Beaver Mines and Steeples, October 26

Monday, October 26 Vicki Ridge [Day 35] 0845-1845 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge; and Gord Petersen (1320-1815) at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge at the Waterton 68 wellsite). The temperature at 0845 was -6C, the high was -1C from 1500 to 1700 and it was -4C at 1845. Winds were W 30-40 gusting 60 and occasionally 70 km/h all day and cloud cover was 100-80% altostratus and altocumulus to 1430 that reduced to 60% at 1500 and at 1600 it was 10% lenticular and altocumulus; by 1700 it was 30% altocumulus, lenticular and cirrus which increased to 70% after 1800 and provided an even more spectacular sunset than yesterday’s. At Waterton 61 there was another steady movement of 124 raptors of 5 species between 0858 and 1812 that comprised 5a Bald Eagles, 5 Sharp-shinned Hawks (3a, 2u), 3a Northern Goshawks, 109 Golden Eagles (99a, 3sa, 7j) and 2 male Peregrine Falcons (1a, 1u). The highest single-hour count was 25, including 24 Golden Eagles, between 1300 and 1400. For the second consecutive day there was a disappointing count at Waterton 68 where only 28 migrants of 3 species were seen between 1329 and 1751. The total comprised 3 Bald Eagles (2a, 1j), 2 Northern Goshawks (1j, 1u) and 23 Golden Eagles (14a, 1j, 8u). Movement was slow but steady with every hourly count up to 1800 producing either 5 or 6 migrants. The combined site count was 152 birds of 5 species that moved between 0855 and 1812 and comprised 8 Bald Eagles (7a, 1j), 5 Sharp-shinned Hawks (3a, 2u), 5 Northern Goshawks (3a, 1j, 1u), 132 Golden Eagles (113a, 3sa, 8j, 8u) and 2 male Peregrine Falcons (1a, 1u). The highest single-hour combined site count was 31 between 1300 and 1400. Other birds seen were 1 Northern Flicker, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 168 Common Ravens (most of which were feeding on gut-piles near the Waterton 68 site), 3 American Robins, 466 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches (390 at Waterton 68 and 76 at Waterton 61), 8 Pine Siskins, and 3 Dark-eyed [hyemalis] Juncos.

10 hours (346.8) BAEA 8 (162), SSHA 5 (907), NOGO 5 (63), GOEA 132 (2268), PEFA 2 (6) TOTAL 152 (4072)

Monday, October 26 Mount Lorette [Day 35] 0815-1845 (Caroline Lambert assisted by Cliff Hansen). A total of 43 migrants of 3 species moved between 0815 and 1750 and comprised 2 Bald Eagles (1sa, 1j), 1j dark morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk and 40 Golden Eagles (24a, 6sa, 5j, 5u). All birds moved low against the face of the Fisher Range.

10.5 hours (387.7) BAEA 2 (136), RTHA 1 (65), GOEA 40 (2446) TOTAL 43 (2937)

Monday, October 26 Steeples (Vance Mattson). No observation because of teaching commitments.