February 29 [Day 10] The February “bonus day” was delightful with the temperature reaching a season-high 10C from a low of 2C, moderate to strong west winds all day, and variable amounts of cirrus, altostratus and cumulus cloud providing excellent observation conditions. Raptor movement started surprisingly early at 0743 and by 0754 4 adult and 1 juvenile Bald Eagles had moved north above the Gold Creek valley. At 1112 the first Gyrfalcon of the season, a grey morph female, flew overhead, and 2 more Bald Eagles, 2 Rough-legged Hawks and a Golden Eagle brought the morning’s total to 10 migrants and raised expectations for the afternoon. The afternoon, however, was slow with just 7 more migrants which included the first probable migrant Prairie Falcon of the season at 1724. With the addition of 1 or 2 non-migrant Northern Goshawks, the 6 species of raptor recorded was the highest ever for a February RMERF count. The resident Golden Eagle pair spent a lot of time flying over and perched on Bluff Mountain, as they have done over the last four days, and at 1355 they were observed copulating. The only passerine migrants were 30 Grey-crowned Rosy Finches and a single Common Redpoll, the first seen this season. Tomorrow is the start of the Mount Lorette count which as usual will be conducted from the Hay Meadow site.

February Summary. As this is the first count at this site, comparisons are made with the average of 15 counts at Mount Lorette. We spent 10 days (97.17 hours) in the field which are 7.9% and 14.34% above average respectively. The combined species count of 93 is the highest ever and 440.7% of average and over twice the highest ever count at Lorette which was 41 in 2004. The 49 Bald Eagles (+755%), 3 Northern Goshawks (+1400%) and 35 Golden Eagles (+213%) are all highest counts and Rough-legged Hawk (4) and Prairie Falcon (1) are recorded as February migrants for the first time. The Gyrfalcon is only the second February record, having been recorded at Mount Lorette in 1996.

10.75 hours (97.17) BAEA 9 (49), RLHA 2 (4), GOEA 4 (35), GYRF 1 (1), PRFA 1 (1) TOTAL 17 (93)