RMERF counts, November 3

Saturday, November 03 Mount Lorette [Day 41] 0835-1800 (Blake Weis, assisted by Cliff Hansen). The temperature was 0C at the start but rose to 7C between 1400 and 1700 and was 6C at 1800. Ground winds were SW all day, 0-5 gusting 10-18 km/h, and ridge winds were moderate SW all day. Cloud cover was 100% altocumulus, altostratus, cirrostratus, cirrus and cumulus for most of the day except between 1400 and 1700 when it was 80% of the same cloud mix without the cirrostratus. The ridges were clear all day. A total of 29 migrant raptors of 3 species were seen between 1015 and 1642 that comprised 1j Bald Eagle, 1u Sharp-shinned Hawk and 27 Golden Eagles (16a, 1sa, 10u). Eight of the Golden Eagles were seen between 1015 and 1100 and a further 7 between 1300 and 1400. Most eagles were seen gliding probably from Mount Lorette into the upper face of the northern end of the Fisher Range from where they rapidly kited high before gliding high to the SE above the Fisher Range ridge. Other birds noted were 1 Canada Goose heard calling, 20 Mallards flying south above the Fisher Range, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 4 Canada Jays, 8 Common Ravens, 4 Black-capped Chickadees, 4 Mountain Chickadees, 2 Boreal Chickadees, 2 Red-breasted Nuthatches, 2 Brown Creepers, 3 Golden-crowned Kinglets, 15 Bohemian Waxwings, 22 White-winged Crossbills, 55 Common Redpolls, 14 Pine Siskins and 9 Dark-eyed Juncos. Thirty-two visitors came to the site today.

9.58 hours (428.1) BAEA 1 (165), SSHA 1 (66), GOEA 29 (2572) TOTAL 29 (2980)

Saturday, November 03 Vicki Ridge [Day 38] 0845-1745 (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Hilary Atkinson after 1500, observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite). The temperature at 0900 was 3C, the high at 1200 was 7C and it was 4C at 1745. Winds were W-WSW all day 30-50 gusting 60 km/h, and cloud cover was 100-60% altostratus, altocumulus and lenticular in the morning and 100-80% altostratus and cumulus in the afternoon that produced occasional very light rain showers. A total of 42 migrants of 5 species moved between 1015 and 1730 comprising 11 Bald Eagles (2a, 2sa, 5j, 2u), 1u Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1 adult dark morph harlani Red-tailed Hawk, 7 Rough-legged Hawks (5 light, 2 dark) and 22 Golden Eagles (19a, 2sa, 1u). The highest hourly count was 13 (1300-1400). I was joined between 1100 and 1330 by 12 members of the Lethbridge College Chapter of the Wildlife Society who were able to see 22 of the day’s migrants under excellent observing conditions. Other birds seen included 1 male Hairy Woodpecker, 1a Northern Shrike, 3 Clark’s Nutcrackers, 55 Bohemian Waxwings, 275 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches, 3 Cassin’s Finches and 84 Pine Siskins.

9 hours (342.4) BAEA 11 (341), SSHA 1 (627), RTHA 1 (174), RLHA 7 (425), GOEA 22 (2534) TOTAL 42 (4418)

Saturday, November 03 Steeples [Day 40] 1330-1800 (Vance Mattson, assisted by Virginia Rasch). Cloud cover on the ridges was clearing by 1330 when Vance arrived at the site at 1330 when the temperature was 5C with strong S winds. By 1600, however, the temperature was 9C, it was calm and cloud cover was 60% altostratus and altocumulus that gave intermittent sunny periods, but increased to 100% altostratus and dark cumulus at 1800. Seven migrants, 4 Bald Eagles (3a, 1j) and 3 adult Golden Eagles, were counted between 1358 and 1624 although 6 of these moved between 1542 and 1624. A resident Golden Eagle hunted along the ridges from 1335-1400.

4.5 hours (174.5) BAEA 4 (96), GOEA 3 (152) TOTAL 7 (438)