Wednesday, October 24 Mount Lorette [Day 31] 0830-1850 (Caroline Lambert, assisted by Joel Duncan). The temperature reached a high of 10C at 1400 and 1500 from a morning low of -1C and it was 7C at the end of observation. Ground winds were SW all day, 0-5 km/h in the morning but gusted 20-30 km/h in the afternoon, while ridge winds were strong SW all day. Cloud cover was 100-80% altostratus, cumulus and altocumulus to 1700 after which it gradually thinned to 20% at the end of the day. The west was 40% obscured between 1400 and 1600 and there were light rain showers around 1600. The cloud cover made aging of high-flying eagles difficult as most were merely silhouettes. A total of 45 migrant raptors of 3 species moved between 0905 and 1759 comprising 2u Bald Eagles, 1 unidentified Accipiter, 41 Golden Eagles (23a, 1sa, 17u) and 1 unidentified eagle. All birds moved on the eastern route mostly high above the Fisher Range and 34 were seen after 1300 with a maximum hourly count of 11 (10 Golden Eagles) between 1400 and 1500. No resident birds were seen but 2 separate migrant Golden Eagles performed brief display flights before continuing to glide high to the SE. An adult Northern Shrike was seen apparently attempting to predate an American Dipper which repeatedly dived beneath the surface of the river to avoid capture, before the shrike itself was chased away by a flock of 4 Canada Jays. A flock of 24 Cassin’s Finches perched in a leafless aspen tree near the site and were photographed by Caroline. Ten visitors were at the site today.

10.33 (327.5) BAEA 2 (141), UA 1 (7), GOEA 41 (2304), UE 1 (24), TOTAL 45 (2666)

Wednesday, October 24 Vicki Ridge [Day 27] 0845-1800 (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Hilary Atkinson and Gord Petersen observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite). The temperature at 0845 was 10C, the high at 1300 was 13C and it was 9.5C at the end of observation. Winds were W-WSW all day 30-50 gusting 60-70 km/h in the morning and 30-40 gusting 50-60 km/h in the afternoon. Cloud cover was 100-80% altostratus, altocumulus and cumulus that formed a Chinook arch to 1130 which quickly cleared to 10% cumulus at 1200 and was 10-20% cumulus to 1730 when it increased to 40% scattered cumulus. The exception was around 1500 when 80% dark cumulus moved rapidly from the west and produced a light rain shower for 10 minutes before just as quickly dissipating. Raptor movement was sporadic between 0912 and 1717 and a total of 71 birds of 5 species was seen comprising 4 Bald Eagles (2a, 1sa, 1j), 2 adult Northern Goshawks, 2 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks, 7 Rough-legged Hawks (5 light, 2u) and 56 Golden Eagles (39a, 3sa, 8j, 6u). The highest hourly count was 18 that included 13 Golden Eagles from 1600 to 1700, but only a single bird, an adult Golden Eagle, was seen after 1700. Other birds were scarce but included 1 Ruffed Grouse, 1 male Hairy Woodpecker, 3 Canada Jays, 2 Clark’s Nutcrackers, 4 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches and 10 Pine Siskins.

9.25 hours (250.9) BAEA 4 (184), NOGO 2 (69), RTHA 2 (166), RLHA 7 (285), GOEA 56 (2249), TOTAL 71 (3786)

Wednesday, October 24 Steeples [Day 31] 1530-1800 (Vance Mattson). Rain showers preceded Vance’s arrival at the site where the temperature was 13C, winds were moderate to strong S and cloud cover was 40-60% cumulus. No migrants nor resident raptors were seen.

2.5 hours (137) TOTAL 0 (418)

Tuesday, October 23 Mount Lorette [Day 30] 0815-1900 (Rick Robb and Cliff Hansen). The starting temperature was -5C, the high was 15C at 1600 and it was 8C at 1900. Ground winds were light W all day, ridge winds were light SW and it was cloudless all day. The first migrant, a Bald Eagle, was not seen until 1330 and the first Golden Eagle did not appear until 1358 but the pace then quickened and when the last 2 Golden Eagles went south at 1828 a total of 74 migrants of 3 species had been recorded. The count was 5 adult Bald Eagles, 1 adult Sharp-shinned Hawk and 67 Golden Eagles (57a, 3sa, 4j, 3u). Most birds were initially located at the northern end of the Fisher Range and most movement involved flapping flight and brief attempts at soaring in the light-air conditions. Only late in the day did the birds manage to glide high above the ridge. Maximum hourly movement was 21, including 19 Golden Eagles, between 1700 and 1800, and 10 Golden Eagles were recorded between 0800 and 1828. Other birds seen were 15 unidentified swans flying high to the north above Mount Lorette which were probably heading for Lac des Arcs in the Bow Valley, 2 Ruffed Grouse, 1 Downy Woodpecker, 2 Canada Jays, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 8 Common Ravens, 2 Pine Grosbeaks and 10 Dark-eyed Juncos of the race cismontanus. Six visitors were at the site today.

10.75 hours (317.2) BAEA 5 (139), SSHA 1 (63), GOEA 67 (2263), UE 1 (23) TOTAL 74 (2621)

Tuesday, October 23 Vicki Ridge [Day 26] 0845-1745 (Doug and Teresa Dolman, assisted by Raymond Toal and Gord Petersen observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite). It was the warmest day of the season with a starting temperature of 8C, a high of 22C at 1400 and 1500 and it was still 14C at 1800. Winds were light SW to 1100 and subsequently mainly W-WSW 15-20 gusting 25 km/h. It was cloudless until 1100 when traces of cirrus developed that expanded to 10-30% until 1800 when it increased to 60%. A total of 65 migrant raptors of 6 species were recorded between 1104 and 1742 that comprised 14 Bald Eagles (5a, 8sa, 1j), 6 Sharp-shinned Hawks (1a, 5u), 2 Northern Goshawks (1a, 1j), 2 unidentified Accipiters, 1 adult rufous morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk, 13 Rough-legged Hawks (12 light, 1 dark) and 27 Golden Eagles (15a, 5sa, 3j, 3u). Most birds migrated above Vicki Ridge and the busiest hours were 15, including 5 Bald Eagles and 6 Golden Eagles between 1500 and 1600, and 14, including 10 Rough-legged Hawks and 2 Golden Eagles between 1700 and 1742. Other birds seen were 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 1 juvenile Northern Shrike, 3 Canada Jays, 2 Clark’s Nutcrackers, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 10 Common Ravens, 1 Black-capped Chickadee, 5 American Robins and 3 Red Crossbills, and a single Mourning Cloak butterfly was also recorded.

9 hours (241.7) BAEA 14 (180), SSHA 6 (615), NOGO 2 (67), UA 2 (7), RTHA 1 (164), RLHA 13 (278), GOEA 27 (2193) TOTAL 65 (3715)

Tuesday, October 23 Steeples [Day 30] 1300-1800 (Vance Mattson). A temperature of 11C, calm conditions and a cloudless sky again produced a slow migration day with only 3 birds recorded: an adult female Northern Harrier at 1556 and single juvenile Golden Eagles at 1423 and 1632. The resident adult female Golden Eagle was again conspicuous soaring, and perching on the ridge for up to 70 minutes.

5 hours (134.5) NOHA 1 (14), GOEA 2 (143) TOTAL 3 (418)

Monday, October 22 Mount Lorette [Day 29] 0730-1900 (George Halmazna, assisted by Dan Parliament). The temperature was -8C at 0730 but reached a high of 13C at 1600 and was 3C on departure. Ground winds were very light (<5 km/h) SW and occasionally SE all day, and ridge winds were light SW all day. It was cloudless to 1600 after which there was 10% cirrus for the rest of the day. The pleasant weather produced a raptor migration of 46 birds of 5 species that moved between 1156 and 1723 and comprised 1 adult Bald Eagle, 1 adult female Northern Harrier, 1 juvenile Cooper’s Hawk, 1 adult Northern Goshawk and 42 Golden Eagles (32a, 7j, 3u). All the birds used the eastern route and were mainly initially located over the north ridge of Mount Lorette from where the crossed the valley and moved with flapping flight either behind or across the face of the northern end of the Fisher Range. Maximum movement was 1600-1700 when 16 Golden Eagles were counted. There was a good variety of other birds in the area including 5 Ruffed Grouse, one of which was heard drumming, a female Red-breasted Merganser that was probably a new species for the site, 1 female Common Merganser, 1 Varied Thrush, 24 Bohemian Waxwings, 8 Pine Grosbeaks, 3 male Cassin’s Finches, 1 White-winged Crossbill, 5 Evening Grosbeaks and 9 Pine Siskins. Thirty-one visitors enjoyed both the birds and the weather.

11.5 hours (306.4) BAEA 1 (134), NOHA 1 (7), COHA 1 (7), NOGO 1 (30) GOEA 42 (2196) TOTAL 46 (2547)

Monday, October 22 Vicki Ridge [Day 26] 0845-1745 (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Hilary Atkinson observing from the ridgetop). It was a beautiful day and a real pleasure to be back on top of the ridge again. The temperature was -3C at 0845 and rose to a high of 16C at 1500 and 1600 and was still 14C at the end of observation. Winds were W-WSW all day 10-15 gusting to 22 km/h apart from the first and last hours when it was calm. It was cloudless to 1130 and again at 1800 but for the rest of the day there was 10-30% cirrostratus cover that provided reasonably good observing conditions. The day produced a fairly strong and varied raptor movement that involved 85 birds of 7 species that were seen between 0931 and 1729, although only 2 of these birds were seen before 1210. The count was 16 Bald Eagles (9a, 6sa, 1j), 4 Sharp-shinned Hawks (2a, 1j, 1u), a season-high 13 Northern Goshawks (10a, 2j, 1u), 1 adult dark morph harlani Red-tailed Hawk, 11 Rough-legged Hawks (9 light, 2 dark), 39 Golden Eagles (21a, 5sa, 13j) and 1 adult male Prairie Falcon. The highest hourly count was 24 between 1600 and 1700, and 1300-1400 and 1400-1500 produced 19 and 20 birds respectively. Most of the late afternoon movement involved slow high soaring flight which gave us time to fully enjoy watching the birds under perfect viewing light. Other birds seen on and from the ridge were 17 Canada Geese migrating in 2 flocks, 1 Pileated Woodpecker, 1 juvenile Northern Shrike, 4 Canada Jays, 5 Clark’s Nutcrackers, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 116 Common Ravens including 80 after 1730 that soared in flocks of up to 30 birds before flying to the west, 15 Mountain Chickadees, 5 Red-breasted Nuthatches, 5 American Robins, a single flock of 30 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches that flew south at 1530, 3 female red Crossbills, 2 female Cassin’s Finches, 10 Evening Grosbeaks and 8 Pine Siskins. One Mourning Cloak butterfly flew in the late afternoon sunshine. It was a very enjoyable idyllic day.

9.5 hours (232.7) BAEA 16 (166), SSHA 4 (609), NOGO 13 (65), RTHA 1 (163), RLHA 11 (265), GOEA 39 (2166), PRFA 1 (4) TOTAL 85 (3650)

Monday, October 22 Steeples [Day 29] 1530-1800 (Vance Mattson). The warm stable weather system persisted with a temperature of 13C, calm conditions and a cloudless sky that failed to produce any migrant raptors. The resident Golden Eagle pair was seen, especially the female that was conspicuous perching on the ridge on three occasions and was mobbed by ravens each time she took flight.

2.5 hours (129.5) TOTAL 0 (415)

Sunday, October 21 Mount Lorette [Day 28] 0755-1900 (Bill Wilson, assisted by Lori Anderson, James Bannon, Theresa Cawron and Gord Petersen). The temperature was -3C at 0800, rose to a high of 12C at 1600 and was 7C at 1900. Ground winds were SW 2-12 km/h to 1400 after which they were NE 2-12 gusting up to 20 km/h; ridge winds appeared to be moderate SW all day. Cloud cover was 40-90% cirrostratus and cirrus to 1200 after which it completely cleared to 1700 when 100% thin cirrostratus again formed. Conditions were good for migration and produced 133 migrant raptors of 7 species that moved between 0830 and 1805. The count was a season-high 38 Bald Eagles (21a, 14sa, 2j and 1 undifferentiated immature bird), 5 Sharp-shinned Hawks (1j, 4u), 5 Northern Goshawks (3a, 2j), 3 Red-tailed Hawks (2 (1a, 1j) dark calurus and 1a dark harlani), 4 light morph Rough-legged Hawks, 75 Golden Eagles (46a, 4sa, 17j, 8u), 2 undifferentiated eagles and 1 large unidentified falcon. With the exception of a few Bald Eagles and the falcon all birds flew high from Mount Lorette to the Fisher Range and at one time 6 Golden Eagles soared together over Lorette. Early movement was slow and only 5 raptors were seen before 1200 but the rate steadily increased throughout the afternoon and peaked at 39 birds (14 Bald and 24 Golden Eagles) between 1400 and 1500. One adult resident Golden Eagle was seen to the west and 1 adult non-migrant Bald Eagle perched on a spruce by the river. The non-raptor bird highlight was a flock of 10 Humorous finches perched on aspens close to the site which included 3 male Cassin’s Finches and 1 female Purple Finch. Other birds recorded included 3 Ruffed Grouse, 1 Clark’s Nutcracker, 2 White-winged Crossbills, 9 American Tree Sparrows and 1 cismontanus Dark-eyed Junco. A single Mourning Cloak was the only butterfly seen. A total of 24 visitors were at the site today.

11.67 hours (294.9) BAEA 38 (133), SSHA 5 (62), NOGO 5 (29), RTHA 3 (27), RLHA 4 (29), GOEA 75 (2154), UE 2 (22), UF 1 (4) TOTAL 133 (2501)

Sunday, October 21 Vicki Ridge [Day 25] 0845-1745 (Peter Sherrington, observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite). The temperature at 0845 was 6C the high at 1300 was 16C which fell abruptly to 11.5C at 1400 as the winds shifted from west to east, and it was 9C at the end of observation at 1745. Winds were W-WNW 10-20 km/h to 1400 when they switched to E-SE 15-20 km/h and became light after 1700. Cloud cover was cirrostratus all day: 30-40% to 1000, 80% at 1100 and 100% throughout the afternoon that gave excellent observing conditions. Unfortunately there was only a mediocre raptor movement between 1106 and 1510 involving 63 birds of 6 species. The count was 7 Bald Eagles (6a, 1sa), 9 Sharp-shinned Hawks (2a, 7u), 5 adult Northern Goshawks, 2 Red-tailed Hawks ( 1j light calurus and 1a dark harlani), 20 Rough-legged Hawks (17 light 1 dark, 2u) and 20 Golden Eagles (13a, 4sa, 3j). The highest hourly count was 24 including 8 Golden Eagles, between 1300 and 1400. This hourly count includes 3 adult Bald Eagles and 2 Golden Eagles seen moving to the east of Vicki Ridge by Connie Simmons. No migrants were seen after 1510 as the winds became light. It is possible that westerly winds persisted longer towards the west and eagles might have been moving south above the Carbondale Ridge. Other birds seen included 1 Steller’s Jay, 9 Clark’s Nutcrackers, 240 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches that migrated to the south in 6 flocks, 14 Red Crossbills and 20 Pine Siskins, 10 of which also flew to the south. A single Mourning Cloak was the only butterfly seen.

9 hours (223.2) BAEA 7 (150), SSHA 9 (605), NOGO 5 (52), RTHA 2 (162), RLHA 20 (254), GOEA 20 (2127) TOTAL 63 (3565)

Sunday, October 21 Steeples [NO OBSERVATION] (Vance Mattson). Because of disappointing results at the Steeples site Vance decided to check out the Purcell Mountains to the west of the Rocky Mountain Trench, which did not lead to anything conclusive but was interesting nonetheless.  Here is his report. “At 1250, 35 km west on St. Mary’s Lake Road, I spotted an adult Bald Eagle soaring amongst 4 ravens on the north saddle of Mount Bonner; it soared for 10 minutes, before soaring south over Mount Bonner.  4 Mountain Goats were also seen grazing on the ridge of the saddle.  I then drove closer and at 1310 an adult Golden Eagle was seen soaring at the same place.  This eagle was then joined by perhaps a new adult Bald Eagle, and both soared extensively, showing no migratory behaviour.  More ravens joined in, before the eagles could no longer be seen from my vantage point.  Then, at 1339, 2 Golden Eagles were seen soaring (an adult – perhaps the same bird, and a young sub-adult with a missing secondary feather).  Again, no migratory behaviour was observed, and the eagles again could no longer be seen.  Then, an adult of each eagle species were seen (though I am assuming the Golden was again the same bird).  Lastly, an unaged Sharp-shinned Hawk was seen, soaring in the same area.  This all occurred between 1250 and 1405.  The 17 ravens that erupted over the ridge at a certain juncture gave the impression that the eagles and ravens were busy on a gut-pile.  As I was searching for a better vantage point an unidentified eagle was seen gliding south over Mount Bonner.  I drove north up the St. Mary’s Road hoping to find a vantage point of the prominent ridge of St. Mary’s Alpine Provincial Park, which however did not manifest.  It turned out the original vantage point is the most promising of the those visited today”.

Saturday, October 20 Mount Lorette [Day 27] 0755-1900 (Blake Weis, assisted by Patrick Farley and Gord Petersen). It was another pleasant day with a starting temperature of -1C, a high from 1400 to 1800 of 14C and 10C at the end of the day. Ground winds were variable 0-5 gusting to 15 km/h to 1100 and S-SW gusting to 23 km/h for the rest of the day, while ridge winds were moderate SW-WSW all day. It was cloudless to 1500 when 10% cirrus developed that increased to 30% for the last hour of observation. A total of 84 migrant raptors of 4 species moved between 1035 and 1815 consisting of 8 Bald Eagles (4a, 1sa, 3j), 1u dark Red-tailed Hawk of unknown race, 72 Golden Eagles (47a, 4sa, 8j, 13u), 1 unidentified eagle, 1u grey morph Gyrfalcon and 1 small species of falcon. All birds moved on the eastern route generally being located high above Mount Lorette but losing altitude while gliding to the end of the Fisher Range and then usually soaring against the face of the mountains to regain ridge hight before gliding high to the SE. Golden Eagle movement was fairly steady throughout with a maximum hourly count of 18 between 1700 and 1800, and 7 birds were seen between 1800 and 1815. Non-migrant birds were 1 or 2 adult Bald Eagles, a hunting Northern Goshawk and an adult resident Golden Eagle that was seen to the west on the southern flank of Mount Allan. Other birds seen included a Ruffed Grouse, 1 female American Three-toed Woodpecker near the parking area, 2 Brown Creepers, 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet, 6 White-winged Crossbills, 8 Pine Siskins and 1 Lapland Longspur. All the 35 visitors to the site today were able to observe migrating Golden Eagles.

11.08 hours (283.2) BAEA 8 (95), RTHA 1 (24), GOEA 72 (2079), UE 1 (20), GYRF 1 (2), UF 1 (3) TOTAL 84 (2368)

Saturday, October 20 Vicki Ridge [Day 24] 0845-1815 (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Hilary Atkinson, Dan and Charlene Lee and Trevor Lewis, observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite). The temperature at 0830 was 10C, the high was a season-high 18C from 1500 to 1700 and it was still 14C at 1815. Winds were strong WSW 40-50 gusting 60 km/h to 1700 after which they diminished to W 10-15 km/h for the rest of the day. It was completely cloudless all day which produced challenging observing conditions. There was a fairly strong but highly sporadic raptor movement of 129 birds of 6 species between 0852 and 1812 that comprised 12 Bald Eagles (6a, 2sa, 3j, 1u), 8 Sharp-shinned Hawks (2a, 6u), 2 adult Northern Goshawks, 3 light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks (2a, 1j), 12 Rough-legged Hawks (10 light, 2u) and 92 Golden Eagles (69a, 2sa, 18j, 3u). Most birds were first seen above Vicki Ridge but after kiting and soaring high the majority glided to the west to Kyllo Ridge where most then glided to the south but others continued towards the west. The highest hourly counts were 23 (all Golden Eagles) between 1200 and 1300, and 26 (including 16 Golden Eagles) between 1700 and 1800. Other birds included 1 female Dusky Grouse near the site, a tight flock of about 100 Grey-crowned Rosy Finches that flow low close to the site and which contained one conspicuous pale leucistic bird, and 12 Pine Siskins. The warm weather also produced 1 Mourning Cloak and 2 Zephyr Comma butterflies.

9 hours (213.7) BAEA 12 (143), SSHA 8 (596), NOGO 2 (47), RTHA 3 (160), RLHA 12 (234), GOEA 92 (2107) TOTAL 129 (3502)

Saturday, October 20 Steeples [Day 28] 1230-1830 (Vance Mattson). The weather was the same as the past several days: a temperature high of 12C, calm conditions and cloudless. The dearth of raptor migrants continued with 6 hours of observation producing just 2 birds: a juvenile Northern Harrier at 1724 and an adult Golden Eagle at 1502. Non-migrants were 2 Northern Goshawks (1a and 1j) seen on two different occasions, and a resident Golden Eagle soared above and in front of the ridge from 1806 to 1828.

6 hours (127) NOHA 1 (13), GOEA 1 (141) TOTAL 2 (415)