Beaver Mines and Steeples, September 23

Wednesday, September 23 Vicki Ridge [Day 4] 0800-1915 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge, and Gord Petersen and Cathy Scrimshaw at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge at the Waterton 68 wellsite, 1310-1900). The temperature at 0800 was 10C the high at 1500 was a season-high 19.5C and it was still 16C at 1915. Winds were WSW-W all day 15-25 km/h to 1030, 30-40 gusting 50 to 1600 after which gusts increased to 65 km/h. Cloud cover throughout the day varied constantly between 20% and 100% altostratus, altocumulus, stratus, cumulus and lenticular that gave periods of sunshine and generally excellent observing conditions. At the Waterton 61 site a total of 81 migrants of 12 species were seen between 0848 and 1829 that comprised 2 immature Turkey Vultures, 1 Osprey, 2 juvenile Bald Eagles, 1 juvenile female Northern Harrier, 28 Sharp-shinned Hawks (4a, 24u), 3 Cooper’s Hawks (2a, 1u), 1 juvenile Northern Goshawk, 1a light morph Broad-winged Hawk, 5 calurus Red-tailed Hawks (2a and 2u light morphs; 1a dark morph), 1 unidentified Buteo, 31 Golden Eagles (20a, 2sa, 8j, 1u), 1 female American Kestrel and 4u columbarius Merlins (2 males and 2 females). The highest single hour count was 21 between 1000 and 1100, and the following hour produced 20 birds but subsequently, coincident with increased wind velocities, the flow diminished and the following 7 hours only produced 32 migrants. The Waterton 68 site produced 78 migrants of 9 species between 1312 and 1859 that comprised 1 Osprey, 1 juvenile Bald Eagle, 29 Sharp-shinned Hawks (7a, 2j, 20u), 5 Cooper’s Hawks (4a 1u), 10 Red-tailed Hawks (calurus 8: 4a and 3j light morphs, 1a intermediate morph; and 2 dark indeterminate birds), 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk that was the first of the season, 1u richardsonii Merlin and 1 Prairie Falcon. The combined count of 159 birds of 14 species was 2 immature Turkey Vultures, 2 Ospreys, 3j Bald Eagles, 1j female Northern Harrier, 57 Sharp-shinned Hawks (11a, 2j, 44u), 8 Cooper’s Hawks (6a, 2u), 1 juvenile Northern Goshawk, 1a  light morph Broad-winged Hawk, 15 Red-tailed Hawks (13 calurus: 11 light (6a, 3j, 2u), 1a intermediate morph, 1a dark; and 2 undifferentiated dark birds),  1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk, 1 unidentified Buteo, 60 Golden Eagles (28a, 5sa, 17j 10u), 1 female American Kestrel, 5u Merlins (2 male and 2 female columbarius and 1u richardsonii Merlin and 1 Prairie Falcon. The three hours between 1400 and 1700 each had a combined total of 20 birds. Other bird species seen were 2 Northern Flickers, 1 Pileated Woodpecker, 6 Clark’s Nutcrackers, 337 Common Ravens, 106 American Robins, 16 Cedar Waxwings, 28 Pine Siskins and 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler.

11.25 hours (44) TUVU 2 (3), OSPR 2 (3), BAEA 3 (10), NOHA 1 (5), SSHA 57 (132), COHA 8 (34), NOGO 1 (3), BWHA 1 (6), RTHA 15 (58), RLHA 1 (1), UB 1 (1), GOEA 60 (120), AMKE 1 (5), MERL 5 (8), PRFA 1 (2) TOTAL 159 (397)

Wednesday, September 23 Mount Lorette [Day 4] 0650-1925 (Bill Wilson assisted by Glenn Webber). The observers counted 72 migrant raptors of 5 species that comprised 2 Bald Eagles (1a, 1 undifferentiated immature bird), 1u Northern Harrier, 2u Sharp-shinned Hawks, 2 Northern Goshawks and a season-high 65 Golden Eagles (25a, 1sa, 10j, 29u).

12.58 hours (BAEA 2 (11), NOHA 1 (5), SSHA 2 (44), NOGO 2 (9) GOEA 65 (166) TOTAL 72 (261)

Wednesday, September 23 Steeples (Vance Mattson).  No observation.