Beaver Mines and Steeples, September 25, 26

Friday, September 25 Vicki Ridge [Day 6] 0815-1915 (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 0815 was 8C, the high at 1100 was 10.5C and it was 7.5C at 1015. Winds were strong W-WSW all day, 30-40 gusting 50-60 km/h to 1600 and gusting to over 80 km/h to 1830 before moderating slightly to gusts of 60 km/h at the end of the day. Cloud cover was 80-100% dark cumulus, altocumulus and cirrus to 1400 after which it was variable 70-40% cumulus, altocumulus and lenticular that provided periods of sunshine. Periods of light rain occurred between 1100 and 1600 that originated from clouds well to the west and were driven east by the strong winds. At Waterton 61 a season-high total of 112 migrants of 7 species moved between 0836 and 1754 that comprised 2 Bald Eagles (1a, 1sa), 19 Sharp-shinned Hawks (2j, 17u), 2u Cooper’s Hawks, 5 Red-tailed Hawks (4 calurus light: 2a, 1j, 1u, and 1 dark adult harlani), 2 unidentified dark Buteos, 79 Golden Eagles (45a, 11sa, 18j, 5u), 2u columbarius Merlins (1 male, 1 female) and the season’s first Peregrine Falcon, an adult male bird. Movement was steady to 1600 and peaked at 25 birds between 1000 and 1100, but after 1600 only a further 4 birds were seen coincident with the increase in the wind velocity. At Waterton 68 a total of 64 birds of 8 species moved between 1309 and 1850 that comprised 1 Osprey, 1 late subadult Bald Eagle, 21 Sharp-shinned Hawks (2a, 1j, 18u), 1a Cooper’s Hawk, 1 light adult Swainson’s Hawk, 1 dark indeterminate Red-tailed Hawk, 4 rough-legged Hawks (3 light, 1 dark) and 34 Golden Eagles (14a, 7sa, 13j). The highest single hour counts were 16 between 1400 and 1500 and again between 1600 and 1700. The combined species count was 176 birds of 10 species between 0836 and 1850 that comprised 1 Osprey,  3 Bald Eagles (1a, 2sa), 40 Sharp-shinned Hawks (2a, 3j, 35u), 3 Cooper’s Hawks (1a, 2u), 1 light adult Swainson’s Hawk, 5 Red-tailed Hawks (4 calurus light: 2a, 1j, 1u, 1 dark adult harlani and 1 indeterminate dark bird), 2 unidentified dark Buteos, 113 Golden Eagles (59a, 18sa, 31j, 5u), 2u columbarius Merlins (1 male, 1 female) and 1a male Peregrine Falcon. Other birds seen were 1 male Hairy Woodpecker, 1 Northern [Yellow-shafted] Flicker, 2 Clark’s Nutcrackers, 8 Black-billed Magpies, 70 American Crows, 127 Common Ravens, 37 American Robins, 5 Pine Siskins and 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler.

11 hours (66.75) OSPR 1 (4), BAEA 3 (16), SSHA 40 (180), COHA 3 (40), SWHA 1 (2), RTHA 6 (68), RLHA 4 (5), UB 2 (3), GOEA 113 (284), MERL 2 (10) PEFA 1 (1) TOTAL 176 (644)

Friday, September 25 Mount Lorette [Day 6] 0750-1930 (Caroline Lambert, assisted by Patrick Farley). A total of 86 migrant raptors of 7 species comprised 2 Bald Eagles (1a, 1sa), 1u Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1u Northern Goshawk, 3 Red-tailed Hawks (1a, 1u light calurus and 1 indeterminate bird), 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk, 1 indeterminate Buteo, 76 Golden Eagles (38a, 7sa, 2j, 29u) and 1u Merlin.

11.67 hours (74.08) BAEA 2 (14), SSHA 1 (48), NOGO 1 (13), RTHA 3 (11), RLHA 1 (1), UB 1 (1), GOEA 76 (265), MERL 1 (2) TOTAL 86 (380)

Friday, September 25 Steeples (Vance Mattson).  No observation.

Saturday, September 26 Vicki Ridge [Day 7] 0800-1830 (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, 1235-1815). The temperature at 0800 was 5C the high was 11.5C at 1400 and it was again 5C at 1830. Winds were W-WSW to 1730, 30-40 gusting 55 km/h except around 1500 when they gusted to 70 km/h. At 1730 the wind shifted to WNW and brought rain that shut down the count at 1830. Cloud cover was cumulus all day, 20-60% to 1730 that, with the exception of a period of rain from 1415 to 1440, gave sunshine and excellent observing conditions. The wind-shift at 1730 brought 80-100% dark stratocumulus and as Gord described in his notes: “The wall of gloom and rain descended”. At Waterton 61 a total of 91 migrants of 9 species were seen between 0858 and 1652 that comprised 1a Turkey Vulture, 4 Bald Eagles (1 late subadult, 2j, 1u), 1j male Northern Harrier, 43 Sharp-shinned Hawks (12a, 3j, 28u), 1a Cooper’s Hawk, 6a light morph Red-tailed Hawks, 1 light Rough-legged Hawk, 1 unidentified dark Buteo, 32 Golden Eagles (17a, 2sa, 12j, 1u) and 1u male Peregrine Falcon. The highest hourly counts were 22 (1000-1100) and 18 (1100-1200), but as with the previous two days the movement faded in the late afternoon and the last bird was seen at 1652. At Waterton 68 the total was 102 birds of 10 species seen between 1238 and 1809 that comprised 1a Turkey Vulture, 1j Bald Eagle, 50 Sharp-shinned Hawks (6a, 1j, 43u), 12 Cooper’s Hawks (1a, 5j, 6u), 1a light morph Broad-winged Hawk, 15 Red-tailed Hawks (13 light morphs: 7a, 3j, 2u; 1a intermediate morph; 1j dark morph harlani and 1 indeterminate dark morph bird), 1 dark morph  Rough-legged Hawk, 19 Golden Eagles (7a, 12j), 1u American Kestrel and 1u Merlin. The highest hourly counts were 29 (1500-1600) and 26 (1600-1700). The combined speciescount was 193 birds of 12 species between 0858 and 1809 that comprised 2a Turkey Vultures, 5 Bald Eagles (1sa, 3j, 1u), 1j male Northern Harrier, 93 Sharp-shinned Hawks (18a, 4j, 71u), 13 Cooper’s Hawks (2a, 5j, 6u), 1 light adult Broad-winged Hawk, 21 Red-tailed Hawks (18 light morphs: 13a, 3j, 2u, 1a intermediate morph, 1j dark morph harlani and 1 indeterminate dark morph bird), 2 Rough-legged Hawks (1 light, 1 dark), 1 unidentified dark Buteo, 51 Golden Eagles (24a, 2sa, 24j, 1u), 1u American Kestrel 1u Merlin and 1u male Peregrine Falcon. The highest combined species hourly count was 37 (1500-1600). Other birds seen were 1 Northern [Yellow-shafted] Flicker, 1 Clark’s Nutcracker, 18 Black-billed Magpies, 50 Common Ravens, 3 Mountain Bluebirds, 130 American Robins, 17 Pine Siskins and 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler.

10.5 hours (76.25) TUVU 2 (5), BAEA 5 (21), NOHA 1 (6), SSHA 93 (273), COHA 13 (53), BWHA 1 (7), RTHA 21 (89), RLHA 2 (7), UB 1 (4), GOEA 51 (335), AMKE 1 (6), MERL 1 (11), PEFA 1 (2) TOTAL 193 (837)

Saturday, September 26 Mount Lorette [Day 7] 0730-1940 Blake Weis, assisted by Heinz Unger). Observers recorded a total of 39 migrant raptors of 5 species that comprised 4 Bald Eagles (1a, 2sa, 1j), 6u Sharp-shinned Hawks, 2j Northern Goshawks, 26 Golden Eagles (6a, 6sa, 5j, 9u) and 1a male columbarius Merlin.

12.6 hours 986.24) BAEA 4 (18), SSHA 6 (54), NOGO 2 (15), GOEA 26 (291), MERL 1 (3) TOTAL; 39 (419)

Saturday, September 26 Steeples (Vance Mattson).  No observation.