Beaver Mines and Steeples, October 20

Tuesday, October 20 Vicki Ridge [Day 30] 0815-1900 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson assisted by Pat Lucas (1210-1845) and Phil Nicholas (1345-1845) observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge; and Gord Petersen (0940-1830) at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge at the Waterton 68 wellsite). The temperature was -5C at 0815, the high was 6C at 1300 and it was 0C at 1900. It was calm or light E-SSE winds to 1232 when the winds became moderate WSW gusting to 30 km/h, and WSW-W winds prevailed for the rest of the day, generally 20-30 gusting 40 km/h but gusting to 40-50km/h at 1700 and 1800 before becoming light again at the end of observation. Cloud cover was initially 100% stratus that broke to 80-20% altocumulus, cumulus and cirrus to 1200 and throughout the afternoon it was 70-10% cumulus which gave mainly sunny conditions. At Waterton 61 a total of 148 migrant raptors of 9 species was counted between 1114 and 1830 that comprised 23 Bald Eagles (13a, 2sa2, 1 undifferentiated sa, 5j, 1u), 1a female Northern Harrier, 11 Sharp-shinned Hawks (7a, 4u), 2 Cooper’s Hawks (1a, 1u), 8 Northern Goshawks (6a, 1j, 1u), 4 dark morph harlani Red-tailed Hawks (3a, 1j), 9 Rough-legged Hawks (7 light, 2 dark), 89 Golden Eagles (81a, 1sa, 3j, 4u) and 1 male American Kestrel. The highest hourly count was 28 between 1700 and 1800 and 24 moved between 1800 and 1830. Movement was also steady throughout the afternoon at Waterton 68 where 100 migrants of 7 species were seen between 1118 and 1828 that comprised 8 Bald Eagles (4a, 2sa3 and 2 undifferentiated sa), 1j male Northern Harrier, 9 Sharp-shinned Hawks (3a, 2j, 4u), 2u Cooper’s Hawks, 3 Northern Goshawks (1a, 1j, 1u), 3 Rough-legged Hawks (1 light, 1 dark, 1u) and 73 Golden Eagles (42a, 10j, 21u). The highest hourly counts were 19 between 1600 and 1700, and also between 1700 and 1800. The combined sites count was 248 migrants of 9 species counted between 1114 and 1830 that comprised a season-high 31 Bald Eagles (17a, 2sa3, 3sa2, 3 undifferentiated sa, 5j, 1u), 2 Northern Harriers (1a female, 1j male), 20 Sharp-shinned Hawks (10a, 2j, 8u), 4 Cooper’s Hawks (1a, 3u), 11 Northern Goshawks (7a, 2j, 2u), 4 dark morph harlani Red-tailed Hawks (3a, 1j), 12 Rough-legged Hawks (8 light, 3 dark, 1u), 162 Golden Eagles (123a, 1sa, 13j, 25u) and 1 male American Kestrel. The highest hourly combined sites count was 47 between 1700 and 1800 and 31 moved between 1800 and 1830. The high count resulted from birds moving ahead of another northern front that is forecast to bring heavy snow to the area tomorrow. Other birds noted were a flock of 35 Snow Geese that flew high to the east at 1730, 1 Bonaparte’s Gull that for some reason was vigorously mobbed by 5 ravens at 1710, 1 Downy Woodpecker, 1 Pileated Woodpecker, 3 Canada Jays, 1 Clark’s Nutcracker, 3 Black-billed Magpies, 75 Common Ravens, 16 American Robins, a flock of 15 American Pipits, 1410 Grey-crowned Rosy Finches (a total of 700 at Waterton 68 and 710 that moved in 8 flocks between 1957 and 1836 at Waterton 61), and 20 Pine Siskins.

10.75 hours (310.6) BAEA 31 (135), NOHA 2 (26), SSHA 20 (901), COHA 4 (140), NOGO 11 (56), RTHA 4 (210), RLHA 12 (179), GOEA 162 (2018), UE 1 (9), AMKE 1 (15) TOTAL 248 (3774)

Tuesday, October 20 Mount Lorette [Day 31] 0830-1910 (Dan Parliament assisted by Rick Robb). A total of 166 migrant raptors of 5 species was counted that comprised 2a Bald Eagles, 1u Northern Goshawk, 2 undifferentiated dark morph Red-tailed Hawks, 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk and 160 Golden Eagles (104a, 9sa, 31j, 16u). Birds moved continuously between 1034 and 1839 from Mount Lorette to the Fisher Range and the highest hourly count was 27 Golden Eagles between 1300 and 1400.

10.67 hours (347.6) BAEA 2 (103), NOGO 1 (54), RTHA 2 (62), RLHA 1 (25), GOEA 160 (2318) TOTAL 166 (2762)

Tuesday, October 20 Steeples [Day 10] 1615-1730 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 8C, conditions were calm and cloud cover was 80% cumulus. The mountains cleared about noon but Vance could only observe from 1615 to 1730 during which time no migrants or residents were seen.

1.25 hours (83) TOTAL 0 (83)