March 16 Daily Flight Summary

Official Counter         

Adam Richardson

Observers       

None

Weather         

-13 C in camp this morning at 08:30. Mostly clear skies at 10:30 when todays count was underway with high cirrus clouds.  Temperature of -10 C and winds were light out of the east.  The cirrus clouds increased all day and kept the high for the day at 4C at 15:30. The barometer fell slightly through the count.  Visibility was excellent.

Raptor Notes 

Two adult Golden Eagles came through at around 13:50 (one at the end of the hour the other at the beginning of the next – maybe 10 minutes apart).  Despite excellent conditions for spotting eagles none were detected but these two.

The slow flight was also reflected in limited resident behavior today compared to yesterday.  The resident adult Bald Eagle is now seen regularly just upstream on the west bank on a prominent ponderosa overlooking the Smith River.  I believe I have seen an immature perching there with the adult and two adults regularly. 

Off to the far east up Sheep Creek an adult Golden Eagle was seen circling alone.  Later it was joined by a sub-adult Golden and later yet another adult.  All of the Goldens would eventually move off to the south.

Non-raptor Notes

2 Mallard flew north today fairly early in the count.  Waterfowl appear to have begun migration up the Smith River.  A lone White-breasted Nuthatch was heard up the canyon just to the west of the OP.  The first Killdeer of spring has arrived to the banks of the river as well.  A Northern Shrike was seen to the east of the OP along the rise the Harlan’s Red-Tailed Hawk hunts from.  It was also nice to see the Red Crossbill finally out in the open perched in a snag on the rise noted above as well.  19 antelope were seen on the walk in to Camp Baker this morning.

Visitors           

Nate the River Ranger snowshoed in to assess the snow conditions at Camp Baker around 15:00.  He told me about the many resident non-raptors and raptors to be on the lookout for in the immediate vicinity.  American White Pelicans aren’t something I would have expected. 

Nate also mentioned that on Wednesday the Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks will be coming in with some machinery to attempt to open the road up to camp.  It now seems like there may even be a possibility the Smith River won’t be open for river traffic on April 1^st.  I would imagine all the camps down in the canyon must be covered in snow.

Next Day Forecast

Hi of 39F and low of 20F.

East winds 5mph.