Beaver Mines and Steeples, September 21

Monday, September 21 Vicki Ridge [Day 2] 0745-1845 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge and Gord Petersen at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge at the Waterton 68 wellsite, 1330-1900). The temperature at 0745 was 10C, the high at 1500 was a season-high 19C and it was 16C at 1900. Winds were 30-40 gusting 50 km/h all day, WSW to 1500 and then W for the rest of the day, Cloud cover was 30-80% cirrostratus and cirrus to 1200 when it completely cleared for 30 minutes. From 1230 to 1400 60-80% cirrostratus, cirrus and altocumulus redeveloped after which 100% thick altostratus formed an arch to 1630 and finally 100% cirrostratus, altostratus, altocumulus and cirrus persisted for the rest of the day. Observing conditions were excellent throughout. A total of 44 migrants of 11 species were seen between 0857 and 1822 at the WT61 site that comprised 1 Osprey, 3 Bald Eagles (1 sa, 2j), 1j female Northern Harrier, 7 Sharp-shinned Hawks (2a, 2j, 3u), 3 Cooper’s Hawks (2a, 1j), 4 juvenile light morph Broad-winged Hawks, 1 intermediate juvenile Swainson’s Hawk, 12 Red-tailed Hawks (10 calurus: 8 light (6a, 2u), 2a dark, and 2 adult dark harlani), 9 Golden Eagles (6a, 2sa, 1j). 2 American Kestrels, (1 male, 1 female) and 1 male Prairie Falcon. At the Waterton 68 site Gord counted 81 migrants of 9 species between 1335 and 1842 that comprised 3 Bald Eagles (1a, 2j), 1a male Northern Harrier, 34 Sharp-shinned Hawks (6a, 4j, 24u), 10 Cooper’s Hawks (3a, 7u), 1 adult Northern Goshawk, 7 Red-tailed Hawks (5a calurus (4 light, 1 dark) and 2 undifferentiated dark birds, 22 Golden Eagles (13a, 3sa, 6u), 1u American Kestrel, 1u richardsonii Merlin and 1 small unidentified falcon. The combined count was 1 Osprey, 6 Bald Eagles (1a, 1sa, 4j), 2 Northern Harriers (1a male, 1j female), 41 Sharp-shinned Hawks (8a, 6j, 27u), 13 Cooper’s Hawks (5a, 1j, 7u), 1 adult Northern Goshawk, 4 juvenile light morph Broad-winged Hawks, 1 intermediate juvenile Swainson’s Hawk, 19 Red-tailed Hawks (15 calurus: 12 light (10a, 2u), 3a dark; 2a dark harlani and 2 undifferentiated dark birds),  31 Golden Eagles (19a, 5sa, 1j 6u), 3 American Kestrels (1 male, 1female, 1u), 1u richardsonii Merlin and 1 small unidentified falcon. The highest single-hour count was 24 between 1500 and 1600. Other bird species seen were 3 Canada Geese flying high to the north at 1059, 1 Ruffed Grouse, 1 Northern Flicker, 1 Pileated Woodpecker, 6 Clark’s Nutcrackers, 2 Black-billed Magpies, 36 Common Ravens, 2 Mountain Bluebirds, 1 Townsend’s Solitaire and 115 American Robins.

11.25 hours (22.5) OSPR 1 (1), BAEA 6 (7), NOHA 2 (4), SSHA 41 (71), COHA 13 (23), NOGO 1 (1), BWHA 4 (5), SWHA 1 (1), RTHA 19 (40), GOEA 31 (59), AMKE 3 (4), MERL 1 (2), PRFA 1 (1) UF 1 (1) TOTAL 125 (223)

Monday, September 21 Mount Lorette [Day 2] 0700-1945 (Graeme Dunlop, assisted by Cliff Hansen). Osprey 2, Bald Eagle 2 adults, Northern Harrier 1u female, Sharp-shinned Hawk 7 (2a, 5u), Cooper’s Hawk 1u, Northern Goshawk 5 (4a, 1j), Accipiter sp. 1, Red-tailed Hawk 1a (dark morph harlani), Golden Eagle 50 (32a, 3j, 15u) Total 70.

12.75 hours (25.25) OSPR 2 (2), BAEA 2 (3), NOHA 1 (1), SSHA 7 (9), COHA 1 (1), NOGO 5 (6), UA 1 (3), RTHA 1 (3), GOEA 50 (81) TOTAL 70 (112)

Monday, September 21 Steeples (Vance Mattson).  No observation.