RMERF counts, October 27

Saturday, October 27 Mount Lorette [Day 34] 0845-1815 (Blake Weis, assisted by Rosemary). The temperature at 0845 was 3C the high was 7C (1400-1700) and it was 5C at 1815. Ground winds were SSW all day 3-10 gusting 20-30 km/h and ridge winds were strong SW-WSW all day. Cloud cover was initially 20% altocumulus that increased to 60% at 1200, decreased to 20% altocumulus and cirrus at 1500 after which it was 30% cirrus and altocumulus for the rest of the day. The first bird of the day was an adult Peregrine Falcon at 1131 that crossed the Kananaskis Valley from the summit of Mount Lorette to the northern end of the Fisher Range in about 30 seconds. Unfortunately, the rest of the day up to 1744 only produced another 18 migrants that comprised 2 adult Bald Eagles, 15 Golden Eagles (12a, 1j, 2u) and 1 unidentified eagle. Seven of the Golden Eagles moved between 1500 and 1600. Most of the birds were initially located at the northern end of the Fisher Range and most glided fairly high above the ridge. Other birds flying to the south were a flock of 25 Canada Geese, 1 Clark’s Nutcracker, 20 Bohemian Waxwings, 40 White-winged Crossbills and 35 Pine Siskins. There were 15 visitors at the site today.

9.5 hours (357.2) BAEA 2 (145), GOEA 15 (2403), UE 1 (26) PEFA 1 (2) TOTAL 19 (2776)

Saturday, October 27 Vicki Ridge [Day 31] 0845-1800 (Peter Sherrington, observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite). The starting temperature was 4C the high at 1600 was 10C and it was 6C at 1800. Winds were W-WSW all day, 10-15 km/h to 0930 then 30-40 gusting 50-70 km/h for the rest of the day. It was cloudless to 1530 when traces of cirrus and cumulus began to develop that became 30% cirrus at 1700 and 100% thin cirrostratus and altocumulus at 1800. Today’s count was 64 raptors of 5 species that moved between 0907 and 1748 which comprised 15 Bald Eagles (12a, 1sa, 2u), 3 adult Northern Goshawks, 2 adult Red-tailed Hawks (1 light calurus and 1 dark harlani) that soared together above Vicki Ridge at 1531 and brought the season’s total raptor count to 4000, 14 Rough-legged Hawks (11 light, 1 dark, 2u) and 30 Golden Eagles (23a, 2sa, 4j, 1u). Thirty-six migrants, including 26 Golden Eagles, were counted before 1200 and a significant migration appeared to be in the offing, but the next 3 hours yielded only 7 birds before a slight recovery saw the movement of 21 more raptors between 1510 and 1748. Other birds seen included a large adult white-headed gull (probably a Herring Gull) that flew high to the west from the northern end of Kyllo Ridge at 1531, 6 Clark’s Nutcrackers, 1 American Robin, 271 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches that flew to the south in 6 flocks, 15 Red Crossbills and 10 Pine Siskins.

9.25 hours (278.7) BAEA 15 (226), NOGO 3 (77), RTHA 2 (171), RLHA 14 (324), GOEA 30 (2379) TOTAL 64 (4015)

Saturday, October 27 Steeples [Day 33] 1245-1745 (Vance Mattson). The ridges became clear by 1230, the temperature reached 12C under sunny skies, winds were moderate SW that became calm by 1600 and cloud cover was initially 30% cumulus that became 40% cirrus by 1600. Five migrants were seen between 1256 and 1657 comprising 4 Bald Eagles (2a, 2j) and 1 juvenile Golden Eagle. Two further Bald Eagles (1a, 1j) were considered to be non-migrants.

5 hours (147) BAEA 4 (90), GOEA 1 (144) TOTAL 5 (424)