RMERF counts , September 27 (with revised Steeples report and total numbers), 28 and 29

Thursday, September 27 Mount Lorette 0800-1515 (Rick Robb and Cliff Hansen). NO OBSERVATION. Rain, snow, fog and low cloud that obscured the mountains all day

Thursday, September 27 Vicki Ridge NO OBSERVATION. Steady rain and low cloud/fog all day that completely obscured the ridge. The temperature was 2-4C and winds were light E-NE.

Wednesday, September 27 Steeples [Day 8] 1430-1800 The temperature was 17C at 1430 but dropped to 10C by 1800. Winds were moderate NW but a shift to N resulted in the rapid drop in temperature. Cloud cover was 100% altostratus and cumulus and rain fell for most of the observation period. Only 6 migrant birds of 3 species were seen between 1447 and 1643: 2 Northern Harriers (1a female, 1u), 2u Sharp-shinned Hawks and 2 Golden Eagles (1a, 1j). Two Bald Eagles (1a, 1j) were considered to be non-migrants.

3.5 hours (29.5) NOHA 2 (3), SSHA 2 (21), GOEA 2 (11) TOTAL 6 (82)

Friday, September 28 Mount Lorette [Day 8] 0640-1915 (Bill Wilson, assisted by Heinz Unger). The initial temperature was 0C, the high was 4C from 1300 to 1800 and it was 3C at 1915. Ground winds were W-WSW 0-5 km/h to 1000 and then NNE-N 5-15 km/h for the rest of the day. Ridge winds were probably N light to moderate but they were difficult to assess because of the dense cloud cover that was 100% stratus to 1000 and 100-90% altostratus and cumulus for the rest of the day. There was a light dusting of snow on the ground at the start of observation but there was no further precipitation. The eastern ridges were 100% obscured to 0800, 10-30% obscured to 1400 and 60-80% obscured for the rest of the day. The west was 90-100% obscured all day except for 0800-0900 when it briefly cleared to 40-60%. Despite these inauspicious conditions there was a fairly strong raptor movement of 42 birds of 7 species that were recorded between 1004 and 1650 and comprised 2 adult Bald Eagles, 4 Northern Harriers (2 juveniles and 2 undifferentiated adult females or juveniles), 10 Sharp-shinned Hawks (1a, 1j, 8u), 2u Cooper’s Hawks, 2 Northern Goshawks (1 a, 1u) 3 Rough-legged Hawks (2 light, 1 dark), 18 Golden Eagles (7a, 2sa, 6j, 3u) and 1 unidentified eagle. The Bald Eagles flew south on the western route, but the rest of the movement was on the eastern route or above the centre of the valley. The busiest hour was 10 migrants between 1600 and 1700. Other migrating species moving high to the south were 60 Canada Geese, 5 unidentified swans, 2 Common Loons and 17 unidentified white-headed gulls. Twenty-two visitors were at the site today.

10.58 hours (79.7) BAEA 2 (8), NOHA 4 (6), SSHA 10 (20), COHA 2 (4), NOGO 2 (3), RLHA 3 (3), GOEA 18 (254), UE 1 (7) TOTAL 42 (322)

Friday, September 28 Vicki Ridge [Day 7] 1400-1700 (Peter Sherrington, observing from the Seven Gates Road and the ridgetop from 1530 to 1700). Rain and low cloud shrouded the ridge to 1400 when the rain stopped and the cloud began to lift. At 1530 the ridge cleared where the temperature was 3C, the wind was E 10 km/h and cloud cover was 100% stratus. At 1700 the cloud again descended. The only raptors seen were an unaged Cooper’s Hawk that flew low to the south to the east of the ridge at 1416 and an adult female columbarius Merlin that flew low from the ridge to the WSW at 1612. Other birds in the area included 40 Mountain Bluebirds, 300 American Robins, 20 Bohemian Waxwings (the first of the season), 2 Red Crossbills and 15 Pine Siskins.

3 hours (64) COHA 1 (34), MERL 1 (12) TOTAL 2 (634)

Friday, September 28 Steeples [Day 9] 1330-1800 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 10C, winds were NW moderate that became calm after 1600 and cloud cover was 70% cumulus that fell to 50% cumulus and altostratus at 1600 and became 100% at 1800. A total of 12 migrants of 4 species were seen that comprised a season-high 7 Bald Eagles (5a, 2j), 1a dark morph Broad-winged Hawk, 1a rufous morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk and 3 Golden Eagles (2a, 1j). Two Bald Eagles and 3 Golden Eagles moved between 1645 and 1715 including single adults of both species that soared together for a protracted period.

4.5 hours (34) BAEA 7 (13), BWHA 1 (3), RTHA 1 (35), GOEA 3 (14) TOTAL 12 (94)

Saturday, September 29 Mount Lorette [Day 9] 0800-1020 Hay Meadow; 1200-1800 Lusk Creek) (Blake Weis). The temperature at Hay Meadow was -1C and was 2C at Lusk Creek in the afternoon. Winds were N-NE all day, 0-5 km/h to 1000, 5-10 gusting 16 km/h from 1200-1600 and then 0-5 km/h again for the rest of the day. Cloud cover was 100% all day: stratocumulus at Hay Meadow and altostratus, altocumulus and cumulus at Lusk Creek. Moderate snow fell to 0900 which then became heavy, and light snow or flurries occurred at Lusk Creek. No migrants were seen in the morning but 13 raptors of 6 species were counted moving steadily along the highest foothills ridge at Lusk Creek between 1230 and 1620. The count was 2u Sharp-shinned Hawks, 2u Northern Goshawks, 1 adult light morph Broad-winged Hawk, 3u Red-tailed Hawks (1 light, 2 of undetermined race, morph or age), 4 Golden Eagles (1a, 1sa, 2u) and 1 Prairie Falcon. Non-migrants were 2 Sharp-shinned Hawks that were seen hunting north of the site and 1 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk that perched close to the site. Non-raptor migrants were 25 white-headed gulls and 200 American Robins at Lusk Creek, and 44 Canada Geese at Hay Meadow. Other birds seen around the Hay Meadow included 1 Ruffed Grouse, 6 Golden-crowned Kinglets, 3 Ruby-crowned Kinglets, 1 Varied Thrush, 11 American Pipits, 1 White-winged Crossbill, 25 Pine Siskins, 3 American Tree Sparrows (the first of the season), 5 Dark-eyed Juncos, 3 White-crowned Sparrows, 1 White-throated Sparrow and 2 Yellow-rumped Warblers.

8.33 hours (88) SSHA 2 (22), NOGO 2 (5), BWHA 1 (1), RTHA 3 (9), GOEA 4 (258), PRFA 1 (3) TOTAL 13 (335)

Saturday, September 29 Vicki Ridge NO OBSERVATION. The temperature was 0-2C, winds were E-NE light to moderate and cloud cover was 100% low stratus producing snow and rain for most of the day and obscuring the ridge.

Saturday, September 29 Steeples [Day 10] 1200-1700 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 10C, cloud cover was 70-100% altocumulus and dark cumulus and a strong S wind developed by 1430. Only 7 migrants of 4 species were counted between 1239 and 1622 that comprised 3 Bald Eagles (2a, 1j) that moved together at 1317, 1a female Northern Harrier, 2u Sharp-shinned Hawks and 1 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk. No non-migrants were seen.

5 hours (39) BAEA 3 (16), NOHA 1 (4), SSHA 2 (23), RTHA 1 (36) TOTAL 7 (101)