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| looking downstream along the Smith River from the Johnston Bridge towards Berkins Butte |
Official Counter
Adam Richardson
Observers
None
Weather
Foggy to the north and east this morning with a temperature
of-7C. Winds were out of the south until
13:30 when the winds switched, gusting out of the north 7-27kph average. Conditions were excellent for viewing raptors
with a nice cloud cover of mostly fog, cumulus and stratus clouds moving in a
variety of directions. This shift in
winds kept the daytime high to 6C and things cooled down steadily to 2C by the end
of the count at 17:00. Visibility came
and went to the east today with only the hills just past the Smith River Road
to the east visible at times. If anything,
this funneled all of the birds nearer the OP.
24cm of snow remain today at the end of the count. The Smith River was running at the end of the
count today from upstream of the Johnston Bridge to just below the lower boat ramp. The entrance to the canyon is still iced in
as well as Sheep Creek isn’t flowing yet either. This happened quickly as at 13:30 things were
frozen over again.
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| looking upstream from the Johnston Bridge at the Smith River |
Raptor Notes
17 migrating raptors flew north today to the Smith River
Canyon. BAEA (9) led the flight with a
kettle forming directly over the OP between 13:00-14:00. It was difficult to determine who was
resident and who was migrant at times, but the number of non-adult birds made
it a little easier (as it has been primarily adult BAEA escorting migrants from
the area). Several of these birds seemed
to be harassing each other and there were lots of calling as they moved higher
above the OP before proceeding north into the canyon.
(1) RLHA and the first (1) NOHA of the season also mixed in with
the eagles, but staying well away from the skirmishes. (2) GOEA came through as well. It is possible, they may have been following
a different flight path than the BAEA today and I may have missed some while
tracking the BAEA.
Migrants flew a variety of different flight paths today with
some passing to the east of the OP on the near rise between Sheep Creek and the
Smith River. Others like the kettle of
BAEA came off of Jumbo, crossed in front of the OP then kettled again off of
the butte to the west of the OP. I felt by
the end of the day I could almost feel the birds beginning to stack up as it was
a wall of fog waiting for them to the north in the canyon and a pretty stiff
north wind. Today’s flight had to provide
some of the most memorable up-close looks at passing BAEA as many of them just kited
in place or came down the rise only to break off to the east or west to repeat
the process. It was exciting to have
that many large raptors that close streaming in off of Jumbo.
Residents were busy escorting migrants today and the adult
BAEA definitely had its territory run over with non-adult migrants. It appears possibly an S2 BAEA is now setting
up a territory in the area as it was actually chasing one of the resident
adults. This bird was observed regularly
throughout the day making use of Jumbo and the canyon without sustaining any
skirmishes from the earlier residents.
The adult light-morphed RTHA is pure fire these days
stooping at CORA and AMCR throughout the day.
Many of the resident ranch birds are now realizing the shortcut through
the hills from Sheep Creek to Smith River is directly in the line of fire. Another resident RTHA ventured into this zone
and was shut down immediately only to abandoned course and return upstream. The hill that this RTHA seems to be fond of
would be my first consideration for an owl decoy in future years. I have an excellent view of the hill from the
OP and it is a partially dead tree. The
decoy would be directly in the line of fire for all migrating raptors coming
off of Jumbo. I have an idea of another
spot closer for a near owl decoy as well.
Of course, this would have to be hammered out with willing land owners
as both locations are on private property.
A resident MERL returned giving the MOBL a good chase from
time to time. It was exciting to see
this powerful falcon flying directly into stiff north winds with no problem
whatsoever. Based on its repeated strafing
runs of the near rise to the east of the OP I don’t believe this is the last
time I will be seeing this small terror.
Non-raptor Notes
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| Mountain Bluebird |
SACR, COME, MOBL and RWBL are all increasing in numbers at
Camp Baker. The RBGU that was noted
flying back south a few days ago over the Smith River Road mixed into a kettle
of BAEA at one point.
Visitors
None. Camp Baker Temporary
Closure still in effect.
Next Day Forecast
Monday
Areas of fog before 10am. Otherwise, cloudy through mid-morning,
then gradual clearing, with a high near 49. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night
Mostly clear during the early evening, then becoming cloudy,
with a low around 22. South wind 8 to 10 mph.
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