Vicki Ridge and Steeples, November 4

Monday, November 04 Vicki Ridge [Day 43] 1200-1730 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of Vicki Ridge). There was thick fog all morning, but at 1145 the gloom in Beaver Mines became slightly lighter so we drove through the fog to the site where at 1200 it was 3C, calm, a very hazy sun was discernible and there was 2 cm of fresh snow on the ground. The fog began to lift at 1225 and by 1235 the ridges were completely clear and cloud cover was 60% altocumulus and altostratus. At 1300 the temperature fell to 1C but after 1400 it was 5C with the exception of 1600 when it reached the day’s high of 5.5C. After 1300 the winds were W all day, light to 1400, 10-15 gusting 30 km/h to 1630 and then 30 gusting 50 km/h for the rest of the day. After 1300 cloud cover was 60-100% altocumulus, dark cumulus and cirrus that allowed some sunny periods and gave good observing conditions throughout. There was a slow and sporadic raptor movement of 17 birds of 5 species between 1335 and 1700 that comprised 3 Bald Eagles (1a, 1sa, 1j), 1u female Northern Harrier, 1a Northern Goshawk, 7 light morph Rough-legged Hawks and 5a Golden Eagles. The highest hourly count was 8 between 1500 and 1600 that included 5 Rough-legged Hawks that were seen between 1536 and 1551. Between 1241 and 1350 there were 6 sightings of non-migratory Golden Eagles (5a, 1sa) all of which soared low over Vicki Ridge before gliding to the north, and for a while it felt rather like we were watching a spring migration! The only other birds seen were 1 Clark’s Nutcracker, 3 Black-billed Magpies, 68 Common Ravens and 35 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches.

5.5 hours (395.8) BAEA 3 (293), NOHA 1 (14), NOGO 1 (76), RLHA 7 (417), GOEA 5 (2671) TOTAL 17 (4322)

Monday, November 04 Steeples (Vance Mattson). No observation because of teaching commitments.