November 15 [Day 52] (Cliff Hansen, assisted by Kevin Barker and Chris Hunt) The temperature was -6C at 0815, rose to a high of 2C at 1400, and was -1C at the end of the day. It was initially calm with NE winds 5-15 km/h developing after 1000, that gusted to 25 km/h around 1100 and became light after 1600. Ridge winds appeared to be mainly light, and it was essentially cloudless all day although up to 30% of the sky was covered by degrading aircraft condensation trails for much of the day. The final day of the fall 2012 count produced 6 migrant raptors between 0959 and 1542, the flight comprising 4 Bald Eagles (2a,1sa,1j) and 2 Golden Eagles of indeterminate age. All birds were flapping continuously and appeared to have trouble maintaining altitude. This is the sixth consecutive day that have produced two migrant Golden Eagles, and the six days following the two days of poor weather on November 8 and 9 yielded only 24 migrant raptors, including the 12 Golden Eagles. By contrast, the 7 days leading up to the poor weather event produced 370 migrants of which 305 were Golden Eagles. This strongly suggests that birds were moving ahead of the cold front that produced the two-day shut-down. Other birds seen included a female Green-winged Teal on the river, 1 juvenile Northern Shrike, 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet, 1 Pine Grosbeak and 1 Common Redpoll.

9 hours (530.09) BAEA 4 (128), GOEA 2 (2635) TOTAL 6 (2987)

The further adventures of “Elaine” Elaine spent several days, presumably hunting, about 10 km east of the central part of Canyon Ferry Lake, but by November 15 she had moved again to the NW and is presently east of the northern end of the lake, close to where she was on November 4.

MOUNT LORETTE PROVISIONAL FINAL COUNT, FALL 2012, with variance from long-term average in parenthesis, excluding incomplete counts in 1992, 1997, 2002, 2006-2008.

DAYS 52 (-5%)

HOURS 530.09 (-5.9%)

TURKEY VULTURE (TUVU) 0 (n/a)

OSPREY (OSPR) 2 (-26.3%)

BALD EAGLE (BAEA) 128 (-52.45)

NORTHERN HARRIER (NOHA) 6 (-42.9%)

SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (SSHA) 63 (-55.2%)

COOPER’S HAWK (COHA) 10 (-58.9%)

NORTHERN GOSHAWK (NOGO) 30 (-38.1%)

Unidentified Accipiter (UA) 5

BROAD-WINGED HAWK (BWHA) 1 (-86.3%)

SWAINSON’S HAWK (SWHA) 0 (n/a)

RED-TAILED HAWK (RTHA) 26 (-24.3%)

FERRUGINOUS HAWK (FEHA) 0 (n/a)

ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (RLHA) 61 (+12.7%)

Unidentified Buteo (UB) 2

GOLDEN EAGLE (GOEA) 2635 (-27.3%)

Unidentified eagle (UE) 2

AMERICAN KESTREL (AMKE) 0 (n/a)

MERLIN (MERL) 5 (-30%)

GYRFALCON (GYRF) 1 (-68.2%)

PEREGRINE FALCON (PEFA) 6 (+12%)

PRAIRIE FALCON (PRFA) 2 (=)

Unidentified Falco (UF) 1

Unidentified raptor (UU) 1

TOTAL 2987 (-29.7%)

RMERF extends many thanks to Cliff Hansen for organizing a well-conducted fall 2012 count; to the five Principal Observers: George Halmazna (15 days), Terry Waters (11 days), Cliff Hansen (10 days), Bill Wilson (9 days) and Joel Duncan (7 days); and to the Assistant Observers and all the members and supporters who contributed to a very successful season.

November 14 [Day 51] (Cliff Hansen) The temperature was 0C at 0830, rose to a high of 4C at 1200 and 1300, and was 2C at the end of the day. Ground winds were mainly SW, 5-10 km/h, gusting to 25 km/h after 1100, 6-15 km/h after 1500 and becoming light at the end of the day, while ridge winds appeared to be moderate W all day. Cloud cover was 40-50% cumulus and altostratus until 1700 after which it was 20%. Despite excellent observing and migration conditions the only migrant raptors seen were two adult Golden Eagles gliding high above the Fisher Range at 1022. Other bird species recorded included 1 male Belted Kingfisher, 1 Northern Shrike, 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet, 3 Rusty Blackbirds and 2 Dark-eyed Juncos of the race cismontanus.

9 hours (521.09) GOEA 2 (3633) TOTAL 2 (2981)

November 13 [Day 50] (George Halmazna) It was the warmest day for about a week, with a starting temperature of -4C rising to a high of 5C at 1500 and remaining at 4C at 1600. Ground winds were SSW 2-5 occasionally gusting to 10 km/h to 1400 after which they were SW gusting 40 km/h before moderating again to 5-10 km/h at the end of the day, while ridge winds were moderate to strong SW day producing snow plumes. The east ridges were clear all day, but the west was 10-30% obscured until 1600 when it was 60% obscured by snow squalls. The only migrant raptors seen were 2 juvenile Golden Eagles seen at 0829 and 0929, although a non-migrant adult Bald Eagle and an non-migrant unaged Northern Goshawk were also noted. Other birds seen included 1 Belted Kingfisher, 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet, 15 Bohemian waxwings, 2 Pine Grosbeaks, 7 Red Crossbills, 22 Common Redpolls and 1 Pine Siskin.

9 hours (512.09 hours) GOEA 2 (2631) TOTAL 2 (2979)

November 12 [Day 49] (George Halmazna) The low temperature for the day was -9C at 1900, but it climbed to a high of 0C at 1700. Ground winds were SSW for most of the day, gusting to 30 km/h between 1100 and 1300, then 5-15 km/h to 1500 and gusting 30-40 km/h to 1600 before becoming SW 5-10 km/h for the rest of the day. Ridge winds were strong SW all day producing snow plumes. Despite ideal observing conditions, once again raptor movement was thin with only 4 birds recorded between 1038 and 1627. The flight comprised 1 adult Bald Eagle, 1 adult dark morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk and 2 adult Golden Eagles. A slow day was enlivened by a few songbirds that included 9 Golden-crowned Kinglets, 1 American Robin, 3 Dark-eyed Juncos, 1 female Rusty Blackbird, 3 Pine Grosbeaks, 7 Red Crossbills and 5 Common Redpolls.

10 hours (503.09) BAEA 1 (124), RTHA 1 (26), GOEA 2 (2629) TOTAL 4 (2977)  

November 11 [Day 48] (Bill Wilson) Clear skies allowed the temperature to fall to -23C at 0800, which is the lowest so far this season, but it rose to a high of -4C at 1400 and was -5C at the end of the day (1700). Ground winds were calm to very light SW to 1000 and thereafter calm to 10 km/h with occasional moderate gusts, while ridge winds were mainly moderate SW all day that produced snow pluming. The initial clear skies gave way to 10% cirrus at 0900 that increased to 70% by 1100, 90% altostratus and cirrus to 1300, and 100% altostratus to the end of the day. It was another disappointing day for raptors with only 7 birds (4 Bald Eagles (3a,1sa), 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk and 2 adult Golden Eagles moving along the eastern route between 1120 and 1453. The main drama of the day came at 0855, when a Northern Shrike was seen closely pursuing a redpoll-sized songbird behind a spruce tree, so the outcome of the chase is unknown. Other birds observed included 6 Mallard, 2 Dark-eyed Juncos, 3 Pine Grosbeaks and 30 White-winged Crossbills.

9.67 hours (493.09) BAEA 4 (123), RLHA 1 (61), GOEA 2 (2627) TOTAL 7 (2973)

November 10 [Day 47] (Joel Duncan, assisted by Cliff Hansen) Despite the previous two days' weather there was only about 6 cm of fresh snow on the ground, but it remained cold. The temperature at 0900 was -14C, rose to a high of only -9C between 1400 and 1700 and was -11C at the end of the day. Ground winds were light NE or variable, to calm all day and ridge winds appeared to be light SW all day. An initial cloud cover of 90% altostratus quickly reduced to 10% cirrus and cumulus at 1100 and after 1400 cloud was present only in trace amounts. The calm conditions did not appear to favour raptor movement and only three migrants were seen: an adult Golden Eagle at 1318, an adult Bald Eagle at 1418 and an adult Golden Eagle at 1552. All birds were flapping along the Fisher Range at ridge level. A poor raptor flight was compensated by a flock of 16 Greater White-fronted Geese flying south at 1015 and an odd-looking junco in a flock of “Oregon” morphs that appeared to show the character of a “Grey-headed” Junco (J.h.caniceps), a subspecies that rarely occurs north of Colorado. Other species seen included 13 Canada Geese, 2 non-migratory Northern Goshawks (1a,1j),1 juvenile Northern Shrike, 7 Golden-crowned Kinglets, 5 Pine Grosbeaks and 6 Common Redpolls.

8.5 hours (483.42) BAEA 1 (119), GOEA 2 (2625) TOTAL 3 (2966)

November 9 NO OBSERVATION Although the snow stopped early in the day, the ridges remained shrouded in cloud all day.

November 8 NO OBSERVATION Snow, with all ridges obscured all day .

November 7 [Day 46] (Bill Wilson) The temperature reached a high of 4C at 1200 and 1300 from a morning low of 0C, but fell to -1C at 1625 when steady snow terminated the count. Ground winds were SW 2-6 km/h until 1100 after which they varied between SE and SW 5-15 gusting to 28 km/h for the rest of the day, while ridge winds were moderate to strong SW creating snow plumes. Cloud cover was initially 70% altostratus and cumulus that quickly reduced to 10% at 0800 before gradually increasing to 100% stratus at 1300 which persisted for the rest of the day. The western ridges were clear until 1200 after which they gradually clouded-in, while the east was clear to 1530 after which they became shrouded from the north with the passage of a cold front and all ridges were obscured by 1625. Snow started at 1530 that became steady by 1625. The day started promisingly with the first Golden Eagle recorded at 0800 which was the first of 9 birds (4 Bald and 5 Golden Eagles) seen between 0800 and 0900 This, however, proved to be the busiest hour of the day, although by 1200 25 migrant eagles had been counted. Movement slowed markedly in the afternoon and when the last Golden Eagle went south at 1535 the day's count was 31: 13 Bald Eagles (10a,1j,2u) and 18 Golden Eagles (10a,1j,2u). Very few other birds were seen including 2 American Dippers, 1 Pine Grosbeak and 2 Common Redpolls.

9.33 hours (474.92) BAEA 13 (118), GOEA 18 (2623) TOTAL 31 (2963)

 

The further adventures of “Elaine” Elaine continues to move very slowly to the south and is presently about 10 km east of the central part of Canyon Ferry Lake.

November 6 [Day 45] (George Halmazna, assisted by Michael Woertman) The temperature in the Hay Meadow was -4C at 0700 and rose to 4C at 1200, while at the Lusk Creek site, to which the count was moved at 1300, the temperature rose to 6C. Ground winds were light or calm for most of the day, while ridge winds were probably moderate to strong SW-SSW. Cloud cover was initially 40% altostratus, altocumulus and lenticular, but quickly changed to 100% stratus around 1100 that brought rain and then snow to the Hay Meadow site for the rest of the day. The western ridges started to disappear in cloud at 1000 and by noon all ridges were completely obscured. At 1300 the observers moved to the Lusk Creek site where observing conditions were good until 1345 when snow began, and at 1430 the count was abandoned for the day when everything was obscured in the rain and snow. A total of 18 migrant raptors (2 adult Bald Eagles, 1 adult Sharp-shinned Hawk, 3 adult Northern Goshawks, 1 Rough-legged Hawk and 11 Golden Eagles (6a,1sa,1j)), were seen from the Hay Meadow site between 0752 and 1128. Lusk Creek, however, produced a spectacular concentrated movement of 112 birds between 1300 and 1420, with 94 of the birds (including 82 Golden Eagles) recorded between 1300 and 1400. The flight seen at Lusk Creek comprised 18 Bald Eagles (12a,6j) and 94 Golden Eagles (86a,2j,6u), and the birds often moved immediately overhead with up to 15 birds soaring together at one time. The combined species total of 130 is the highest ever recorded in November at Mount Lorette, as is the Golden Eagle count of 105. In fact, this is only the third time that over 100 Golden Eagles have been recorded here in November, the others being 106 on November 1, 2000 and 108 on November 8, 2009. The count of 20 Bald Eagles were also by far the highest total of the season. A number of other bird species were seen around the Hay Meadow before the weather deteriorated, including 4 Common Mergansers, 1 Belted Kingfisher, 1 American Three-toed Woodpecker, 5 Golden-crowned Kinglets, 15 Pine Grosbeaks, 6 Red Crossbills, 20 White-winged Crossbills, 272 Common Redpolls and 2 Pine Siskins.

7.5 hours (465.59) BAEA 20 (105), SSHA 1 (63), NOGO 3 (30), RLHA 1 (60), GOEA 105 (2605) TOTAL 130 (2932)

November 5 [Day 44] (George Halmazna) The temperature at 0800 was a remarkable 8.5C (it was ,an even more remarkable 12C at 0600!), rose to a high of 11C at 1200 and remained at 7C from 1500 to the end of the day. Ground winds were SW, 10-22 gusting 40 km/h in the morning, that gradually diminished in the afternoon and were 2-5 km/h after 1500, while ridge winds were strong SW in the morning, causing blowing snow, but they also diminished in the afternoon. Cloud cover was initially 100% altostratus and cumulus, which started to clear at 0900 and reduced to 20-30% lenticular cloud after 1600. Apart from the blowing snow, the ridges were clear all day. Raptor movement was again fairly strong and steady for the time of year, with 51 birds of 6 species mainly moving high from Mount Lorette or Skogan Pass to the Fisher Range between 0820 and the last bird at 1538, which also happened to be the 2,500^th Golden Eagle of the season. The highest single hourly count was 20 birds between 1200 and 1300, of which 14 were Golden Eagles. The flight comprised 7 adult Bald Eagles (equaling the highest count for the season), 1 late juvenile Northern Harrier (that hunted for a while by the river), 1 adult Northern Goshawk, 1 Rough-legged Hawk of indeterminate morph, 40 Golden Eagles (36a,2sa,2j) and the season's 6^th Peregrine Falcon (an unaged bird that flew fast over the eastern part of the valley at 1349). Other birds seen included 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet, 4 European Starlings, 20 Bohemian Waxwings, 2 Pine Grosbeaks, 31 White-winged Crossbills and 6 Common Redpolls. The single Snowshoe Hare seen had its all white winter pelage.

10.5 hours (458.09) BAEA 7 (85), NOHA 1 (6), NOGO 1 (27), RLHA 1 (59), GOEA 40 (2500), PEFA 1 (6) TOTAL 51 (2802)

The further adventures of “Elaine” By the end of the day Elaine was still about 20 km east of Canyon Ferry Lake in the Big Belt Mountains east of Helena, southern Montana.

November 4 [Day 43] (Bill Wilson) [NOTE: change to Mountain Standard Time] The temperature at 0730 (MST) was -1C, reached a high of 9C at 1500 and essentially remained there for the rest of the day. Ground winds were WSW all day, 3-10 km/h to 1100, then gusting to 22 km/h to 1400 and finally 10-15 gusting 30 km/h for the rest of the day, while ridge winds were moderate to strong W all day creating snow plumes. Cloud cover was initially 50-80% altostratus and cumulus to1000, then 90-100% for the rest of the day. The ridges were essentially clear with only 5-10% of the western ridges obscured. The combined species count of 65 birds was the highest at the site since October 25, with most birds moving over the Fisher Range or over the eastern part of the Kananaskis Valley. The first migrants were Rough-legged Hawks at 0800 and 0842, and the first Golden Eagle was not seen until 0916. Subsequent movement was steady until 1614 when the last of the day's 7 Bald Eagles (4a,1sa,2j) went through. Surprisingly, this is the highest daily count for the species this season, which probably reflects generally above-average temperatures that has resulting in the persistence of open water (and food) to the north. The Golden Eagle count of 56 birds (44a,2sa,3j,7u) was also the highest since October 25. Other birds recorded included 1 exceptionally late American Pipit, 2 Pine Grosbeaks, 2 White-winged Crossbills and 8 Common Redpolls.

10.5 hours (447.59) BAEA 7 (78), RLHA 2 (58), GOEA 56 (2460) TOTAL 65 (2751)

The further adventures of “Elaine” By the end of the day Elaine had moved to the ESE and was about 20 km east of Canyon Ferry Lake in the Big Belt Mountains east of Helena, southern Montana.

November 3 [Day 42] (Cliff Hansen) Unfortunately, the scheduled Principal Observer had a family medical emergency and was unable to go to the site. Fortunately Cliff was available,but was unable to arrive at the site until 1345 when the temperature was 5C. It rose to a high of 9.5C at 1500 and was still 6C at 1800. Ground winds were SW 5-10 gusting 25 km/h, and ridge winds were strong SW. Cloud cover was 100% cumulus, altostratus and cirrus becoming 60-70% cumulus, lenticular, altostratus, altocumulus and cirrus after 1700. The east ridges were clear, but the western ridges were 30-50% obscured after 1600. The first of the day's 15 Golden Eagles (10a,5u) recorded was not seen until 1451. This was over an hour after the start of the count, which suggests that the late start did not result in the loss of too much data. All the birds moved very high above the Fisher Range, the busiest hour was 7 birds between 1600 and 1700and the last bird was seen at 1752. Other birds were scarce and the only migrants seen was a flock of 7 American Robins flying to the south.

4.75 hours (437.09) GOEA 15 (2404) TOTAL 15 (2686)

November 2 [Day 41] (Terry Waters, assisted by Rod Smith and Fiona Waters) The temperature rose to a high of 5C at 1300 from a morning low of -2C, and was 0C at 1800. Ground winds were light all day, initially SW then N-NW after 1500, while ridge winds were moderate WSW all day. Cloud cover was 80% altocumulus to 1600, after which it dwindled to 20% scattered altocumulus by the end of the day. After 1300 the western ridges were 10-30% obscured, but the east was clear all day. Conditions proved to be reasonably good for migration with 58 birds moving between 1008 and 1700 This is the highest total since October 25, as is the count of 55 Golden Eagles (31a,1sa,3j,20u). Most birds appeared behind the northern end of the Fisher Range, and only the last 5 Golden Eagles of the day moved high from Mount Lorette. The other raptors were 1 adult Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk and an unidentified large falcon that was the last bird of the day. The highest hourly count was 19 birds (1 Sharp-shinned Hawk and 18 Golden Eagles) between 1200 and 1300. There was no waterfowl movement, although 5 Mallards were seen on the river, and other birds included 15 Bohemian Waxwings, 1 American Tree Sparrow and 2 Red Crossbills.

9.75 hours (432.34) SSHA 1 (62), RTHA 1 (25), GOEA 55 (2389), UF 1 (1) TOTAL 58 (2671)

The further adventures of “Elaine” By the end of the day Elaine was just north of Canyon Ferry Lake on the west flank of the Big Belt Mountains, near Helena, southern Montana. She is rapidly nearing Paradise Valley just north of Yellowstone National Park where she was first captured and where she has spent the last two winters.

November 1 [Day 40] (Cliff Hansen, assisted by Kevin Barker) The temperature at 0815 was -4C, rose to a high of 6C at 1300 and 1400 and was 3C at 1800. Ground winds were calm to light, variable except around noon when they briefly gusted to 15 km/h from the E, while ridge winds were strong SSW-SW until 1300 after which they appeared to be from the W. Cloud cover was initially 50% cumulus that gradually increased to 100% cumulus and stratocumulus at 1300 and after 1400 it was 100% altocumulus and altostratus for the rest of the day. All ridges were up to 20% obscured in the morning, were 50-100% obscured between 1200 and 1230 and were essentially clear for the rest of the afternoon. A total of 20 migrant raptors were counted between 1013 and 1751, with 7 of the birds occurring between 1500 and 1600. The flight comprised 4 Bald Eagles (2a,2j) and 16 Golden Eagles (11a,1sa,4u), with most of the birds gliding high above the Fisher Range to 1300, after which they flapped to the south in front of the ridge face. A flock of 28 Trumpeter Swans flew to the south at 1401, followed by 45 Canada Geese at 1408 and a further flock of 100 Canada Geese at 1446. A flock of 12 blackbirds (either Brewer's or Rusty) fed in the Hay Meadow with starlings, and other sightings included 40 Bohemian Waxwings and 2 American Tree Sparrows.

10.25 hours (422.59) BAEA 4 (71), GOEA 16 (2613) TOTAL 20 (2613)

The further adventures of “Elaine” On October 31 Elaine was ENE of the northern end of Flathead Lake, N of Highway 2 and E of the Middle Fork of the Flathead River in Southern Glacier National Park.