Monday, October 01 Mount Lorette [Day 10] 0700-1130 (George Halmazna, assisted by Dan Parliament). The temperature was -4C to -3C, wind was NW to 0800, then N 5-10 km/h and cloud cover was 100% low stratus that obscured all ridges. Visibility was good in the valley, however, until the snow, that started falling at 0900, became heavy after 1100 and brought the day to a close without any raptors having been seen. Other birds in the area were 1 American Three-toed Woodpecker, 5 Common Ravens, 1 Mountain Chickadee, 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet, 3 Red-breasted Nuthatches, 1 Varied Thrush, 12 American Robins, 27 White-crowned Sparrows, 8 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches and 29 Pine Siskins. A Grey Wolf howled from the E at 0818 and again from the NE at 0859.

4.5 hours (105.2) TOTAL 0 (380)

Monday, October 01 Vicki Ridge [Day 8] 0845-1600 (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Hilary Atkinson, observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite). The temperature at 0845 was 4C, reached a high of 9C at 1300 was still 7C at 1500 but rapidly fell to 1C at the end of observation. Winds were W 20-30 gusting 40 km/h to 1330 after which they reduced to 10-20 km/h and at 1520 the wind switched to E 30 km/h bringing fog that by 1600 had completely obscured the ridges. Cloud cover was 70% cumulus to 1000 and then 100% stratocumulus for the rest of the day. Migration conditions were favourable for much of the day and a total of 92 migrants of 10 species were counted between 0859 and 1534 comprising 2 Bald Eagles (1a, 1j), 25 Sharp-shinned Hawks (2a, 2j, 21u), 3 Cooper’s Hawks (2a, 1u), 4 Northern Goshawks (3a males, 1u), 1u light morph Broad-winged Hawk, 3 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks, 1 adult dark morph Ferruginous Hawk, 3 Rough-legged Hawks (1 light, 2 dark), 48 Golden Eagles (23a, 10sa, 15j) and 2u American Kestrels. Fifty migrants, including 33 Golden Eagles, were counted before 1100, but movement then slowed and only 11 birds were seen after 1400 and only 5 Golden Eagles were seen after 1300. Songbirds were conspicuous all day and included 43 Mountain Bluebirds, 2 Townsend’s Solitaires, 411 American Robins, 25 Red Crossbills, 150 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches and 158 Pine Siskins. Migrating Accipiters often paused for a while to avail themselves of the easy pickings.

7.25 hours (71.25) BAEA 2 (19), SSHA 25 (289), COHA 3 (37), NOGO 4 (17), BWHA 1 (14), RTHA 3 (54), FEHA 1 (3), RLHA 3 (13), GOEA 48 (229), AMKE 2 (10) TOTAL 92 (726)

Monday, October 01 Steeples. NO OBSERVATION. The mountains were again hidden by stratus cloud all day, and although not as low as yesterday the chances of finding migrating raptors were unpromising.

Tuesday, October 02 Mount Lorette [NO OBSERVATION]. Heavy snow all day: all mountains obscured.

Tuesday, October 02 Vicki Ridge [NO OBSERVATION]. Heavy snow all day; ridge completely obscured.

Tuesday, October 02 Steeples [NO OBSERVATION]. Steady rain all day: all mountains obscured.

Sunday, September 30 Mount Lorette [Day 9] 0650-1935 (Bill Wilson, assisted by Lori Anderson). The starting temperature was -2C, the high was 1C at 1500-1700 and it was 0C at the end of observation. Ground winds were NNW-NNE all day, 2-5 km/h to 1000 and 2-15 gusting 20 km/h thereafter, while ridge winds were SW, light to 0800 then moderate to strong for the rest of the day. Cloud cover was 100% stratus to 1200 and 100% altostratus and stratus throughout the afternoon. The eastern ridges were 60-80% obscured to 0900 that gradually reduced to 0% at 1300 and was subsequently clear; the west was 90% obscured to 1200, reduced to 10% at 1600 and 1700, but then increased to 60% at the end of the day. There was a light dusting of snow on the ground on arrival, but there was no precipitation during the day. There was a moderate raptor movement with 45 birds of 6 species seen between 1007 and 1705 of which 41 migrated before 1600. The count was 4 Bald Eagles (1a, 3j), 10 Sharp-shinned Hawks (1a, 2j, 7u), 9 Northern Goshawks (1a, 8u), 1 unidentified Accipiter, 2 light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks (1a, 1u), 4 Rough-legged Hawks (3 light, 1u) and 15 Golden Eagles (6a, 6j, 3u). All but one of the Golden Eagles migrated on the eastern route, and the rest moved on a broad front encompassing the whole valley. Other birds of note were 405 Canada Geese flying south in 10 flocks, 15 migrating Common Loons, 1 Wilson’s Snipe, 21 American Pipits, 3 Lapland Longspurs, 30 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches and 3 Yellow-rumped Warblers. There were 10 visitors today.

12.75 hours (100.7) BAEA 4 (12), SSHA 10 (32), NOGO 9 (14), UA 1 (2), RTHA 2 (11), RLHA 4 (7), GOEA 15 (273) TOTAL 45 (380)

September summary (variance from 1993-2017 valid counts (20) in parenthesis) DAYS 10 (-7%), HOURS 100.7 (-15.7%), TUVU 0, OSPR 3 (+42.9%), BAEA 12 (-35.7%), NOHA 6 (+25%), SSHA 32 (-43.4), COHA 4 (-64.4%), NOGO 14 (+80.6%), BWHA 1 (-54.5%), SWHA 0, RTHA 11 (-38.7%), FEHA 0, RLHA 7 (+278.4%), GOEA 273 (-24.9%), AMKE 0, MERL 1 (-64.9%), GYRF 0, PEFA 0, PRFA 3 (+445.5%), UA 2 (-37.5%), UB 3 (+185.7%), UE 7 (+1300%), UF 1 (+400%), UU 0 TOTAL 380 (-24.1%)

Sunday, September 30 Vicki Ridge. NO OBSERVATION. The temperature was -4C to -3C, winds were light E-ENE, and cloud cover was 100% low stratus that completely covered the ridge all day. There was 9 cm of fresh snow on the ground early in the morning and another 2 cm fell during the day. A general survey on the plains west of the ridge in the afternoon counted 27 raptors of 9 species that were either hunting or perched in the miserable weather. The count was 2 Bald Eagles, 3 Northern Harriers, 4 Sharp-shinned Hawks, 10 Red-tailed Hawks, 1 Rough-legged Hawk, 1 Golden Eagle, 3 American Kestrels 2 Merlins and the first Gyrfalcon of the winter, an adult male grey morph bird.

September summary (last year’s count in parenthesis) DAYS 7 (11), HOURS 64 (90.8), TUVU 0 (0), OSPR 5 (7), BAEA 17 (11), NOHA 11 (9), SSHA 264 (368), COHA 34 (48), NOGO 13 (33), BWHA 13 (14), SWHA 2 (1), RTHA 51 (70), FEHA 2 (4), RLHA 10 (1), GOEA 181 (112), AMKE 8 (16), MERL 12 (11), GYRF 0 (1), PEFA 5 (7), PRFA 2 (0), UA 0 (1), UB 1 (2), UE 1 (0), UF 1 (0), UU 1 (0) TOTAL 634 (716)

Sunday, September 30 Steeples. NO OBSERVATION. The mountains were hidden by low stratus cloud all day.

September summary DAYS 10, HOURS 39, TUVU 1, OSPR 0, BAEA 16, NOHA 4, SSHA 23, COHA 2, NOGO 0, BWHA 3, SWHA 0, RTHA 36, FEHA 0, RLHA 0, GOEA 14, AMKE 1, MERL 0, GYRF 0, PEFA 1, PRFA 0, UA 0, UB 0, UE 0, UF 0, UU 0 TOTAL 101

Thursday, September 27 Mount Lorette 0800-1515 (Rick Robb and Cliff Hansen). NO OBSERVATION. Rain, snow, fog and low cloud that obscured the mountains all day

Thursday, September 27 Vicki Ridge NO OBSERVATION. Steady rain and low cloud/fog all day that completely obscured the ridge. The temperature was 2-4C and winds were light E-NE.

Wednesday, September 27 Steeples [Day 8] 1430-1800 The temperature was 17C at 1430 but dropped to 10C by 1800. Winds were moderate NW but a shift to N resulted in the rapid drop in temperature. Cloud cover was 100% altostratus and cumulus and rain fell for most of the observation period. Only 6 migrant birds of 3 species were seen between 1447 and 1643: 2 Northern Harriers (1a female, 1u), 2u Sharp-shinned Hawks and 2 Golden Eagles (1a, 1j). Two Bald Eagles (1a, 1j) were considered to be non-migrants.

3.5 hours (29.5) NOHA 2 (3), SSHA 2 (21), GOEA 2 (11) TOTAL 6 (82)

Friday, September 28 Mount Lorette [Day 8] 0640-1915 (Bill Wilson, assisted by Heinz Unger). The initial temperature was 0C, the high was 4C from 1300 to 1800 and it was 3C at 1915. Ground winds were W-WSW 0-5 km/h to 1000 and then NNE-N 5-15 km/h for the rest of the day. Ridge winds were probably N light to moderate but they were difficult to assess because of the dense cloud cover that was 100% stratus to 1000 and 100-90% altostratus and cumulus for the rest of the day. There was a light dusting of snow on the ground at the start of observation but there was no further precipitation. The eastern ridges were 100% obscured to 0800, 10-30% obscured to 1400 and 60-80% obscured for the rest of the day. The west was 90-100% obscured all day except for 0800-0900 when it briefly cleared to 40-60%. Despite these inauspicious conditions there was a fairly strong raptor movement of 42 birds of 7 species that were recorded between 1004 and 1650 and comprised 2 adult Bald Eagles, 4 Northern Harriers (2 juveniles and 2 undifferentiated adult females or juveniles), 10 Sharp-shinned Hawks (1a, 1j, 8u), 2u Cooper’s Hawks, 2 Northern Goshawks (1 a, 1u) 3 Rough-legged Hawks (2 light, 1 dark), 18 Golden Eagles (7a, 2sa, 6j, 3u) and 1 unidentified eagle. The Bald Eagles flew south on the western route, but the rest of the movement was on the eastern route or above the centre of the valley. The busiest hour was 10 migrants between 1600 and 1700. Other migrating species moving high to the south were 60 Canada Geese, 5 unidentified swans, 2 Common Loons and 17 unidentified white-headed gulls. Twenty-two visitors were at the site today.

10.58 hours (79.7) BAEA 2 (8), NOHA 4 (6), SSHA 10 (20), COHA 2 (4), NOGO 2 (3), RLHA 3 (3), GOEA 18 (254), UE 1 (7) TOTAL 42 (322)

Friday, September 28 Vicki Ridge [Day 7] 1400-1700 (Peter Sherrington, observing from the Seven Gates Road and the ridgetop from 1530 to 1700). Rain and low cloud shrouded the ridge to 1400 when the rain stopped and the cloud began to lift. At 1530 the ridge cleared where the temperature was 3C, the wind was E 10 km/h and cloud cover was 100% stratus. At 1700 the cloud again descended. The only raptors seen were an unaged Cooper’s Hawk that flew low to the south to the east of the ridge at 1416 and an adult female columbarius Merlin that flew low from the ridge to the WSW at 1612. Other birds in the area included 40 Mountain Bluebirds, 300 American Robins, 20 Bohemian Waxwings (the first of the season), 2 Red Crossbills and 15 Pine Siskins.

3 hours (64) COHA 1 (34), MERL 1 (12) TOTAL 2 (634)

Friday, September 28 Steeples [Day 9] 1330-1800 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 10C, winds were NW moderate that became calm after 1600 and cloud cover was 70% cumulus that fell to 50% cumulus and altostratus at 1600 and became 100% at 1800. A total of 12 migrants of 4 species were seen that comprised a season-high 7 Bald Eagles (5a, 2j), 1a dark morph Broad-winged Hawk, 1a rufous morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk and 3 Golden Eagles (2a, 1j). Two Bald Eagles and 3 Golden Eagles moved between 1645 and 1715 including single adults of both species that soared together for a protracted period.

4.5 hours (34) BAEA 7 (13), BWHA 1 (3), RTHA 1 (35), GOEA 3 (14) TOTAL 12 (94)

Saturday, September 29 Mount Lorette [Day 9] 0800-1020 Hay Meadow; 1200-1800 Lusk Creek) (Blake Weis). The temperature at Hay Meadow was -1C and was 2C at Lusk Creek in the afternoon. Winds were N-NE all day, 0-5 km/h to 1000, 5-10 gusting 16 km/h from 1200-1600 and then 0-5 km/h again for the rest of the day. Cloud cover was 100% all day: stratocumulus at Hay Meadow and altostratus, altocumulus and cumulus at Lusk Creek. Moderate snow fell to 0900 which then became heavy, and light snow or flurries occurred at Lusk Creek. No migrants were seen in the morning but 13 raptors of 6 species were counted moving steadily along the highest foothills ridge at Lusk Creek between 1230 and 1620. The count was 2u Sharp-shinned Hawks, 2u Northern Goshawks, 1 adult light morph Broad-winged Hawk, 3u Red-tailed Hawks (1 light, 2 of undetermined race, morph or age), 4 Golden Eagles (1a, 1sa, 2u) and 1 Prairie Falcon. Non-migrants were 2 Sharp-shinned Hawks that were seen hunting north of the site and 1 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk that perched close to the site. Non-raptor migrants were 25 white-headed gulls and 200 American Robins at Lusk Creek, and 44 Canada Geese at Hay Meadow. Other birds seen around the Hay Meadow included 1 Ruffed Grouse, 6 Golden-crowned Kinglets, 3 Ruby-crowned Kinglets, 1 Varied Thrush, 11 American Pipits, 1 White-winged Crossbill, 25 Pine Siskins, 3 American Tree Sparrows (the first of the season), 5 Dark-eyed Juncos, 3 White-crowned Sparrows, 1 White-throated Sparrow and 2 Yellow-rumped Warblers.

8.33 hours (88) SSHA 2 (22), NOGO 2 (5), BWHA 1 (1), RTHA 3 (9), GOEA 4 (258), PRFA 1 (3) TOTAL 13 (335)

Saturday, September 29 Vicki Ridge NO OBSERVATION. The temperature was 0-2C, winds were E-NE light to moderate and cloud cover was 100% low stratus producing snow and rain for most of the day and obscuring the ridge.

Saturday, September 29 Steeples [Day 10] 1200-1700 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 10C, cloud cover was 70-100% altocumulus and dark cumulus and a strong S wind developed by 1430. Only 7 migrants of 4 species were counted between 1239 and 1622 that comprised 3 Bald Eagles (2a, 1j) that moved together at 1317, 1a female Northern Harrier, 2u Sharp-shinned Hawks and 1 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk. No non-migrants were seen.

5 hours (39) BAEA 3 (16), NOHA 1 (4), SSHA 2 (23), RTHA 1 (36) TOTAL 7 (101)

Thursday, September 27 Mount Lorette 0800-1515 (Rick Robb and Cliff Hansen). NO OBSERVATION. Rain, snow, fog and low cloud that obscured the mountains all day

Thursday, September 27 Vicki Ridge NO OBSERVATION. Steady rain and low cloud/fog all day that completely obscured the ridge. The temperature was 2-4C and winds were light E-NE.

Wednesday, September 27 Steeples [Day 8] 1430-1800 (Vance Mattson). Rain fell until early afternoon and 100% stratus, cumulus and altostratus persisted throughout the day, but the main migration ridge was clear after 1400. The temperature was 12C and moderate S winds became calm after 1600. Light rain began again at 1800. A total of 14 migrants of 5 species was counted between 1434 and 1654 comprising 1 Turkey Vulture, 6 Sharp-shinned Hawks (3a, 1j, 1u), 1 juvenile Cooper’s Hawk, 5 calurus Red-tailed Hawks (4a: 3 light, 1 dark; 1j light) and 1 adult Golden Eagle.

3.5 hours (29.5) TUVU 1 (2), SSHA 6 (25), COHA 1 (3), RTHA 5 (39), GOEA 1 (10) TOTAL 14 (90)

Friday, September 28 Mount Lorette [Day 8] 0640-1915 (Bill Wilson, assisted by Heinz Unger). The initial temperature was 0C, the high was 4C from 1300 to 1800 and it was 3C at 1915. Ground winds were W-WSW 0-5 km/h to 1000 and then NNE-N 5-15 km/h for the rest of the day. Ridge winds were probably N light to moderate but they were difficult to assess because of the dense cloud cover that was 100% stratus to 1000 and 100-90% altostratus and cumulus for the rest of the day. There was a light dusting of snow on the ground at the start of observation but there was no further precipitation. The eastern ridges were 100% obscured to 0800, 10-30% obscured to 1400 and 60-80% obscured for the rest of the day. The west was 90-100% obscured all day except for 0800-0900 when it briefly cleared to 40-60%. Despite these inauspicious conditions there was a fairly strong raptor movement of 42 birds of 7 species that were recorded between 1004 and 1650 and comprised 2 adult Bald Eagles, 4 Northern Harriers (2 juveniles and 2 undifferentiated adult females or juveniles), 10 Sharp-shinned Hawks (1a, 1j, 8u), 2u Cooper’s Hawks, 2 Northern Goshawks (1 a, 1u) 3 Rough-legged Hawks (2 light, 1 dark), 18 Golden Eagles (7a, 2sa, 6j, 3u) and 1 unidentified eagle. The Bald Eagles flew south on the western route, but the rest of the movement was on the eastern route or above the centre of the valley. The busiest hour was 10 migrants between 1600 and 1700. Other migrating species moving high to the south were 60 Canada Geese, 5 unidentified swans, 2 Common Loons and 17 unidentified white-headed gulls. Twenty-two visitors were at the site today.

10.58 hours (79.7) BAEA 2 (8), NOHA 4 (6), SSHA 10 (20), COHA 2 (4), NOGO 2 (3), RLHA 3 (3), GOEA 18 (254), UE 1 (7) TOTAL 42 (322)

Friday, September 28 Vicki Ridge [Day 7] 1400-1700 (Peter Sherrington, observing from the Seven Gates Road and the ridgetop from 1530 to 1700). Rain and low cloud shrouded the ridge to 1400 when the rain stopped and the cloud began to lift. At 1530 the ridge cleared where the temperature was 3C, the wind was E 10 km/h and cloud cover was 100% stratus. At 1700 the cloud again descended. The only raptors seen were an unaged Cooper’s Hawk that flew low to the south to the east of the ridge at 1416 and an adult female columbarius Merlin that flew low from the ridge to the WSW at 1612. Other birds in the area included 40 Mountain Bluebirds, 300 American Robins, 20 Bohemian Waxwings (the first of the season), 2 Red Crossbills and 15 Pine Siskins.

3 hours (64) COHA 1 (34), MERL 1 (12) TOTAL 2 (634)

Friday, September 28 Steeples [Day 9] 1330-1800 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 10C, winds were NW moderate that became calm after 1600 and cloud cover was 70% cumulus that fell to 50% cumulus and altostratus at 1600 and became 100% at 1800. A total of 12 migrants of 4 species were seen that comprised a season-high 7 Bald Eagles (5a, 2j), 1a dark morph Broad-winged Hawk, 1a rufous morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk and 3 Golden Eagles (2a, 1j). Two Bald Eagles and 3 Golden Eagles moved between 1645 and 1715 including single adults of both species that soared together for a protracted period.

4.5 hours (34) BAEA 7 (13), BWHA 1 (3), RTHA 1 (40), GOEA 3 (13) TOTAL 12 (102)

Wednesday, September 26 Mount Lorette [Day 7] 0745-1915 (Caroline Lambert, assisted by Joel Duncan). The temperature was 1C at 0745, the high was 12C at 1600 and it was 9C at 1915. Ground winds were light W-SW all day with the exceptions of 1400 when they gusted to 15 km/h and 1600 when a gust of 20 km/h was recorded; ridge winds were probably W-SW moderate to strong all day. Cloud cover was 100% altostratus to noon after which lower cumulus cloud developed but the ridges remained clear. The gloomy conditions made finding migrants fairly easy, but determining their details was problematical. The count was 76 migrant raptors of 5 species that moved between 0855 and 0900 and comprised 1 Osprey, 1 adult Bald Eagle, 70 Golden Eagles (39a, 9sa, 11j, 11u), 1 unidentified eagle, 1u richardsonii Merlin and 2 Prairie Falcons, the two falcon species being firsts for the season. All Golden Eagle movement was on the eastern route from Mount Lorette to the Fisher Range. Only 4 Golden Eagles were recorded before 1200 but movement was steady throughout the afternoon and peaked at 21 between 1600 and 1700. There were many high-flying flocks of small songbirds that could not be identified against the grey clouds, but identified species included 4 Golden-crowned Kinglets, 5 Ruby-crowned Kinglets, 60 American Robins, 20 White-winged Crossbills, 20 Pine Siskins, 1 Oregon Junco, 2 White-crowned Sparrows, 1 White-throated Sparrow, 1 Savannah Sparrow and 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler. The 29 visitors to the site included a grade 12 class of 22 from Western Canada High School in Calgary.

11.5 hours (69.1) OSPR 1 (3), BAEA 1 (6), GOEA 70 (236), UE 1 (6), MERL 1 (1), PRFA 2 (2) TOTAL 76 (280)

Wednesday, September 26 Vicki Ridge [Day 6] 0830-1830 (Peter Sherrington, observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite). The starting temperature was 9C, the high was 15C at 1400 and again at 1600 and it was 13C at the end of observation. Wind was W all day 15-20 km/h to 0930 then 30-40 gusting to 55 km/h for the rest of the day. Cloud cover was 100% altostratus and cirrostratus all day which was thin enough to provide hazy sunshine during the early afternoon; after 1700 dark cumulus clouds also developed that probably presaged the rain that is forecast for tomorrow. It was another good day for raptor movement with 162 birds of 11 species moving between 0948 and 1805 with the highlights being the first significant movement of Rough-legged Hawks that were probably moving ahead of the forecast deteriorating weather, and the fact that the 7 Red-tailed Hawks seen included 3 subspecies: borealis (“Eastern Red-tail”), calurus (“Western Red-tail”) and harlani (“Harlan’s Hawk”). The count was 5 Bald Eagles (2a, 3j), 3 Northern Harriers (2a: 1 male and 1 female; 1 juvenile male), 83 Sharp-shinned Hawks (9a, 74u), 5 Cooper’s Hawks (3a, 2u), 3 adult Northern Goshawks (2 males, 1u), 2 light morph Broad-winged Hawks (1a, 1u), 7 Red-tailed Hawks (1 light adult borealis, 3a (1 light, 2 dark) calurus, 2 dark harlani (1a, 1j) and 1 dark bird of unknown race or age), 9 Rough-legged Hawks (8 light, 1 dark) that were seen between 1521 and 1720, 1 unidentified light Buteo, 39 Golden Eagles (16a, 13sa, 10j), 2 female American Kestrels and 3 columbarius Merlins (2 males, 1 female). Movement was steady between 1000 and 1700 with maximum hourly counts of 36 in each of the two hours after noon, but it slowed to a trickle after 1700 when only 7 more migrants were recorded. Other birds present included 1 Blue Jay, 1 Townsend’s Solitaire, 18 Mountain Bluebirds, 103 American Robins, 1 American Pipit, 4 Red Crossbills, 53 Pine Siskins and 4 Yellow-rumped Warblers.

10 hours (61) BAEA 5 (17), NOHA 3 (11), SSHA 83 (264), COHA 5 (33), NOGO 3 (13), BWHA 2 (13), RTHA 7 (51), RLHA 9 (10), UB 1 (1), GOEA 39 (181), AMKE 2 (8), MERL 3 (11) TOTAL 162 (632)

Wednesday, September 26 Steeples [Day 7] 1630-1730 (Vance Mattson). Because of teaching commitments observation today was restricted to 1 hour and no migrant or resident raptors were seen. The temperature was 17C, it was calm and cloud cover was 100% altostratus.

1 hour (26) TOTAL 0 (76)