March 12 Daily Flight Summary

immature dark-morphed Harlan's Hawk

Official Counter         

Adam Richardson

Observers       

N/A

Weather         

-17.2 C in camp this morning.  By 11:00 AM at the start of the count the temperature had risen to -9 C.  Wind again was light out of the north as well, but by 11:30 it had switched to the South again for the remainder of the day.  Winds peaked between 12:30 – 14:30 at an average of 7.8-9.2 kph.  The high temperature was at 15:30 at 4 C.  Mostly high cirrus clouds for the entirety of the count today, but that didn’t block the sun too much.  Barometric pressure fell slightly again today.  28 cm of snow remain along the banks of the Smith River.  At this rate of consolidation and evaporation it will be the beginning of April before the Camp Baker area becomes snow free.

Raptor Notes 

Several migrating raptors made use of the warmer temperatures today and fair thermal lift.  At noon another small flight occurred with an adult BAEA soaring to the top of Jumbo Mountain.  Here it was joined by a resident adult BAEA and an adult GOEA.  The adult GOEA was quick to leave the area gliding back down the ridge to the west but staying well south of the OP.  One of the BAEA ended up migrating north and this siting proved valuable as I was able to follow its trajectory out of the area.  This siting also provided more confidence for similar observations yesterday along this same flight line.  It is important to know today I had hiked in my spotting scope and was able to ID these distant birds to species.  One of the adult BAEA moved back north though.  In the following hour another adult GOEA flew north on the same exact line of the BAEA earlier.  An immature BAEA also used this same far eastern route in the final hour of the count.

Resident raptors were active today with one adult BAEA noted above escorting migrants from the summit of Jumbo Mountain near the Twin Tanks area.  Having the spotting scope helped solve the mystery of who the birds are on Jumbo Ridge throughout the day.  It would appear we now have at least 2 adult, 1 sub-adult and 1 immature Golden Eagles that all frequent the Jumbo Ridge area.  Although the sub-adult and immature only make brief appearances before moving back north out of view.  The adult GOEA is frequently seen near the Twin Tanks and may have a nest on the north side of the summit.

An immature dark-morphed Harlan’s Hawk showed up around 14:00 and perch hunted the Smith River banks willows for Black-billed Magpie.  The buteo perched in the top of the conifer on the east bank of the river upstream of the OP.  It took several swipes at the magpie actually crashing into the willows.  This bird stayed in the vicinity through the remainder of the count and at one point could be seen with some feathers on its beak.

Non-raptor Notes

What sounded to be a good size flock of Bohemian Waxwing migrated down the river while I was in the pit toilet, but the buzzing call was distinctive.  At the warmest part of the count today around 15:30 a lone AMRO was heard calling from upstream of the OP.

Visitors           

None.  Current conditions at Camp Baker as of today require a ½ mile walk in through fairly deep snow.  It is possible to do so without the aid of snowshoes as deer and elk have worked in a pretty decent trail.  Beyond their tracks I have now beat down a pretty good walkway.  The Smith River Road to Camp Baker is in excellent condition currently, well graded and not much snow left on the actual road surface.  Where the county road maintenance ends though at the entrance to the park deep drifts are encountered just uphill of the cattle guard.  Walking from here is the only access but doable.  I will provide an update on the approach to Camp Baker by vehicle and foot if anything changes

Next Day Forecast

N/A

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