Vicki Ridge and Steeples, October 12

Saturday, October 12 Vicki Ridge [Day 20] 0900-1845 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of Vicki Ridge). It was a relatively warm day with a temperature at 0900 of 4C, a high at 1600 and 1700 of 10C and it was 7C at 1845. Winds were steady W all day 30-45 km/h and it was cloudless to 1200 when 20% cirrus cloud developed that gradually increased throughout the afternoon and reached 100% cirrostratus, altostratus, altocumulus and lenticular by the end of observation. There was a fairly strong raptor movement of 106 birds of 6 species between 0949 and 1828 that comprised 2 Bald Eagles (1a, 1j), 8 Sharp-shinned Hawks (7a, 1u), 1a Cooper’s Hawk, 1j light morph Broad-winged Hawk, 1a calurus Red-tailed Hawk and 93 Golden Eagles (67a, 6sa, 18j). Movement was fairly steady after 1100 and peaked at 27 birds between 1700 and 1800. Other birds seen were 1a Northern Shrike which was the first of the season, 1 Blue Jay, 31 Common Ravens, 8 American Robins, and 4 Pine Grosbeaks that were the first to be seen in the area this year.

9.75 hours (185.6) BAEA 2 (90), SSHA 8 (365), COHA 1 (60), BWHA 1 (8), RTHA 1 (105), GOEA 93 (1160) TOTAL 106 (1931)

Saturday, October 12 Steeples [Day 12] 1245-1800 (Vance Mattson, assisted by Virginia Rasch, John and Doreen Mattson, and Kahulani Keeling). The temperature rose to 5C from a starting low of 1C, conditions were calm and it was cloudless to 1520 when 60% thin altostratus developed that gradually increased to 100% by the end of observation. Today’s count was 31 raptors of 4 species that moved between 1305 and 1650 and comprised 1 late-moving Turkey Vulture that was the first bird of the day and the first for the season, 5 Bald Eagles (3a, 2j), 10 Sharp-shinned Hawks (3a, 7u) and 15 Golden Eagles (8a, 1sa, 6j). Thirteen migrants moved before 1400, 2 between 1400 and 1500, 14 between 1500 and 1600 and just 2 after 1600. Non-migrants were 3 Bald Eagles (2a, 1j) and 2a Golden Eagles.

5.25 hours (54) TUVU 1 (1), BAEA 5 (72), SSHA 10 (34), GOEA 15 (92) TOTAL 31 (248)