RMERF counts, October 25

Thursday, October 25 Mount Lorette [Day 32] 0815-1900 (Joel Duncan, assisted by Brian McBride). It was a warm day with a starting temperature of 6C, a high at 1600 of 11C and 8C at the end of observation. Ground winds were steady W-SW all day 5-15 gusting up to 27 km/h, and ridge winds were strong SW all day. Cloud cover was a 50-80% mixture of mostly cumulus and altostratus to 1400 then 70-80% cirrus and cirrostratus to 1900 when it reduced to 50%. The top of Mount Kidd was in cloud at 0900 and 1000 but otherwise the mountains were completely clear. A total of 40 Golden Eagles (21a, 6sa, 2j, 11u) moved between 0840 and 1650 with a high hourly count of 15 between 1200 and 1300. One bird glided high from the summit of Mount Lorette above the centre of the valley, but the rest were initially located at the northern end of the Fisher Range where many birds were visibly buffeted by the strong winds. The only other migrant raptor seen was an unaged Sharp-shinned Hawk, and a resident Northern Goshawk was heard calling near the parking area early in the morning. The flock of 22 Cassin’s Finches was seen again and the other non-raptor highlight was a pair of White-winged Scoters that flew to the south against the face of the Fisher Range. Almost 100 visitors made it to the site today including 60 pupils and staff from West Ridge School in Calgary.

10.75 hours (338.2) SSHA 1 (64), GOEA 40 (2344) TOTAL 41 (2707)

Thursday, October 25 Vicki Ridge [Day 29] 0845-1805 (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Hilary Atkinson and Gord Petersen observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite, and Gord Petersen observing from the Waterton 68 Wellsite, 1420-1730). The temperature at 0845 was 7C, the high at 1600 was 11C and it was 8.5C at the end of observation. Winds were strong WSW to W all day 30-50 gusting 60-80 km/h to 1500 and 30-40 gusting 50-60 km/h for the rest of the day. Cloud cover was 10-20% Cumulus to 1030 after which it quickly clouded over and was a complex mixture of 80-100% cirrus, cirrostratus, cirrocumulus, altostratus, altocumulus and dark cumulus for the rest of the day that provided excellent viewing conditions. Movement was initially very slow with only 5 birds seen before 1400, but then picked up and the final count was 111 migrant raptors of 6 species that occurred between 0932 and 1756. The total comprised 10 Bald Eagles (3a, 4sa, 2j, 1u), 2u Sharp-shinned Hawks, 3 Northern Goshawks (2a, 1u), 3 adult calurus Red-tailed Hawks (2 light, 1 dark), 18 Rough-legged Hawks (15 light, 2 dark, 1u), 74 Golden Eagles (47a, 11sa, 5j, 11u) and 1 unidentified eagle. The total includes 45 migrants seen by Gord Petersen at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge near the Waterton 68 wellsite that comprised 2 adult Bald Eagles, 2u Sharp-shinned Hawks, 1 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk, 5 light morph Rough-legged Hawks and 35 Golden Eagles (23a, 6sa, 3j, 3u). The busiest hours were 34 (1500-1600) and 32 (1600-1700) with both hours seeing the passage of 24 Golden Eagles. Other birds seen included 1 juvenile Northern Shrike, 35 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches, 8 Red Crossbills and 3 Pine Siskins.

9.33 (260.2) BAEA 10 (194), SSHA 2 (617), NOGO 3 (72), RTHA 3 (169), RLHA 18 (303), GOEA 74 (2323), UE 1 (4) TOTAL 111 (3897)

Thursday, October 25 Steeples [Day 32] 1230-1730 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 12C but fell to 9C by 1700, winds were strong S and cloud cover was 90-100% altostratus and cumulus; light rain fell between 1620 and 1700. The only migrant seen was an adult Bald Eagle at 1424 which was just the 6^th migrant Bald Eagle since October 13 and the first since October 17. A resident Golden Eagle was kiting above the ridge when Vance arrived at the site.

5 hours (142) BAEA 1 (86) TOTAL 1 (419)