Beaver Mines and Steeples, October 27

Tuesday, October 27 Vicki Ridge [Day 36] 0800-1830 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge; and Gord Petersen (1323-1810) at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge at the Waterton 68 wellsite). The temperature at 0800 was 2C, the high at 1200 and 1300 was 5C and it was 1C at 1830. Winds were strong W all day 40-60 gusting 70-90 km/h and cloud cover was 100-80% altostratus and altocumulus that formed a Chinook arch to early afternoon after which it was 80-90% altocumulus, cirrus, cirrostratus and cumulus for the rest of the day that produced brief periods of hazy sunshine. At Waterton 61 raptor movement was slow but persistent throughout the day with 33 migrants of 5 species seen between 0837 and 1734 that comprised 3 Bald Eagles (2a, 1j), 5 Sharp-shinned Hawks (2a, 3u), 2a Northern Goshawks, 1u Rough-legged Hawk and 22 Golden Eagles (21a, 1j). The highest hourly count was 6 between 1100 and 1200. A similar slow but steady movement was also seen at Waterton 68where 20 migrants of 5 species moved between 1323 and 1758. The count was 4a Bald Eagles, 2a Sharp-shinned Hawks, 1j Cooper’s Hawk, 2 light morph Rough-legged Hawks and 11 Golden Eagles (8a, 2j, 1u) with a single-hour high count of 5 between 1700 and 1800. The combined site total was 53 migrants of 6 species seen between 0837 and 1758 that comprised 7 Bald Eagles (6a, 1j), 7 Sharp-shinned Hawks (4a, 3u), 1j Cooper’s Hawk, 2a Northern Goshawks, 3 Rough-legged Hawks (2 light, 1u) and 33 Golden Eagles (29a, 3j, 1u). The combined site high hourly counts were 8 between 1300 and 1400, and between 1700 and 1800. Other birds seen were 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 3 Clark’s Nutcrackers, 2 Black-billed Magpies, 93 Common Ravens, 1020 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches (800 at Waterton 68) 22 Pine Siskins, and 4 Dark-eyed [hyemalis] Juncos.

10.5 hours (357.3) BAEA 7 (169), SSHA 7 (914), COHA 1 (141), NOGO 2 (65), RLHA 3 (187), GOEA 33 (2301) TOTAL 53 (4125)

Tuesday, October 27 Mount Lorette [Day 36] 0815-1830 (George Halmazna assisted by Dan Parliament). Strong WSW winds blew all day which also produced a slow count of 25 migrant raptors of 5 species that comprised 2 Bald Eagles (1a, 1j), 1u Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1u Cooper’s Hawk, 2 Northern Goshawks (1j, 1u) and 19 Golden Eagles (10a, 8j, 1u).

10.25 hours (397.9) BAEA 2 (138), SSHA 1 (100), COHA 1 (20), NOGO 2 (58), GOEA 19 (2465) TOTAL 25 (2962)

Tuesday, October 27 Steeples [Day 14] 1300-1700 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was initially -1C but rose to a high of 6C, it was mainly calm and an initial cloud cover of 100% grey altostratus became 40% altocumulus after 1350 and gave sunny conditions. A total of 5 migrants, 1a Bald Eagle and 4 Golden Eagles (3a, 2j), were seen and the resident Golden Eagle pair was also conspicuous.

4 hours (47) BAEA 1 (44), GOEA 4 (50) TOTAL 5 (113)