Beaver Mines and Steeples, November 9

Monday, November 09 Vicki Ridge [Day 46] 0730-1730 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge; and Gord Petersen (1304-1705) at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge at the Waterton 68 wellsite). The temperature at 0730 was -8C, the high at 1400 was -3.5C and it was -6C at 1730. Winds were WSW-W all day 40-50 gusting 70-85 km/h that created serious blowing snow both in the valley and on the ridges all day. It was cloudless to 1100 when 10-30% cirrus developed for the rest of the day, with traces of cumulus after 1600. At Waterton 61 a total of 17 migrants of 4 species were counted between 0946 and 1638 that comprised 6 Bald Eagles (4a, 1j, 1u), 2a calurus Red-tailed Hawks (1 light, 1 dark), 8 Golden Eagles (7a, 1j) and 1 Prairie Falcon. The highest hourly count was 6 between 1000 and 1100. At Waterton 68 a total of 20 migrants of 3 species were seen between 1338 and 1658 that comprised 11 Bald Eagles (10a, 1j), 1 dark morph Rough-legged Hawk, and 8a Golden Eagles. The hourly high count was 11 (1400-1500). The combined site total was 37 migrants of 5 species seen between 0946 and 1658 that comprised 17 Bald Eagles (14a, 2j, 1u), 2a calurus Red-tailed Hawks (1 light, 1 dark), 1 dark morph Rough-legged Hawk, 16 Golden Eagles (15a, 1j) and 1 Prairie Falcon. The highest combined site hourly count was 12 between 1400 and 1500. Other bird species seen were 1 female Hairy Woodpecker, 121 Common Ravens of which 85 were seen at Waterton 68, 1 Brown Creeper, 3 female Pine Grosbeaks, 25 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches of which 19 fed close to the Waterton 61 site, and 32 migrating Common Redpolls.

10 hours (458.9) BAEA 17 (321), RTHA 2 (214), RLHA 1 (283), GOEA 16 (2527), PRFA 1 (6) TOTAL 37 (4716)

Monday, November 09 Mount Lorette [Day 49] 0810-1715 (Caroline Lambert assisted by Graeme Dunlop). A total of 23 migrant raptors of 4 species were recorded between 0857 and 1621 that comprised 9 Bald Eagles (7a, 1sa, 1u), 1a Northern Goshawk, 1j light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk, 1 unidentified Buteo, 10 Golden Eagles (6a, 1sa, 3j) and 1 unidentified eagle.

9.08 hours (514.5) BAEA 9 (195), NOGO 1 (67), RTHA 1 (67), UB 1 (5), GOEA 10 (2596), UE 1 (29) TOTAL 23 (3177)

Monday, November 09 Steeples (Vance Mattson) No observation because of work commitments.