Beaver Mines and Steeples, November 4

Wednesday, November 04 Vicki Ridge [Day 44] 0715-1745 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge; and Gord Petersen (1310-1715) at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge at the Waterton 68 wellsite).The temperature at 0715 was 7C, the high at 1200 and 1300 was 12C and it was 9C at 1745. Despite a continuing wind warning winds were WSW-W only 30-40 gusting 50-65 km/h all day. Steady moderate rain fell from 100% stratocumulus cloud to 0850 but by 0900 cloud cover was 70% cumulus and reached a low of 10% cumulus and altocumulus at 1000. The afternoon saw 70-100% cumulus, altocumulus and altostratus with dark stratocumulus clouds persistently to the west that produced frequent light rain showers. At Waterton 61 a total of 17 migrant raptors of 5 species moved between 0924 and 1706 and comprised 2a Bald Eagles, 2 Sharp-shinned Hawks, 2a Northern Goshawks, 4 light morph Rough-legged Hawks and 7 Golden Eagles (6a, 1j). The highest hourly counts were 4 (0900-1000 and 1200-1300).  The count at Waterton 68 of 5 species between 1327 and 1705 was 5 Bald Eagles (3a, 1sa2, 1j), 1a Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1u Cooper’s Hawk, 15 Rough-legged Hawks (12 light, 2 dark, 1u) and 1a Golden Eagle. The highest single-hour count was 11 between 1500 and 1600, an hour when no birds were seen at Waterton 61. The combined site count was 7 Bald Eagles (5a, 1sa2, 1j), 3 Sharp-shinned Hawks (2a, 1u), 1u Cooper’s Hawk, 2a Northern Goshawks, 19 Rough-legged Hawks (16 light, 2 dark, 1u) and 8 Golden Eagles (7a, 1j). Only two other bird species were seen: 192 Common Ravens of which 163 were at Waterton 68 and 55 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches at Waterton 61.

10.5 hours (440.6) BAEA 7 (304), SSHA 3 (957), COHA 1 (149), NOGO 2 (97), RLHA 19 (282) GOEA 8 (2511), TOTAL 40 (4678)

Wednesday, November 04 Mount Lorette [Day 44] 0700-1700 Bill Wilson assisted by Sandy Graham). A total of 8 migrants of 3 species was counted between 1227 and 1532 that comprised 5a Bald Eagles, 1u Northern Goshawk and 2 Golden Eagles (1a, j).

10 hours (475.4) BAEA 5 (165), NOGO 1 (63), GOEA 2 (2584) TOTAL 8 (3128)

Wednesday, November 04 Steeples (Vance Mattson) No observation. Overcast all day.