March 27 Daily Flight Summary

Official Counter         

Adam Richardson

Observers       

None

Weather         

-1C at 09:00 with overcast skies and winds out of the north 4-6kph.  By 12:30 winds were blowing out of the south 5-7kph with a high temperature of 8C.  Precipitation could be seen out to the NE of the OP and the visibility diminished to 3km to the east by 14:30 when a wintry mix of rain and snow began to fall.  The Smith River was flowing up into the willows that line the banks, but had yet to jump its banks.  By 10:00 lots of wood and debris began to come down the river. 

Raptor Notes 

(1) RT (1) NH (1) BE all came through in the 10:00-12:00 time block.  After that the days flight shut down.

Residents were mildly active with the S2 BAEA, (2) adult light-morphed RTHA, RLHA and GOEA all making the best of the limited thermals off the canyon bluffs to the NW of the OP.  I did have time to study the resident adult BAEA join a small kettle that formed in the afternoon.  I was impressed with how quickly it went from the Johnston Pasture to the canyon rim in a matter of minutes.  I have learned to pay attention to the resident CORA as they either spot the raptors and join them, or they take to the air prior to the raptors cluing in on the favorable conditions.

Non-raptor Notes

At the close of the count when the snow and rain began to blow in, several large flocks of SNGO (540 approximately between 3 large flocks) flew north east of the OP staying more towards the Little Belts than the Smith River Canyon.  It is exciting during the unstable weather of spring to see migrating birds coming north with the approaching fronts.

Visitors           

None.

Next Day Forecast

Thursday

Snow before 1pm, then rain and snow between 1pm and 4pm, then rain after 4pm. High near 39. East wind 7 to 9 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.

Thursday Night

Rain and snow likely, becoming all snow after 8pm. Cloudy, with a low around 19. Northeast wind 3 to 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.