Wednesday, November 15 [Day 51] (Joel Duncan, assisted by Rick Robb) 0800-1700. The temperature at 0800 was -2C, the high was 3C from 1200 to 1500 and it was 2C at 1700. Ground winds were SSW-S 5-10 gusting to 27 km/h to 1300 and then S-SW 8-18 gusting 22 km/h for the rest of the day, and ridge winds were SW all day, moderate to 1100 and strong thereafter. Cloud cover was initially 20% cumulus and cirrostratus that gradually increased to 90-100% after 1400. The western ridges started to cloud over at 1300 and were 80% obscured by 1700, and the east was 20% obscured after 1600. Light snow fell at 1500 and 1600. The only raptors seen were 2 adult Golden Eagles that flew high above the northern end of the Fisher Range at 1517. Other birds of note were 2 Bohemian Waxwings, 1 Dark-eyed Junco of the race cismontanus, 4 Pine Grosbeaks, 1 Red Crossbill and 2 Common Redpolls. Three visitors were at the site on the final day of the fall 2017 count.

9 hours (532.7) GOEA 2 (3233) TOTAL 2 (3672)

Mount Lorette November summary (November 1-15), with variances to 1993-2016 averages (excluding 1997, 2002, 2006, 2007 and 2008) 12 days (-16.0%), 106.4 hours (-18.2%), Turkey Vulture 0, Osprey 0, Bald Eagle 36 (-53.2%), Northern Harrier 0, Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 (-55.0%), Cooper’s Hawk 0, Northern Goshawk 3 (-53.4%), UA 0, Broad-winged Hawk 0, Swainson’s Hawk 0, Red-tailed Hawk 0, Ferruginous Hawk 0, Rough-legged Hawk 2 (-68.4%), UB 0, Golden Eagle 61 (-74.3%), UE 2 (+100%), American Kestrel 0, Merlin 0, Gyrfalcon 0, Peregrine Falcon 0, Prairie Falcon 0, UF 0, UU 0 TOTAL 105 (-68.7%). The Golden Eagle and combined species counts are the second lowest ever for November, and the Bald Eagle count equals the second lowest ever.

Vicki Ridge [Day 52] (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Gord Petersen) 0800-1715 (Observation from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge). The starting temperature at 0800 was -4C, the high at 1300 was 3C and it was 0C at 1715. Winds were variable and light to 1400 when they became WSW-W 20-30 gusting to 45 km/h for the rest of the day. Cloud cover was 100% altostratus to 1000 when it began to thin and was 0-10% cumulus and lenticular at 1300-1500 after which cloud spread from the west that reached 100% cirrostratus, altostratus and cumulus at the end of observation. The first migrant was not seen until 1007 and because of the light winds only 8 birds had been recorded by 1400. As the wind velocity increased so did the number of migrant raptors and the next three hours produced 8, 13 and 12 migrants respectively with the last bird of the season, an unidentified eagle, flying south at 1651. The final count of 41 birds of 3 species was 29 Bald Eagles (12a, 2sa, 1j/sa transition, 5j, 8u), 4 light morph Rough-legged Hawks, 7 Golden Eagles (5a, 2j) and 1 unidentified eagle. Non-migrant adult Northern Goshawks were seen hunting on three occasions. Other birds seen were 2 Grey Jays, 2 Clark’s Nutcrackers, 5 Black-billed Magpies, 12 Bohemian Waxwings, 14 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches, 1 Pine Grosbeak and 2 Common Redpolls.

9.25 hours (418.9) BAEA 29 (350), RLHA 4 (515), GOEA 7 (2001), UE 1 (18) TOTAL 41 (4239)

Vicki Ridge November Summary (November 1-15), with 2016 totals in parenthesis. 12 days, (15 days), 86.1 hours (110.4 hours) Turkey Vulture 0 (0), Osprey 0 (1), Bald Eagle 153 (156), Northern Harrier 0 (4), Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 (23), Cooper’s Hawk 0 (0), Northern Goshawk 11 (25), UA 0 (2), Broad-winged Hawk 0 (0), Swainson’s Hawk 0 (0), Red-tailed Hawk 0 (11), Ferruginous Hawk 0 (0), Rough-legged Hawk 28 (105), UB 1 (0), Golden Eagle 195 (445), UE 4 (4), American Kestrel 0 (1), Merlin 0 (3), Gyrfalcon 2 (1), Peregrine Falcon 0 (2), Prairie Falcon 1 (1), UF 0 (1), UU 0 (0) TOTAL 396 (785)

Vicki Ridge Final Count Summary (September 20-November 15), with 2016 totals in parenthesis. 52 days (43 days), 418.9 hours, (282.6 hours) Turkey Vulture 0 (1), Osprey 11 (3), Bald Eagle 350 (253), Northern Harrier 19 (16), Sharp-shinned Hawk 751 (521), Cooper’s Hawk 94 (49), Northern Goshawk 109 (77), UA 6 (6), Broad-winged Hawk 33 (7), Swainson’s Hawk 1 (0), Red-tailed Hawk 234 (117), Ferruginous Hawk 6 (3) , Rough-legged Hawk 515 (313), UB 19 (4), Golden Eagle 2001 (1424), UE 18 (15), American Kestrel 21 (17), Merlin 20 (22), Gyrfalcon 5 (1), Peregrine Falcon 17 (13), Prairie Falcon 5 (5) , UF 2 (1) TOTAL 4237 (2868)

Steeples (Vance Mattson) NO OBSERVATION Vance had a full day of teaching today so had no chance to get out, although it was overcast and rained through the afternoon

Steeples November Summary (November 1-15), with 2016 totals in parenthesis. 9 days (12 days), 37 hours (47.75 hours), Turkey Vulture 0 (0), Osprey 1 (1), Bald Eagle 67 (48) , Northern Harrier 3 (1), Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 (1), Cooper’s Hawk 0 (0), Northern Goshawk 1 (1), UA 0 (0) , Broad-winged Hawk 0 (0), Swainson’s Hawk 0 (0), Red-tailed Hawk 1 (5) , Ferruginous Hawk 0 (0), Rough-legged Hawk 5 (1) , UB 0 (0), Golden Eagle 36 (25), UE 2 (4), American Kestrel 0 (0), Merlin 0 (0), Gyrfalcon 0 (0), Peregrine Falcon 0 (0), Prairie Falcon 0 (0), UF 0 (0) TOTAL 116 (83)

Steeples Final Count Summary (September 20-November 15), with 2016 totals in parenthesis. 41 days (37 days), 185.0 hours (161.75 hours) Turkey Vulture 1 (1) , Osprey 7 (7) , Bald Eagle 276 (222), Northern Harrier 16 (8), Sharp-shinned Hawk 78 (103), Cooper’s Hawk 1 (2), Northern Goshawk 13 (9), UA 0 (0), Broad-winged Hawk 5 (0), Swainson’s Hawk 0 (0), Red-tailed Hawk 51 (49) , Ferruginous Hawk 0 0), Rough-legged Hawk 15 (11), UB 1 (0), Golden Eagle 146 (206), UE 3 (15), American Kestrel 8 (6), Merlin 2 (2), Gyrfalcon 0 (0), Peregrine Falcon 2 (2), Prairie Falcon 0 (1), UF 0 (0) TOTAL 625 (629). The combined-species count is the second highest fall total, new seasonal high counts were established for Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier, Northern Goshawk, Broad-winged Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Rough-legged Hawk and American Kestrel, while Osprey, Merlin and Peregrine Falcon equaled previous seasonal high counts.

MOUNT LORETTE SUMMARY COUNT (September 20 to November 15) (with percentage variances from the long-term averages for the period 1993-1996, 1998-2001, 2003-2005 and 2009-2016)

DAYS 51 (-6.6%)

HOURS 532.7 (-5.4%)

TURKEY VULTURE (TUVU) 0 (-100%)

OSPREY (OSPR) 2 (-26.9%)

BALD EAGLE (BAEA) 190 (-20.6%)

NORTHERN HARRIER (NOHA) 6 (-43%)

SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (SSHA) 82 (-40.4%)

COOPER’S HAWK (COHA) 18 (-20.6%)

NORTHERN GOSHAWK (NOGO) 30 (-32.4%)

Accipiter sp. (UA) 3 (-56.5%)

BROAD-WINGED HAWK (BWHA) 1 (-84%)

SWAINSON’S HAWK (SWHA) 0 (-100%)

RED-TAILED HAWK (RTHA) 29 (-13.5%)

FERRUGINOUS HAWK (FEHA) 1 (+171.4%)

ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (RLHA) 29 (-43.9%)

Buteo sp. (UB) 10 (+187.9%)

GOLDEN EAGLE (GOEA) 3233 (-6.0%)

Eagle sp. (UE) 8 (+120.3%)

AMERICAN KESTREL (AMKE) 3 (+18.8%)

MERLIN (MERL) 5 (-35.8%)

GYRFALCON (GYRF) 4 (+43.4%)

PEREGRINE FALCON (PEFA) 7 (+17.7%)

PRAIRIE FALCON (PRFA) 6 (+200%)

Falco sp. (UF) 3 (+103.6%)

Unidentified Raptor (UU) 2 (-50.6%)

TOTAL 3672 (-8.9%)

Tuesday, November 14 [Day 50] (Blake Weis, assisted by Cliff Hansen) 0810-1645. The starting temperature was 0C and the high was 2C from 1500 to the end of observation. Ground winds were variable NW-NE 0-8 occasionally gusting 15 km/h to 1400, then SW 0-8 gusting 20 km/h for the rest of the day; ridge winds were WSW, moderate to 1200 and moderate to strong throughout the afternoon. Cloud cover was 90% altocumulus, altostratus and cirrostratus to 1200 and 80% altocumulus, altostratus, cirrostratus and cumulus in the afternoon that gradually diminished to 20% at the end of the day. The ridges were essentially clear all day, but despite the apparently favourable migration conditions the only migrant seen was an adult Bald Eagle that glided above the Fisher Range ridge at 1524. A non-migrant Bald Eagle also perched on a tree by the river near the site. Blake left the Hay Meadow to watch at Lusk Creek between 1500 and 1645 but saw no raptors. Other birds recorded included 1 male Green-winged Teal, 1 American Three-toed Woodpecker, 5 Golden-crowned Kinglets, 5 Bohemian Waxwings, 2 Pine Grosbeaks, 14 White-winged Crossbills, 4 Common Redpolls and 1 Pine Siskin. Two visitors were at the site today.

8.58 hours (523.7) BAEA 1 (190) TOTAL 1 (3670)

Vicki Ridge [Day 51] (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Gord Petersen) 0830-1715 (Observation from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge). The temperature was -1C both at the start and end of observation, and the high was 1C at 1200 and 1300. Winds were WSW all day and were fairly consistently 30-40 gusting to 55 km/h apart from the last half-hour when they became light. Cloud cover was 100-80% stratus and cumulus for most of the day apart from 1100-1300 when 50-60% cumulus cloud allowed sunny periods and comfortable viewing conditions for the only time in the day. There were frequent snow flurries and period of light snow after 1400. There was another fairly strong raptor movement for mid-November with 32 migrants of 4 species recorded between 1044 and 1657 comprising 15 Bald Eagles (8a, 3sa, 4j), 2 Northern Goshawks (1 adult male, 1u), 5 Rough-legged Hawks (4 light and 1 dark) and 10 Golden Eagles (6a, 1sa, 2j, 1u). Movement was very sporadic, however, with only 3 birds seen before 1238, then 11 birds were counted in the next 22 minutes, followed by 2 birds seen between 1300 and 1507, with the final 16 birds moving late in the day between 1507 and 1657. Apart from ravens other bird species were scarce and comprised a flock of 11 Canada Geese flying high to the west at 1515, a female Pileated Woodpecker that flew overhead towards the north at 1610, and a single flock of 25 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches.

8.75 hours (409.6) BAEA 15 (321), NOGO 2 (109), RLHA 5 (511), GOEA 10 (1994) TOTAL 32 (4196)

Steeples [Day 42] (Vance Mattson) 1145-1700. The ridges at last cleared today but it did not translate into a strong movement of raptors as just 5 migrants were seen. The temperature was 6C, winds were moderate S-SW all day and it was sunny until 1430 when the 60% cumulus and altocumulus cloud cover transformed into 90% altostratus and cumulus which remained for the rest of the day. All but the highest peaks were free from cloud and light snow fell briefly at 1615. The first migrants were two adult Bald Eagles at 1333 and 1344, followed by adult Golden Eagles at 1432, 1526, and 1545. A non-migrant adult Golden Eagle was also seen at 1335.

5.25 hours (185.0) BAEA 2 (276), GOEA 3 (146) TOTAL 5 (625)

[NOTE: Tomorrow will be the final day for all three counts]

MOUNT LORETTE SUMMARY COUNT (September 20 to November 15)

DAYS 50

HOURS 523.76

TURKEY VULTURE (TUVU) 0

OSPREY (OSPR) 2

BALD EAGLE (BAEA) 190

NORTHERN HARRIER (NOHA) 6

SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (SSHA) 82

COOPER’S HAWK (COHA) 18

NORTHERN GOSHAWK (NOGO) 30

Accipiter sp. (UA) 3

BROAD-WINGED HAWK (BWHA) 1

SWAINSON’S HAWK (SWHA) 0

RED-TAILED HAWK (RTHA) 29

FERRUGINOUS HAWK (FEHA) 1

ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (RLHA) 29

Buteo sp. (UB) 10

GOLDEN EAGLE (GOEA) 3231

Eagle sp. (UE) 8

AMERICAN KESTREL (AMKE) 3

MERLIN (MERL) 5

GYRFALCON (GYRF) 4

PEREGRINE FALCON (PEFA) 7

PRAIRIE FALCON (PRFA) 6

Falco sp. (UF) 3

Unidentified Raptor (UU) 2

TOTAL 3670

Monday, November 13 [Day 49] (Blake Weis, assisted by Dan Parliament) 0800-1130 at the Hay Meadow site, 1150-1630 at Lusk Creek. At 0800 the temperature was 2C, the high was 4C from 1130-1500 and it was 2C when the count was abandoned for the day at 1630. Ground winds at Hay Meadow were SSW 0-5 gusting 15 km/h to 1000 then 5-10 gusting 20-30 km/h to 1130; at Lusk Creek they were E-SE 5-15 gusting 20 km/h and at both sites ridge winds were SW, moderate to 1000 after which they were moderate to strong. Cloud cover was 20-30% cumulus, altocumulus and cirrus to 1100 when it quickly became 100% stratus which brought rain from the SW that quickly obscured all ridges at which point the observers moved to Lusk Creek, which initially was beyond the down-slope cloud edge. There the cloud cover was 30% altostratus and altocumulus which slowly increased to 100% stratus by 1500 with rain and snow starting at 1300. Mount Old Baldy was completely obscured at 1500 and when the highest foothills ridge disappeared in cloud at 1630 the observers wisely called it a day! Despite good observing conditions at Hay Meadow before 1100 no migrants were seen but a single non-migrant adult Bald Eagle hunted along the river. At Lusk Creek 8 migrant eagles, 7 adult Bald Eagles and 1u Golden Eagle moved along the highest foothills ridge between 1202 and 1352. All the Bald Eagles were seen between 1202 and 1300 and the Golden Eagle disappeared into the gathering gloom at 1352. Notable songbirds seen at Hay Meadow were 1 Brown Creeper, 1 Pine Grosbeak, 7 White-winged Crossbills, and 1 Common Redpoll, and at Lusk Creek 2 Townsend’s Solitaires, 10 Red Crossbills and 5 Common Redpolls.

8.5 hours (515.1) BAEA 7 (189), GOEA 1 (3231) TOTAL 8 (3669)

Vicki Ridge [Day 50] (Peter Sherrington) 0815-1415 (Observation from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge). The temperature at 0815 was 1C, reached a high of 5C at 1000 and was 0C when the count was abandoned for the day at 1415. Winds were mainly W 10-20 km/h to 1100 after which they were WSW 30-40 gusting 55 km/h. Cloud cover was 30-40% cumulus and it was sunny to 0930 when stratus moved from the west which became 100% after 1300. Light rain began at 1215 that become steady at 1300 and turned to moderate sleet/wet snow after 1320, and by 1400 the ridges were obscured. Between 0826 and 1257, however, there was a steady eagle migration involving 20 birds that comprised 9 Bald Eagles (4a, 4sa, 1j) and 11 adult Golden Eagles. Both 0900-1000 and 1000-1100 saw the passage of 6 birds and another good day appeared to be in prospect until the rain and snow moved in from the west.

6 hours (400.9) BAEA 9 (306), GOEA 11 (1984) TOTAL 20 (4164)

Steeples [Day 41] (Vance Mattson) 1445-1645. It rained to 1200 and the mountain ridges were obscured to 1430 when they started to clear. The higher ridges remained obscured throughout the observation period although the main migration ridges were partially clear from 1500 onward. The temperature was 5C, the wind was moderate to strong S-SW, and cloud cover was 100 to 70% altostratus, dark cumulus and stratus that produced light rain from 1545 to 1600. The only raptor seen was a non-migrant adult Bald Eagle.

2 hours (179.8) TOTAL 0 (620)

MOUNT LORETTE SUMMARY COUNT (September 20 to November 15)

DAYS 49

HOURS 515.1

TURKEY VULTURE (TUVU) 0

OSPREY (OSPR) 2

BALD EAGLE (BAEA) 189

NORTHERN HARRIER (NOHA) 6

SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (SSHA) 82

COOPER’S HAWK (COHA) 18

NORTHERN GOSHAWK (NOGO) 30

Accipiter sp. (UA) 3

BROAD-WINGED HAWK (BWHA) 1

SWAINSON’S HAWK (SWHA) 0

RED-TAILED HAWK (RTHA) 29

FERRUGINOUS HAWK (FEHA) 1

ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (RLHA) 29

Buteo sp. (UB) 10

GOLDEN EAGLE (GOEA) 3231

Eagle sp. (UE) 8

AMERICAN KESTREL (AMKE) 3

MERLIN (MERL) 5

GYRFALCON (GYRF) 4

PEREGRINE FALCON (PEFA) 7

PRAIRIE FALCON (PRFA) 6

Falco sp. (UF) 3

Unidentified Raptor (UU) 2

TOTAL 3669

Sunday, November 12 [Day 48] (Bill Wilson, assisted by Lori Anderson, Cliff Hansen and Brian McBride) 0655-1710. The morning low temperature was -3C at 0900, the high was 3C from 1300 to 1600 and it was 2C at 1700. Ground winds were S 3-10 km/h that gusted to 28 km/h on a couple of occasions, and ridge winds were WNW all day, moderate to 1000 and moderate to strong thereafter. Cloud cover was 90-100% cumulus and stratus to 1100 that quickly reduced to 10% cumulus to 1400 when it quickly increased to 80% cumulus and stratus that again dwindled to 20% by 1700. The ridges were essentially clear all day. Raptor migration was confined to the two eagle species with 10 moving between 1015 and 1613: 4 Bald Eagles (2a, 2j) and 6 Golden Eagles (2a, 1sa, 3j). Four of the birds were seen between 1500 and 1600, and all birds moved along the Fisher Range having probably originated from Mount Lorette. One or two resident adult Northern Goshawks were also seen. A Great Horned Owl sang early in the morning and other bird species noted included 4 Pine Grosbeaks, 3 Red Crossbills, 7 Common Redpolls and 2 Pine Siskins. Thirteen visitors made it to the site today.

10.25 hours (506.6) BAEA 4 (182), GOEA 6 (3230) TOTAL 10 (3661)

Vicki Ridge [Day 49] (Peter Sherrington) 0815-1715 (Observation from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge). The weather was actually pleasant for the first time this month with a starting temperature of -1C a high of 5C at 1300 and 1400 and it was 1C at the end of observation. Winds were W 10-15 km/h to 1100 after which they were WSW 20-35 gusting to 50 km/h for the rest of the day. Cloud cover was 100-90% altostratus and cumulus to 1000 after which it was 70-80% cumulus that allowed periods of sunshine, but around 1500 the clouds thickened to 90% dark cumulus that produced 15 minutes of light rain and snow. The clouds subsequently quickly thinned and the last 2 hours were 20-30% cumulus which again gave sunshine before the sun dipped below Kyllo Ridge. Observing conditions were excellent all day, and there was another fairly strong mid-November raptor movement involving 59 migrants of 6 species that were recorded between 0905 and 1709. The count was 23 Bald Eagles (18a, 2sa, 2j, 1u), 1 adult Sharp-shinned Hawk, 3 Northern Goshawks (2 adult males and 1 juvenile female), 4 light morph Rough-legged Hawks, 27 Golden Eagles (21a, 3sa, 3j) and 1 adult male grey morph Gyrfalcon. Movement was fairly steady throughout with a definite peak between 1300 and 1400 when 19 birds passed. A raven flew rapidly for about 500 m in a dead straight line to vigorously mob the Gyrfalcon that was soaring above Vicky Ridge at 1226, and then tried to pursue it to the south but was hopelessly outpaced by the falcon. The last birds of the day were 3 Bald Eagles that soared high above the western edge of Vicki Ridge at 1709 when daylight was almost completely gone. Other birds included 82 Bohemian Waxwings in three flocks, a single flock of 120 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches and 3 Common Redpolls.

9 hours (394.9) BAEA 23 (297), SSHA 1 (751), NOGO 3 (107), RLHA 4 (506), GOEA 27 (1973), GYRF 1 (5) TOTAL 59 (4144).

Steeples [Day 40] (Vance Mattson) NO OBSERVATION (Weather). The weather was almost an exact copy of yesterday: a socked-in valley, entirely obscured mountain ridges, 3C, and calm. Vance watched sporadically between 0900 and 1400 from his house and then drove north as far as the Whiteswan Lake turnoff (35 km from Wasa) but there was never any prospect of raptor migration.

MOUNT LORETTE SUMMARY COUNT (September 20 to November 15)

DAYS 48

HOURS 506.6

TURKEY VULTURE (TUVU) 0

OSPREY (OSPR) 2

BALD EAGLE (BAEA) 182

NORTHERN HARRIER (NOHA) 6

SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (SSHA) 82

COOPER’S HAWK (COHA) 18

NORTHERN GOSHAWK (NOGO) 30

Accipiter sp. (UA) 3

BROAD-WINGED HAWK (BWHA) 1

SWAINSON’S HAWK (SWHA) 0

RED-TAILED HAWK (RTHA) 29

FERRUGINOUS HAWK (FEHA) 1

ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (RLHA) 29

Buteo sp. (UB) 10

GOLDEN EAGLE (GOEA) 3230

Eagle sp. (UE) 8

AMERICAN KESTREL (AMKE) 3

MERLIN (MERL) 5

GYRFALCON (GYRF) 4

PEREGRINE FALCON (PEFA) 7

PRAIRIE FALCON (PRFA) 6

Falco sp. (UF) 3

Unidentified Raptor (UU) 2

TOTAL 3661

Saturday, November 11 [Day 47] (Jim Davis, assisted by Ruth Morrow) 0800-1630. Observation was from the Wasootch Creek site to1345 and then at the Hay Meadow for the rest of the day. The temperature at 0800 was -7C which rose to a high of 1C from 1400 to the end of observation, and ground winds were SW 15-20 km/h to 1400 after which it was calm; ridge winds were moderate W all day. Cloud cover was initially 20% cumulus that gradually spread from the west throughout the day and reached 80% at 1630. The western mountains were 30% obscured at the start and were 90% obscured at the finish but the east was clear all day. Considering the apparently good migration conditions there was a disappointing count of only 5 raptors of 3 species between 0920 and 1457 that comprised 1 adult Bald Eagle, 2 Northern Goshawks (1a, 1j), 1 dark morph Rough-legged Hawk and 1 unidentified eagle, all of which moved close to the Fisher Range ridge. A non-migrant adult Bald Eagle also flew low to the north above the river. Other birds were also scarce and were 2 Grey Jays, 8 Common Ravens, 1 Pine Grosbeak and a feeding flock of 16 Common Redpolls, but scarcest of all were visitors that numbered zero today.

8.5 hours (496.3) BAEA 1 (178), NOGO 2 (30), RLHA 1 (29), UE 1 (8) TOTAL 5 (3651)

Vicki Ridge [Day 48] (Peter Sherrington) 0815-1715 (Observation from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge). The temperature was -2C at 0815, briefly reached a high of 1.5C at 1200 and was again -2C at 1715. Winds were W and occasionally WSW 30-40 gusting to 55 km/h for most of the day, but suddenly became light after 1630. It was cloudless to 0930, 10-30% cumulus to 1300, 60-70% cumulus and cirrus to 1500 and 100% altostratus, cirrostratus and cumulus for the rest of the day. After yesterday’s count raptor movement seemed to be slow today, but there was actually a reasonable count of 45 birds of 4 species between 0943 and 1636 comprising 22 Bald Eagles (15a, 4sa, 2j, 1u), 1 adult Northern Goshawk, 2 light morph Rough-legged Hawks and 20 Golden Eagles (18a, 1sa, 1j). Maximum movement was 14 birds (6 Bald Eagles, 1 Rough-legged Hawk and 7 Golden Eagles) between 1500 and 1600, and the other hours from 1100 to 1700 had counts of 4 to 7 birds. Other birds seen included 55 Bohemian Waxwings, 70 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches, 5 Pine Grosbeaks, 4 Red-Crossbills and 13 Common Redpolls.

9 hours (385.9) BAEA 22 (274), NOGO 1 (104), RLHA 2 (502), GOEA 20 (1946) TOTAL 45 (4085)

Steeples [Day 39] (Vance Mattson) 1400-1630. The entire valley was socked-in until 1330 when minor clearing began so Vance drove to the Bull Mountain Site to see if the Steeples were perhaps clearer than the Wasa area, but conditions were the same.           In the end, the low cloud that covered the mountains did not lift and the sky remained 100% altostratus, cumulus and stratus, which threatened rain throughout the afternoon but only produced light drizzle from time to time.   The temperature was 2C and calm, and predictably no migrants or non-migrants were seen.

2.5 hours (177.8) TOTAL 0 (620)

MOUNT LORETTE SUMMARY COUNT (September 20 to November 15)

DAYS 47

HOURS 496.3

TURKEY VULTURE (TUVU) 0

OSPREY (OSPR) 2

BALD EAGLE (BAEA) 178

NORTHERN HARRIER (NOHA) 6

SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (SSHA) 82

COOPER’S HAWK (COHA) 18

NORTHERN GOSHAWK (NOGO) 30

Accipiter sp. (UA) 3

BROAD-WINGED HAWK (BWHA) 1

SWAINSON’S HAWK (SWHA) 0

RED-TAILED HAWK (RTHA) 29

FERRUGINOUS HAWK (FEHA) 1

ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (RLHA) 29

Buteo sp. (UB) 10

GOLDEN EAGLE (GOEA) 3224

Eagle sp. (UE) 8

AMERICAN KESTREL (AMKE) 3

MERLIN (MERL) 5

GYRFALCON (GYRF) 4

PEREGRINE FALCON (PEFA) 7

PRAIRIE FALCON (PRFA) 6

Falco sp. (UF) 3

Unidentified Raptor (UU) 2

TOTAL 3651

Friday, November 10 [Day 46] (Blake Weis, assisted by Caroline Lambert) 0830-1700. The temperature at 0830 was -2C, the high was 2C from 1200 to 1600 and it was 1C at 1700. Ground winds were SW 0-5 km/h all day that gusted up to 12 km/h between 1200 and 1600, while ridge winds were light to moderate SW all day. Cloud cover was 90% cumulus, altostratus and cirrus to 1000, variable 50-90% cumulus, altocumulus and cirrus to 1400 and then 80-30% cumulus and cirrus for the rest of the day. The ridges were clear all day. A total of 19 migrant raptors of 3 species moved between 0858 and 1632 comprising 5 Bald Eagles (3a, 2j), 1 late unaged Sharp-shinned Hawk and 13 Golden Eagles (12a, 1u). One Bald Eagle flew south on the western route and the rest used the eastern route with 5 of the birds initially located over Mount Lorette and the rest seen at the northern end of the Fisher Range. Movement was slow but steady after 1100 with each hour up to 1600 producing between 2 and 4 migrants. Non-migrant raptors were an adult Northern Goshawk and an adult Bald Eagle. Other birds seen included a Wilson’s Snipe flying low above the river, 1 Northern Shrike, 1 Bohemian Waxwing, 2 Pine Grosbeaks, 6 Common Redpolls and 2 Pine Siskins. A small pack of 4 Grey Wolves crossed the slopes of the ski hill moving to the north between 1030 and 1100. There were 4 visitors at the site today.

8.5 hours (487.8) BAEA 5 (177), SSHA 1 (82), GOEA 13 (3224) TOTAL 19 (3646)

Vicki Ridge [Day 47] (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Gord Petersen) 08150-1720 (Observation from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge). The temperature at the start was -1C, the high was 2C at 1200 and it was -2C at the end of observation. Winds were W-WSW all day, 25-30 km/h to 0930 and 30-40 gusting to 50 km/h for the rest of the day. Cloud cover was 60-80% cumulus and lenticular to 1400 that quickly cleared to 20-10% cumulus, lenticular and altocumulus for the last three hours and provided very welcome sunshine. There was a strong raptor movement for the time of year with 87 migrants of 5 species moving steadily between 0851 and 1716. The count was a season high total of 41 Bald Eagles (18a, 9sa, 6j, 8u), 3 adult Northern Goshawks, 7 light morph Rough-legged Hawks (the last of which at 1634 was the 500^th of the season), 33 Golden Eagles (26a, 3sa, 3j, 1u), 2 unidentified eagles and 1 light grey morph Gyrfalcon. Every hour after 0900 saw the passage of at least 6 migrants and peak movement was 14 birds between 1300 and 1400 and again from 1600 to 1700. The last 6 Bald Eagles moved high to the south between 1706 and 1716 when it was almost dark. At 1250 a resident adult Golden Eagle displayed above the northern end of Kyllo Ridge. Other birds seen included a flock of 50 Bohemian Waxwings, 3 Pine Grosbeaks and a single Common Redpoll that fed at the site at 0916.

9.08 hours (376.9) BAEA 41 (352), NOGO 3 (103), RLHA 7 (500), GOEA 33 (1926), UE 2 (17), GYRF 1 (4) TOTAL 87 (4040)

Steeples [Day 38] (Vance Mattson) 1300-1700. The valley was overcast until 1300 when the skies began to clear.           Since the ridges remained heavily obscured Vance observed from the Kootenay River Site until 1400 but saw no migrants. Observation from the Bill Nye site between 1415 and 1530 also produced no migrants.           The ridges, while initially clearing to some degree, became fully shrouded again by 1530 so Vance returned to the relative clarity of the valley from 1545 to 1700 and counted a single migrant, a light morph Rough-Legged Hawk that flapped low over Wasa Lake at 1606. No non-migrants were seen. It was 2C for most of the day, calm, and mainly sunny as the 50-60% cumulus, altostratus and lenticular cloud cover was concentrated mainly around and in front of the mountain ridges. The Purcell Mountains to the west were also shrouded the entire day.

4 hours (175.3) RLHA 1 (15) TOTAL 1 (620)

MOUNT LORETTE SUMMARY COUNT (September 20 to November 15)

DAYS 46

HOURS 487.8

TURKEY VULTURE (TUVU) 0

OSPREY (OSPR) 2

BALD EAGLE (BAEA) 177

NORTHERN HARRIER (NOHA) 6

SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (SSHA) 82

COOPER’S HAWK (COHA) 18

NORTHERN GOSHAWK (NOGO) 28

Accipiter sp. (UA) 3

BROAD-WINGED HAWK (BWHA) 1

SWAINSON’S HAWK (SWHA) 0

RED-TAILED HAWK (RTHA) 29

FERRUGINOUS HAWK (FEHA) 1

ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (RLHA) 28

Buteo sp. (UB) 10

GOLDEN EAGLE (GOEA) 3224

Eagle sp. (UE) 7

AMERICAN KESTREL (AMKE) 3

MERLIN (MERL) 5

GYRFALCON (GYRF) 4

PEREGRINE FALCON (PEFA) 7

PRAIRIE FALCON (PRFA) 6

Falco sp. (UF) 3

Unidentified Raptor (UU) 2

TOTAL 3646