Friday, November 10 [Day 46] (Blake Weis, assisted by Caroline Lambert) 0830-1700. The temperature at 0830 was -2C, the high was 2C from 1200 to 1600 and it was 1C at 1700. Ground winds were SW 0-5 km/h all day that gusted up to 12 km/h between 1200 and 1600, while ridge winds were light to moderate SW all day. Cloud cover was 90% cumulus, altostratus and cirrus to 1000, variable 50-90% cumulus, altocumulus and cirrus to 1400 and then 80-30% cumulus and cirrus for the rest of the day. The ridges were clear all day. A total of 19 migrant raptors of 3 species moved between 0858 and 1632 comprising 5 Bald Eagles (3a, 2j), 1 late unaged Sharp-shinned Hawk and 13 Golden Eagles (12a, 1u). One Bald Eagle flew south on the western route and the rest used the eastern route with 5 of the birds initially located over Mount Lorette and the rest seen at the northern end of the Fisher Range. Movement was slow but steady after 1100 with each hour up to 1600 producing between 2 and 4 migrants. Non-migrant raptors were an adult Northern Goshawk and an adult Bald Eagle. Other birds seen included a Wilson’s Snipe flying low above the river, 1 Northern Shrike, 1 Bohemian Waxwing, 2 Pine Grosbeaks, 6 Common Redpolls and 2 Pine Siskins. A small pack of 4 Grey Wolves crossed the slopes of the ski hill moving to the north between 1030 and 1100. There were 4 visitors at the site today.

8.5 hours (487.8) BAEA 5 (177), SSHA 1 (82), GOEA 13 (3224) TOTAL 19 (3646)

Vicki Ridge [Day 47] (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Gord Petersen) 08150-1720 (Observation from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge). The temperature at the start was -1C, the high was 2C at 1200 and it was -2C at the end of observation. Winds were W-WSW all day, 25-30 km/h to 0930 and 30-40 gusting to 50 km/h for the rest of the day. Cloud cover was 60-80% cumulus and lenticular to 1400 that quickly cleared to 20-10% cumulus, lenticular and altocumulus for the last three hours and provided very welcome sunshine. There was a strong raptor movement for the time of year with 87 migrants of 5 species moving steadily between 0851 and 1716. The count was a season high total of 41 Bald Eagles (18a, 9sa, 6j, 8u), 3 adult Northern Goshawks, 7 light morph Rough-legged Hawks (the last of which at 1634 was the 500^th of the season), 33 Golden Eagles (26a, 3sa, 3j, 1u), 2 unidentified eagles and 1 light grey morph Gyrfalcon. Every hour after 0900 saw the passage of at least 6 migrants and peak movement was 14 birds between 1300 and 1400 and again from 1600 to 1700. The last 6 Bald Eagles moved high to the south between 1706 and 1716 when it was almost dark. At 1250 a resident adult Golden Eagle displayed above the northern end of Kyllo Ridge. Other birds seen included a flock of 50 Bohemian Waxwings, 3 Pine Grosbeaks and a single Common Redpoll that fed at the site at 0916.

9.08 hours (376.9) BAEA 41 (352), NOGO 3 (103), RLHA 7 (500), GOEA 33 (1926), UE 2 (17), GYRF 1 (4) TOTAL 87 (4040)

Steeples [Day 38] (Vance Mattson) 1300-1700. The valley was overcast until 1300 when the skies began to clear.           Since the ridges remained heavily obscured Vance observed from the Kootenay River Site until 1400 but saw no migrants. Observation from the Bill Nye site between 1415 and 1530 also produced no migrants.           The ridges, while initially clearing to some degree, became fully shrouded again by 1530 so Vance returned to the relative clarity of the valley from 1545 to 1700 and counted a single migrant, a light morph Rough-Legged Hawk that flapped low over Wasa Lake at 1606. No non-migrants were seen. It was 2C for most of the day, calm, and mainly sunny as the 50-60% cumulus, altostratus and lenticular cloud cover was concentrated mainly around and in front of the mountain ridges. The Purcell Mountains to the west were also shrouded the entire day.

4 hours (175.3) RLHA 1 (15) TOTAL 1 (620)

MOUNT LORETTE SUMMARY COUNT (September 20 to November 15)

DAYS 46

HOURS 487.8

TURKEY VULTURE (TUVU) 0

OSPREY (OSPR) 2

BALD EAGLE (BAEA) 177

NORTHERN HARRIER (NOHA) 6

SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (SSHA) 82

COOPER’S HAWK (COHA) 18

NORTHERN GOSHAWK (NOGO) 28

Accipiter sp. (UA) 3

BROAD-WINGED HAWK (BWHA) 1

SWAINSON’S HAWK (SWHA) 0

RED-TAILED HAWK (RTHA) 29

FERRUGINOUS HAWK (FEHA) 1

ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (RLHA) 28

Buteo sp. (UB) 10

GOLDEN EAGLE (GOEA) 3224

Eagle sp. (UE) 7

AMERICAN KESTREL (AMKE) 3

MERLIN (MERL) 5

GYRFALCON (GYRF) 4

PEREGRINE FALCON (PEFA) 7

PRAIRIE FALCON (PRFA) 6

Falco sp. (UF) 3

Unidentified Raptor (UU) 2

TOTAL 3646

Thursday, November 9 [Day 45] (Caroline Lambert, assisted by Rick Robb) 0800-1710. The starting temperature was -9C, the high was 1C at 1500 and it was 0C at the end of observation. Ground winds were W light, 0-5 km/h for most of the day and gusted 10 km/h only at 1700, while ridge winds were light SW all day. Cloud cover was 90-100% altostratus and cumulus all day; the east ridges were completely clear and the west was 0-20% obscured all day. A total of 18 eagles migrated between 1020 and 1623 that comprised 10 Bald Eagles (9a, 1j) and 8 Golden Eagles (5a, 1ju, 2u). Each hour between 1000 and 1700 produced at least 1 migrant and peak movement was 5 birds between 1600 and 1623. Three birds used the western route and the rest moved along the Fisher Range, the Bald Eagles mainly flapping low against the face of the range and the Golden Eagles soaring and gliding higher, often well above the ridge. Other birds seen included 1 Belted Kingfisher, 1 Northern Shrike, 5 Grey Jays, 1 male Pine Grosbeak, 2 Red Crossbills (1 male, 1 female), 8 Common Redpolls and 2 Pine Siskins. Three visitors were at the site today.

9.16 hours (479.3) BAEA 10 (172), GOEA 8 (3211) TOTAL 18 (3627)

Vicki Ridge [Day 46] (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Gord Petersen) 0900-1700 (Observation from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge). The temperature at 0900 was -9C, reached a high at 1600 of 0C and was -0.5C at 1700. Winds were variable 0-3 km/h to 1440 when a W flow became established that reached 7-14 gusting 18 km/h after 1600. Cloud cover was 100% stratus and altocumulus to 1440 after which it was 90-70% altostratus, altocumulus and lenticular that formed a spectacular Chinook Arch for the rest of the day. Light steady snow fell between 1345 and 1435. As yesterday the calm conditions produced no migrants and raptor migration only started after the moderate west winds developed when 8 birds of 3 species moved between 1506 and 1634. The count was 1 adult Northern Goshawk, 2 light morph Rough-legged Hawks, 1 undifferentiated dark morph Buteo, 3 adult Golden Eagles and 1 undifferentiated eagle. Three birds were seen between 1506 and 1600 and 5 between 1600 and 1634. Other birds recorded were 1 or 2 Trumpeter Swans heard flying high to the west at 0915, 1 male Pileated Woodpecker, 1 Grey Jay, 1 Steller’s Jay, 1 Clark’s Nutcracker, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 112 Common Ravens, most of which flew westwards to roost after 1600, and 59 Bohemian Waxwings.

8 hours (367.8) NOGO 1 (100), RLHA 2 (493), UB 1 (19), GOEA 3 (1893), UE 1 (15) TOTAL 8 (3953)

Steeples (Vance Mattson) NO OBSERVATION (Weather). It was totally overcast all day with 10-15cm of snow falling.

MOUNT LORETTE SUMMARY COUNT (September 20 to November 15)

DAYS 45

HOURS 479.3

TURKEY VULTURE (TUVU) 0

OSPREY (OSPR) 2

BALD EAGLE (BAEA) 172

NORTHERN HARRIER (NOHA) 6

SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (SSHA) 81

COOPER’S HAWK (COHA) 18

NORTHERN GOSHAWK (NOGO) 28

Accipiter sp. (UA) 3

BROAD-WINGED HAWK (BWHA) 1

SWAINSON’S HAWK (SWHA) 0

RED-TAILED HAWK (RTHA) 29

FERRUGINOUS HAWK (FEHA) 1

ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (RLHA) 28

Buteo sp. (UB) 10

GOLDEN EAGLE (GOEA) 3211

Eagle sp. (UE) 7

AMERICAN KESTREL (AMKE) 3

MERLIN (MERL) 5

GYRFALCON (GYRF) 4

PEREGRINE FALCON (PEFA) 7

PRAIRIE FALCON (PRFA) 6

Falco sp. (UF) 3

Unidentified Raptor (UU) 2

TOTAL 3627

Wednesday, November 8 [Day 44] (Joel Duncan, assisted by Patrick Farley) 0900-1730. The temperature was -11C at 0900, the high was -4C at 1400 and it was -7C at 1730. Ground winds were variable 2-5 km/h with a “gust” of 8 km/h around 1500, while ridge winds were light SW all day. Cloud cover was 60% cumulus and cirrus to 1200 that increased to 80% cumulus, altostratus and cirrus at 1400 and after 1500 was 80% altostratus for the rest of the day. The eastern ridges were 60% obscured to 1100 and 20% at 1200 but were clear all afternoon, and the west was 60-40% obscured to 1300 and then 20% for the rest of the day. No raptors were seen at the Hay Meadow site so at 1615 Joel moved to Wasootch Creek where at 1620 he saw the only migrant of the day, a light morph Rough-legged Hawk that flapped to the south against the face of the Fisher Range. Other birds were also scarce and comprised 1 Belted Kingfisher, only 2 Common Ravens, 2 Boreal Chickadees, 1 American Dipper and 3 Pine Grosbeaks; only 2 visitors came to the site today.

8.5 hours (470.2) RLHA 1 (28) TOTAL 1 (3609)

Vicki Ridge [Day 45] (Peter Sherrington) 0830-1630 (Observation from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge). The temperature was -11C at 0830, the high was -7C at 1200 and 1300 and it was -9C at 1630. Winds were variable 0-5 km/h all day, and cloud cover was 100% stratus and altocumulus to 1315 when it began to break up and reduced to 70% altocumulus, cirrus and altostratus at 1500 before increasing again to 100% broken altostratus and altocumulus at 1600. The almost calm conditions were not conducive to raptor migration and none were seen. Other birds seen at the site were 1 Steller’s Jay, 2 Clark’s Nutcrackers, 3 Black-billed Magpies, 45 Common Ravens, 26 of which flew to the west in a single flock at 1624, and 3 Pine Grosbeaks.

8 hours (359.8) TOTAL 0 (3945)

Steeples (Vance Mattson) NO OBSERVATION

MOUNT LORETTE SUMMARY COUNT (September 20 to November 15)

DAYS 44

HOURS 470.2

TURKEY VULTURE (TUVU) 0

OSPREY (OSPR) 2

BALD EAGLE (BAEA) 162

NORTHERN HARRIER (NOHA) 6

SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (SSHA) 81

COOPER’S HAWK (COHA) 18

NORTHERN GOSHAWK (NOGO) 28

Accipiter sp. (UA) 3

BROAD-WINGED HAWK (BWHA) 1

SWAINSON’S HAWK (SWHA) 0

RED-TAILED HAWK (RTHA) 29

FERRUGINOUS HAWK (FEHA) 1

ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (RLHA) 28

Buteo sp. (UB) 10

GOLDEN EAGLE (GOEA) 3203

Eagle sp. (UE) 7

AMERICAN KESTREL (AMKE) 3

MERLIN (MERL) 5

GYRFALCON (GYRF) 4

PEREGRINE FALCON (PEFA) 7

PRAIRIE FALCON (PRFA) 6

Falco sp. (UF) 3

Unidentified Raptor (UU) 2

TOTAL 3609

Tuesday, November 7 [Day 43] (Blake Weis, assisted by Cliff Hansen) 0755-1700. The temperature at 0800 was -16C, reached a high of -6C at 1500 and was -7C at 1700. Ground winds were SW 0-5 km/h to 1200 and subsequently SE-SW 0-5 gusting 10-15 km/h, and ridge winds were NW light to moderate for most of the day. Cloud cover was initially 90% cirrus, altostratus and altocumulus that reduced to 20% from 1200-1400 after which it again increased to 90%. Despite the ridges being completely clear and good observing conditions only three migrant eagles were seen: an adult Bald Eagle at 1528, an adult Golden Eagle at 1536 and a juvenile Bald Eagle at 1545. All birds moved from Mount Lorette to low on the Fisher Range and mainly flapped to the south. Non-migrants were an adult Bald Eagle that flew north above the centre of the valley, an adult Northern Goshawk that flew north along the Fisher Range ridge and a resident adult Golden Eagle that soared on the flank of Mount Collembola. Other birds seen included 5 Canada Geese and 9 Trumpeter Swans that flew south above the valley, the Killdeer that was found yesterday, 4 Boreal Chickadees, 1 Brown Creeper, 2 American Dippers, 8 Pine Grosbeaks and 24 Common Redpolls. The Striped Skunk was again present north of the site, and 5 visitors were noted.

9.08 hours (461.7) BAEA 2 (162), GOEA 1 (3203) TOTAL 3 (3608)

Vicki Ridge [Day 44] (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Gord Petersen) 0845-1645 (Observation from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge). The temperature was -7C at 0900, the high was -4C from 1300-1600 and it was -4.5 at 1645. Winds were W all day, 35-45 gusting to 60 km/h to 1300 after which they moderated to 30-40 km/h. Cloud cover was 70-80% altostratus that allowed hazy sunshine to 1200, which thickened to 90-100% altostratus and altocumulus throughout the afternoon which only began to thin again after 1600. Observing conditions were very good throughout. The first migrant, an adult Golden Eagle, was seen at 0934 but the next birds only appeared at 1129. Subsequently, however, there was a slow but steady stream of raptors that gradually increased throughout the afternoon and peaked at 11 birds between 1500 and 1600, and the last Golden Eagle was seen at 1632. The final count of 33 birds of 5 species was 6 Bald Eagles (4a, 1j, 1 undifferentiated immature), 1 adult Northern Goshawk, 2 Rough-legged Hawks (1 light, 1 dark), 23 Golden Eagles (17a, 1sa, 5j) and 1 Prairie Falcon. Other birds were again scarce and included 3 Clark’s Nutcrackers, 1 Pine Grosbeak and 4 Common Redpolls.

8 hours (351.8) BAEA 6 (211), NOGO 1 (99), RLHA 2 (491), GOEA 23 (1890), PRFA 1 (5) TOTAL 33 (3945)

Steeples [Day 37] (Vance Mattson) 1300-1630. It was overcast and snowing lightly until noon when things began to slowly clear. Vance arrived at the site at 1300 and almost immediately counted the only two migrants of the day, both juvenile Golden Eagles, at 1310 and 1329. Low cloud again sat in front of the ridges and partially obscured the entire range; it appeared as if things would clear several times, but cloud continued to appear from the south, at times fully, and at other times partially, obscuring the ridges. It was not until 1600 that the ridges were totally clear but no further migrants or non-migrants were seen. The temperature was -7C at 1300 and warmed to -5C, it was mostly calm or light S winds and there was 100% altostratus, cumulus, and stratus cloud cover throughout.

3.5 hours (171.3) GOEA 2 (143) TOTAL 2 (619)

MOUNT LORETTE SUMMARY COUNT (September 20 to November 15)

DAYS 43

HOURS 452.6

TURKEY VULTURE (TUVU) 0

OSPREY (OSPR) 2

BALD EAGLE (BAEA) 162

NORTHERN HARRIER (NOHA) 6

SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (SSHA) 81

COOPER’S HAWK (COHA) 18

NORTHERN GOSHAWK (NOGO) 28

Accipiter sp. (UA) 3

BROAD-WINGED HAWK (BWHA) 1

SWAINSON’S HAWK (SWHA) 0

RED-TAILED HAWK (RTHA) 29

FERRUGINOUS HAWK (FEHA) 1

ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (RLHA) 27

Buteo sp. (UB) 10

GOLDEN EAGLE (GOEA) 3203

Eagle sp. (UE) 7

AMERICAN KESTREL (AMKE) 3

MERLIN (MERL) 5

GYRFALCON (GYRF) 4

PEREGRINE FALCON (PEFA) 7

PRAIRIE FALCON (PRFA) 6

Falco sp. (UF) 3

Unidentified Raptor (UU) 2

TOTAL 3608

Monday, November 6 [Day 42] (Blake Weis, assisted by Dan Parliament) 0820-1710. The starting temperature was a chilling -23C but it rose to a high of -7C from 1500 to the end of observation. It was calm to 1000 then ground winds were mainly S 0-5 gusting 8 km/h to 1400 and then NW 0-6 gusting 10 km/h, while ridge winds were moderate S all day. It was cloudless all day, although the west was up to 20% obscured up to 1000 by snow-making on the ski-hill. There was a disappointing migration of nine eagles between 1052 and 1638 comprising 3 adult Bald Eagles and 6 Golden Eagles (5a, 1j) all of which moved along the Fisher Range, probably from Mount Lorette. Two birds were seen before 1200, none were recorded between 1200 and 1500 and 7 moved after 1500. There were, however, a good variety of other bird species that included 1 Killdeer, 3 Golden-crowned Kinglets, 1 Bohemian Waxwing, 1 Dark-eyed Junco, 4 Pine Grosbeaks, 1 White-winged Crossbill, 19 Common Redpolls and 7 Pine Siskins. A Striped Skunk was seen a couple of times north of the site, and the blue skies enticed 25 visitors to the site today.

8.83 hours (452.6) BAEA 3 (160), GOEA 6 (3202) TOTAL 9 (3605)

Vicki Ridge [Day 43] (Peter Sherrington) 1030-1700 (Observation from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge). The temperature at 1030 was -11C, the high was -5C at 1400 and 1500 and it was -7C at 1700. Winds were W, 0-8 km/h to 1315 after which they were W-WNW 10-15 gusting 30 km/h, and it was completely cloudless all day. After five straight days of poor weather and no raptor migration the day produced a gratifying total of 71 birds of 3 species that moved between 1038 and 1616. The count was 8 Bald Eagles (5a, 2sa, 1j), 2 light morph Rough-legged Hawks and 61 Golden Eagles (47a, 3sa, 5j, 6u). The maximum hourly count was 23 between 1300 and 1400 and both 1200-1300 and 1400-1500 produced 17 migrants. Other birds were scarce and included a flock of 30 Canada Geese flying high to the west at 1135, 1 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finch that fed at the site late in the day, and a flock of 12 low-flying Common Redpolls.

7.5 hours (344.8) BAEA 8 (205), RLHA 2 (489), GOEA 61 (1867) TOTAL 71 (3912)

Steeples [Day 36] (Vance Mattson) 1330-1530. The entire valley cleared today, but due to a teaching commitment Vance could only observe for 2 hours. Because of snow and ice it was impossible to access the South Lakit Site, so observation was from Lone Peak, which is located approximately 1km to the south. The temperature was -5C and it was calm and sunny with 30% low cumulus cloud situated in front of the entire mountain range but mostly below the level of the peaks. Initially there was no migration, but between 1423 and 1450 there was a rapid movement of 18 eagles consisting of 11 Golden Eagles, 6 Bald Eagles, and 1 unidentified eagle. Only two eagles, both Goldens, migrated between 1500 and 1530 the last being a subadult at 1521. The vantage point proved to be excellent, with eagles gliding low across Lone Peak and soaring before continuing their southward journey. Immature birds of both eagle species were well represented and the final tally was 13 Golden Eagles (8a, 1sa, 4j), 6 Bald Eagles (1a, 5j) and 1 unidentified eagle.

2 hours (167.8) BAEA 6 (274), GOEA 13 (141), UE 1 (3) TOTAL 20 (617)

MOUNT LORETTE SUMMARY COUNT (September 20 to November 15)

DAYS 42

HOURS 452.6

TURKEY VULTURE (TUVU) 0

OSPREY (OSPR) 2

BALD EAGLE (BAEA) 160

NORTHERN HARRIER (NOHA) 6

SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (SSHA) 81

COOPER’S HAWK (COHA) 18

NORTHERN GOSHAWK (NOGO) 28

Accipiter sp. (UA) 3

BROAD-WINGED HAWK (BWHA) 1

SWAINSON’S HAWK (SWHA) 0

RED-TAILED HAWK (RTHA) 29

FERRUGINOUS HAWK (FEHA) 1

ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (RLHA) 27

Buteo sp. (UB) 10

GOLDEN EAGLE (GOEA) 3202

Eagle sp. (UE) 7

AMERICAN KESTREL (AMKE) 3

MERLIN (MERL) 5

GYRFALCON (GYRF) 4

PEREGRINE FALCON (PEFA) 7

PRAIRIE FALCON (PRFA) 6

Falco sp. (UF) 3

Unidentified Raptor (UU) 2

TOTAL 3605