Tuesday, October 15 Vicki Ridge [Day 23] 0830-1910 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson assisted by Marilyn and Gord Weber, observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of Vicki Ridge, and Gord Petersen (1410-1850) observing at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge at the Waterton 68 wellsite). The temperature at 0830 was 0C, the high was 12C at 1700 and it was still 8C at 1910. Winds were SW-W all day, 10 km/h to 0930 and then 25-40 gusting 60 km/h for the rest of the day. Cloud cover was 100% altostratus (that formed a Chinook Arch), altocumulus, and cirrostratus to 1630 when the Arch began to slip to the east leaving 50-70% altostratus, lenticular, altocumulus and cirrus cover that produced particularly spectacular sky-forms after the sun set behind Kyllo Ridge to the west. Observing conditions were very good all day. The count from the Waterton 68 wellsite was 123 birds of 5 species between 0940 and 1858 that comprised 2 Bald Eagles (1sa, 1j), 1u Sharp-shinned Hawk that was the first migrant of the day, 1a light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk, 3 Rough-legged Hawks (2 light, 1u), 115 Golden Eagles (102a, 2sa, 8j, 1u) and 1 unidentified eagle. Movement was initially very slow with only 22 birds moving before 1400, but then Golden Eagle migration quickly picked up with 70 birds counted between 1600 and 1800. At the western edge of Kyllo Ridge between 1418 and 1848 Gord counted 105 birds of 5 species that comprised 2 Bald Eagles (1a,1j), 2u Cooper’s Hawks, 1a Northern Goshawk, 7 light morph Rough-legged Hawks and 93 Golden Eagles (76a, 10sa, 6j, 1u). The total movement observed across the ridge system between 0940 and 1858 was 228 migrants of 7 species that comprised 4 Bald Eagles (1a, 1sa, 2j), 1u Sharp-shinned Hawk, 2u Cooper’s Hawks, 1a light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk, 10 Rough-legged Hawks (9 light, 1u), 208 Golden Eagles (178a, 12sa, 14j, 4u) ) and 1 unidentified eagle. The highest combined-site hourly count was 71 between 1700 and 1800 and 37 birds moved after 1800. Other birds seen were a flock of 50 Snow Geese that flew high to the ESE at 1602, 1a Northern Shrike, 1 Canada Jay, 2 Clark’s Nutcrackers, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 16 Common Ravens, 3 Pine Grosbeaks, 470 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches and 2 Dark-eyed [cismontanus] Juncos.

10.67 hours (217) BAEA 4 (108), SSHA 1 (379), COHA 2 (65), NOGO 1 (21), RTHA 1 (117), RLHA 10 (115), GOEA 208 (1557), UE 1 (14) TOTAL 228 (2461)

Tuesday, October 15 Steeples [Day 15] 1300-1700 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 11C, conditions were calm and 60-100% thin stratus cloud cover thickened as the day progressed. No migrants were seen but non-migratory birds were an adult Bald Eagle, an adult Sharp-shinned Hawk, and an adult Golden Eagle that was seen perched on the ridge for 35 minutes.

4 hours (68) TOTAL 0 (281)

Monday, October 14 Vicki Ridge [Day 22] 0830-1845 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson assisted by Gord Petersen and Sivone Sonepaseuth observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of Vicki Ridge). The temperature at 0830 was 1C the high at 1100 was 6C but an un-forecasted cold front that passed at 1130 quickly reduced the temperature to 3C that slowly recovered to 5C at 1500 after which it slowly reduced to 2C at 1945. Winds to 1130 were WNW-W 10-15 gusting 20 km/h but after the passage of the front they became mainly light E 5-10 km/h for the rest of the day. Cloud cover was 30% cumulus to 1000 when dark cumulus began to appear to the north and after 1130 it was 70-100% cumulus until the end of the day that occasionally produced drizzle or very light flurries. The weather produced a count that was significantly different from yesterday’s with a total of 86 raptors of 7 species moving between 0940 and 1835 that comprised 5 Bald Eagles (3a, 2sa), 1a Cooper’s Hawk that was the only Accipiterseen, 1u dark morph Broad-winged Hawk that moved just ahead of the approaching front, 8a Red-tailed Hawks (3 calurus (2 light, 1 dark) and 5 dark morph harlani), a season high 54 Rough-legged Hawks (52 light, 2 dark), only 16 Golden Eagles (12a, 2sa, 1j, 1u) and 1a female Peregrine Falcon. After 1130 the light winds produced mainly slow high-soaring flight with kettles of up to 6 raptors forming above the valley. Despite the conditions movement was fairly steady all day and peaked at 21 birds, of which 20 were Rough-legged Hawks, between 1700 and 1800. Other birds seen were flocks of 20 and 36 Canada Geese that flew high to the west at 1206 and 1810 respectively, 1 female Pileated Woodpecker, 1a Northern Shrike, 1 Clark’s Nutcracker, 19 American Crows that flew west at 1741, 49 Common Ravens, 1 American Robin and 65 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches.

10.25 hours (206.3) BAEA 5 (104), COHA 1 (63), BWHA 1 (9), RTHA 8 (116), RLHA 54 (105), GOEA 16 (1349), PEFA 1 (4) TOTAL 86 (2233)

Monday, October 14 Steeples [Day 14] 1300-1800 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 9C, it was calm and 30-60% cumulus cloud cover gave mainly sunny conditions. A total of 33 migrants of 4 species moved between 1313 and 1631 that comprised 16 Bald Eagles (10a, 1sa, 5j), 2 Northern Harriers (1 adult female and 1u juvenile), 1a Sharp-shinned Hawk, 13 Golden Eagles (9a, 1sa, 2j) and 1 unidentified eagle. The hourly counts were 5 (1313-1400), 9 (1400-1500), 15 (1500-1600) and 4 (1600-1631) after which movement ceased. Most migrants appeared from behind the main ridge, soared high in front of Mount Bill Nye before gliding high to the south. Non-migrants were 4 Bald Eagles (3a, 1j) and 1a Golden Eagle.

5 hours (64) BAEA 16 (88), NOHA 2 (6), SSHA 1 (35), GOEA 13 (105), UE 1 (4) TOTAL 33 (281)

Sunday, October 13 Vicki Ridge [Day 21] 0830-1900 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of Vicki Ridge). The temperature at 0830 was 4.5C, the high at 1400 was 10.5C and it was 5C at 1900. Winds were W-SW all day 10-20 km/h to 1600 after which they were 20-35 km/h, and cloud cover was 90-100% altocumulus, altostratus, lenticular and cirrus which periodically allowed hazy sunshine and gave excellent observing conditions all day. There was a strong raptor movement with 216 birds of 9 species seen between 0939 and 1851 that comprised 9 Bald Eagles (5a, 4j), 13 Sharp-shinned Hawks (4a, 9u), 2 Cooper’s Hawks (1a, 1u), 3a Northern Goshawks, 3a Red-tailed Hawks (2 light calurus and 1 dark harlani), 9 light Rough-legged Hawks, 173 Golden Eagles (151a, 6sa, 16j), 1u American Kestrel and 3 columbarius Merlins (2 males, 1 female). Despite the high numbers movement was sporadic with extended periods when no birds were seen. The highest single hour count was 60 between 1500 and 1600 that included 54 Golden Eagles. Other birds seen were 1 male Hairy Woodpecker, 1a Northern Shrike, 1 Clark’s Nutcracker, 2 Black-billed Magpies, 40 Common Ravens, 20 American Robins, 4 female Pine Grosbeaks and 170 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches.

10.5 hours (196.1) BAEA 9 (99), SSHA 13 (378), COHA 2 (62), NOGO 3 (20), RTHA 3 (108), RLHA 9 (51), GOEA 173 (1333), AMKE 1 (18), MERL 3 (11) TOTAL 216 (2147)

Sunday, October 13 Steeples [Day 13] 1200-1700 (Vance Mattson, assisted by John and Doreen Mattson, and Kahulani Keeling). The temperature was 7C, conditions were calm, and cloud cover was 100% stratus that brought rain between 1330 and 1335 and completely covered the ridges at 1700. The only raptor seen was a non-migrant Merlin that perched briefly at the site.

5 hours (59) TOTAL 0 (248)

Saturday, October 12 Vicki Ridge [Day 20] 0900-1845 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of Vicki Ridge). It was a relatively warm day with a temperature at 0900 of 4C, a high at 1600 and 1700 of 10C and it was 7C at 1845. Winds were steady W all day 30-45 km/h and it was cloudless to 1200 when 20% cirrus cloud developed that gradually increased throughout the afternoon and reached 100% cirrostratus, altostratus, altocumulus and lenticular by the end of observation. There was a fairly strong raptor movement of 106 birds of 6 species between 0949 and 1828 that comprised 2 Bald Eagles (1a, 1j), 8 Sharp-shinned Hawks (7a, 1u), 1a Cooper’s Hawk, 1j light morph Broad-winged Hawk, 1a calurus Red-tailed Hawk and 93 Golden Eagles (67a, 6sa, 18j). Movement was fairly steady after 1100 and peaked at 27 birds between 1700 and 1800. Other birds seen were 1a Northern Shrike which was the first of the season, 1 Blue Jay, 31 Common Ravens, 8 American Robins, and 4 Pine Grosbeaks that were the first to be seen in the area this year.

9.75 hours (185.6) BAEA 2 (90), SSHA 8 (365), COHA 1 (60), BWHA 1 (8), RTHA 1 (105), GOEA 93 (1160) TOTAL 106 (1931)

Saturday, October 12 Steeples [Day 12] 1245-1800 (Vance Mattson, assisted by Virginia Rasch, John and Doreen Mattson, and Kahulani Keeling). The temperature rose to 5C from a starting low of 1C, conditions were calm and it was cloudless to 1520 when 60% thin altostratus developed that gradually increased to 100% by the end of observation. Today’s count was 31 raptors of 4 species that moved between 1305 and 1650 and comprised 1 late-moving Turkey Vulture that was the first bird of the day and the first for the season, 5 Bald Eagles (3a, 2j), 10 Sharp-shinned Hawks (3a, 7u) and 15 Golden Eagles (8a, 1sa, 6j). Thirteen migrants moved before 1400, 2 between 1400 and 1500, 14 between 1500 and 1600 and just 2 after 1600. Non-migrants were 3 Bald Eagles (2a, 1j) and 2a Golden Eagles.

5.25 hours (54) TUVU 1 (1), BAEA 5 (72), SSHA 10 (34), GOEA 15 (92) TOTAL 31 (248)

Friday, October 11 Vicki Ridge [Day 19] 0830-1900 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson assisted by Pat Lucas and Asher Warkentin, observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of Vicki Ridge). The temperature at 0830 was -3C, the high was 6C at 1600 and it was 2C at 1900. Winds were NW-WNW 20-30 gusting 40 km/h to 1300 and then W 30 km/h for the rest of the day that gusted to 50 km/h after 1700. It was again cloudless for most of the day with 20% cirrus cloud developing after 1830. The first migrant did not appear until 1038 and only 8 birds were seen by 1200, but then Golden Eagle movement became steady with 121 birds moving up to 1652 when the flow suddenly stopped. A single bird was seen at 1747 and there was a final late flourish of 6 birds between 1808 and 1822. The count of 145 birds of 7 species between 1038 and 1833 was 3 Bald Eagles (1a. 1sa, 1j), 4a Sharp-shinned Hawks, 1a Cooper’s Hawk, 1a Northern Goshawk, 1a light morph Broad-winged Hawk, 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk and 134 Golden Eagles (96a, 9sa, 27j, 2u). The highest hourly counts were 34 (1400-1500) and 35 (1500-1600). Other birds seen were 1 Blue Jay, 2 Clark’s Nutcrackers, 13 Common Ravens, 26 American Robins, 20 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches and 2 cismontanusDark-eyed Juncos. At 1720 a Long-tailed Weasel, still in complete summer pelage, actively hunted subnivean small mammals in deep snow just north of the site.

10.5 hours (175.8) BAEA 3 (88), SSHA 4 (367), COHA 1 (59), NOGO 1 (17), BWHA 1 (7), RLHA 1 (42), GOEA 134 (1067) TOTAL 145 (1825)

Friday, October 11 Steeples [Day 11] 1200-1800 (Vance Mattson). Both the weather and count were similar to yesterday with 39 raptors of 7 species moving between 1339 and 1629. The temperature reached 3C from a low of -1C at 1200, conditions were again calm and cloud cover was 30% cumulus mainly concentrated above the ridges that reduced to cloudless skies by 1530. The count was 20 Bald eagles (7a, 2sa, 9j, 2u) that included a kettle of 8 (3a, 5j) at 1422, 2j Northern Harriers, 2a Sharp-shinned Hawks, 2a calurus Red-tailed Hawks (1 light morph and 1 dark morph), 10 Golden Eagles (9a, 1j), 1u American Kestrel and 2 Peregrine Falcons (1j 1u) that were the first of the season. Only 4 birds were seen before 1400 but the following two hours saw 22 and 10 migrants respectively, and 3a Golden Eagles at 1620 were the last migrants of the day. As yesterday flight was again mainly slow and low with some birds soaring for extended periods. A non-migrant adult Bald Eagle glided north at 1510.

6 hours (48.75) BAEA 20 (67), NOHA 2 (4), SSHA 2 (24), RTHA 2 (25), GOEA 10 (77), AMKE 1 (5), PEFA 2 (2) TOTAL 39 (217)