Beaver Mines and Steeples, October 16

Friday, October 16 Vicki Ridge [Day 27] 0800-1845 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson, assisted by Phil Nicholas (0945-1345) and Pat Lucas (1110-1400) observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge; and Gord Petersen (0840-1825) at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge at the Waterton 68 wellsite). The temperature at 0800 was 4C, the high at 1200 was 9C and it then varied between 6C and 8C throughout the afternoon to 1812 when a northern cold front arrived that lowered the temperature to 0C at 1845. Winds were strong W-WSW to 1812, 60-70 gusting to 85-100 km/h to 1030 then 45-55 gusting to 80 km/h to 1812 when the wind shifted to E-NE at 20 km/h signaling the arrival of the cold front. Cloud cover was initially 100% cirrus, cumulus and altocumulus, but for the rest of the morning it was 80-30% cumulus, stratocumulus and lenticular that gave mainly sunny conditions. Between 1300 and 1430 cloud cover was 90% stratus and cumulus and light to moderate rain fell from 1320 to 1420, then to 1745 it cleared to 60-90% cumulus and stratocumulus that produced frequent light showers and sunny periods. By 1800, however, cloud cover was 100% dark stratocumulus and after 1812 light snow began to fall. At Waterton 61 there was a moderate raptor movement of 47 birds of 5 species between 0839 and 1806 that comprised 8 Bald Eagles (1a, 5j, 2u), 3 Sharp-shinned Hawks (2a, 1u), 2a Red-tailed Hawks (1 light calurus and 1 dark harlani), 7 Rough-legged Hawks (5 light, 1dark, 1u) and 27 Golden Eagles (17a, 3sa, 4j, 4u). Twenty-eight birds moved before 1316 and when the rain started it appeared that the movement was probably over for the day, but after 1546 a further 19 migrants were seen that peaked at 13 birds between 1700 and 1800. We have found this season that the stronger the westerly winds the higher the percentage of migrants that use the westernmost ridge system at the Waterton 68 site and this was again demonstrated today as a total of 152 migrants of 6 species were counted there between 0858 and 1813. The count was 8 Bald Eagles (4a, 1sa3, 1sa2, 1sa1, and 1j), 6u Sharp-shinned Hawks, 1u Cooper’s Hawk, 2a Northern Goshawks, 54 Rough-legged Hawks (32 light, 14 dark, 8u) and 81 Golden Eagles (53a, 5sa, 15j, 8u). The highest hourly count of 48 birds occurred between 1700 and 1800 that included 42 Rough-legged Hawks, and a further 3 Rough-legged Hawks moved up to 1813 as the cold front arrived. High numbers of Rough-legged Hawks moving just ahead of an Arctic front has been noted several times before on our fall counts, but this was a particularly spectacular example. The combined site count was 199 migrants of 7 species that moved between 0839 and 1813 and comprised a season-high 16 Bald Eagles (5a, 3sa, 6j, 2u), 9 Sharp-shinned Hawks (2a, 7u), 1u Cooper’s Hawk, 2a Northern Goshawks, 2a Red-tailed Hawks (1 light calurus and 1 dark harlani),  a season-high 61 Rough-legged Hawks (37 light, 15 dark, 9u) and 108 Golden Eagles (70a, 8sa, 19j, 11u). The highest combined species hourly count was 61 between 1700 and 1800 that included 47 Rough-legged Hawks. Other bird specieswere 29 Canada Geese that flew high to the west at 1830, 1 Pileated Woodpecker, 3 Clark’s Nutcrackers, 4 Black-billed Magpies, 113 Common Ravens, 2 American Robins, and 8 Grey-crowned Rosy Finches at the Waterton 68 site.  The prospect for observation over the weekend is not encouraging as snow is forecast for both days.

10.75 hours (286.5) BAEA 16 (85), SSHA 9 (870), COHA 1 (134), NOGO 2 (44), RTHA 2 (205), RLHA 61 (158), GOEA 108 (1692) TOTAL 199 (3318)

Friday, October 16 Mount Lorette [Day 27] 0830-1405 (Caroline Lambert assisted by Cliff Hansen). A cold front brought snow to the area and by 1130 the Fisher Range was completely obscured. The observers then moved to the Lusk Creek site where 16 migrants of 3 species were seen between 1147 and 1350 that comprised 2 Northern Goshawks (1a, 1u), 2j light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks and 12 Golden Eagles (5a, 1j, 6u). At 1405 the ridge at Lusk Creek was finally obscured and the count was abandoned for the day.

5.58 hours (306.2) NOGO 2 (51), RTHA 2 (60), GOEA 12 (2063) TOTAL 16 (2477)

Friday, October 16 Steeples (Vance Mattson). No observation. It rained and was overcast for most of the day but cleared somewhat at 1500 when Vance had to attend a meeting!