Vicki Ridge and Steeples, October 5

Saturday, October 05 Vicki Ridge [Day 14] 0820-1920 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson assisted by Patricia and Patrick Farley observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of Vicki Ridge and Gord Petersen (1243-1845) observing at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge at the Waterton 68 wellsite). The temperature was 4C at 0820, the high was 9C at 1600 and it was 5C at 1920. Winds were again W-WSW all day 20-40 km/h to 1100 after which they were 30-40 gusting 55 km/h. Cloud cover was 100% altostratus and altocumulus to 1100 after which it gradually reduced to 10% cumulus at 1600 before increasing again to 70% altostratus, cirrus and cumulus at 1700 and 1800, and was finally cloudless at 1900. Again observing conditions were excellent all day. The count from WT 61 was 186 birds of 7 species between 0844 and 1859 that comprised 14 Bald Eagles (6a, 4sa, 4j), 1j male Northern Harrier, 7 Sharp-shinned Hawks (4a, 3u),  1a light calurus Red-tailed Hawk, 4 light morph Rough-legged Hawks, 158 Golden Eagles (92a, 17sa, 47j, 2u) and 1 female American Kestrel. Similar to yesterday there was a two-hour hiatus in movement between 1500 and 1700 when only 8 birds were counted. At the western edge of Kyllo Ridge between 1246 and 1844 Gord counted 107 birds of 7 species that comprised 3 Bald Eagles (1a, 1sa, 1j), 23 Sharp-shinned Hawks (7a, 16u), 2 Cooper’s Hawks (1a, 1u), 3 Northern Goshawks (2a, 1u), 2a Red-tailed Hawks (1 light calurus and 1 dark harlani), 5 Rough-legged Hawks (4 light, 1 dark) and 69 Golden Eagles (44a, 8sa, 14j, 3u). The total movement observed across the ridge system between 0844 and 1859 was 293 migrants of 9 species that comprised 17 Bald Eagles (7a, 5sa, 5j), 1j male Northern Harrier, 30 Sharp-shinned Hawks (11a, 19u), 2 Cooper’s Hawks (1a, 1u), 3a Red-tailed Hawks (2 light calurus and 1 dark harlani), 9 Rough-legged Hawks (8 light and 1 dark), 227 Golden Eagles (136a, 25sa, 61j, 5u) and 1 female American Kestrel. The highest combined-site hourly count was 49 between 1300 and 1400. Only three other bird species seen: 1 Clark’s Nutcracker, 58 Common Ravens and 75 American Robins, and a single Mourning Cloak butterfly was again seen on the wing.

11 hours (131.7) BAEA 17 (58), NOHA 1 (10), SSHA 30 (336), COHA 2 (50), NOGO 3 (16), RTHA 3 (97), RLHA 9 (21), GOEA 227 (665), AMKE 1 (17) TOTAL 293 (1324)

Saturday, October 05 Steeples [Day 7] 1200-1800 (Vance Mattson). The temperature reached a high of 11C, winds were light to moderate S-SW and cloud cover varied between 100% altostratus and cumulus and 60% cumulus. The ridges were clear but light rain fell between 1525 and 1540 that fell as snow at ridge level. A total of 21 raptors of a season-high 7 species moved between 1250 and 1651 comprising 7 Bald Eagles (3a, 1sa, 3j), 1u Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1a Northern Goshawk, 1a light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk, 8a Golden Eagles, 1 unidentified eagle, 1 female American Kestrel and 1u Merlin. Non-migrants were 1 adult Bald Eagle and an adult and juvenile Golden eagle that soared at length in front of and above Mount Bill Nye.

6 hours (22.75) BAEA 7 (22), SSHA 1 (15), NOGO 1 (1), RTHA 1 (11), GOEA 8 (19), UE 1, AMKE 1 (3), MERL 1 (1) TOTAL 21 (75)