Beaver Mines and Steeples, November 11

Wednesday, November 11 Vicki Ridge [Day 48] 0730-1730 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge, and Gord Petersen (1230-1655) at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge at the Waterton 68 wellsite). The temperature at 0730 was -11C, the high at 1500 was -6C and it was -12C at 1750. Winds were unhelpful E-ESE 10-20 km/h that switched to light W at 1730 but too late to be useful. Cloud cover was 100% stratus to 1335 when it reduced to 80% cumulus and stratocumulus, and light persistent snow fell to 1355 when there was 3 cm of fresh snow on the ground. The ridges remained clear throughout and by 1400 the sky cleared to 50% cumulus and at 1500 and 1600 10% cumulus gave welcome sunshine before 20-30% cumulus and altocumulus appeared after 1700. The generally light upslope winds proved unfavourable for migration and only 1a Bald Eagle and 2a Northern Goshawks were seen at Waterton 61 between 0908 and 1552, and a single adult Bald Eagle at 1506 at Waterton 68. By way of compensation there was a good variety of other bird species that comprised 144 Canada Geese that were seen moving well west of Waterton 68 in flocks of 60, 24, 11 and 49, 3 Canada Jays, 2 Steller’s Jays, 1 Clark’s Nutcracker, 3 Black-billed Magpies, 62 Common Ravens of which 43 were seen at Waterton 68, 1 Mountain Chickadee, 56 Bohemian Waxwings, 3 Pine Grosbeaks (1 male, 2 females), 63 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches and 8 Common Redpolls.

10 hours (474.6) BAEA 2 (323), NOGO 2 (100) TOTAL 4 (4725)

Wednesday, November 11 Mount Lorette [Day 50] (Bill Wilson). Light snow fell to 1000 after which it was clear for the rest of the day. A total of 14 migrant raptors of 3 species were seen between 1217 and 1705 that comprised 4 Bald Eagles (3a, 1j), 1j dark morph harlani Red-tailed Hawk and 9 Golden Eagles (7a, 1j, 1u). Winds were WSW to SW all day, light to 1500 after which they gusted between 30 and 60 km/h. It is interesting to note that only 3 birds were seen before 1458, with the remaining 11 birds migrating after 1458 when the wind velocity increased.

9.16 hours (523.6) BAEA 4 (199), RTHA 1 (68), GOEA 9 (2605) TOTAL 14 (3191)

Wednesday, November 11 Steeples (Vance Mattson) No observation (weather). The forecasted sunny skies never appeared and the mountains and valley were shrouded in low cloud all day, with periodic light snow.