Beaver Mines and Steeples, October 7

Wednesday, October 07 Vicki Ridge [Day 18] 0810-1830 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge, and Denise Cocciolone Amatto at the northern end of Vicki Ridge; and Gord Petersen and Cathy Scrimshaw at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge at the Waterton 68 wellsite, 1010-1745). The temperature at 0810 was 4C, the high at 1600 was 15C and it was 13C at 1830 when the count was abandoned. It was calm to 1120 and again after 1800, and between winds were variable E to S and generally light with the exception of around 1400 when they occasionally gusted up to 15 km/h from the E. There was a light westerly flow aloft all day but it failed to lower to ridgetop level. Cloud cover was 80-90% cumulus to 0930 which quickly cleared to 10-30% altocumulus and cirrus to 1100 and was subsequently 50-80% altocumulus, cirrus, altostratus and lenticular with minor cumulus to the west for the rest of the day. Observing conditions were excellent throughout but at Waterton 61 only 12 migrants of 7 species were counted between 1109 and 1608 that comprised 1j male Northern Harrier, 3 Sharp-shinned Hawks (2a, 1j), 2a Cooper’s Hawks, 1a light morph Broad-winged Hawk, 2a calurus Red-tailed Hawks (1light, 1 dark), 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk and 2 Golden Eagles (1a, 1sa). Six of the birds occurred between 1200 and 1300. The observers at Waterton 68 also counted 12 migrants of 4 species between 1118 and 1551 that comprised 2u Sharp-shinned Hawks, 1a Cooper’s Hawk, 1u Red-tailed Hawk and 8 Golden Eagles (1j 7u). Most of the eagles were seen soaring west of the Carbondale Ridge and distance precluded detailed identification. Six of the birds were seen between 1300 and 1400. The combined species count was 24 migrants of 7 species that moved between 1109 and 1608 and comprised 1j male Northern Harrier, 5 Sharp-shinned Hawks (2a, 1j, 2u), 3a Cooper’s Hawks, 1a light morph Broad-winged Hawk, 3 Red-tailed Hawks (2a calurus (1light, 1 dark) and 1 indeterminate bird), 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk and 10 Golden Eagles (1a, 1sa, 1j, 7u). The highest combined count hour was 10 between 1200 and 1300. One positive aspect of the calm conditions was that it was easier to locate other bird species that were 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 1 juvenile Northern Shrike, 6 Canada Jays, 11 Black-billed Magpies, 35 Common Ravens, 3 Black-capped Chickadees, 2 Mountain Chickadees, 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch, 1 Townsend’s Solitaire, 33 American Robins, 1 female Evening Grosbeak, 1 Cassin’s Finch that sang briefly in the morning and 1 Pine Siskin.

10.33 hours (197.7) NOHA 1 (18), SSHA 5 (640), COHA 3 (106), BWHA 1 (18), RTHA 3 (176), RLHA 1 (32), GOEA 10 (682) TOTAL 24 (1806)

Wednesday, October 07 Mount Lorette [Day 18] 0655-1905 (Bill Wilson assisted by Glenn Webber). There was another strong movement at Mount Lorette where the observers counted 125 migrant raptors of 7 species that comprised 5 Bald Eagles (3a, 1sa3, 1sa2), 3u Sharp-shinned Hawks, 2a Cooper’s Hawks, 1a Northern Goshawk, 2 light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks (1a, 1j), 3 Rough-legged Hawks (2 light, 1 dark), 106 Golden Eagles (66a, 4sa, 13j, 1 undifferentiated immature, 22u) and 3 unidentified eagles. The last four days at the site have produced 728 Golden Eagles and the October count there so far is 1108 birds.

12.18 hours (218.8) BAEA 5 (62), SSHA 3 (91), COHA 2 (15), NOGO 1 (36), RTHA 2 (54), RLHA 3 (13), GOEA 106 (1399), UE 3 (9) TOTAL 125 (1732)

Wednesday, October 07 Steeples (Vance Mattson).  No observation.