March 31 [Day 27] (George Halmazna) The temperature rose from 1C to a high of 7C at noon falling to 4C at 1400 where it remained for the rest of the day. Ground winds were mainly calm to light S-SW except between 1000 and 1300 when they gusted to 15 km/h, and ridge winds were mainly moderate SW gusting to 40 km/h. Cloud cover was 100% stratus and stratocumulus all day, with the western ridges 40-100% obscured all day until 1700 after which all ridges were obscured by snow, which had previously been intermittent on the mountains but which fell as rain on the valley bottom. The first of the day's 36 migrant raptors was the season's first Red-tailed Hawk at 1042, and the first Golden Eagle moved 5 minutes later. Peak movement was between 1300 and 1400 when 13 birds were recorded, 12 of which were Golden Eagles, and the last bird seen from the Hay Meadow site was a Golden eagle at 1604. After 1700, with all the ridges obscured, George relocated to the Lusk Creek site where the ridge remained clear until 2030, but the only migrant seen was a Bald Eagle at 1712. The day's flight comprised 2 adult Bald Eagles, 3 Sharp-shinned Hawks (2a, 1u), 2 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks and 29 adult Golden Eagles. Song birds were scarce but included two singing Varied Thrushes and the second Brown Creeper of the season. 13.75 hours (305.42) BAEA 2 (124), SSHA 3 (5), RTHA 2 (2), GOEA 29 (2554) TOTAL 36 (2724)

March summary The combined species total of 2724 and the Golden Eagle total of 2554 were both the highest counts since 2001 at the site and 11.92% and 12.77% above the 1993-2010 March average count. The 124 Bald Eagles were the highest count since 2004 and 105.7% above the 1993-2010 average. If, however, the three very low (and probably anomalous) counts in 2008, 2009 and 2010 are discounted, the combined species count is 1.51%, the Golden Eagle count is 0.55% and the Bald Eagle count is 7.58% above the 1993-2007 March average count, and this is probably more closely reflects the real situation. Either way it is heartening to see a strong persistent movement of Golden Eagles again at Mount Lorette, the first since 2006, and the count represents the 6^th highest March count of the species at the site since 1993.

Today the adult female Golden Eagle “Elaine”had moved about 70 km WNW of yesterday's position and is now north of the Yukon River and north of the Arctic Circle near the settlement of Beaver. She appears to be heading towards the Brooks Range.