temperature at 0600 was -5, rose to a high of 7C at 1600 before falling to 3.5C at 1900. Ground winds were calm or light S , gusting to 17 km/h at 1100, and light SW after 1200, while ridge winds were moderate SSW gusting to 57 km/h, becoming WSW late in the day. Cloud cover was initially 60% cumulus and stratus becoming 100% cumulus and altostratus at 1100 which thinned slightly to 90% after 1600. Despite the apparently favourable conditions only 9 raptors migrated between 0659 and 1449: 3 juvenile Bald Eagles, 2 adult Sharp-shinned Hawks, 1 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk, 1 unaged Golden Eagle and 2 columbarius Merlins (1 adult male, 1u). In compensation 34 other species of bird were recorded, all but one before noon, including 4 Trumpeter Swans, 21 Tundra Swans, 2 Buffleheads, 1 Killdeer, 3 Ruby-crowned Kinglets, 2 Golden-crowned Kinglets, 45 American Robins, 1 American Pipit and 1 Brewer's Blackbird. Mammal tracks included the season's first Grizzly Bear (very fresh!), Cougar, Bobcat and Pine Marten. 13.5 hours (431.82) BAEA 3 (83), SSHA 2 (22), RTHA 1 (45), GOEA 1 (1010), MERL 2 (4) TOTAL 9 (1217)