Beaver Mines and Steeples, November 1

NOTE: CHANGE FROM MOUNTAIN DAYLIGHT TIME (MDT) TO MOUNTAIN STANDARD TIME (MST) (- 1 HOUR)

Sunday, November 01 Vicki Ridge [Day 4] 0715-1745 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge; and Gord Petersen (1235-1710) at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge at the Waterton 68 wellsite). The temperature at 0715 was 6C, the high was 13C at 1600 and it was 10C at 1745. Winds were WSW-WNW all day, 30-40 gusting 50-60 km/h to 1100, 50 gusting to 70-80 km/h around noon, 20-30 gusting 50 km/h to 1600 and becoming light after 1700. Cloud cover was initially 30% altocumulus and lenticular but it rapidly increased to 80-100% altostratus, lenticular, altocumulus and cirrus which gave gloomy conditions to 1500 after which hazy sunshine prevailed. At Waterton 61 the day started well with 10 raptors moving before 0900 but the next 5 hours produced only 3 birds and a further 10 were seen after 1400. The rather disappointing count of 5 species between 0757 and 1710 was 2 Bald Eagles (both sa2), 2a Northern Goshawks, 1a dark morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk, 7 Rough-legged Hawks (6 light, 1u) and 11 Golden Eagles (8a, 3j). Movement was steadier at Waterton 68 where 38 migrants of 4 species moved between 1246 and 1637 comprising 9 Bald Eagles (2a, 1sa3, 3j, 3u), 4 Northern Goshawks (3a, 1j), 12 Rough-legged Hawks (10 light, 2 dark) and 13 Golden Eagles (6a, 1sa, 6u). Maximum hourly counts were 13 between 1400 and 1500, and 1500 to 1600. The combined sites count was 61 migrants of 5 species between 0757 and 1710 that comprised 11 Bald Eagles (2a, 1sa3, 2sa2, 3j, 3u), 6 Northern Goshawks (5a, 1j), 1a dark morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk, 19 Rough-legged Hawks (16 light, 2 dark, 1u) and 24 Golden Eagles (14a, 1sa, 3j, 6u).  The busiest combined site hourly count was 17 birds between 1400 and 1500. Other birds seen were 137 Common Ravens of which 83 were at Waterton 68), 20 Bohemian Waxwings at Waterton 61, 70 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches of which 40 were at Waterton 68, and a flock of 7 migrating Common Redpolls at Waterton 61. The flocks identified as Pine Siskins between October 26 and 28 were probably also redpolls.

10.5 hours (409.1) BAEA 11 (282), NOGO 6 (92), RTHA 1 (212), RLHA 19 (253), GOEA 24 (2477) TOTAL 61 (4574)

Sunday, November 01 Mount Lorette [Day 41] 0730-1715 (Lori Anderson assisted by Patrick Farley). A total of 33 migrants of 4 species was counted between 0850 and 1648. The flight comprised 3 Bald Eagles (1a, 1sa2, 1sa1), 1a male Northern Harrier, 1u unidentified Buteo and 26 Golden Eagles (12a, 2sa, 1j, 11u).

9.75 hours BAEA 3 (155), NOHA 1 (14), UB 1 (4), GOEA 26 (2568), UE 2 (27) TOTAL 33 (3101)

Sunday, November 01 Steeples [Day 18] 1130-1630 (Vance Mattson). The starting temperature was 1C but reached a high of 9C, it was calm and 60% thin altostratus cloud cover produced mainly sunny conditions. A total of 7 migrants of 4 species were counted that comprised 2a Sharp-shinned Hawks, 1a Northern Goshawk, 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk and 3 Golden Eagles (2a, 1sa). The first 4 migrants moved between 1422 and 1440 and the remaining 3 between 1531 and 1550. Non-migrants were 3 Bald Eagles (2a, 1j) with the adults indulging in a spirited duel that produced at least 6 barrel-rolls, and a juvenile Golden Eagle.

5 hours (58) SSHA 2 (13), NOGO 1 (2), RLHA 1 (1), GOEA 3 (54) TOTAL 7 (123)