Beaver Mines and Steeples, October 24

Saturday, October 24 Vicki Ridge [Day 33] 1230-1830 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge). Steady snow fell overnight and well into the morning so we didn’t start the count until 1230 when there was 15 cm of fresh snow on the ground and the temperature was -14C; the “high” was -13C at 1600 and at 1830 it was -19C which is the lowest value so far recorded this season. Winds were E-SSE all afternoon 3-8 occasionally gusting to 13 km/h and cloud cover was initially 100% stratocumulus that produced very light snow to 1300 after which it was 80-60% cumulus which provided sunny periods and was 100% thin cirrostratus and altocumulus after 1800. Despite the unpromising conditions a total of 14 migrant raptors of 3 species were seen between 1301 and 1716 that comprised 2 Bald Eagles (1a, 1j), 4 light morph Rough-legged Hawks and 8 Golden Eagles (7a, 1j). Five of the birds moved between 1600 and 1700. There was a surprising variety of other bird species that comprised 20 Canada Geese in 3 small flocks, 4 Trumpeter Swans (2 + 2) that flew high to the west, 1 Wilson’s Snipe that flew high to the south above the middle of the valley at 1316, 1a Herring Gull that also flew high to the south at 1814 and was the last bird seen today, 1a Northern Shrike, 1 Canada Jay, 1 Clark’s Nutcracker, 5 Black-billed Magpies, 27 Common Ravens, 1 Townsend’s Solitaire, 1 American Robin, 50 Bohemian Waxwings and 80 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches.

6 hours (326.1) BAEA 2 (137), RLHA 4 (183), GOEA 8 (2029) TOTAL 14 (3791)

Saturday, October 24 Mount Lorette [Day 33] (Blake Weis assisted by Annie Finch). Light snow fell to 1000, the temperature rose to -8C from a low of -16C and the Fisher Range was 10-20% cloud-covered throughout the day. A gratifying total of 47 migrants of 4 species was recorded comprising 21 Bald Eagles (6a, 1sa3, 8sa2, 1sa1, 3 undifferentiated sa and 2j), 1u Northern Goshawk, 1a intermediate morph harlani Red-tailed Hawk, 21 Golden Eagles (8a, 1sa, 12u) and 3 indeterminate eagles.

9.85 hours (367.2) BAEA 21 (129), NOGO 1 (56), RTHA 1 (63), GOEA 21 (2350), UE 3 (22) TOTAL 47 (2830)

Saturday, October 24 Steeples [Day 12] 1215-1745 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was -3C that fell to -5C by the end of observation, it was calm and 60% cumulus cloud cover gave mainly sunny conditions. Only 4 migrants were seen: 2 Bald Eagles (1a, 1j) and 2a Golden Eagles.

4.5 hours (37) BAEA 2 (42), GOEA 2 (26) TOTAL 4 (87)