Wednesday, September 25 Vicki Ridge [Day 6] 0815-1915 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of Vicki Ridge; 1525-1720 Denise Cocciolone-Amatto and Raymond Toal observing at the mid-point of Kyllo Ridge, and 1500-1820 Gord Petersen at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge at the Waterton 68 wellsite). The temperature at 0815 was 4C, the high between 1400 and 1600 was 14.5C and it was 10C at the end of observation at 1915. Winds were again W-WSW all day 20-30 km/h to 1300 after which they increased to 30-40 gusting 55 km/h for the rest of the day. Cloud cover was 10-40% cumulus and cirrus to 1600 after which it thickened to 70-100% altostratus, cirrostratus and cumulus for the rest of the day, and observing conditions were excellent throughout. The count on Vicki Ridge was 71 birds comprising 2 Bald Eagles (1sa, 1j), 1 juvenile female Northern Harrier, 25 Sharp-shinned Hawks (9a, 3j, 13u), 8 Cooper’s Hawks (5a, 1j, 2u), 2 Northern Goshawks (1a, 1j), 1 juvenile light morph Broad-winged Hawk, 10 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks, 1 juvenile light morph Ferruginous Hawk, 1 dark morph Rough-legged Hawk and 20 Golden Eagles (10a, 2sa, 7j, 1u). The count of 16 birds at the mid-ridge site was 2u Sharp-shinned Hawks, 1a Cooper’s Hawk, 1 juvenile Northern Goshawk, 11 Golden Eagles (8a, 3j) and 1 unidentified eagle; and the count of 37 birds at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge was 1 juvenile Bald Eagle, 28 Sharp-shinned Hawks (3a, 25u), 1u Cooper’s Hawk, 3 Red-tailed Hawks (calurus light 2a, harlani dark 1a), 1a dark Ferruginous Hawk and 3 Golden Eagles (2a, 1j). There appeared to be no duplication in the counting of birds at the three sites and the total movement observed across the ridge system was 124 migrants of 10 species that comprised 3 Bald Eagles (1sa, 2j), 1 juvenile female Northern Harrier, 55 Sharp-shinned Hawks (12a, 3j, 40u), 10 Cooper’s Hawks (6a, 1j, 3u), 3 Northern Goshawks (1a, 2j), 1 juvenile light morph Broad-winged Hawk, 13 Red-tailed Hawks (12 adult light morph calurus and 1a dark morph harlani), 2 Ferruginous Hawks (1 juvenile light morph and 1a dark morph), 1 dark morph Rough-legged Hawk, 34 Golden Eagles (20a, 2sa, 11j, 1u), and 1 unidentified eagle. The highest hourly combined counts were 29 (1600-1700) and 24 (1700-1800). Other bird species seen were 1 Northern (Red-shafted) Flicker, 7 Clark’s Nutcrackers, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 31 Common Ravens, 2 Red-breasted Nuthatches, 7 Mountain Bluebirds, 2 Townsend’s Solitaires, 145 American Robins, 16 Cedar Waxwings, 40 Pine Siskins, and 2 Yellow-rumped Warblers.

11 hours (64.58) BAEA 3 (11), NOHA 1 (9), SSHA 55 (186), COHA 10 (33), NOGO 3 (9), BWHA 1 (3), RTHA 13 (55), RLHA 1 (4), GOEA 34 (127), UE 1 (1) TOTAL 124 (476)

Wednesday, September 25 Steeples (Vance Mattson). No observation because of teaching commitments.

Tuesday, September 24 Vicki Ridge [Day 5] 0815-1915 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge assisted by Raymond Toal). The starting temperature was 8.5C, the high at 1500 was 14.5C and it was 9.6C at 1915. Winds were again strong W-WSW all day 40-50 gusting 70-80 km/h and cloud cover was a continuously changing mix of cumulus, stratocumulus cirrus and cirrostratus that was generally 60-90% but briefly diminished to 30% at 1600. Light rain showers occurred throughout the day, but observing conditions were mainly very good. There was again a fairly strong but sporadic raptor movement involving 66 birds of 11 species that moved between 0858 and 1843 with a maximum hourly count of only 13 between 1400 and 1500. The count comprised 2 Ospreys, 1 adult Bald Eagle, 3 Northern Harriers (2 juvenile males and 1u), 15 Sharp-shinned Hawks (6a, 1j, 8u), 6 Cooper’s Hawks (4a, 2u), 1u Northern Goshawk, 1 small unidentified Accipiter, 11 calurus Red-tailed Hawks (7a light morphs and 4 dark morphs: 3a, 1j), 2 light morph Rough-legged Hawks, 21 Golden Eagles (9a, 3sa, 8j, 1u), 2 male American Kestrels and 1 female columbarius Merlin. Other bird species seen were 1 Northern (Red-shafted) Flicker, 4 Clark’s Nutcrackers, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 18 Common Ravens, 37 Mountain Bluebirds, 32 American Robins, 46 Cedar Waxwings, 50 Pine Siskins, 1 Dark-eyed [Oregon] Junco and 5 Yellow-rumped Warblers.

11 hours (53.58) OSPR 2 (3), BAEA 1 (8), NOHA 3 (8), SSHA 15 (131), COHA 6 (23), NOGO 1 (6), UA 1 (2), RTHA 11 (42), RLHA 2 (3), GOEA 21 (93), AMKE 2 (11), MERL 1 (4) TOTAL 66 (352)

Tuesday, September 24 Steeples [Day 1] 1315-1830 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 17C, conditions were mainly calm and initial overcast skies cleared to 60-40% cumulus and altocumulus after 1330 which gave mostly sunny conditions for the rest of the day. The first day of the count was productive with 41 birds of 7 species moving between 1315 and 1830 that comprised 1 Osprey, 7 Bald Eagles (4a, 3j), 1 juvenile female Northern Harrier, 13 Sharp-shinned Hawks (5a, 2j, 6u), 9 light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks (5a, 2j, 2u), 9 Golden Eagles (6a, 3j) and 1 female American Kestrel. Movement was general high with most birds appearing above the “gap” and soaring briefly before gliding south above the main ranges. Resident birds were a pair of Sharp-shinned Hawks, 1 juvenile calurus Red-tailed Hawk, and an adult Golden Eagle that glided northwest into the valley.

5.25 hours OSPR 1, BAEA 7, NOHA 1, SSHA 13, RTHA 9, GOEA 9, AMKE 1 TOTAL 41

Monday, September 23 Vicki Ridge [Day 4] 0815-1900 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge assisted by Raymond Toal, and Gord Petersen at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge at the Waterton 68 wellsite, 1405-1745). The temperature at 0815 was 10C, the high at 1400 and again at 1600 was 13C and it was 11C at the end of observation. Winds were strong W-WSW all day, 35-45 gusting to over 70 km/h and cloud cover was 100% mainly dark stratocumulus and altocumulus all day that produced light and occasionally moderate rain showers throughout. Despite these unpromising conditions there was a sporadic raptor movement between 0815 and 1826 involving 46 birds of 8 species seen at both sites. The combined count was 1 juvenile male Northern Harrier, 16 Sharp-shinned Hawks (2a, 1j, 13u), 1 juvenile Cooper’s Hawk, 1 juvenile light morph Swainson’s Hawk, 13 Red-tailed Hawks (calurus light 8a, 1u, calurus dark 1a, borealis 1 juvenile, harlani 1 dark adult and 1 bird of unknown race, morph or age), 1 indeterminate dark Buteo, 10 Golden Eagles (2a, 5sa, 2j, 1u), 1 female American Kestrel and 2 Merlins (1 adult male richardsonii and 1 adult female columbarius). The total includes 21 birds seen by Gord between 1405 and 1730 at the western edge of the ridge system: 9 Sharp-shinned Hawks (1a, 8u), 4 adult calurus Red-tailed Hawks (3 light, 1 dark), 7 Golden Eagles (1a, 3sa, 2j, 1u) and the female Kestrel. He commented that it was so windy there that it was hard to hold his binoculars steady even though he was observing from inside his vehicle! The highest hourly count was 22 between 1400 and 1500. Other bird species recorded were 1 Northern Pygmy-Owl, 1 Northern (Red-shafted) Flicker, 2 Clark’s Nutcrackers, 9 Black-billed Magpies, 18 Common Ravens, 1 female Western Bluebird, 30 Mountain Bluebirds, 1 Townsend ’s Solitaire, 142 American Robins, 43 Cedar Waxwings and 1 Pine Siskin.

NOHA 1 (5), SSHA 16 (116), COHA 1 (17), SWHA 1 (2), RTHA 13 (31), UB 1 (4), GOEA 10 (72), AMKE 1 (9), MERL 2 (3) TOTAL 46 (286)

Monday, September 23 Steeples (Vance Mattson). No observation.

Sunday, September 22 Vicki Ridge [Day 3] 0815-1935 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge, assisted by Gord Petersen, Denise Cocciolone-Amatto, Raymond Toal and Cathy Scrimshaw). The warm weather continued with a temperature of 11C at 0815, a high of 17.5C at 1500 and it was 14C when observation ceased at 1935. Winds were again WSW-W all day 30-40 gusting to 55 km/h to 1600 after which they were 30-40 km/h and became light after 1900. Cloud cover was 10-20% cumulus to the west until 1530 when 80% altostratus and cirrus quickly developed and formed a spectacular Chinook Arch that persisted for the rest of the day. There was another fairly strong and persistent raptor movement involving 99 birds of 13 species that moved between 0848 and 1921 and comprised 2 adult Turkey Vultures, 2 Bald Eagles (1 subadult and 1 undifferentiated immature bird), 46 Sharp-shinned Hawks (5a, 4j, 37u), 2 Cooper’s Hawks (1a, 1u), 2 Northern Goshawks (1a, 1j), 2 Broad-winged Hawks (1 light juvenile and 1 dark adult), 1u light morph Swainson’s hawk, 4 calurus Red-tailed Hawks (3 light: 1a, 1j, 1u and 1 dark adult), 2 light morph Ferruginous Hawks (1a, 1j), 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk, 1 dark unidentified Buteo, 31 Golden Eagles (16a, 3sa, 12j), 1 female columbarius Merlin and 2 adult Peregrine Falcons (1 male, 1 female). Non-migrant birds were an adult Red-tailed Hawk that again hunted above the ridge for much of the day, and a male American Kestrel that briefly perched near the site. The highest hourly count was 24 between 1500 and 1600 and the most sustained Golden Eagle movement was 9 birds between 1104 and 1130. Other bird species seen were 2 Northern Flickers (1 Yellow-shafted and 1 Red-shafted), 8 American Crows that flew low to the west to roost at 1931, 50 Common Ravens, 12 Mountain Bluebirds, 1 Townsend ’s Solitaire, 183 American Robins, 32 Cedar Waxwings and 36 Pine Siskins.

11.33 hours (31.83) TUVU 2 (3), BAEA 2 (7), SSHA 46 (100), COHA 2 (16), NOGO 2 (5), BWHA 2 (2), SWHA 1 (1), FEHA 2 (3), RLHA 1 (1), UB 1 (2), GOEA 31 (62), MERL 1 (1), PEFA 2 (3) TOTAL 99 (240)

Sunday, September 22 Steeples (Vance Mattson). No observation.

Saturday, September 21 Vicki Ridge [Day 2] 0815-1930 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge, assisted by Gord Petersen, Denise Cocciolone-Amatto and Carrie Bergman). The temperature at 0815 was 6C, the high at 1500 was 15.5C and it was 12C at 1930. Winds were WSW to W all day, 15-20 km/h to 1000 after which they increased to 25-40 gusting 50 km/h for the rest of the day. Cloud cover was initially 10% cumulus and cirrostratus but quickly thickened and was mainly 60-90% altostratus, altocumulus, cirrostratus and cirrocumulus for the rest of the day that allowed hazy sunshine for most of the time and provided excellent observing conditions throughout. Raptor movement was slow but steady all day with a total of 72 birds of 10 species recorded between 0827 and 1908. The flight comprised 1 immature Turkey Vulture, 5 Bald Eagles (1 adult, 1 late subadult, 3 juveniles), 1 juvenile female Northern Harrier, 29 Sharp-shinned Hawks (8a, 2j, 19u), 5 Cooper’s Hawks (1a, 4u), 2 Northern Goshawks (1a, 1j), 4 calurus Red-tailed Hawks (2a and 1u light morphs; 1 adult rufous morph), 21 Golden Eagles (17a, 3sa, 1j), 3u American Kestrels and 1 adult Peregrine Falcon. A probable family group of 2 adult and 1 juvenile Red-tailed Hawks were seen hunting above the ridge throughout the day with the juvenile bird often acting aggressively towards migrating birds, and a pair of resident American Kestrels were frequently seen near the site. The highest hourly counts were 14 between 1400 and 1500 and 12 between 1500 and 1600. Other bird species seen were 50 Canada Geese, 1 Ruffed Grouse, 1 Northern Flicker, 19 Clark’s Nutcrackers, 79 Common Ravens, 6 Mountain Bluebirds, 1 Townsend’s Solitaire, 178 American Robins, 40   36 Cedar Waxwings, 1 Cassin’s Finch, 101 Pine Siskins and 5 Yellow-rumped Warblers.

11.25 hours (20.5) TUVU 1 (1), BAEA 5 (5), NOHA 1 (4), SSHA 29 (54), COHA 5 (14), NOGO 2 (3), RTHA 4 (14), GOEA 21 (31), AMKE 3 (8), PEFA 1 (1) TOTAL 72 (141)

Saturday, September 21 Steeples (Vance Mattson). No report received.