Friday, November 09 Mount Lorette [Day 47] 0755-1720 (Caroline Lambert, assisted by Rachel Mackay). The starting temperature was -4C, the high was 3C (1300-1600) and it was 1C at the end of observation. It was calm to 1000 when NW ground winds blew to 1330 after which they were SW gusting to 30 km/h for the rest of the day; ridge winds were strong NW all day. Cloud cover was 100% altostratus and cumulus to 1100 when it reduced to 70% and by 1300 it was 30% cumulus, cirrus and cirrostratus that became 80% cirrostratus and altostratus at 1700. The east was clear all day but the west was obscured 40% of the time on average. A total of 31 eagles, 6 Bald Eagles (3a, 2sa, 1j) and 25 Golden Eagles (13a, 4sa, 8u) migrated between 0835 and 1630 to produce the highest count so far this month. All the birds glided high above the Fisher Range and the maximum hourly count was 8 between 1500 and 1600. Two adult Bald Eagles and 1u Sharp-shinned Hawk were regarded as non-migrants. Other birds were 1 Belted Kingfisher, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 1 Northern Shrike, 4 Canada Jays, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 8 Common Ravens, 4 Black-capped Chickadees, 2 Mountain Chickadees, 1 Brown Creeper, 2 American Dippers and 4 White-winged Crossbills. A herd of 21 Elk were in the meadow, and there was 1 visitor at the site today.

9.25 hours (484.2) BAEA 6 (180), GOEA 25 (2623) TOTAL 31 (3049)

Friday, November 09 Vicki Ridge [Day 44] 0800-1700 (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite). The temperature at 0800 was -3C the high was 0C at 1100, 1200 and 1400 and it was -2C at 1700. Winds were WSW-W 30-45 gusting 60-75 km/h all day and cloud cover was 100% altostratus and altocumulus to 1500, that occasionally briefly reduced to 80-90%, after which it quickly cleared from the north and was 30-40% altocumulus and cirrus for the last 2 hours. Light snow fell from 1245 to 1320 and from 1412 to 1440 but it did not appear to interrupt the flow of migrating raptors. There was another fairly strong late-season migration involving 53 birds of 4 species that comprised 23 Bald Eagles (15a, 3sa, 4j, 1u), 1 adult Northern Goshawk, 28 Golden Eagles (27a, 1u) and 1 male Prairie Falcon that moved between 0821 and 1635. Movement was again fairly steady throughout and the highest hourly count was 14 between 1400 and 1500. The resident pair and juvenile Golden Eagle were conspicuous throughout much of the day and were often vigorously mobbed by ravens whereas the migrant eagles were generally left alone. Other birds seen included 25 Bohemian Waxwings, 60 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches, 20 Red Crossbills and 78 Common Redpolls.

9 hours (382.2) BAEA 23 (376), NOGO 1 (90), GOEA 28 (2604), PRFA 1 (9) TOTAL 53 (4535)

Friday, November 09 Steeples [NO OBSERVATION] (Vance Mattson). The entire valley was socked-in, combined with wet-snow flurries.

Saturday, November 10 Mount Lorette [Day 48] 0705-1710 (Bill Wilson, assisted by Ruth Morrow). The starting temperature was -5C, the high was 1C at 1500 and it was -2C at 1710. Ground winds were S 0-3 gusting 7 km/h to 1300 after which they were SW 3-10 gusting 16 km/h, and ridge winds were light to moderate, NNW to 1000 and then NW. Cloud cover was 90-100% cumulus and altostratus to 0900 when it thinned to 60% cumulus to 1200 and was 10% to trace cumulus throughout the afternoon. The eastern ridges were 70% obscured to 0900 and were then clear for the rest of the day, and the west was 40% obscured to 0800 and then clear. A total of 39 eagles migrated between 1055 and 1624 that comprised 18 Bald Eagles (13a, 3sa, 2j), which is the second-highest count of the season, and 21 Golden Eagles (19a, 1sa, 1u). With the exception of 4 birds most migrants moved along the Fisher Range from Mount Lorette with much soaring flight. Movement was fairly steady throughout with a maximum hourly count of 11 (6 Bald and 5 Golden Eagles) between 1200 and 1300, that was followed by the only zero hour during the movement. Only 3 other bird species were seen: 2 Canada Jays, 8 Common Ravens and 40 Bohemian Waxwings in a single flock, but most of the 28 visitors to the site today were able to observe migrating eagles.

10.08 hours (494.3) BAEA 18 (198), GOEA 21 (2644) TOTAL 39 (3088)

Saturday, November 10 Vicki Ridge [Day 45] 0745-1715 (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite). The temperature at 0745 was 6C the high at 1500 was 2C and it was -3C at 1715. Winds were light W-SW all day and cloud cover was 80-100% cumulus, altocumulus and stratocumulus to 1230 that produced light snow to 0925 and between 1020 and 1150.The cloud rapidly thinned in the afternoon and was 50-20% cumulus between 1230 and 1500 after which it was cloudless for the rest of the day. Only 1 Golden Eagle was seen before 1218 but then movement became steady with 21 of the day’s 36 migrants occurring after 1500, and 5 moved after 1700. The birds were seen between 0821 and 1706 and comprised 13 Bald Eagles (10a, 1sa, 2j), 1 adult Northern Goshawk, 3 light morph Rough-legged Hawks and 19 Golden Eagles (18a, 1sa). One adult Golden Eagle that roosted overnight in a limber pine snag at the extreme southern end of Vicki Ridge remained perched there until 1308 when it then spent 10 minutes soaring above the ridge before reaching sufficient altitude to glide south. Resident raptors were the Golden Eagle family group (2a and 1j) and other birds seen were 1 male Hairy Woodpecker, 2 Pileated Woodpeckers, 1 Canada Jay, 5 Clark’s Nutcrackers, 4 Black-billed Magpies, 23 Common Ravens, 50 Bohemian Waxwings, 92 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches, 13 Red Crossbills and 40 Common Redpolls.

9.5 hours (391.7) BAEA 13 (389), NOGO 1 (97), RLHA 3 (432), GOEA 19 (2623) TOTAL 36 (4571)

Saturday, November 10 Steeples [Day 46] 1200-1630 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 2C, conditions were calm and cloud cover was 100% altostratus and stratus that heavily shrouded the ridges all day. After an unproductive hour at the site Vance returned to Wasa to see if there was any movement above the valley, but another hour spent there produced nothing, so he returned to the Bill Nye site until 1630. No migrant or resident raptors were seen.

4.5 hours (197) TOTAL 0 (477)

Thursday, November 08 Mount Lorette [Day 46] 0745-1725 (Cliff Hansen, assisted by Rick Robb). The temperature at 0745 was -14C, the high was -1C at 1500 and it was -4C at 1725. Ground winds were S-SW all day, 0-5 km/h to 1300 then 5-10 occasionally gusting 15 km/h, while ridge winds were light to moderate SW. It was cloudless all day. A total of 14 Golden Eagles (9a, 1j, 4u) migrated along the Fisher Range between 1223 and 1708 but the first bird that glided above the ridge was not seen until 1615. Movement was slow but steady and the maximum hourly count was 4 birds between 1300 and 1400. Two non-migrant adult Bald Eagles perched by the river, and other birds seen were 3 Canada Geese, 3 Canada Jays, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 4 Common Ravens and 1 American Dipper. Thirty-nine young people and helpers from the Central Alberta Refugee program (CARE) in Red Deer visited the site today.

9.67 hours (475) GOEA 14 (2598) TOTAL 14 (3018)

Thursday, November 08 Vicki Ridge [Day 43] 0845-1700 (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite). The temperature at 0845 was -4C, the high at 1400 was 1C and it was -3C at 1700. Winds were steady W-WNW 20-30 gusting 40 km/h and it was cloudless all day. After 3 days with almost no movement today produced a fairly strong late-season count of 45 migrants of 4 species between 0858 and 1613. The count comprised 9 Bald Eagles (7a, 2sa), 3 light morph Rough-legged Hawks, 32 Golden Eagles (27a, 2sa, 3j) which is the highest count since October 29, and 1 Prairie Falcon. Movement was fairly steady throughout with maximum hourly counts of 10 (1100-1200) and 9 (1500-1600). A non-migrant adult Northern Goshawk was also seen. Other birds seen included about 60 Common Ravens with up to 30 birds seen soaring at one time above a gut-piles from a recently hunted Elk that also attracted the attention of several of the migrant eagles, 107 Bohemian Waxwings and 45 Common Redpolls.

8.25 hours (373.2) BAEA 9 (353), RLHA 3 (429), GOEA 32 (2576) PRFA 1 (8) TOTAL 45 (4482)

Thursday, November 08 Steeples [Day 45] 1230-1700 (Vance Mattson, observing from the South Lakit site). The temperature was 1C conditions were calm and cloud cover was 60-30% stratus and cumulus that gave plenty of sunshine. The ridges remained obscured most of the afternoon and only cleared between 1608 and 1630 but, like yesterday, migrants soared low and at length in front of the shrouded ridges. Eleven migrant eagles were counted between 1348 and 1631 comprising 2 Bald Eagles (1a, 1j) and 9 Golden Eagles (8a, 1j). At 1458 an adult Golden Eagle and a juvenile Bald Eagle soared together in front of the ridge, with the Bald Eagle being the higher of the two. The juvenile bird could not resist diving on the Golden Eagle, and as its second attempt was underway the Golden pumped its wings to meet it half-way and backed it off while simultaneously scolding it. This succeeded in separating the two birds as they continued gliding south at a respectful distance from each other.

4.5 hours (192.5) BAEA 2 (115), GOEA 9 (170) TOTAL 11 (477)

Tuesday, November 06 Mount Lorette [Day 44] 0805-1630 (Blake Weis). The temperature at the start was -9C, the high was -7C (1100-1400) and it was -6C at 1630. Ground winds were N-NE 0-5 gusting 10-18 km/h all day, and ridge winds were moderate N. Cloud cover was 100% cumulus, stratocumulus, altocumulus and cirrus all day with the exception of 1200 and 1300 when it reduced to 90%. Light snow fell to 1100 when it ceased until 1600 when light to moderate snow started falling again. The eastern ridges were only 10% obscured to 1100 that gave the possibility of raptor movement, but they then became 90-100% obscured for the rest of the day. The west was 80-90% obscured to 0900 that subsequently became 100%. No migrant raptors were seen, but 2 non-migrant Bald Eagles (1a, 1 late sa) were noted. There was a strong southward migration of waterfowl that included 2 unidentified swans, 455 Canada Geese, 665 Mallards, 25 Common Goldeneye and 40 Common Mergansers. Birds seen near the Hay Meadow site included 1 Brown Creeper, 2 Golden-crowned Kinglets, 43 Common Redpolls, 16 White-winged Crossbills, 20 Pine Siskins, 1 Lapland Longspur and 10 Dark-eyed Juncos. There were no visitors today.

8.42 hours (456.1) TOTAL 0 (2987)

Tuesday, November 06 Vicki Ridge [Day 41] 1130-1430 (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Hilary Atkinson mainly observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite). The temperature was initially –9C but rose to -8C at 1300. Winds were light E-SE and cloud cover was 100% stratocumulus. There was 14 cm of fresh snow on the ground and light snow continued to fall all day. The ridges were obscured by low cloud to 1100 but then almost completely cleared until 1430 when they again became shrouded. No migrant raptors were seen, but a resident adult Golden Eagle flew to the north at 1244. Other birds seen included 1a Northern Shrike and a flock of 100 Bohemian Waxwings.

3 hours (357.9) TOTAL 0 (4435)

Tuesday, November 06 Steeples [Day 43] 1215-1700 (Vance Mattson). The weather was better west of the Rockies where the temperature was 5C, winds were light W to calm and cloud cover was initially 40% stratus and cumulus that was concentrated around the mountains, but by 1600 it had increased to 100% although the ridges remained clear. A total of 10 migrants of 3 species moved between 1405 and 1453 coinciding with the lifting of clouds that had hitherto covered the ridges. The count was 4 Bald Eagles (3a, 1sa), 1u Northern Goshawk and 5 adult Golden Eagles. A resident Golden eagle was also seen at 1535.

4.75 hours (186.3) BAEA 4 (107), NOGO 1 (8), GOEA 5 (160) TOTAL 10 (459)

Wednesday, November 07 Mount Lorette [Day 45] 0815-1725 (Caroline Lambert, assisted by Rachael Mackay and Blake Weis). The temperature at 0815 was -14C, the high was -4C (1400-1600) and it was -6C at 1725. It was calm to 1400 after which ground winds were N 0-5 km/h with a single gust of 15 km/h, and ridge winds were NW all day, light to 1500 then moderate. Cloud cover was 70% cirrus to 1200 that reduced to 10-20% cirrus with scattered cumulus to 1600 after which it was cloudless. Apart from occasional cloud drape on the eastern ridges the mountains were clear all day. After 3 days of poor movement today saw 17 eagles, 9 Bald Eagles (7a, 1sa, 1u), 7 adult Golden Eagles and 1 unidentified eagle that migrated steadily between 1342 and 1646. With the exception of 1 Bald Eagle that was seen to the west over Olympic Summit all birds were seen on the Fisher Range where they mainly flapped slowly or soared without gaining any significant altitude. Other birds were a single flock of 57 Canada Geese, 1a Northern Shrike, 2 Canada Jays, 3 Common Ravens, 2 Mountain Chickadees, 2 White-winged Crossbills and 2 Pine Siskins. The tracks of 2 Grey Wolves were seen in the 0.5 cm of fresh snow that was on the ground in the morning, but no human visitors made it to the site.

9.16 hours (465.3) BAEA 9 (174), GOEA 7 (2584), UE 1 (31) TOTAL 17 (3004)

Wednesday, November 07 Vicki Ridge [Day 42] 0945-1645 (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite). There was another 9 cm of fresh snow on the ground and the ridges were partially obscured by an ice-crystal haze until 1000. The starting temperature was -11C, the high at 1500 was -4.5C and it was again -11C at 1645. Conditions were essentially calm all day with occasional brief breezes (<5 km/h) from S-WSW. Cloud cover was initially 10% cumulus with 70-80% cirrostratus, cirrus and cumulus at 1200 and 1300 that dwindled to 10% at 1500 and it was then cloudless for the rest of the day. It was a beautiful sunny day but the air was inert and the only raptors seen were 2 Golden Eagles: a juvenile that soared high over Kyllo Ridge and flew south at 1227 and an adult that soared high, occasionally into the base of a cumulus cloud, and glided south at 1235. A mixed flock of 24 Trumpeter and 3 Tundra Swans flew high to the SW at 1120 and a smaller flock of 6 Trumpeter and 1 Tundra Swan flew high to the south at 1530, 156 Canada Geese in 3 flocks flew to the west and other birds seen were 1 male and 1 female Hairy Woodpeckers, a pair of Pileated Woodpeckers, 1 Clark’s Nutcracker, 18 Common Ravens, 60 Bohemian Waxwings, 36 Grey-crowned Rosy Finches, 46 Red Crossbills and 5 Common Redpolls.

7 hours (364.9) GOEA 2 (2544) TOTAL 2 (4437)

Wednesday, November 07 Steeples [Day 44] 1500-1645 (Vance Mattson, assisted by Caryn Kilback observing from the South Lakit site). The temperature was 1C, conditions were calm and cloud cover was 60% stratus and cumulus that gave periods of sunshine but also shrouded the ridges. Six Bald Eagles (1a, 1sa, 4j) and 1 adult Golden Eagle migrated slowly between 1545 and 1554 with much low soaring below the clouds on the ridge.

1.75 hours (188) BAEA 6 (113), GOEA 1 (161) TOTAL 7 (466)

Tuesday, November 06 Mount Lorette [Day 44] 0805-1630 (Blake Weis). The temperature at the start was -9C, the high was -7C (1100-1400) and it was -6C at 1630. Ground winds were N-NE 0-5 gusting 10-18 km/h all day, and ridge winds were moderate N. Cloud cover was 100% cumulus, stratocumulus, altocumulus and cirrus all day with the exception of 1200 and 1300 when it reduced to 90%. Light snow fell to 1100 when it ceased until 1600 when light to moderate snow started falling again. The eastern ridges were only 10% obscured to 1100 that gave the possibility of raptor movement, but they then became 90-100% obscured for the rest of the day. The west was 80-90% obscured to 0900 that subsequently became 100%. No migrant raptors were seen, but 2 non-migrant Bald Eagles (1a, 1 late sa) were noted. There was a strong southward migration of waterfowl that included 455 Canada Geese and 665 Mallards.

8.42 hours (456.1) TOTAL 0 (2987)

Tuesday, November 06 Vicki Ridge [Day 41] 1130-1430 (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Hilary Atkinson mainly observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite). The temperature was initially –9C but rose to -8C at 1300. Winds were light E-SE and cloud cover was 100% stratocumulus. There was 14 cm of fresh snow on the ground and light snow continued to fall all day. The ridges were obscured by low cloud to 1100 but then almost completely cleared until 1430 when they again became shrouded. No migrant raptors were seen, but a resident adult Golden Eagle flew to the north at 1244. Other birds seen included 1a Northern Shrike and a flock of 100 Bohemian Waxwings.

3 hours (357.9) TOTAL 0 (4435)

Tuesday, November 06 Steeples [Day 43] 1215-1700 (Vance Mattson). The weather was better west of the Rockies where the temperature was 5C, winds were light W to calm and cloud cover was initially 40% stratus and cumulus that was concentrated around the mountains, but by 1600 it had increased to 100% although the ridges remained clear. A total of 10 migrants of 3 species moved between 1405 and 1453 coinciding with the lifting of clouds that had hitherto covered the ridges. The count was 4 Bald Eagles (3a, 1sa), 1u Northern Goshawk and 5 adult Golden Eagles. A resident Golden eagle was also seen at 1535.

4.75 hours (186.3) BAEA 4 (107), NOGO 1 (8), GOEA 5 (160) TOTAL 10 (459)

Monday, November 05 Mount Lorette [Day 43] 0720-1630 (George Halmazna, assisted by Dan Parliament). The temperature was -4C to 0900, the high was -3C from 1000 to 1300 and it was then -4C again for the rest of the day. Ground winds were N all day, light to 1300 then 10-25 km/h to the end of observation, while ridge winds appeared to be light NW-NE. Cloud cover was 80-100% cumulus and stratus all day that produced snow between 1000 and 1230 and very light snow for the rest of the afternoon. The east ridges were 50% obscured to 1000 and were then not then seen again, and the west was 10% obscured to 1000 and then 90% obscured for the rest of the day. The only migrant raptor was 1u Sharp-shinned Hawk that flew low to the south above the river at 1044. Other birds were more abundant, however, and comprised 3080 Canada Geese that flew south in 35 flocks, 265 Mallards in 4 flocks, 67 Common Mergansers in 4 flocks, 7 large unidentified gulls also flying south, 1 American Three-toed Woodpecker, 1a Northern Shrike, 4 Canada Jays, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 7 Common Ravens, 5 Mountain Chickadees, 1 Boreal Chickadee, 2 American Dippers, 16 Bohemian Waxwings, 1 European Starling, 2 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches, 9 White-winged Crossbills, 120 Common Redpolls in 3 flocks and 2 cismontanus Dark-eyed Juncos. Barrier Lake also yielded a flock of 31 Hooded Mergansers. There were no visitors today.

9.16 hours (447.7) SSHA 1 (68) TOTAL 1 (2987)

Monday, November 05 Vicki Ridge [Day 40] 1345-1700 (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite). Low fog obscured all ridges until 1330 when it began to lift. We arrived at the site at 1345 when the temperature was -4C, the wind was ESE 10 km/h and the southern end of Vicki Ridge was just visible through the fog. The lower part of the ridge was clear at 1445 and the ridge completely cleared at 1615 and Kyllo Ridge followed 5 minutes later. Cloud cover was revealed to be 100% stratus and the temperature fell to -6C with light snow at 1700 with winds after 1500 E 10-15 km/h. No migrant raptors were seen, but other birds were a flock of 52 Canada Geese that flew high to the west at 1643, 200 Mallards that flew even higher to the west at 1646, 1 Clark’s Nutcracker, 30 Common Ravens including a tight flock of 37 that flew to the west at 1606, 290 Bohemian Waxwings, a single flock of 150 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches flying south and 2 Pine Siskins.

3.25 hours (354.9) TOTAL 0 (4435)

Monday, November 05 Steeples [Day 42] 1515-1645 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 8C that dropped to 6C at 1645, winds were moderate E and cloud cover was 100% stratus, cumulus and altostratus. The ridges became shrouded from the east at 1630 as light rain began to fall. Three migrants were seen: 1u Golden Eagle at 1515 and 2 Bald Eagles (1a, 1j) at 1551. A resident Golden Eagle was also seen briefly.

1.5 hours (181.5) BAEA 2 (103), GOEA 1 (155) TOTAL 3 (449)