Beaver Mines and Steeples, November 13

Friday, November 13 Vicki Ridge [Day 50] 0720-1720 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge. The temperature was -3C at 0730, the high was -0.5C at 1300 and it was then -1C for the rest of the day. Winds were strong W 30-50 gusting 60-70 km/h all day except at 1400 when they reached 90 km/h. Cloud cover was mainly 100% stratus that periodically and briefly reduced to 80-90% in the afternoon. Light snow fell for most of the day and became increasingly heavy after 1430 with both ridges becoming obscured at times. Only 4 migrants were seen between 1318 and 1522: 1u Northern Goshawk, 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk, 1 unidentified eagle and 1u Peregrine Falcon. The only other birds seen were 38 Common Ravens and the flock of 22 Grey-crowned Rosy Finches (including 2 littoralis) that again fed close to the Waterton 61 site.

10 hours (494.8) NOGO 1 (101), RLHA 1 (287), UE 1 (34), PEFA 1 (10) TOTAL 4 (4752)

Friday, November 13 Mount Lorette [Day 52] 0800-1630 (Blake Weis assisted by Rick Robb). Ridge winds were generally over 100 km/h, but the Fisher Range was completely clear and light snow only fell to noon and at the end of observation. Only one migrant was seen, however, an adult Bald Eagle that flew south high above the river at 1314.

8.5 hours (540.6) BAEA 1 (205) TOTAL 1 (3202)

Friday, November 13 Steeples (Vance Mattson) No observation (weather). It was heavily overcast all day and snowed for most of the day.