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

Wednesday, October 18 [Day 27] (Caroline Lambert) 0815-1900. The temperature at 0815 was 2C, rose to a high of 6C from 1300 to 1700 and was 4C at 1900. Ground winds were 0-5 km/h to 1000 and then SW 10-15 km/h reaching gusts of 35 km/h at the end of the day; ridge winds were moderate SW becoming strong after 1700. Cloud cover was 100% altostratus and cumulus to 1100 that reduced to 20% cumulus, cirrus and altostratus at noon before gradually increasing throughout the afternoon and reaching 100% stratus, altostratus and cumulus after 1800. The western ridges were 50% obscured around 1500 but the east was clear all day. A total of 36 migrants were tallied between 0949 and 1736 of which 34 were Golden Eagles (12a, 3j, 19u). The only other migrants were 1 adult Bald Eagle and 1 unaged Cooper’s Hawk. Movement was slow and steady throughout the day with a high hourly count of 7 birds between 1300 and 1400 and a late movement of 6 Golden Eagles between 1700 and 1736. All birds moved along the Fisher Range, some flying low but most gliding high above the ridge. Other birds seen included 5 Common Loons, 1 Ring-billed Gull, 1 adult Northern Shrike, 1 Steller’s Jay (a rare bird in the Kananskis Valley), 12 Golden-crowned Kinglets, 20 Bohemian Waxwings (the first of the season), 1 Oregon Junco and 4 Pine Siskins. Six visitors were at the site today.

9.75 hours (300.4) BAEA 1 (67), COHA 1 (16), GOEA 34 (2125) TOTAL 36 (2387)

Vicki Ridge [Day 27] (Peter Sherrington) 0900-1615. (Observation from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge). The temperature at 0900 was 4C, rose to a high of 11 at 1400 and 1500 and was 8C at 1615. Winds were WSW all day, 20-35 gusting to 50 km/h to 1400 but increasing after 1445 to 40-55 gusting 70 km/h. Cloud cover was 60-100% thin altostratus, altocumulus, cumulus and lenticular to 1600 that gave hazy sunshine and excellent viewing conditions. At 1545 dark altostratus and cumulus moved from the west and reached 90% at 1600 bringing light rain. There was a steady and varied raptor movement of 72 birds of 8 species between 0924 and 1551 that comprised a season-high 6 Bald Eagles (5a, 1sa), 11 Sharp-shinned Hawks (10a, 1u), 1 juvenile Northern Goshawk, 1 adult light morph Broad-winged Hawk, 3 adult Red-tailed Hawks (1 light calurus, 2 dark harlani), 9 Rough-legged Hawks (7 light, 2u), 40 Golden Eagles (22a, 3sa, 13j, 2u) and 1u columbarius Merlin. Forty-five of the 72 birds moved between 1100 and 1400. The return of more reasonable wind speeds also saw a good movement of non-raptor bird species that included 1 Common Loon, 5 American Robins, 965 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches in 7 flocks, the largest of which was 400 birds, 3 Pine Grosbeaks and 7 Red Crossbills, and an adult Northern Shrike perched briefly at the site.

7.25 hours (223.3) BAEA 6 (57), SSHA 11 (645), NOGO 1 (61), BWHA 1 (32), RTHA 3 (213), RLHA 9 (150), GOEA 40 (1168), MERL 1 (17) TOTAL 72 (2510)

Steeples (Vance Mattson) NO OBSERVATION

Thursday, October 19 (Joel Duncan, assisted by Rick Robb) 0745-1630. NO OBSERVATION POSSIBLE. The temperature was 1C all day, winds were light SW and cloud cover was 100% low stratus that completely obscured the mountains and brought steady rain all day. At 1330 the observers moved to the Lusk Creek site where conditions were unfortunately the same.

Vicki Ridge [Day 28] (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Denise Cocciolone-Amatto and Raymond Toal) 1430-1800. (Observation from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge). Rain fell steadily and low cloud obscured the ridges to around 1400. When observation started at 1430 the temperature was 8C which briefly rose to 10C at 1600 but fell to 8C after 1700. Winds were W-WNW 20-35 gusting 45 km/h to 1800 when they became light NNE. Cloud cover was 70-90% altostratus, stratocumulus and cumulus with dark clouds to the north and west, and a persistent patch of clear blue sky to the south. Light rain still fell at 1500 but quickly ceased. Considering that the Livingstone Range to the north remained shrouded in low cloud there was a surprising movement of 21 birds of 5 species that were seen between 1500 and 1658, but the last 1.25 hours produced no birds at all. The count was 2u Sharp-shinned Hawks, 1 adult Northern Goshawk, 8 light morph Rough-legged Hawks, 9 Golden Eagles (7a, 1sa, 1j) and 1u light grey morph Gyrfalcon. The total includes 8 migrants (1 Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1 Northern Goshawk, 3 Rough-legged Hawks and 3 Golden Eagles) seen by Raymond between 1545 and 1645 from the west ridge of Kyllo Ridge near the Waterton 68 wellsite.

3.5 hours (226.8) SSHA 2 (647), NOGO 1 (62), RLHA 8 (158), GOEA 9 (1177), GYRF 1 (2) TOTAL 21 (2531)

Steeples (Vance Mattson) NO OBSERVATION (Weather)  Rain and low overcast conditions all day.

MOUNT LORETTE SUMMARY COUNT (September 20 to November 15)

DAYS 27

HOURS 300.4

TURKEY VULTURE (TUVU) 0

OSPREY (OSPR) 1

BALD EAGLE (BAEA) 67

NORTHERN HARRIER (NOHA) 5

SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (SSHA) 71

COOPER’S HAWK (COHA) 16

NORTHERN GOSHAWK (NOGO) 18

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) 19

Buteo sp. (UB) 9

GOLDEN EAGLE (GOEA) 2125

Eagle sp. (UE) 3

AMERICAN KESTREL (AMKE) 1

MERLIN (MERL) 4

GYRFALCON (GYRF) 2

PEREGRINE FALCON (PEFA) 6

PRAIRIE FALCON (PRFA) 3

Falco sp. (UF) 2

Unidentified Raptor (UU) 2

TOTAL 2387