Beaver Mines and Steeples, October 13

Tuesday, October 13 Vicki Ridge [Day 24] 0810-1230 and 1500-1800 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0810 was 2C but dropped to 1C at 0900, reached a morning high of 3C at 1000 and was again 1C at 1230 when the count was suspended for 2.5 hours because of steady wet snow that obscured both the ridges. The temperature at 1500 when the count resumed was 3C and rose to 4C at 1600 where it remained for the rest of the day. Cloud cover was 100% stratus all day with the exception of 1600-1630 when it briefly broke to 70% cumulus that provided the day’s only sunshine. Light to moderate snow fell throughout the morning, and there were light rain showers from 1500-1610 that became steady rain to 1800 when the count was abandoned for the day. Winds in the morning were W-WSW 15-20 occasionally gusting to 30 km/h, and in the afternoon they were W 10-25 km/h that gusted to 45 km/h at 1800. The morning count produced 5 migrants between 0819 and 1028 that comprised 1j Bald Eagle, 2u Sharp-shinned Hawks and 2 light morph Rough-legged Hawks. The afternoon count was 3a Golden Eagles that moved between 1521 and 1546 and 1 small to medium unidentified raptor that was flying in the rain and disappeared behind the ridge at 1554. Other birds seen were 1 Downy Woodpecker, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 1 Northern Flicker, 1 Pileated Woodpecker, 13 Black-billed Magpies, 12 Common Ravens, 17 American Robins and 1 Dark-eyed [hyemalis] Junco.

7.33 hours (256.4) BAEA 1 (57), SSHA 2 (804), RLHA 2 (69), GOEA 3 (1256), UU 1 (1) TOTAL 9 (2653)

Tuesday, October 13 Mount Lorette [Day 24] 0845-1400 (George Halmazna assisted by Dan Parliament). A total of 4 Golden Eagles (2a, 2j) that moved between 0959 and 1012 were the only raptors seen. Snow started falling at 1030 and persisted to 1400 when the count was abandoned for the day.

5.25 hours (278.3) GOEA 4 (1760) TOTAL 4 (2139)

Tuesday, October 13 Steeples (Vance Mattson). No observation (weather). Rain and wet snow fell all day and the ridges were completely obscured.