Beaver Mines and Steeples, October 30

Friday, October 30 Vicki Ridge [Day 39] 0830-1845 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge; and Gord Petersen (1515-1825) at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge at the Waterton 68 wellsite). The day’s high temperature was 9C at 0830 and 0900 that fell to 4 C as steady moderate rain and hail fell from 0935 to 1330, recovered to 6C at 1400 and was 5C at 1845. Winds were strong WSW-W all day generally 30-40 gusting 50-60 km/h but were 60 gusting 70-90 km/h around 1000 and again from 1500 to 1700. Cloud cover was 100% stratus and cumulus to 1325 after which it became very variable with 40-100% cumulus, and altocumulus cloud producing some sunny periods, and rain showers to 1550. At Waterton 61 a total of 21 migrants of 5 species were seen between 0902 and 1811 that comprised 9 Bald Eagles (8a and 1 bird in transitional sa2 and sa3 plumage), 2 Sharp-shinned Hawks (1a, 1u), 1u Northern Goshawk, 3 Rough-legged Hawks (2 light, 1 dark) and 6a Golden Eagles. Three birds moved before the rain started at 0935 and the rest moved slowly and sporadically after 1334 with a high hourly count of 6 between 1400 and 1500. At Waterton 68 a total of 29 raptors of 5 species moved between 1551 and 1825 that comprised 6 Bald Eagles (5a, 1 j), 1u Sharp-shinned Hawk, 2u Northern Goshawks, 9 Rough-legged Hawks (8 light, 1 dark) and 11 Golden Eagles (9a, 2u). Just 1 bird was seen before 1600 but the next two hours produced 19 and 12 migrants respectively. The combined sites count was 50 birds of 5 species that moved between 0902 and 1825 and comprised 15 Bald Eagles (13a, 1sa2/3 and 1 j), 3 Sharp-shinned Hawks (1a, 2u), 3u Northern Goshawks, 12 Rough-legged Hawks (10 light, 2 dark) and 17 Golden Eagles (15a, 2u). The highest combined sites hourly counts were 19 (1600-1700) and 12 (1700-1800) and 6 birds moved between 1800 and 1825. Other birds seen were 1 Northern [Red-shafted] Flicker, 1 Clark’s Nutcracker, 2 Black-billed Magpies, 198 Common Ravens and 60 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches.

10.25 hours (388.1) BAEA 15 (252), SSHA 3 (941), NOGO 3 (74), RLHA 12 (209), GOEA 17 (2393) TOTAL 50 (4386)

Friday, October 30 Mount Lorette [Day 39] 0945-1830 (Caroline Lambert assisted by Sandy Graham). Because of rain and low cloud to the west the count was started at Lusk Creek (0945), then moved to Barrier Lake (1130) and Wasootch Creek (1209) and finally to the Hay Meadow (1305) as conditions progressively improved towards the west. Ridge winds were also very strong throughout the afternoon. A total of 37 migrants of 3 species was recorded, 27 of which were seen from the Hay Meadow where the eagles moved very high in the strong winds. The total flight was 5 Bald Eagles (4a, 1u), 1u Northern Goshawk, 29 Golden Eagles (13a, 3sa, 2j, 11u) and 2 unidentified eagles.

9.25 hours (426.2) BAEA 5 (147), NOGO 1 (61), GOEA 19 (2528) UE 2 (25) TOTAL 37 (3044)

Friday, October 30 Steeples [Day 17] 1300-1600 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 11C, winds were moderate SE and cloud cover was 100% dark cumulus and altostratus that produced periodic light rain. The only migrants seen were an adult and a juvenile Bald Eagle at 1417 and 1429 respectively.

3 hours (53) BAEA 2 (46) TOTAL 2 (116)