Saturday, November 09 Vicki Ridge [Day 48] 0730-1100 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of Vicki Ridge). The temperature at 0730 was 7C, it dropped to 6C at 0800 but rose again to 7C from 0900 to 0935 when the passage of a cold front reduced the temperature to 1C in 5 minutes and when the count was abandoned at 1100 it was -3C. Winds were W-WNW 15-20 km/h to 0935 when they suddenly switched to ESE 25-35 km/h, and cloud cover was 100% cirrostratus, altocumulus and cumulus that gave hazy sunshine and ideal viewing conditions to 1935 when fog started to pour over Vicki Ridge and by 1945 we were encased in 100% dense fog that persisted for the rest of the day. I briefly returned to the site at 1400 where the fog was still dense but freezing drizzle was giving way to light snow which became moderate and steady after 1700. Three migrants were seen moving high to the south over Vicki Ridge: single adult Bald Eagles at 0842 and 0845 and a light morph Rough-legged Hawk at 0851. Other birds recorded were a small flock of Canada Geese that were heard calling as they flew west in the fog at 0959 and before 0935 we saw 1 Black-billed Magpie, 24 Common Ravens and 6 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches. Prospects for tomorrow are not good as the forecast calls for low temperatures and snowfall for most of the day.

3.5 hours (431) BAEA 2 (360), RLHA 1 (436) TOTAL 3 (4485)

Saturday, November 09 Steeples [Day 33] 1200-1600 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 7C, it was calm and cloud cover was 100% altostratus and cumulus. No migrants were recorded but a single adult resident Golden Eagle was seen on four occasions.

4 hours (141.3) TOTAL 0 (448)

Friday, November 08 Vicki Ridge [Day 47] 0730-1730 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson,  observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of Vicki Ridge, and Gord Petersen  (1413-1700) observing at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge at the Waterton 68 wellsite). The temperature at 0730 was 4C, the high at 1300 was 12.5C and it was still 10C at 1730. Winds were strong WSW-W, consistent 30-40 gusting 50-60 km/h all day, and cloud cover was 80-100% cirrostratus, altocumulus, altostratus, lenticular and cirrus with dark cumulus to the west throughout the day. There was hazy sunshine for most of the day and observing conditions were very good. The count from the Waterton 61 wellsite was 45 birds of 4 species between 0828 and 1641 that comprised 21 Bald Eagles (11a, 2sa2, 1sa, 7j), 5 adult Northern Goshawks, 3 Rough-legged Hawks (1 light, 1 dark, 1u) and 16 Golden Eagles (14a, 1sa, 1j). At the western edge of Kyllo Ridge Gord counted 19 birds of 3 species between 1420 and 1656 that comprised 15 Bald Eagles (12a, 1sa, 2j), 1a Northern Goshawk, 1u Golden Eagle and 2 unidentified eagles. The total movement observed across the ridge system between 0828 and 1656 was 64 migrants of 4 species that comprised a season-high 36 Bald Eagles (23a, 2sa2, 2sa, 9j, 6a Northern Goshawks, 3 Rough-legged Hawks (1 light, 1 dark, 1u), 17 Golden Eagles (14a, 1sa, 1j, 1u) and 2 unidentified eagles. The highest combined-site hourly count was 13 between 1600 and 1700 all of which were Bald Eagles. The only other birds seen were 6 Black-billed Magpies, 106 Common Ravens which were conspicuous in the air throughout the day, 11 Bohemian Waxwings and 41 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches in 2 flocks.

10 hours (427.5) BAEA 36 (358), NOGO 6 (87), RLHA 3 (435), GOEA 17 (2732) UE 2 (23) TOTAL 64 (4482)

Friday, November 08 Steeples (Vance Mattson). ). No observation because of a prior commitment.

Thursday, November 07 Vicki Ridge [Day 46] 0730-1730 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson,  observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of Vicki Ridge, and Gord Petersen  (1308-1700) observing at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge at the Waterton 68 wellsite). The temperature at 0730 was -1.5C, the high at 1400 was 6C and it was 3C at 1730. Winds were W to 1500 and then mainly WNW, 30-40 gusting 50-60 km/h that decreased to 25 km/h after 1700. Cloud cover was altostratus, cirrostratus and altocumulus all day, 60% to 0830, 100% to 1600 and 30% after 1630, which gave good viewing conditions throughout. The count from the Waterton 61 wellsite was 37 birds of 5 species between 0920 and 1628 that comprised 11 Bald Eagles (6a, 3sa2, 2j), 5 Northern Goshawks (4a, 1j), 3 Rough-legged Hawks (2 light, 1 dark), 17 Golden Eagles (14a, 1sa, 2j) and 1a male Peregrine Falcon. At the western edge of Kyllo Ridge Gord counted 27 birds of 3 species between 1308 and 1657 that comprised 6 Bald Eagles (5a, 1u), 9 Rough-legged Hawks (6 light, 3u), 10 Golden Eagles (5a, 1j, 4u) and 2 unidentified eagles. The total movement observed across the ridge system between 0920 and 1657 was 64 migrants of 5 species that comprised 17 Bald Eagles (11a, 3sa2, 2j, 1u), 5 Northern Goshawks (4a, 1j), 12 Rough-legged Hawks (8 light, 1 dark, 3u), 27 Golden Eagles (19a, 1sa, 3j, 4u), 2 unidentified eagles and 1a male Peregrine Falcon. The highest combined-site hourly counts were 14 between 1400 and 1500 and 12 between 1600 and 1700. The only other birds seen were 5 Black-billed Magpies, 55 Common Ravens and 115 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches in 3 flocks.

10 hours (417.5) BAEA 17 (322), NOGO 5 (81), RLHA 12 (432), GOEA 27 (2715), UE 2 (21), PEFA 1 (12) TOTAL 64 (4418)

Thursday, November 07 Steeples [Day 32] 1300-1630 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 1C, it was calm and cloud cover was 40-50% thin altostratus and altocumulus that gave sunny conditions. The only migrant was an adult Bald Eagle, and a resident juvenile Golden Eagle was also seen.

3.5 hours (137.3) BAEA 1 (155) TOTAL 1 (448)

Wednesday, November 06 Vicki Ridge [Day 45] 0800-1730 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson,  observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of Vicki Ridge, and Gord Petersen  (1336-1700) observing at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge at the Waterton 68 wellsite). Despite the snowfall warning that was in effect for the area yesterday and early this morning there was only 6 cm of fresh snow on the ground as most of the precipitation fell as freezing rain before it turned to snow yesterday evening.  The temperature at 0800 was -19C, the high between 1430 and 1600 was 1C and it was -1C after 1700. It was calm or SSW-variable up to 5 km/h to 1340 when the wind became W-WNW 15-20 gusting 30 km/h, and increased after 1500 to WNW 20-30 gusting 40 km/g that created blowing snow on both ridges. It was completely cloudless all day and despite the frigid start it was a beautiful day. The count from the Waterton 61 wellsite was 21 birds of 3 species between 1052 and 1658 that comprised 7 Bald Eagles (1a, 1sa2, 5j), 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk and 13 Golden Eagles (10a, 2sa, 1j). At the western edge of Kyllo Ridge Gord counted 11 birds of 3 species between 1344 and 1638 that comprised 5 Bald Eagles (1a, 4j), 2 light morph Rough-legged Hawks and 4 Golden Eagles (3a, 1u). The total movement observed across the ridge system between 1052 and 1658 was 32 migrants of 3 species that comprised 12 Bald Eagles (2a, 1sa2, 9j), 3 light morph Rough-legged Hawks and 17 Golden Eagles (13a, 2sa, 1j, 1u). The highest combined-site hourly count was 12 between 1500 and 1600. Other birds seen were a flock of 60 Canada Geese that flew to the south at 1057, a confused flock of 22 that flew west at 1116, flew back east at 1120 and finally headed south at 1126, a flock of 52 that flew west at 1135 and a flock of 80 that flew SW at 1625. A gut-pile of an eviscerated deer that was shot yesterday at the southern end of Vicki Ridge attracted around 100 Common Ravens and a dozen Black-billed Magpies as well as 2 migrating juvenile Bald Eagles that interrupted their southward flight to take  a protracted lunch-break. Other birds were 3 Canada Jays, 1 Steller’s Jay, 3 Bohemian Waxwings, 2u Pine Grosbeaks and a migrating flock of 28 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches.

9.5 hours (407.5) BAEA 12 (306), RLHA 3 (420), GOEA 17 (2688) TOTAL 32 (4354)

Wednesday, November 06 Steeples (Vance Mattson). No observation because of teaching commitments.

Tuesday, November 05 Vicki Ridge [Day 44] 0745-1000 (Peter Sherrington observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of Vicki Ridge). There was again fog in Beaver Mines but at 0745 the ridges at the site were completely clear, the temperature was -1C, the wind was SE-E 5-10 gusting 15 km/h and cloud cover was 100% stratocumulus. At 0900 and 1000 the temperature was 0C, it was calm or light SE winds and light snow began to fall at 0905 that gradually increased in intensity and by 1000 all ridges were obscured. No migrant or resident raptors were seen and the only birds recorded were 16 Common Ravens most of which flew high to the east from Kyllo Ridge.

2.25 hours (398) TOTAL 0 (4322)

Tuesday, November 05 Steeples [Day 29] 1300-1630 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 5C, it was calm and cloud cover was 60-100% thin altostratus, cumulus and altocumulus. No migrant or resident raptors were seen.

3.5 hours (133.8) TOTAL 0 (447)

Monday, November 04 Vicki Ridge [Day 43] 1200-1730 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of Vicki Ridge). There was thick fog all morning, but at 1145 the gloom in Beaver Mines became slightly lighter so we drove through the fog to the site where at 1200 it was 3C, calm, a very hazy sun was discernible and there was 2 cm of fresh snow on the ground. The fog began to lift at 1225 and by 1235 the ridges were completely clear and cloud cover was 60% altocumulus and altostratus. At 1300 the temperature fell to 1C but after 1400 it was 5C with the exception of 1600 when it reached the day’s high of 5.5C. After 1300 the winds were W all day, light to 1400, 10-15 gusting 30 km/h to 1630 and then 30 gusting 50 km/h for the rest of the day. After 1300 cloud cover was 60-100% altocumulus, dark cumulus and cirrus that allowed some sunny periods and gave good observing conditions throughout. There was a slow and sporadic raptor movement of 17 birds of 5 species between 1335 and 1700 that comprised 3 Bald Eagles (1a, 1sa, 1j), 1u female Northern Harrier, 1a Northern Goshawk, 7 light morph Rough-legged Hawks and 5a Golden Eagles. The highest hourly count was 8 between 1500 and 1600 that included 5 Rough-legged Hawks that were seen between 1536 and 1551. Between 1241 and 1350 there were 6 sightings of non-migratory Golden Eagles (5a, 1sa) all of which soared low over Vicki Ridge before gliding to the north, and for a while it felt rather like we were watching a spring migration! The only other birds seen were 1 Clark’s Nutcracker, 3 Black-billed Magpies, 68 Common Ravens and 35 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches.

5.5 hours (395.8) BAEA 3 (293), NOHA 1 (14), NOGO 1 (76), RLHA 7 (417), GOEA 5 (2671) TOTAL 17 (4322)

Monday, November 04 Steeples (Vance Mattson). No observation because of teaching commitments.