RMERF counts September 21

Friday, September 21 Mount Lorette [Day 2] 0800-1430 (Caroline Lambert, assisted by Patrick Farley). The temperature at 0800 was 1C and reached a high of 5C at 1400; winds were calm to light to 1200 and then N gusting to 15 km/h for the rest of the observation period; ridge winds were probably similar. Cloud cover was 100% stratus with some fog throughout, with a few brief breaks that gave faint but unfulfilled hopes of improvement. The northern end of the Fisher Range was visible between 1100 and 1300, however, but no migrant raptors were seen. Drizzle fell to 0900 and light rain at 1400. Two non-migratory male American Kestrels interacted above the Hay Meadow and an adult Sharp-shinned Hawk hunted near the meadow. Other birds were more numerous and comprised a flock of 60 Canada Geese flying south just below the cloud base, 1 female Common Merganser, 1 Belted Kingfisher, 5 Canada Jays, only 3 Common Ravens, 5 Mountain Bluebirds, 1 Common Yellowthroat, 1 Wilson’s Warbler, 20 American Pipits, 2 Savannah Sparrows, 5 White-crowned Sparrows, 4 Dark-eyed [Oregon] Juncos, 20 White-winged Crossbills and 40 Pine Siskins. Five visitors made it to the site today.

6.5 hours (16.25) TOTAL 0 (1)

Friday, September 21 Vicki Ridge [Day 2] 1000-1815 (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Denise Cocciolone-Amatto, Raymond Toal and Shirley Enzol). Because of the bears on the ridge yesterday I watched from the wellsite, and Denise et al. spent 1215 to 1400 on the western ridge of Kyllo Ridge before returning to assist me. The temperature at 1000 was 9C, the high at 1500 and 1600 was 13C which fell to 12C at the end of observation. Winds were WSW-W 20-40 gusting up to 60 km/h in the mid-afternoon before moderating to WNW 20 km/h at 1800. Cloud cover was 80-100% altostratus, cumulus, cirrostratus and cirrus for most of the day that decreased to 60-70% between 1500 and 1600 and gave period of sunshine. Observing conditions were excellent throughout despite periods of drizzle or very light rain in the morning. A season-high total of 79 raptors of 10 species moved between 1028 and 1731 comprising the season’s first Osprey, 1 juvenile Bald Eagle, 3 male Northern Harriers (1a, 1sa, 1j), 41 Sharp-shinned Hawks (8a, 3j, 30u), 5 Cooper’s Hawks (1a, 1j, 3u), 5 Northern Goshawks (2a, 1j, 2u), 12 adult Red-tailed Hawks (10 light and 1 dark calurus, and 1 dark harlani), 8 Golden Eagles (5a, 3j), 2 columbarius Merlins (1 male, 1 female) and 1u Peregrine Falcon. The total includes 7u Sharp-shinned Hawks, 2u Cooper’s Hawks and 1 adult Golden Eagle counted between 1215 and 1400 on Kyllo Ridge. Other birds included 124 Mountain Bluebirds, 168 American Robins, 50 Cedar Waxwings, 3 Yellow-rumped Warblers, 19 Red Crossbills, 1 White-winged Crossbill and 14 Pine Siskins. No bears were seen today.

8.25 hours (19.0) OSPR 1 (1), BAEA 1 (3), NOHA 3 (6), SSHA 41 (51), COHA 5 (13), NOGO 5 (6), RTHA 12 (15), GOEA 8 (17), MERL 2 (3), PEFA 1 (3) TOTAL 79 (123)

Friday, September 21 Steeples [Day 2] 1430-1800 (Vance Mattson). The weather was similar to that of yesterday with rain falling until the early afternoon and 100% stratus, cumulus and altostratus cloud cover throughout. The temperature was 12C and winds were moderate S that became calm after 1600. The main migration ridge was clear from 1400 onwards. A total of 14 migrant raptors of 5 species were counted between 1434 and 1654 comprising the first Turkey Vulture of the count, 6 Sharp-shinned Hawks (3a, 1j, 2u), 1 juvenile Cooper’s Hawk, 5 calurus Red-tailed Hawks (4 light morphs: 3a, 1j, and 1 dark adult), and 1 adult Golden Eagle. Light rain began again at 1800 and ended observation for the day.

3.5 hours (7.5) TUVU 1 (1), SSHA 6 (15), COHA 1 (2), RTHA 5 (28), GOEA 1 (3) TOTAL 14 (56)