Thursday, October 26 [Day 34] (Caroline Lambert, assisted by Rick Robb) 0830-1835. The temperature was -4C at 0830, rose to a high of 8C at 1700 and was 5C at the end of observation. Ground winds were calm or light and variable in the morning and SW 5-10 km/h to 1700 and finally NW 5-10 gusting 15 km/h. Ridge winds were SW moderate to strong to 1200 when they became light to 1700 after which they were strong NW for the rest of the day. Initial cloud cover was 10% cirrostratus and altostratus that increased to 100% between 1000 and 1500 and decreased to 0% after 1700. Despite the perfect observing conditions the day again produced a disappointing 16 bird raptor migration of 3 species that moved between 0955 and 1710. The count was 4 Bald Eagles (3a, 1j), 1u Northern Goshawk, 1 unidentified dark Buteo and 10 Golden Eagles (5a, 1sa, 2j, 2u). Ten migrants were counted between 1100 and 1200 that raised expectations that a movement was finally underway, but only 4 more migrants were counted during the entire afternoon. Other birds seen included a flock of 40 Canada Geese flying south, 1 juvenile (probable) California Gull, 4 Golden-crowned Kinglets, a flock of 40 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches, 2 Pine Grosbeaks, 45 Common Redpolls, and 4 Pine Siskins. A Striped Skunk ambled south, east of the river, and the 7 visitors to the site were all west of the river.

10.08 hours (373.8) BAEA 4 (88), NOGO 1 (23), UB 1 (10), GOEA 10 (2721) TOTAL 16 (3030)

Vicki Ridge [Day 35] (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Raymond Toal) 0900-1820 (Observation from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge). Yesterday’s late rain turned to snow overnight and there was 4cm at the site at 0900 which showed fresh tracks of 2 Grizzly Bears that had walked south during the night. The temperature was -5C which slowly rose to a high of 5C at 1700 and 1800 and was 4C at the end of observation. It was calm or very light E winds until 1030 when a light W flow was detected which increased to 15-20 gusting 30 km/h from 1100 to 1500 and then 25-30 gusting 40 km/h for the rest of the day. It was cloudless to 1020 when altostratus cloud began to move from the NNE that quickly reached 100% by 1045. Around 1300 it disappeared as rapidly to 10% then increased again to 80-100% altostratus and lenticular which again dwindled to 10% for the last two hours of observation. A total of 82 raptors of 8 species migrated between 1035 and 1815 made up of 4 Bald Eagles (1a, 2j, 1u), 1 adult female Northern Harrier, 6 Sharp-shinned Hawks (2a, 4u), 2 adult Cooper’s Hawks, 2 Northern Goshawks (1a, 1u), 3 adult calurus Red-tailed Hawks (1 light, 2 dark), 41 Rough-legged Hawks (38 light, 2 dark, 1u), 1 unidentified dark Buteo, 21 Golden Eagles (15a, 2sa, 4j) and 1 Prairie Falcon. These totals include 13 migrants (2 Sharp-shinned Hawks, 8 Rough-legged Hawks and 3 Golden Eagles) seen by Raymond between 1415 and 1630 from the western edge of Kyllo Ridge near the Waterton 68 wellsite. Because of the initial calm conditions only 1 bird was recorded before 1100, but subsequent movement was steady and peaked at 20 birds between 1500 and 1600. A skein of 22 Canada Geese flew west at 0935, 2 Trumpeter Swans flew SE at 1016, and other migrant birds were 25 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches, 5 Red Crossbills and 4 Common Redpolls.

9.33 hours (289.7) BAEA 4 (101), NOHA 1 (16), SSHA 6 (741), COHA 2 (90), NOGO 2 (74), RTHA 3 (227) RLHA 41 (377), UB 1 (18) GOEA 21 (1439), PRFA 1 (4) TOTAL 82 (3203)

Steeples [Day 27] (Vance Mattson) 1330-1830. The temperature was 10C at 1330 and dropped to 4C by 1830, cloud cover was initially 100% altocumulus but it was cloudless by 1530 giving a sunny and pleasant day, and calm conditions prevailed throughout. When Vance arrived at the site 2 adult Golden Eagles were already moving south above the ridges, followed by a juvenile Bald Eagle, an adult light calurus Red-tail Hawk, and an Osprey, all before 1400.           Ten migrants moved between 1400 and 1500, but the next migrant, an adult Bald Eagle, was not seen until 1632, after which migration was sporadic with the last migrant, an adult Golden Eagle, moving south at 1754. The final count of 21 birds of 5 species was 1 Osprey, 9 Bald Eagles (5a, 1sa, 3j), 2 adult calurus Red-tailed Hawks (1 light, 1 dark) and 6 Golden Eagles (5a, 1j). The calm conditions produced much flapping and/or extended soaring flight. Non-migrants were a juvenile and adult Bald Eagle.

5 hours (126) OSPR 1 (5), BAEA 9 (179), SSHA 3 (78), RTHA 2 (48), GOEA 6 (81) TOTAL 21 (437)

MOUNT LORETTE SUMMARY COUNT (September 20 to November 15)

DAYS 34

HOURS 373.8

TURKEY VULTURE (TUVU) 0

OSPREY (OSPR) 1

BALD EAGLE (BAEA) 88

NORTHERN HARRIER (NOHA) 5

SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (SSHA) 77

COOPER’S HAWK (COHA) 18

NORTHERN GOSHAWK (NOGO) 23

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) 21

Buteo sp. (UB) 10

GOLDEN EAGLE (GOEA) 2721

Eagle sp. (UE) 6

AMERICAN KESTREL (AMKE) 3

MERLIN (MERL) 5

GYRFALCON (GYRF) 2

PEREGRINE FALCON (PEFA) 6

PRAIRIE FALCON (PRFA) 6

Falco sp. (UF) 2

Unidentified Raptor (UU) 2

TOTAL 3030

Tuesday, October 24 [Day 32] (Cliff Hansen, assisted by Dan Parliament) 0815-1830. The starting temperature was 6C, the high at 1700 was 14C and it was still 13C at 1830. Ground winds were SSW 5-10 gusting 20 km/h which increased to 50 km/h after mid-afternoon, while ridge winds were strong SW all day. Cloud cover was 100% altostratus in the form of a Chinook Arch that persisted to 1300 after which it slowly moved to the east leaving cirrus and altostratus cloud in its wake that was 50% at 1600 but by 1800 cloud cover was 100% cirrostratus. Locating conditions were excellent all day. There was a fairly strong raptor movement with 62 birds of 3 species seen between 0815 and 1730 that comprised 1u Sharp-shinned Hawk, 58 Golden Eagles (41a, 3sa, 4j, 10u), 1 unidentified eagle and 2 Prairie Falcons. Twenty-five of the birds were recorded between 1200 and 1400 and all moved at varying heights along the Fisher Range having been initially located at the northern end of the range. An adult Bald Eagle and 2 adult Northern Goshawks were resident or non-migrant, and other birds of note were 1 adult Northern Shrike, a flock of 40 Bohemian Waxwings, 19 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches in 2 flocks and 19 Pine Siskins. Fifteen visitors were at the site today.

10.25 hours (353.7) SSHA 1 (77), GOEA 58 (2698), UE 1 (6), PRFA 2 (6) TOTAL 62 (2998)

Vicki Ridge [Day 33] (Peter Sherrington to 1600, Gord Petersen and Raymond Toal after 1600) 0900-1800 (Observation from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge). The temperature was 8C at 0900, rose to a high of 14C at 1600 and was 10C at the end of observation. Winds were W-WSW 40-50 gusting 60-85 km/h all day, and cloud cover was 100% all day with a Chinook Arch giving gloomy conditions to 1400 when it began to move eastwards and was replaced by thin cirrostratus that gave welcome sunshine for the rest of the day. Movement was slow but persistent between 0924 and 1810 during which time 47 raptors of 7 species were counted that comprised 4 Bald Eagles (2a, 1sa, 1j), 7u Sharp-shinned Hawks, 2 adult Cooper’s Hawks, 3 adult Northern Goshawks, 12 Rough-legged Hawks (10 light, 1 dark, 1u), 18 Golden Eagles (9a, 1sa, 7j, 1u) and 1 (probable female) American Kestrel. These totals include 15 migrants (1 Bald Eagle, 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk, 8 Rough-legged Hawks and 5 Golden Eagles) seen by Raymond between 1345 and 1715 from the west ridge of Kyllo Ridge near the Waterton 68 wellsite. Other birds of note were 1 juvenile Northern Shrike, 4 American Robins, 4 European Starlings, 300 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches migrating in 9 flocks plus 3 that fed at the site with a female House Finch, and 4 Red Crossbills.

9.33 hours (271.4) BAEA 4 (84), SSHA 7 (723), COHA 2 (87), NOGO 3 (71), RLHA 10 (282), GOEA 18 (1388), AMKE 1 (21) TOTAL 47 (3007)

Steeples [Day 25] (Vance Mattson) 1145-1745. ) The temperature rose from 6C to a high of 14C and was still 13C at 1730. It was essentially calm and cloud cover was 40% thin altostratus for the first hour and then 10-20% cumulus and altostratus for the rest of the day. Twelve migrants of 3 species were seen between 1322 and 1546 comprising 10 Bald Eagles (3a, 2sa, 5j), 1u Sharp-shinned Hawk and 1 light Rough-legged Hawk. All but the first bird, the Sharp-shinned Hawk, moved between 1519 and 1546, and included 7 of the Bald Eagles that were seen between 1526 and 1532. The migrants soared extensively providing excellent views, especially of the various plumages of the juvenile and sub-adult Bald Eagles. Non-migrants consisted of single adults of Red-tailed Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, and Golden Eagle, the latter also providing great views as it soared extensively in front of the ridge.

6 hours (119) BAEA 10 (170), SSHA 1 (75), RLHA 1 (7) TOTAL 12 (415)

Wednesday, October 25 [Day 33] (Joel Duncan, assisted by Patrick Farley) 0800-1800. The temperature at 0800 was 14C which also proved to be the high of the day. The temperature gradually dropped and was 10C at 1600 but after the passage of a cold front around 1630 it dropped rapidly and was 4C at 1800. Ground winds were SW 15-25 gusting to 38 km/h to 1300 when they became light, but when the front arrived they switched to N 15-25 gusting 40 km/h for the rest of the day. Cloud cover was initially 60% cumulus and altostratus which thinned to 20% at 1000, after which it was 80-90% stratocumulus that reached 100% at 1630 and brought steady rain and sleet at 1730. The eastern ridges were clear to 1700 after which they were completely obscured, and the west was briefly 20% obscured around 1300 before also becoming 100% obscured after 1700. There was a disappointing raptor movement of 16 birds of 3 species between 0953 and 1548 comprising 1 juvenile Bald Eagle, 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk, 13 Golden Eagles (6a, 3sa, 4u) and 1 unidentified eagle. All birds moved along the Fisher Range, some at ridge level while others glided very high above the ridge, and the maximum movement was 5 between 1500 and 1548 just ahead of the approaching front. Other birds seen included 1 displaying Ruffed Grouse, 1 female Belted Kingfisher, a flock of 25 Bohemian Waxwings, 1 Pine Grosbeak and 52 Pine Siskins, and 10 visitors made it to the site today.

10 hours (363.7) BAEA 1 (84), RLHA 1 (21), GOEA 13 (2711), UE 1 (6), TOTAL 16 (3014)

Vicki Ridge [Day 34] (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Raymond Toal) 0915-1815 (Observation from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge). The temperature was 11C at 0900, reached a high of 14C at 1500 and rapidly dropped after 1700 to 6C at the end of observation. Winds were yet again strong W-WSW 50 gusting 80 km/h to 1000 then 70-80 gusting to 110 km/h until 1400 when they moderated to 20-30 gusting 50 km/h. Around 1700 the wind shifted quickly to the ENE at 30-40 gusting 50 km/h which finally diminished to 10-20 km/h at 1800. Cloud cover was 30-80% altostratus, altocumulus and cumulus that gave sunny periods to 1430, and a light rain shower between 1030 and 1100 produced a perfect rainbow arch that formed a bridge between Kyllo Ridge and Vicki Ridge. After 1430 100% dark stratocumulus cloud quickly formed and persisted for the rest of the day and threatened rain which fortunately did not start until the end of observation. There was a remarkably high and varied raptor movement involving 114 birds of 9 species that migrated between 0942 and 1745. The count was a season-high total of 13 Bald Eagles (11a, 2sa), 12 Sharp-shinned Hawks (5a, 7u), 1u Cooper’s Hawk, 1 adult Northern Goshawk, 1 adult dark morph harlani Red-tailed Hawk, 1 adult dark morph Ferruginous Hawk that glided directly overhead at 1546, a season-high and single-day site record total of 54 Rough-legged Hawks, all of which were light morphs, 30 Golden Eagles (17a, 3sa, 6j, 4u) and 1 Prairie Falcon. The movement was initially slow and very sporadic in the strong winds and by 1300 only 16 migrants had been recorded, but the pace quickened throughout the afternoon and climaxed, after the wind-shift, at 42 between 1700 and 1745. This period saw 7 Bald Eagles and 33 Rough-legged Hawks move mainly from east to west and included prolonged soaring of up to a dozen birds at a time above Vicki Ridge. It was quite the sight! Other migrant birds were 1 adult California Gull, 21 European Starlings, 1 Bohemian Waxwing, 175 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches in 5 flocks, and 10 Red Crossbills.

9 hours (280.4) BAEA 13 (97), SSHA 12 (735), COHA 1 (88), NOGO 1 (72), RTHA 1 (224), FEHA 1 (6), RLHA 54 (336), GOEA 30 (1418), PRFA 1 (3) TOTAL 114 (3121)

Steeples [Day 26] (Vance Mattson) 1330-1530. Observation from the South Lakit site where the temperature was 12C, winds were moderate to strong S-SW and cloud cover was 100% altostratus and cumulus. The only raptor seen was a migrant adult Peregrine Falcon.

2 hours (121) PEFA 1 (2) TOTAL 2 (416)

MOUNT LORETTE SUMMARY COUNT (September 20 to November 15)

DAYS 33

HOURS 363.7

TURKEY VULTURE (TUVU) 0

OSPREY (OSPR) 1

BALD EAGLE (BAEA) 84

NORTHERN HARRIER (NOHA) 5

SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (SSHA) 77

COOPER’S HAWK (COHA) 18

NORTHERN GOSHAWK (NOGO) 22

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) 21

Butte sp. (UB) 9

GOLDEN EAGLE (GOEA) 2711

Eagle sp. (UE) 6

AMERICAN KESTREL (AMKE) 3

MERLIN (MERL) 5

GYRFALCON (GYRF) 2

PEREGRINE FALCON (PEFA) 6

PRAIRIE FALCON (PRFA) 6

Falco sp. (UF) 2

Unidentified Raptor (UU) 2

TOTAL 3014

Monday, October 23 [Day 31] (George Halmazna, assisted by Dan Parliament and Michael Woertman) 0730-1845. The temperature at 0800 was 2.5C, dropped to the day’s low of -1.5C at 0900, reached a high of 8C at 1600 and was 6C at 1800. Ground winds were initially calm or light becoming SW after 0900, 2-10 km/h gusting up to 35 km/h after 1300. Ridge winds were probably SW light in the morning and moderate in the afternoon. Cloud cover was 30-40% cumulus all day with some lenticular cloud forming after 1530. Ridges were clear all day, but finding and identifying high-flying birds over the Fisher Range against a blue sky was a challenge. A total of 89 migrant raptors of 5 species were counted between 0843 and 1757 with a peak Golden Eagle count of 15 between 1500 and 1600. The count comprised 1 adult Bald Eagle, 4 Sharp-shinned Hawks (1j, 3u), 1u Cooper’s Hawk, 1u dark morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk and 82 Golden Eagles (39a, 5sa, 13j, 25u). Eagles flew on both the eastern and western routes to 1230, after which they all flew from ridge level to very high above the Fisher Range for the rest of the day. Several other bird species were noted including 1 Ruffed Grouse perched high in an aspen tree, 7 California Gulls (5a, 2j), 1 Northern Pygmy-Owl seen in flight, 1 Northern Shrike seen chasing 2 Grey Jays, 10 Golden-crowned Kinglets, 12 American Robins, 1 American Pipit, 1 Lapland Longspur, 1 Snow Bunting, 6 Dark-eyed Juncos, 113 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches in 5 flocks, 2 White-winged Crossbills and 18 Pine Siskins. Only two visitors were at the site today.

11.25 hours (343.4) BAEA 1 (83), SSHA 4 (76), COHA 1 (18), RTHA 1 (29), GOEA 82 (2640) TOTAL 89 (2936)

Vicki Ridge [Day 32] (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Denise Cocciolone-Amatto and Raymond Toal) 0900-1800 (Observation from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge). It was finally a pleasant day with a starting temperature of 5C that reached a high of 9C at 1500 and 1600, and was 7C at 1800. Winds were W-WSW 25-40 gusting 50-60 km/h, and cloud cover was 30-100% thin altostratus, cumulus and lenticular except for 1200 and 1300 when it was 5-20% cumulus. Observing conditions were excellent throughout and the sunshine or hazy sunshine all day was very welcome. There was a persistent raptor movement throughout the day that involved 117 birds of 8 species seen between 0916 and 1741. The count was a season-high 12 Bald Eagles (8a, 4sa), 27 Sharp-shinned Hawks (21a, 6u), 4 Cooper’s Hawks (2a, 2u), 3 Northern Goshawks (1a, 2j), 1 adult light morph Broad-winged Hawk, 3 Red-tailed Hawks (1 light juvenile calurus, 2 dark adult harlani), 30 light morph Rough-legged Hawks and 37 Golden Eagles (18a, 1sa, 17j, 1u). These totals include 26 migrants (3 Bald Eagles, 3 Sharp-shinned Hawks, 2 Cooper’s Hawks, 8 Rough-legged Hawks and 10 Golden Eagles) seen by Raymond between 1430 and 1650 from the west ridge of Kyllo Ridge near the Waterton 68 wellsite. Seventy raptors were recorded at both sites between 1400 and 1700. Other migrant birds were 4 Common Loons that flew high to the west at 1301, 2 American Robins and 789 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches that flew south in 9 flocks throughout the day.

9 hours (262.1) BAEA 12 (80), SSHA 27 (716), COHA 4 (85), NOGO 3 (68), BWHA 1 (33), RTHA 3 (223), RLHA 30 (270), GOEA 37 (1370) TOTAL 117 (2960)

Steeples [Day 24] (Vance Mattson) 1330-1530. It was another pleasant day with a temperature of 12C, light west to calm conditions and 20% cumulus cloud cover that gave a sunny day. Five migrants were seen: 1 adult Bald Eagle, 1 adult Northern Goshawk and 3 Golden Eagles (2a, 1j). All but the last Golden Eagle at 1530 glided very high over the site. An adult non-migrant Bald Eagle was also present.

2 hours (113) BAEA 1 (160), NOGO 1 (9), GOEA3 (75) TOTAL 5 (403)

MOUNT LORETTE SUMMARY COUNT (September 20 to November 15)

DAYS 31

HOURS 343.4

TURKEY VULTURE (TUVU) 0

OSPREY (OSPR) 1

BALD EAGLE (BAEA) 83

NORTHERN HARRIER (NOHA) 5

SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (SSHA) 76

COOPER’S HAWK (COHA) 18

NORTHERN GOSHAWK (NOGO) 22

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) 20

Butte sp. (UB) 9

GOLDEN EAGLE (GOEA) 2640

Eagle sp. (UE) 4

AMERICAN KESTREL (AMKE) 3

MERLIN (MERL) 5

GYRFALCON (GYRF) 2

PEREGRINE FALCON (PEFA) 6

PRAIRIE FALCON (PRFA) 4

Falco sp. (UF) 2

Unidentified Raptor (UU) 2

TOTAL 2936

Sunday, October 22 [Day 30] (Bill Wilson, assisted by Lori Anderson) 0725-1845. The temperature was initially 2C, the high was 6C at 1300 and it was again 2C at the end of observation. Ground winds were SSE 5-10 gusting 33 km/h to 1400 after which they were 5-10 km/h, while ridge winds were strong WSW to 1400 then moderate NNW for the rest of the day. Cloud cover was 90-100% stratus all day with the exception of 0800 when it was 80%, and occasional mixed snow and rain showers occurred throughout the day. The eastern mountains were clear to 0900 and then were 10-30% obscured for the rest of the day and became 100% obscured during precipitation events. The west was 10% obscured to 0900 and then was 90-100% obscured that only reduced to 50% at the end of the day. Despite the gloomy conditions there was a slow but persistent raptor migration involving 50 birds of 4 species that moved between 0826 and 1836 and comprised 2 Bald Eagles (1a, 1j), 1u Cooper’s Hawk, 2 Northern Goshawks (1j, 1u), 44 Golden Eagles (16a, 4sa, 10j, 14u) and 1 unidentified eagle. All birds moved down the Fisher Range and probably mainly came from Mount Lorette. The peak movement was 15 Golden Eagles between 1200 and 1300 which was the only hour with a double-digit count. Other birds seen included 6 California Gulls (4a, 2j), 1 juvenile Herring Gull and 1 unidentified white-headed gull migrating south, 1 Northern Pygmy-Owl that perched near the site, 1 American Tree Sparrow and around 600 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches including a single flock of 400 birds. There were 22 visitors at the site today.

11.33 hours (332.2) BAEA 2 (82), COHA 1 (17) NOGO 2 (22), GOEA 44 (2558), UE 1 (4) TOTAL 50 (2847)

Vicki Ridge [Day 31] (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Denise Cocciolone-Amatto and Raymond Toal) 0915-1800 (Observation from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge). The temperature at 0915 was 3C rose to a high of 7C at 1200 and again at 1500, but fell to the day’s low of 2.5C at 1235 following a prolonged heavy rain shower; at 1800 it was 4C. Winds were initially variable 5-18 km/h, but after 1200 they were W-WSW 35-50 gusting to 70 km/h, and 80 km/h around noon. Cloud cover was 100% stratus with steady rain to 1100 after which it was 40-90% cumulus and stratus that produced light rain showers, and granular snow and sleet flurries for most of the rest of the day. The exception was 1215-1235 when heavy rain fell. It was a thoroughly unpleasant day but was again redeemed by a sporadic but fairly strong and varied raptor movement of 115 birds of 8 species between 1058 and 1749. The count was 1 Osprey, 6 adult Bald Eagles, 10 Sharp-shinned Hawks (4a, 6u), 1 adult Cooper’s Hawk, 1 adult Northern Goshawk, 22 Rough-legged Hawks (17 light, 2 dark, 3u), 73 Golden Eagles (51a, 3sa, 11j, 8u) and 1 adult male Peregrine Falcon. Sixty-one of the birds were counted between 1300 and 1500 which was the only prolonged period of almost tolerable weather in the day. The only other birds of note were 2 Northern Shrikes (1a, 1j) and 920 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches in 6 flocks, the largest of which was 500.

8.75 hours (253.1) OSPR 1 (10), BAEA 6 (68), SSHA 10 (689), COHA 1 (81), NOGO 1 (65), RLHA 22 (240), GOEA 73 (1333) PEFA 1 (17) TOTAL 115 (2843)

Steeples [Day 23] (Vance Mattson, assisted by Virginia Rasch) 1130-1800. ….Meanwhile across the Rockies it was a beautiful day with a starting temperature of 6C that rose to a high of 12C and was still 9C at 1800. Winds were moderate W and S that became mostly calm after 1530. Cloud cover was 20-40% cumulus and altostratus which concentrated mostly as a backdrop behind the ridges that gave both excellent observing conditions and a sunny day. A total of 50 migrant raptors of 5 species were counted between 1243 and 1640 that comprised 29 Bald Eagles (14a, 1sa, 13j, 1u), 1u dark morph Broad-winged Hawk, 2 Red-tailed Hawks (1 light juvenile calurus and 1 dark adult harlani), 3 Rough-legged Hawks (2 light 1 dark), 13 Golden Eagles (10a, 1sa, 1j, 1u), 1 unidentified Buteo and 1 unidentified eagle. The total is the second highest count at the site this season. The second bird of the day was not seen until 1348 and the busiest hours were 16 between 1400 and 1500, and 22 from 1500 to 1600. As yesterday non-migrants consisted of a conspicuous adult Red-tailed Hawk and an adult Golden Eagle. A first for the site were two flocks of migrating Snow Geese: 14 at 1451 and 15 at 1525.

6.5 hours (111) BAEA 29 (159), BWHA 1 (5), RTHA 2 (46), RLHA 3 (6), GOEA 13 (72), UB 1 (1), UE 1(1) TOTAL 50 (398)

MOUNT LORETTE SUMMARY COUNT (September 20 to November 15)

DAYS 30

HOURS 332.2

TURKEY VULTURE (TUVU) 0

OSPREY (OSPR) 1

BALD EAGLE (BAEA) 82

NORTHERN HARRIER (NOHA) 5

SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (SSHA) 72

COOPER’S HAWK (COHA) 17

NORTHERN GOSHAWK (NOGO) 22

Accipiter sp. (UA) 3

BROAD-WINGED HAWK (BWHA) 1

SWAINSON’S HAWK (SWHA) 0

RED-TAILED HAWK (RTHA) 28

FERRUGINOUS HAWK (FEHA) 1

ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (RLHA) 20

Butte sp. (UB) 9

GOLDEN EAGLE (GOEA) 2558

Eagle sp. (UE) 4

AMERICAN KESTREL (AMKE) 3

MERLIN (MERL) 5

GYRFALCON (GYRF) 2

PEREGRINE FALCON (PEFA) 6

PRAIRIE FALCON (PRFA) 4

Falco sp. (UF) 2

Unidentified Raptor (UU) 2

TOTAL 2847

Saturday, October 21 [Day 29] (Jim Davis, assisted by Ruth Morrow) 0845-1845. The temperature was 1C at the start, rose to a high of 5C at noon and was 4C at the end of observation. Ground winds were W-SW all day, 15-20 gusting 30 km/h, while ridge winds were W-SW very strong to 1100 after which they were strong but diminished towards the end of the day. Cloud cover was 40% cumulus and cirrostratus for most of the day that increased to 80% during the last hour of observation. Observing conditions were excellent throughout and contributed to the second highest combined-species count of the season as 350 raptors of 6 species moved between 1014 and 1819. The count was 8 Bald Eagles (2a, 2 late subadults, 4j), 1u Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1a Northern Goshawk, 337 Golden Eagles (122a, 10sa, 45j, 160u) which is the second-highest count of the season, 2 late American Kestrels (a male and a female that perched together near the site) and 1u columbarius Merlin. Movement was continuous with the eagles moving as meandering streams sometimes using the western route then swinging overhead before flying on the eastern route for a period before returning to the west and starting the cycle again. In general, though, an increasing number of birds migrated on the Fisher Range as the day progressed, with some flying low against the face while others glided high above the ridge. The hourly counts were 13 (1014-1100), a peak count of 71 (11-1200), 26 (13-1300), 49 (13-1400), 48 (14-1500), 35 (15-1600), 35 (16-1700), 63 (17-1800) and 10 (1800-1819). Unfortunately only 12 visitors came to the site all day and only one materially assisted with the count so Jim and Ruth are to be congratulated on efficiently counting today’s broad-front and variable-height migration. Non-raptor migrants included 1 Common Loon, 13 American Robins, 480 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches in three flocks, 14 Pine Grosbeaks, 49 Pine Siskins and 3 Evening Grosbeaks. It was a busy day!

10 hours (320.9) BAEA 8 (80), SSHA 1 (72), NOGO 1 (20), GOEA 337 (2514), AMKE 2 (3), MERL 1 (5) TOTAL 350 (2797)

Vicki Ridge [Day 30] (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Raymond Toal) 0900-1800 (Observation from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge). The temperature was 3C to 1200, reached a brief high of 5C at 1300 and was 2C for the last 2 hours of observation. It felt much colder, however, as winds were strong W-WSW all day 40-50 gusting up to 75 km/h. Cloud cover was 60-80% altostratus, cumulus and altocumulus to 1500 that produced persistent snow flurries to 1410, which thinned to 30-40% cumulus between 1600 and 1700 and increased to 70% cumulus by the end of observation. The uncomfortable conditions were made tolerable by a fairly continuous and varied raptor migration of 106 birds of 9 species that moved between 0911 and 1752, and comprised 3 Bald Eagles (1a, 1sa, 1j), 16 Sharp-shinned Hawks (9a, 7u) 1 adult Cooper’s Hawk, 1 adult Northern Goshawk, 4 adult Red-tailed Hawks ( 2 calurus: 1 light, 1 dark; 2 dark harlani), 16 Rough-legged Hawks (12 light, 1 dark, 3u), 60 Golden Eagles (46a, 3sa, 6j, 5u), 2 Merlins (1 adult male richardsonii; 2 female (1a, 1u) columbarius and 2 Peregrine Falcons (1a female, 1 juvenile male). Peak movement was 61 between 1300 and 1500 which included 40 Golden Eagles. Other birds included 1 Northern Shrike, 16 American Robins, 325 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches that flew south in 4 flocks, 3 Pine Grosbeaks and 5 Red Crossbills.

9 hours (244.3) BAEA 3 (62), SSHA 16 (679), COHA 1 (80), NOGO 1 (64), RTHA 4 (220), RLHA 16 (218), GOEA 60 (1260), MERL 3 (20), PEFA 2 (16) TOTAL 106 (2728)

Steeples [Day 22] (Vance Mattson) 1100-1800. The temperature was 8C that dropped to 6C by 1800, winds were moderate to strong S all day and cloud cover was 70-100% stratus, altostratus and cumulus. There were light snow flurries between 1200 and 1300 and the prominent western peak of Bill Nye was obscured until 1530, although migrants moved below and to the west of the wall of cloud. A total of 26 migrants of 4 species moved between 1223 and 1724 that comprised 15 Bald Eagles (10a, 5j), 2u Sharp-shinned Hawks, 1 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk and 8 Golden Eagles (7a, 1sa). Nineteen of the 26 migrants were seen before 1445 followed by an almost two-hour gap before the migration resumed. Non-migrants consisted of an adult Golden Eagle and an adult Red-tailed Hawk that was seen on three occasions, including once perched at the site and, most impressively, a successful hunting strike against the rocky slope of the mountain ridge although Vance was not sure what the unfortunate prey was.

7 hours (104.5) BAEA 15 (130), SSHA 2 (74), RTHA 1 (44), GOEA 8 (59) TOTAL 26 (348)

MOUNT LORETTE SUMMARY COUNT (September 20 to November 15)

DAYS 29

HOURS 320.9

TURKEY VULTURE (TUVU) 0

OSPREY (OSPR) 1

BALD EAGLE (BAEA) 80

NORTHERN HARRIER (NOHA) 5

SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (SSHA) 72

COOPER’S HAWK (COHA) 16

NORTHERN GOSHAWK (NOGO) 20

Accipiter sp. (UA) 3

BROAD-WINGED HAWK (BWHA) 1

SWAINSON’S HAWK (SWHA) 0

RED-TAILED HAWK (RTHA) 28

FERRUGINOUS HAWK (FEHA) 1

ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (RLHA) 20

Butte sp. (UB) 9

GOLDEN EAGLE (GOEA) 2514

Eagle sp. (UE) 3

AMERICAN KESTREL (AMKE) 3

MERLIN (MERL) 5

GYRFALCON (GYRF) 2

PEREGRINE FALCON (PEFA) 6

PRAIRIE FALCON (PRFA) 4

Falco sp. (UF) 2

Unidentified Raptor (UU) 2

TOTAL 2797

Friday, October 20 [Day 28] (Blake Weis, assisted by Caroline Lambert) 0815-1845. The initial temperature was 2C, the high was 6C from 1300 to 1700 and it was 4C at the end of observation. Ground winds were SW all day 0-5 km/h to 1100 and then 10-15 gusting 35 km/h for the rest of the day, while ridge winds were SW moderate becoming strong after 1700. Cloud cover was initially 100% cumulus, cirrus and altostratus that steadily thinned to 20% at 1200 before again thickening throughout the afternoon and reaching 100% altostratus and cumulus after 1800. Rain fell from 1300 to 1400 but the eastern ridges were clear all day and the west was only briefly 50% obscured around 1500. There was a fairly strong raptor migration dominated by Golden Eagles with 60 birds of 5 species moving between 0949 and 1736. The count was 5 Bald Eagles (2a, 3j), 1 juvenile Northern Goshawk, 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk, 52 Golden Eagles (27a, 2sa, 9j, 14u) and 1 Prairie Falcon. Only the last Golden Eagle of the day was seen to the west, 3 of the Bald Eagles moved above the centre of the valley and the rest were seen migrating along the Fisher Range close to the ridge top. The day began encouragingly when 9 birds were recorded between 0949 and 1000, but the flow slowed and only a further 8 birds were seen up to 1500. The day ended on a high note, however, as a further 43 migrants moved between 1500 and 1736. There was also a good variety of non-raptor birds that included 1 Pileated Woodpecker, 2 Northern Shrikes, 1 Blue Jay, 14 Golden-crowned Kinglets, 2 Ruby-crowned Kinglets, 7 American Robins, 1 Lapland Longspur, 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler, 1 Dark-eyed Junco, 30 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches, 1 Pine Grosbeak, 2 White-winged Crossbills, 14 Pine Siskins and the first Common Redpoll of the season. The 27 visitors to the site included a party of 24 from Robert Thirsk High School in Calgary.

10.5 hours (310.9) BAEA 5 (72), NOGO 1 (19), RLHA 1 (20), GOEA 52 (2177), PRFA 1 (4) TOTAL 60 (2447)

Vicki Ridge [Day 29] (Peter Sherrington) 0900-1730 (Observation from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge). The temperature at 0900 was 7C, the high was 8C from 1100 to 1300 and it was 4.5C when observation ended at 1530. Winds were WSW and occasionally W 35-45 gusting to 60 km/h all day, and cloud cover was 100% altostratus and cumulus to 1010, 70-80% altostratus, altocumulus and cumulus to 1400 and then 100% altostratus and cumulus that brought light rain for the rest of the day. Despite the gloomy conditions there was a fairly strong, persistent and varied raptor migration with 91 birds of 8 species moving between 0932 and 1707. The flight comprised 2 juvenile Bald Eagles, 1 adult male Northern Harrier, 16 Sharp-shinned Hawks (7a, 9u), 1 adult Northern Goshawk, 3 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks, a season high and site record 44 Rough-legged Hawks (37 light, 3 dark, 4u), 23 Golden Eagles (18a, 1sa, 3j, 1u) and 1 adult male Peregrine Falcon. Each hour between 1100 and 1700 saw the movement of between 11 and 17 birds. Migrant songbirds were 525 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches that flew to the S or SW in 8 flocks and 3 Pine Siskins. At 1720 a flock of 400 European Starlings dropped in and fed on the ground at the site which provided my only company for the day.

8.5 hours (235.3) BAEA 2 (59), NOHA 1 (15), SSHA 16 (663), NOGO 1 (63), RTHA 3 (216), RLHA 44 (202), GOEA 23 (1200), PEFA 1 (14) TOTAL 91 (2622)

Steeples [Day 21] (Vance Mattson) 1400-1600. Migratory conditions were poor and no migrant or non-migrant raptors were seen. The temperature was 9C, winds were moderate W and 100% stratus cloud cover brought periodic light rain and mostly obscured the ridges.

2 hours (97.5) TOTAL 0 (322)

MOUNT LORETTE SUMMARY COUNT (September 20 to November 15)

DAYS 28

HOURS 310.9

TURKEY VULTURE (TUVU) 0

OSPREY (OSPR) 1

BALD EAGLE (BAEA) 72

NORTHERN HARRIER (NOHA) 5

SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (SSHA) 71

COOPER’S HAWK (COHA) 16

NORTHERN GOSHAWK (NOGO) 19

Accipiter sp. (UA) 3

BROAD-WINGED HAWK (BWHA) 1

SWAINSON’S HAWK (SWHA) 0

RED-TAILED HAWK (RTHA) 28

FERRUGINOUS HAWK (FEHA) 1

ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (RLHA) 20

Butte sp. (UB) 9

GOLDEN EAGLE (GOEA) 2177

Eagle sp. (UE) 3

AMERICAN KESTREL (AMKE) 1

MERLIN (MERL) 4

GYRFALCON (GYRF) 2

PEREGRINE FALCON (PEFA) 6

PRAIRIE FALCON (PRFA) 4

Falco sp. (UF) 2

Unidentified Raptor (UU) 2

TOTAL 2447