Vicki Ridge and Steeples, November 14

Thursday, November 14 Vicki Ridge [Day 53] 0730-1720 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson,  observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of Vicki Ridge, and Gord Petersen  (1203-1701) observing at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge at the Waterton 68 wellsite). The temperature at 0730 was 0C, the high at 1300 was 5C and it was 2C when observation ceased. Winds were W all day 30-40 gusting 50-65km/h to 1300 after which they strengthened to 40-50 gusting 60-70 and occasionally 80 km/h for the rest of the day. Cloud cover was initially 30% altocumulus at 0730, between 0800 and 0930 it was 70-80% cirrostratus, altocumulus and altostratus, between 0930 and 1300 it was 100% cirrostratus, cirrus and altocumulus that allowed hazy sunshine, and after 1300 the cloud thickened to 100% altostratus and altocumulus that produced gloomy conditions for the rest of the day. At the Waterton 61 site the count began strongly with 2 Bald Eagles, 1 Northern Goshawk, 1 Rough-legged Hawk and 1 Golden Eagle moving between 0808 and 0844, that probably represented the tail-end of the previous day’s late movement of 27 birds that was seen after 1500. The sixth bird was not seen until 1103 and subsequent movement was slow and very sporadic. The final count of 20 birds of 4 species between 0808 and 1701 comprised 7 Bald Eagles (6a, 1j), 5a Northern Goshawks, 2 light morph Rough-legged Hawks and 6 Golden Eagles (5a, 1sa). At the western edge of Kyllo Ridge Gord counted 21 birds of 3 species between 1214 and 1653 that comprised 5 Bald Eagles (4a, 1u), 3 light morph Rough-legged Hawks, 10 Golden Eagles (5a, 1sa, 1j, 3u) and 3 unidentified eagles. The total movement observed across the ridge system between 0808 and 1701 was 41 migrants of 4 species that comprised 12 Bald Eagles (10a, 1j, 1u), 5a Northern Goshawks, 5 light morph Rough-legged Hawks, 16 Golden Eagles (10a, 2sa, 1j, 3u) and 3 unidentified eagles. The highest combined-site hourly count was 8 between 1400 and 1500. Other birds noted was a fresh track of a Dusky Grouse, 2 Clark’s Nutcrackers, 75 Common Ravens, 52 Bohemian Waxwings, 120 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches and 10 Common Redpolls/Pine Siskins.

9.83 hours (472.1) BAEA 12 (422), NOGO 5 (99), RLHA 5 (457), GOEA 16 (2773), UE 3 (28) TOTAL 41 (4628)

Thursday, November 14 Steeples (Vance Mattson). No observation: it was another heavily overcast day with cloud reaching the base of the mountains. The valley was slightly clearer but periodic observation between 1200 and 1600 from Vance’s home in Wasa saw no raptor activity.

Tomorrow will be the last day of the fall 2019 count at all three sites.