SE winds for the start of the count at 6-11kph. By 09:00 the winds had
shifted to the NW at 6-11kph for the remainder of the day’s effort.
Visibility was superb in the morning to 32km after the rains late
yesterday. By 14:00 after a few brief periods of drizzle there was enough
moisture in Stone Valley that visibility was limited to Warrior’s Ridge.
Mostly cloudy skies for the entire count with a few brief periods of bright
sunshine breaking through. Low temperature of 16C at 09:00 and a high of
19C by 13:00. The temperature fluctuated quite a bit in the morning as the
cold air mixed in from the N, but occasionally the wind would lull and warm
air mixed in from Stone Valley. For a day that was forecast to have rain
and significant thunderstorm potential it was surprising to only see light
drizzle develop.
Raptor Notes
TV 5 (250) OS 1 (14) BE 1 (66) NH 1 (14) SS 1 (66) RT 3 (186) GE 1 (137) AK
1 (22) UB 1 (14) UR 1 (17) Total 16 (859)
GE Sub 12:07
I knew it would be a slow day once the winds shifted to the NW early in the
count. Most of the flight occurred early in the day as migrants made use of
the favorable winds and warmer temperatures. A grey ghost for the
discerning hawk watcher appeared just N of the cut briefly as it glided
north along Tussey Mountain. The straggler GE’s are always a surprise and
in many ways more exciting than during peak migration in that you never
know when one may appear. The light on this sub adult was really nice as it
was very low on Leading Ridge soaring up to the cut. It was nice tracking
the eagle in a spotting scope and getting good looks at the dark central
tail feathers that bisect the white band. Watching it move N over Stone
Valley made for a rewarding end to the month of March.
The Leading Ridge RTHA was on territory at 10:41. At 11:06 an adult RTHA
flew S along the ridge with an immature in tow. The immature has some
feathers molting in its tail which helps distinguish it from other
migrating immature RT’s. At 13:17 there was a BE skirmish over Stone
Valley. I also noted a OSPR taking repeated swipes at an adult BE low on
Leading Ridge in the afternoon. The OSPR was doing enough damage the BE had
to barrel roll twice to flash its talons upwards at its attacker.
Non-raptor Notes
There are now to FISP singing in the cut. One has moved uphill closer to
the OP and I appreciate its serenade. Woodpeckers and sapsucker were all
active again. AMCR were the corvid again to be hauling bread stuffs over
the ridge from N to S with a partner in tow. The GCKI have been foraging
with the BCCH near the OP. The GCKI are getting a little worked up and have
exploded into their song as well. I turned around to see one foraging low
in the bushes behind me and enjoyed seeing its beautiful golden crown. Such
delicate little creatures.
Mourning Dove 4
Killdeer 1
Black Vulture 1
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Pileated Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 1
Eastern Phoebe 1
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 5
Common Raven 1
Black-capped Chickadee 4
Tufted Titmouse 1
Tree Swallow 1
Golden-crowned Kinglet 2
White-breasted Nuthatch 2
Eastern Bluebird 2
American Pipit 1
House Finch 5
Pine Siskin 4
American Goldfinch 20
Field Sparrow 2
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) 11
Song Sparrow 1
Red-winged Blackbird 3
Brown-headed Cowbird 6
Common Grackle 4
Visitors
None
Hikers 2
Next Day Forecast
Sunny, with a high near 52. Northwest wind around 11 mph, with gusts as
high as 23 mph.
