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)

April 15 [Day 41] (Bill Wilson) Yesterday's weather persisted to 1100 when the very light snow stopped and the ridges slowly began to clear. The temperature at 0605 was -5C, rose to 1C between 1400 and 1800 and dropped to -1C at 2000. Ground winds were N-NNE 2-10 gusting 20 km/h all day, while ridge winds were WSW-SW light to moderate. The 100% stratus cloud cover persisted to 1100 when it reduced to 60% stratus and cumulus and at 1300 and 1400 it was down to 30% before it again thickened to 100% slightly broken stratus for the rest of the day after 1500. The eastern ridges began to emerge from cloud at 1100 when they were 10% visible and slowly increased to 20% clear at 1300 and were completely clear at 1700, while the western ridges were 100% obscured to 1300, became 20% visible at 1600 and did not fully clear until 1900. Despite the conditions, the first bird of the day, an adult male Northern Harrier flew north at 0941, the first 2 Golden Eagles followed at 0955 and 12 migrants had been seen before the ridges started to clear at 1100. Almost all of the 49 migrant raptors recorded moved low below the cloud in front of the flanks of mount Allan to the west, while after 1543 the birds were located over Hummingbird Plume Hill before they moved to the NW over Skogan Pass, or flew to the NE past the south face of Mount Lorette. Several birds soared high into the low cloud and were not seen again. The combined species count of 49 was the highest since April 7 and comprised 1 adult male Northern Harrier, 2 Sharp-shinned Hawks (1a,1u), 1 adult Cooper's Hawk, 4 Northern Goshawks (2a,2u), 2 Red-tailed Hawks (1 adult light morph calurus and 1 undifferentiated dark morph) and 38 Golden Eagles (11a,7sa,15j,5u), the latter being the highest count since April 6. The highest single hour count was 12 (3 Northern Goshawks, 1 Red-tailed Hawk and 8 Golden Eagles) between 1100 and 1200, and the 2 Golden Eagles seen at 1543 finally put the season's total for the species above 1000 which is about 1600 below the average total for this time. Songbirds seen at the site included 1 Northern Shrike, 2 Townsend's Solitaires, 4 Mountain Bluebirds, 170 American Robins, 28 Dark-eyed Juncos and 1 Western Meadowlark. 14.25 hours (418.32) BAEA 1 (80), NOHA 1 (2), SSHA 2 (20), COHA 1 (6), NOGO 4 (16), RTHA 2 (44), GOEA 38 (1008) TOTAL 48 (1208)

April 14 [Day 40] (Cliff Hansen, assisted by Kevin Barker) It was yet another day of poor weather with very light snow becoming moderate after 0900 and with periods of heavy wet snow after 1100 that lead to an accumulation of around 5 cm by mid afternoon. The ridges were completely obscured and cloud cover was 100% low stratus all day. Ground winds were light W-SW all day and ridge winds were calm to 1100 after which they were light N-NNE. The starting temperature was 1.5C which fell to 0.5C from 1300 to 1540, which is when the observers finally gave up on the day. At 1413 a juvenile Bald Eagle soared low and flew to the SW and at 1530 what was assumed to be the same bird flapped low to the north above the river and was regarded as a migrant. Apart from the eagle, the day produced 30 other species of bird including the season's first Pacific Wren that was seen feeding with Ruby-crowned Kinglets. 8.16 hours (404.07) BAEA 1 (79) TOTAL 1 (1159)

April 13 [Day 39] (Terry Waters) The temperature at 0915 was 3C which rose to a high of 7C between 1300 and 1800 and was 6C at 1845. Ground winds were light SW all day occasionally gusting to 20 km/h, and ridge winds were probably W moderate to strong. Cloud cover was 100% altostratus and stratocumulus which reduced to 80% after 1500, and observing conditions were good all day. The eastern ridges were clear all day and the west was 20% obscured for most of the day except around noon when it reached 60%. From 1900 rain and sleet moved in from the north and low cloud developed on the ridges. There was a fairly steady stream of raptors with 29 birds moving between 1056 and 1655, of which 13 occurred between 1500 and 1655. All but one of the birds moved high along the Fisher Range before crossing the Kananaskis Valley to Mount Lorette. The flight comprised 1 adult Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1 adult Cooper's Hawk, 1 adult Northern Goshawk, 1 small indeterminate Accipiter, 4 adult calurus Red-tailed Hawks, 19 Golden Eagles (10a,4sa,5j) and 2 Peregrine Falcons (1a,1u). Songbird numbers near the site were thin but included a Western Meadowlark. 9.5 hours (395.91) SSHA 1 (18), COHA 1 (5), NOGO 1 (12), UA 1 (7), RTHA 4 (42), GOEA 19 (971), PEFA 2 (3) TOTAL 29 (1158)

April 12 NO OBSERVATION Rain all day: ridges obscured.

April 11 [Day 38] (Jim Davis) The temperature was -3C at 0730, rose to a high of 14C at 1500 and was still 10C at 2000. It was calm in the valley until noon after which ground winds were N 8-10 km/h gusting to 23 km/h around 1600, while ridge winds were NNE-N 6-15 km/h after 1100. Cloud cover was 100% altostratus and cirrus, reducing to 70-80% cirrostratus after 1500. Ridge tops were clear all day but the altostratus cloud was often static just above the ridges and when they dissipated after 1500 the following hour produced the day's peak movement of 15 birds. It is possible that before 1500 high-flying birds were moving above the low cloud and could not be seen. Despite this it proved to be an interesting day of raptor movement after two lean days, with a total of 47 birds of a season-equaling 9 species moving between 0851 and 1902, including 3 species seen for the first time this season: 1 Osprey, that was the last bird of the day, 1 adult dark morph Gyrfalcon seen at 1744 and 1 Prairie Falcon. The rest of the flight comprised 8 Bald Eagles (1a,1sa,6j), 4 Sharp-shinned Hawks (2a,2u), 1 adult Cooper's Hawk, 1 adult Northern Goshawk, 10 calurus Red-tailed Hawks (7 light morphs (6a,1j), 2 rufous (intermediate) morphs (1a,1j), and 1 adult dark morph), 1 indeterminate Buteo, 17 Golden Eagles (5a,1sa,2j,9u) and 2 unidentified eagles. Movement was slow but steady throughout the day with just the single peak of 15 birds between 1500 and 1600. Most of the early flight involved relatively low birds flapping north above the centre of the valley, but after mid afternoon birds were seen to the west gliding towards the NW and only a few birds were detected over the Fisher Range to the east. It is possible that these birds were moving ahead of a widespread weather system that threatens to bring rain and snow to the area over the next couple of days. There were also good numbers and variety of non raptors, with season first records of a pair of Hooded Mergansers, 1 male Red-naped Sapsucker, 1 Savannah Sparrow and a pair of Purple Finches. Other bird species included 10 Northern Flickers, 6 Varied Thrushes, 47 American Robins, 9 Mountain Bluebirds, 2 Song Sparrows, 49 Dark-eyed Juncos, 2 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches and 12 Common Redpolls, while a comma butterfly (Polygonia sp.) was also on the wing. 12.5 hours (386.41) OSPR 1 (1), BAEA 8 (78), SSHA 4 (17), COHA 1 (4), NOGO 1 (11), RTHA 10 (38), UB 1 (3), GOEA 17 (952), UE 2 (4), GYRF 1 (1), PRFA 1 (1) TOTAL 47 (1129)

April 10 [Day 37] (Joel Duncan) The temperature at 0900 was 3C which rose to a very pleasant 13C at 1700 and was still 10C at 2045. Ground winds were E-NE 5-12 gusting to 23 km/h, becoming moderate SW in the mid-afternoon, while ridge winds were calm-SSW light to moderate. Cloud cover was 30-70% thin cirrostratus giving excellent observing conditions all day. Migration conditions, however, were apparently not excellent as the only migrant raptors seen were a subadult Bald Eagle at 1832 and an adult Northern Goshawk at 1841, both of which flew directly to the north from the northern end of the Fisher Range. Some compensation was the variety of non-raptor bird species including season-first records of 3 Tree Swallows, 3 Ruby-crowned Kinglets, 2 American Pipits and 1 male Rusty Blackbird, while a Wilson's Snipe was heard winnowing for the first time and the Say's Phoebe was still hanging around the meadow. The first of the year's butterflies, 2 Mourning Cloaks, were on the wing as was the first mosquito late in the day. 11.75 (373.91) BAEA 1 (70), NOGO 1 (10) TOTAL 2 (1082)

April 9 [Day 36] (George Halmazna) The temperature high was 9C at 1600 and 1700 from a morning low of -5C, and it was still 6.5C at 1930. Ground winds were calm to light SSW to 1300 after which they gusted to 20 km/h, changed to SE then N after 1400 becoming light again at the end of the day. The ridges were mainly calm to 1100 and again after 1900, and were probably light to moderate SSW-N in between. Cloud cover was 80-100% altostratus and altocumulus to to 1400 after which it slowly changed to cirrus, reducing to 30% after 1700. It was a disappointing day for raptor migration with only 7 birds moving between 1305 and 1712, with 4 of the birds occurring between 1305 and 1400. The flight was 3 adult Bald Eagles, 1 adult Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk and only 2 Golden Eagles (1sa,1j). A Say's Phoebe foraging with Mountain Bluebirds in the Hay Meadow for most of the afternoon, was the first flycatcher of the season. 13 hours (362.16) BAEA 3 (69), SSHA 1 (13), RTHA 1 (28) GOEA 2 (935) TOTAL 7 (1080)

April 8 [Day 35] (Bill Wilson) It was a chilly -9.5C at 0625 but the temperature rose to 6.5C at 1700 and was 3C at 2000. Ground winds were initially SSW 0-5 km/h, but after 1100 they were variable SE-NE, generally calm to light but occasionally gusting to 25 km/h, while ridge winds were calm to SSW 6 km/h until the late afternoon when they became NE 21-27 gusting 38 km/h. It was cloudless until 1100 when a trace of cumulus developed that increased to 20% at noon, was 5% from 1300 to 1800 and subsequently 20% cumulus and cirrus for the rest of the day. A total of 28 migrant raptors moved between 1043 and 1839 but only 6 birds had been seen before 1600 before the peak movement of 7 Golden Eagles occurred between 1600 and 1700. The flight comprised 8 adult Bald Eagles, 2 Northern Goshawks of unknown age and 18 Golden Eagles (4a,5sa,8j,1u) The 72% immature Golden Eagle count is the highest so far this season. Most of the birds soared or glided high over the centre of the valley before heading to Skogan Pass and on towards the NW. The count of 82 American Robins included 45 feeding together in the Hay Meadow at 1920 along with a varied Thrush, 2 European Starlings and a Dark-eyed Junco. 13.75 hours (349.16) BAEA 8 (66), NOGO 2 (9), GOEA 18 (933) TOTAL 28 (1073)

April 7 [Day 34] (Jim Davis and Cliff Hansen) Cliff arrived at the Hay Meadow at 0735 and watched there to 1700. Jim joined Cliff at 0754 and at 1300, when the weather deteriorated, went to Lusk Creek and watched there until 2010. The starting temperature at the Hay Meadow was -6C and rose to a high of 3C at 1700, while the temperature at Lusk was 1C throughout. Ground winds at the Hay Meadow were variable W-WSW-SW mainly light but occasionally reaching 15 km/h, and limited data from the Nakiska Ridgetop indicated light to moderate SW-SSW ridge winds. At Lusk Creek it was calm to 1430 when 30 km/h NW winds brought snow to 1640, after which they became light. Cloud cover at the Hay Meadow was initially 10% cumulus and altostratus that thickened to 80-90% after 1000, snow fell between 1215 and 1345 obscuring all the ridges, which subsequently remained more or less clear for the rest of the day. At Lusk it was cloudless until the NW wind rapidly brought 100% low stratus and snow, but after 1640 it was clear to the N and E but a wall of cloud remained static to the S. At Hay Meadow a total of 24 migrants (3 adult Bald Eagles, 1 adult Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1 juvenile Cooper's Hawk, 2 adult Northern Goshawks, 1 indeterminate small Accipiter, 5 adult calurus Red-tailed Hawks (4 light and 1 rufous), 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk, 8 Golden Eagles (6a,2sa), 1 indeterminate eagle and 1 male American Kestrel) moved between 0939 and 1704, with only 7 of the birds moving after 1300 and only 1 after 1500. At Lusk Creek 14 birds were seen between 1338 and 1449, they shut down for 1.16 hours as the snow fell, then there was a secondary peak as 9 birds moved between 1700 and 1800, and the last Bald Eagle went north at 2009. The count at Lusk comprised 4 adult Bald Eagles, 1 unaged Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1 adult Cooper's Hawk, 1 adult Northern Goshawk, 9 adult Red-tailed Hawks (8 calurus of which 6 were light morphs, 1 rufous and 1 dark, and 1 adult dark morph harlani), 13 Golden Eagles (7a,1sa,2j,3u) and 1 columbarius Merlin of unknown age and sex. It appeared that the Lusk birds increased as the Hay Meadow birds declined so the movement was probably displaced to the east by the weather; the 2 counts can probably be legitimately combined. This being the case, the 9 species seen today is the highest diversity seen so far this season, and the combined-site total of 54 birds has finally pushed the total season 's count over 1000 birds. The non-raptor highlight at the Hay Meadow site was a loose flock of 5 Fox Sparrows (4 were probably of the locally breeding race schistacea, and 1 was the eastern and northern race iliaca), 6 Song Sparrows and the season's first White-crowned Sparrow, while the Lusk count was enlivened by 730 Bohemian Waxwings that occurred in 8 flocks. 12.58 hours (335.41) BAEA 7 (58), SSHA 2 (12), COHA 2 (3), NOGO 3 (7), UA 1 (6), RTHA 14 (27), RLHA 1 (7), GOEA 21 (915), UE 1 (2), AMKE 1 (2), MERL 1 (2) TOTAL 54 (1045)

Piitaistakis-South Livingstone (Mark Sherrington 1145-1530) The temperature was 2-4C, winds were mainly W-NW gusting to 40 km/h and cumulus cloud cover went from 10% to 1300, to 60% at 1400 and quickly reduced to 5% at 1430. There were extensive snow squalls to the south, west and north that periodically hit the site. Migration conditions were good and most birds glided to the north low above or just below the ridge. The 13 migrants counted between 1145 and 1518 comprised 2 adult Bald Eagles, 10 Golden Eagles (7a,2sa,1u) and 1 Prairie Falcon. 3.75 hours BAEA 2, GOEA 10, PRFA 1 TOTAL 13

The further adventures of “Elaine” Today Elaine covered the last 70 km to the NE and is now in her home range where she presumably nested last year. Many thanks Elaine for another highly instructive journey and congratulations and thanks to Rob Domenech and his colleagues from the Raptor View Research Institute in Montana.

April 6 [Day 33] (Terry Waters, assisted by Pat Bulman) Terry was greeted by 10 cm of fresh snow at the site where the temperature was -10C at 0830, which rose to 5C at 1700 and was 3C at 1900. Ground winds were generally light SW-NNW, occasionally gusting to 15 km/h, while ridge winds were also mainly light SW-SSW reaching 14 km/h at 1600. The sky was cloudless to 1100 when scattered cumulus developed that reached 80% at 1400 before dissipating to 30% at the end of the day. A few light snow flurries occurred between 1300 and 1600 that briefly obscured both the eastern and western ridges which were otherwise clear all day. A total of 93 raptors of a season-high 8 species migrated between 0905 and 1804 with 25 of the birds moving between 1700 and 1800. The flight comprised 8 Bald Eagles (5a,3sa), 1 adult male Northern Harrier (the first of the season), 3 adult Sharp-shinned Hawks, 1 adult Northern Goshawk, 4 unidentified small accipiters (that were probably also Sharp-shinned Hawks), 5 adult calurus Red-tailed Hawks, 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk, 69 Golden Eagles (52a,6sa,11j) and the first American Kestrel of the season, a male. Surprisingly (and rather depressingly) for the time of year both the combined species and Golden Eagle totals were the 4^th highest of the season. The percentage (almost 25%) of immature Golden Eagles was the highest of the season so far. The calm conditions resulted in a lot of soaring flight with most of the birds seen before 1300 moving along the western route and subsequently over the centre of the valley and finally high over the Fisher Range to the east. Song birds seen included 5 Golden-crowned Kinglets, 2 Varied Thrushes, over 70 American Robins, 1 Song Sparrow and 4 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches. 10.5 hours (322.83) BAEA 8 (51), NOHA 1 (1), SSHA 3 (10), NOGO 1 (4), UA 4 (5), RTHA 5 (13), RLHA 1 (6), GOEA 69 (894), AMKE 1 (1) TOTAL 93 (991)

The further adventures of “Elaine” On April 5 Elaine continued to move to the ENE and on April 6 she flew another 45 km to the NE and is now less than 70 km from her summer range north of the upper North Fork of the Chandalar River in the eastern Philip Smith Mountains. 

April 5 NO OBSERVATION (Terry Waters) Heavy wet snow fell all day, the temperature was around -4C and the mountains were totally obscured all day. Terry checked Lusk Creek a couple of times during the day but conditions were the same there.

April 4 [Day 32] (Jim Davis) The temperature was -1C to 1100 and -2C for the rest of the day, and cloud cover was 100% stratus all day. It was calm until 0950 when NE winds developed that gusted to 40 km/h, heavy snow began to fall and the hitherto clear mountains became completely obscured in a couple of minutes. At 1000 Jim left for Lusk Creek where there was still some visibility (c500 m), snowfall was lighter and the wind NE at 10 km/h, but conditions there gradually deteriorated and the count was abandoned for the day at 1230. The only migrant raptors seen were 5 adult calurus Red-tailed Hawks (4 light and 1 rufous morph), 2 seen from the Hay Meadow at 0901 and 0944 and 3 at Lusk Creek at 1057, 1058 and 1109. Before the weather system arrived the almost snow-free Hay Meadow was full of feeding songbirds including 5 Canada Geese, 1 Northern Flicker, 5 Mountain Bluebirds (3 males, 2 females), 6 Varied Thrushes, 48 American Robins, 3 Bohemian Waxwings, 149 “Slate-coloured” morph Dark-eyed Juncos of the race cismontanus and 10 “Oregon” morphs. When the NE wind arrived at 0950 the birds took off en masse and within a couple of minutes the meadow was empty. 5 hours (312.33) RTHA 5 (8) TOTAL 5 (898)

The further adventures of “Elaine” Today Elaine moved about 150 km to the north and has reached the SE part of the Philip Smith Mountains near Wiseman on the Dalton Highway, 25 km WSW of Big Lake. She is now less than 100 km SSW of the area where she spent the summer last year and it appears that she will arrive there on about the same date as she did last year. Amazing!

April 3 [Day 31] (Joel Duncan, assisted by Cliff Hansen) The temperature was 2C at 0900, rose to a very pleasant 13C at 1400 and was still 12C at the end of the day. Ground winds were SW 5-10 km/h all day, gusting up to 23 km/h, and ridge winds were moderate to strong SSW-SW gusting 74-86 km/h. Cloud cover was cirrostratus all day, 80-100% to 1300 after which it gradually dwindled to 5% after 1700, and the mountains were clear all day. Despite these apparently excellent migration and observing conditions only one migrant raptor was seen, an adult Peregrine Falcon (the season's first) that flew to the north at 0902. Cliff was at the Lusk Creek site from 1600, and was joined there at 1730 by Joel, but no migrant raptors were seen. From the Hay Meadow site single adult resident Bald Eagle, Northern Goshawk and Golden Eagle were noted, and songbirds seen included 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet, 5 male Mountain Bluebirds, 17 American Robins, 1 Brown Creeper and the season's first Fox Sparrow. 10.5 hours (307.33) PEFA 1 (1) TOTAL 1 (893)

Oldman River Valley Commenting on the low counts at Mount Lorette Bev Garbutt writes that she is also noticing a lack of eagles in her study area near the Oldman River west of the Porcupine Hills. Presently her daily count of mainly Bald Eagles is 10-14, mainly juvenile birds, compared to an average daily count at this time of year of around 50 birds. She also notes that she has only seen about 8 Golden Eagles so far this year. This is interesting because if Golden Eagle movement was being displaced to the east by poor weather conditions in the mountains, this area is exactly where I would expect them to be seen.

The further adventures of “Elaine” Today Elaine flew about 200 km to the NW, crossed the Yukon River and is now near the Dall River at 150^o W about 30 km S of the Arctic Circle

April 2 [Day 30] (George Halmazna, assisted by Ron Dutcher) The temperature at 0700 was -2C, rose to 6C at 1700 and was still 4.5C at 1900. Ground winds were variable SW-SE 2-10 gusting to 38 km/h in mid-afternoon, but diminishing late in the day, while ridge winds were strong SW all day gusting to 126 km/h at 1600. Cloud cover was 90-100% stratus, cumulus, altostratus and cirrostratus until 1600 when it diminished to 20% for the rest of the day. The western ridges were 60% obscured by snow in the morning, but were completely clear after 1200 and the eastern ridges were clear all day. Despite the apparently good observing conditions only 5 Golden Eagles (3a,1j,1u) were seen, the first not occurring until until 1455 and the last passing at 1530. An unaged Sharp-shinned Hawk made up the day's disappointing tally of just 6 migrant raptors. Ron left for Lusk Creek at 1500, but saw no birds moving there. The lack of birds even extended to ravens, with only 4 being seen all day and other bird species included the long-staying Northern Shrike, the season's first Townsend's Solitaire, 47 American Robins and 13 Common Redpolls. 12.83 hours (296.83) SSHA 1 (7), GOEA 5 (825) TOTAL 6 (892)

The further adventures of “Elaine” Today Elaine moved to the WNW and is in the northern part of the Chena River State Recreation Area about 70 km ENE of Fairbanks. She is now about 400 km to the SSE of where she was on this date last year. 

April 1 [Day 29] (Bill Wilson) The temperature at 0730 was 0C, rose to a high of 6C at 1600 and fell to 1C at 2000. Surface winds were SW 5-15 gusting 35 km/h decreasing in the last couple of hours of counting and were S 2-5 at the end of the day, while ridge winds were strong SW gusting to 104 km/h to 0800, then mainly moderate SW gusting to 45 km/h to 1700 after which they were variably W-S light. Cloud cover was essentially cumulus all day, initially 5%, then 30-60% between 0900 and 1200 and 80-100% for the rest of the day giving good observing conditions. The only precipitation was a few flurries after 1900, but there was 3 cm of fresh snow on the ground at the start. The western ridges were obscured up to 20% throughout the day, but the east remained clear except during brief snow squalls late in the afternoon. A total of 58 migrant raptors were recorded between 0824 and 1825, with the flight peaking at 10 birds (2 Sharp-shinned Hawks, 1 Northern Goshawk and 7 Golden Eagles) between 1300 and 1400, although the maximum Golden Eagle passage was 9 between 1000 and 1100. All the birds moved high from the Fisher Range to Mount Lorette, although late in the day they were only seen after they had arrived at Mount Lorette. The flight comprised 1 adult Bald Eagle, 3 unaged Sharp-shinned Hawks, 2 Northern Goshawks (1a,1u), 2 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks (the 3 former species each having their highest counts for the season), 1 indeterminate Buteo and 49 Golden Eagles (39a,3sa,2j,5u). The Northern Shrike still lingered around the meadow, 2 Varied Thrushes sang and 12 of the day's 17 American Robins flew north in a single flock. 13.16 hours (284) BAEA 1 (43), SSHA 3 (6), NOGO 2 (3), RTHA 2 (3), UB 1 (2), GOEA 49 (820) TOTAL 58 (886)

The further adventures of “Elaine” Today Elaine moved to the WNW and finished the day near the headwaters of the North Fork of the Salcho River, about 130 km E of Fairbanks. She is now some 300 km SSE of where she was on this date last year.

March 31 [Day 28] (Jim Davis assisted by Cliff Hansen) The temperature was -8C at 0700, rose to a high of 5C at 1300 and remained there until 1900. It was initially calm with light to moderate SW winds developing after1000, while ridge winds were mainly moderate SW-SSW gusting between 44 and 85 km/h. Cloud cover at the start was 40% stratus and cumulus, increasing to 60% at 1000 and thickening to 100% stratus at 1400 when rain and snow began obscuring all the ridges at which time the count moved to the Lusk Creek site. At the Hay Meadow site a Rough-legged Hawk perched in a tree from 0833 and the first migrant Golden Eagle was seen at 0942. The last Golden Eagle was seen from there at 1336 by which time 1 unaged Sharp-shinned Hawk, the Rough-legged Hawk and 8 Golden Eagles (6a,1j,1u) had been recorded. At Lusk Creek it was calm until 1900 when a S wind to 20 km/h developed, and cloud cover was 100% stratus, but there was a slow but steady stream of migrant raptors after 1431 and especially between 1700 and 1800 when some clearing of the weather produced 11 Golden Eagles between 1700 and 1734 followed by a blank 1.5 hours. A total of 15 birds were seen there comprising 1 adult Bald Eagle, 1 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk (the first for the count this season) and 13 Golden Eagles (9a,1j,3u). The highlight of non-raptor movement at Mount Lorette was a flock of 12 Northern Flickers flying north about 10m above the centre of the valley at 1111, while at Lusk Creek about 500 Bohemian Waxwings occurred in three flocks. 12.16 hours (270.84) BAEA 1 (42), SSHA 1 (3), RTHA 1 (1), RLHA 1 (5), GOEA 21 (828) TOTAL 25 (828)

March summary This year's March count was characterized by higher than average temperatures, a prevalence of very strong SW downslope winds and higher than average snowfall and low cloud obscuring the ridges. Only 3 full days were lost to weather, but several other days were shortened and a total of 8 days (including those lost) had 0 migrants, a further 5 days saw the passage of only 1 bird and a total of 17 days had a passage of 10 or less birds. Compared to the averages of the previous 19 March counts (1993-2011) the 28 days and 270.84 hours spent in the field were 3.27 and 12.83% below average respectively. The combined species total of 825 is 65.95% below average and is the second lowest ever (behind the count of 743 in 2009). The total of 771 Golden Eagles is 66.42% below average and the 42 Bald Eagles are 60.6% below average and both species represent the second lowest counts ever behind counts of 684 and 36 respectively in the 2009 count. Of the other 3 species who's average occurrence during the month is above 2, the 1 Northern Goshawk is 90.9% below average, the 1 Red-tailed Hawk is 75.6% below average and, bucking the trend, the 5 Rough-legged Hawks are 86.27% above average. It is interesting to note that the percentage of immature Golden Eagles is still low suggesting that the April count still holds some promise of significant movement. Final march count: 28 days (270.84) TUVU 0, OSPR 0, BAEA 42, NOHA 0, SSHA 3, COHA 1, NOGO1, BWHA 0, SWHA 0, RTHA 1, FEHA 0, RLHA 5, GOEA 771, AMKE 0, MERL 1, GYRF 0, PEFA 0, PRFA 0, UA 1, UB 1, UE 1, UU 0 TOTAL 825.

The further adventures of “Elaine” Today Elaine moved about 35 km to the W and is now near the headwaters of the Salcho River, west of the Yukon Charley Rivers National Preserve, which puts her about 50 km SE of where she was on March 30 last year.

March 30 [Day 27] (Terry Waters) All the mountains were obscured until 1100 when there was partial clearing at which point Terry went to Lusk Creek where conditions were slightly better. Temperatures there ranged from -1C to 0C, ground winds were SW 10-20 gusting 30 km/h, ridge winds were moderate SSW gusting to 57 km/h and 40% altostratus cloud cover became 100% low stratus as snow reached the area at 1330 and at 1400 Terry gave up for the day. An adult Bald Eagle at 1220 was the only migrant seen. 3 hours (258.68) BAEA 1 (41) TOTAL 1 (803)

The further adventures of “Elaine” Today Elaine moved about 20 km to the NW

March 29 [Day 26] (Alan Hingston 0715-1000, then Terry Waters) The temperature rose to a high of 5C from 1100 to1400 from a morning low of 1C, and was 3C at the end of counting. Ground winds were initially light SW but were 10-20 gusting 30-40 km/h between 1000 and 1300, after which they became light again, while ridge winds were SW-SSW moderate to strong gusting to 99 km/h in the morning but decreased to less than 20 km/h at 1400. Cloud cover was 100% altostratus initially, that diminished to 30% at 1100 before quickly thickening to 100% stratus with flurries starting at 1400 turning to snow after 1500. The western ridges were 50% obscured in the morning and 100% after 1400, while the eastern ridges were clear to 1630, but by 1640 all ridges were obscured and the observers moved to the Lusk Creek site. A total of 9 birds, 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk and 8 Golden Eagles (6a,1sa,1u) were seen from the Hay Meadow between 0822 and 1300, and the move to Lusk Creek only added 1 more unaged Golden Eagle before the weather finally terminated the count at 1730. A resident Golden Eagle was seen displaying from the Hay Meadow and other birds seen there included 14 American Robins and 1 Western Meadowlark. 10.25 hours (255.68) RLHA 1 (4), GOEA 9 (750) TOTAL 10 (802)

The further adventures of “Elaine” Today Elaine flew WNW to 65 km west of the Alaska-Yukon border and ended the day about 100km N of Tetlin Junction, again very close to where she was on this date last year.