Thursday, October 03 Vicki Ridge [Day 12] 0830-1915 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of Vicki Ridge and Gord Petersen (1330-1815) observing at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge at the Waterton 68 wellsite). The temperature at 0830 was 3C, the high at 1400 was 11.5C and it was 5.5C at 1915. Winds were again W-WSW all day, initially 30-40 gusting 55 km/h after which they were 30 gusting 40 for the rest of the day. Cloud cover was initially 100% altostratus that formed a Chinook arch that slowly moved to the east and after 1200 50-70% altostratus and altocumulus gave sunny conditions to 1700 when the arch re-formed. Observing conditions were excellent all day. The count on Vicki Ridge was 41 birds between 0919 and 1832 that comprised 4 Bald Eagles (2a, 1sa, 1j), 7 Sharp-shinned Hawks (4a, 3u), 2a Cooper’s Hawks, 6a Red-tailed Hawks (3 light and 2 dark calurus and 1 dark harlani), 1 dark morph Rough-legged Hawk, 17 Golden Eagles (8a, 2 sa, 7j), 1 male American Kestrel, 2 Gyrfalcons (1 grey morph and 1 white morph) and 1 male Prairie Falcon. The count of 30 birds between 1347 and 1807 at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge was 3 Bald Eagles (2a, 1sa), 5 Sharp-shinned Hawks (1a, 4u), 1u Cooper’s Hawk, 1a Northern Goshawk, 1a light morph Broad-winged Hawk, 1a “Krider’s” Red-tailed Hawk and 2a light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks, 2 light Rough-legged Hawks, 13 Golden Eagles (5a, 5sa, 1j, 2u) and 1 unidentified eagle. The total movement observed across the ridge system between 0919 and 1832 was 71  migrants of 11 species that comprised 7 Bald Eagles (4a, 2sa, 1j), 12 Sharp-shinned Hawks (5a, 7u), 3 Cooper’s Hawks (2a, 1u), 1a Northern Goshawk, 1a Light morph Broad-winged Hawk, 9a Red-tailed Hawks (1 “Krider’s”, 7 calurus: 5 light and 2 dark morphs, and 1 dark morph harlani), 3 Rough-legged Hawks (2 light, 1 dark), 30 Golden Eagles (13a, 7sa, 8j, 2u), 1 unidentified eagle, 1 male American Kestrel, 2 Gyrfalcons (1 grey and 1 white morph) and 1 male Prairie Falcon. The highest hourly count was 14 between 1700 and 1800. Other bird species seen were 1 Blue Jay, 2 Clark’s Nutcrackers, 5 American Crows, 22 Common Ravens, 9 Mountain Bluebirds, 140 American Robins, 30 Cedar Waxwings that flew south in a single flock at 1145, and 1 Dark-eyed [Oregon] Junco.

10.75 hours (109.6) BAEA 7 (27), SSHA 12 (263), COHA 3 (44), NOGO 1 (13), BWHA 1 (6), RTHA 9 (89), RLHA 3 (9), GOEA 30 (273), UE 1 (6), AMKE 1 (16), GYRF 2 (3) PRFA 1 (2) TOTAL 71 (797)

Thursday, October 03 Steeples [Day 5] 1345-1700 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 10C, conditions were calm and cloud cover was 100% altostratus and cumulus. Although the ridges were clear no migrant or resident raptors were seen.

3.25 hours (18.25) TOTAL 0 (52)

Wednesday, October 02 Vicki Ridge [Day 10] 0830-1900 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson assisted by Denise Cocciolone-Amatto observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of Vicki Ridge and Gord Petersen (1320-1845) observing at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge at the Waterton 68 wellsite). The temperature at 0830 was 2C, the high at 1600 was 8.5C and it was 4C at 1900. Winds were steady W-WSW all day 30 gusting to 45 km/h and cloud cover was 90-70% altostratus, cirrus and altocumulus to 1130 after which it cleared rapidly to 10% cirrus and altocumulus and was essentially cloudless after 1600.  The count on Vicki Ridge was 49 birds between 0947 and 1752 that comprised 1undifferentiated immature Bald Eagle, 7 Sharp-shinned Hawks (5a, 2u), 1 adult Cooper’s Hawk, 1 undifferentiated small Accipiter, 5 Red-tailed Hawks (calurus light 1a; calurus dark 2a and 2 dark harlani 1a, 1j), 1 dark morph Rough-legged Hawk, 1 unidentified light morph Buteo, 31 Golden Eagles (12a, 3 sa, 16j), and 1 male American Kestrel. The count of 59 birds between 1329 and 1839 at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge was 2a Bald Eagles, 17 Sharp-shinned Hawks (9a, 8u), 3 Cooper’s Hawks (1a, 2u), 1a dark morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk, 33 Golden Eagles (16a, 5sa, 2j, 10u), 2 unidentified eagles and 1 unidentified large falcon. Many of the birds were moving well west of the ridge towards Carbondale ridge and several were seen only as silhouettes against the late afternoon sun. The total movement observed across the ridge system between 0947 and 1839 was 108  migrants of 8 species that comprised 3 Bald Eagles (2a, 1 undifferentiated immature), 24 Sharp-shinned Hawks (14a, 10u), 4 Cooper’s Hawks (2a, 2u),1 undifferentiated small Accipiter, 6 Red-tailed Hawks (4 adult calurus: 1 light and 3 dark morphs, and 2 dark morph harlani: 1a, 1j), 1 dark morph Rough-legged Hawk, 1 unidentified light morph Buteo, 64 Golden Eagles (28a, 8sa, 18j, 10u), 2 unidentified eagles, 1 male American Kestrel and 1 large falcon that was probably a either a Peregrine or a Prairie Falcon. The highest hourly count was 23 between 1700 and 1800. Other bird species seen were 2 Clark’s Nutcrackers, a flock of 18 American Crows that flew north at 1430, 34 Common Ravens, 10 Mountain Bluebirds, 25 American Robins with most of yesterday’s 1000 birds having flown south under last night’s clear sky, 20 Cedar Waxwings that flew south in a single flock at 1035 and 2 Dark-eyed [Oregon] Juncos.

10.5 hours (98.83) BAEA 3 (20), SSHA 24 (251), COHA 4 (41), UA 1 (5), RTHA 6 (80), RLHA 1 (6), UB 1 (5), GOEA 64 (2430, UE 2 (5), AMKE 1 (15), UF 1 (2) TOTAL 108 (726)

Wednesday, October 02 Steeples (Vance Mattson). No observation because of teaching commitments.

Monday, October 01 Vicki Ridge [Day 10] 0930-1915 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson assisted by Gord Petersen observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of Vicki Ridge). The temperature at 0930 was -2C, the high at 1600 was 7C and it was 0C at 1915. Winds were W-WSW all day 10-15 gusting 20 km/h to 1730 after which they were calm to light, and it was cloudless all day with traces of cumulus cloud at 1500 and 1600. There was a moderate but diverse raptor movement of 55 birds of 11 species between 1133 and 1818 that comprised 4 Bald Eagles (2a, 2j), 1u Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1a Cooper’s Hawk, 1 adult male Northern Goshawk, 1a light morph Broad-winged Hawk, 1a “Krider’s Red-tailed Hawk” (B. j borealis var krideri), 1a dark morph Ferruginous Hawk, 39 Golden Eagles (24a, 1sa, 14j), 1 unidentified eagle, 1 male American Kestrel, 2 columbarius Merlins (1 male, 1 female) and 1 female light intermediate morph Gyrfalcon. The Gyrfalcon perched for 6 minutes on the high point of Vicki Ridge before flying to the east, and was the eighteenth raptor species recorded on this season’s count. Movement was generally slow but steady and 37 of the migrants were recorded between 1300 and 1600 with a high hourly count of 14 between 1400 and 1500. Other bird species were 1 Wilson’s Snipe that flew low to the north past the site at 1245, 1 female Pileated Woodpecker, 1 Cassin’s Vireo that was a first October record for the area, 1 Clark’s Nutcracker, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 61 Common Ravens, 24 Mountain Bluebirds, a conservatively estimated 1000 American Robins that perched throughout the valley and filled the sky all day, and 2 Dark-eyed [Oregon] Juncos. It was a most interesting day.

9.75 hours (88.33) BAEA 4 (17), SSHA 1 (227), COHA 1 (37), NOGO 1 (12), BWHA 1 (5), RTHA 1 (74), FEHA 1 (6), GOEA 39 (179), UE 1 (3), AMKE 1 (14), MERL 2 (8), GYRF 1 (1) TOTAL 54 (618)

Monday, October 01 Steeples [Day 4] 1400-1800 (Vance Mattson). It was a beautiful sunny day with a temperature of 8C, calm conditions and 40% cumulus cloud cover. A total of 8 migrants of 3 species moved between 1451 and 1736 comprising 6 Bald Eagles (3a, 3j), 1 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk and 1 adult Golden Eagle. Five Bald Eagles and the Red-tailed Hawk were seen between 1645 and 1700. The resident Golden Eagle pair was seen for the first time this season with this year’s juvenile bird: one adult and the juvenile soared together between 1650 and 1705.

4 hours (18) BAEA 6 (14), RTHA 1 (10), GOEA 1 (10) TOTAL 8 (52)

Friday, September 27 Vicki Ridge [Day 8] 0845-0945 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of Vicki Ridge). The temperature was 1C, it was calm and cloud cover was 100% stratus that completely obscured Kyllo Ridge but the southern end of Vicki Ridge was visible until 0945 when it also became obscured. At 0928 a female columbarius Merlin flew from the east and perched on a snag north of the site until 0937 when it flew strongly to the south. The only other birds seen were 86 American Robins and 2 Dark-eyed [Oregon] Juncos.

I hour (76.08) MERL 1 (6) TOTAL 1 (563)

Friday, September 27 Steeples (Vance Mattson). No observation.

Saturday, September 28 Vicki Ridge. No observation: heavy snow all day.

Saturday, September 28 Steeples (Vance Mattson). No observation.

Sunday, September 29 Vicki Ridge. No observation: heavy snow all day.

Sunday, September 29 Steeples [Day 3] 1500-1700 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 7C, winds were moderate N and cloud cover was 100% uniform grey-white stratus but there was no snow. The ridges cleared at 1400 but the mountains to the north remained largely obscured and no migrant or resident raptors were seen.

2 hours (11) TOTAL 0 (44)

Monday, September 30 Vicki Ridge [Day 9] 1600-1830 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of Vicki Ridge). The snow finally ceased at around 1100 and we arrived at the site shortly after the access road was ploughed. The temperature was -3C at 1600 and fell to -4C at 1700 and 1800, winds were calm or light ESE, cloud cover was 100% stratocumulus but all ridges were clear. There was about 1 metre of fresh snow at the site. No migrant or resident raptors were seen and other birds recorded were 1 Canada Jay, 4 Common Ravens, 5 Mountain Bluebirds, 400 American Robins, 1 White-crowned Sparrow and 7 Dark-eyed [Oregon] Juncos.

2.5 hours (78.58) TOTAL 0 (563)

Monday, September 30 Steeples (Vance Mattson). No report received.

Thursday, September 26 Vicki Ridge [Day 7] 0815-1845 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of Vicki Ridge; 1400-1650 Raymond Toal observing at the mid-point of Kyllo Ridge, and 1325-1730 Gord Petersen at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge at the Waterton 68 wellsite). It was an unpleasant start to the day with a temperature at 0815 of 5C, WSW winds gusting over 70 km/h, 100% uniform stratus cloud cover and steady light rain. At 0940, however, the rain stopped and the sky rapidly cleared and was 20% cumulus at 1000 and was then sunny for the rest of the day. The temperature reached a high of 14C at 1400 and was 12C at 1700 but then dropped rapidly to 6C at 1800 and was 4C at 1845. Winds were W-SW 30-40 gusting 55 to 1700 when they shifted to E-NE and were mainly light. Cloud cover from 1000 to 1600 was 10-30% cumulus after which it quickly thickened to 70% cumulus for the rest of the day, and after the rain stopped observing conditions were excellent. The count on Vicki Ridge was 41 birds between 0945 and 1843 that comprised 1 Osprey, 2 subadult Bald Eagles, 11 Sharp-shinned Hawks (5a, 6u), 1 adult Cooper’s Hawk, 1 juvenile Northern Goshawk, 1 adult light morph Broad-winged Hawk, 12 Red-tailed Hawks (calurus light 5a, 1u; calurus dark 3a and 1 intermediate adult; 2 dark harlani 1a, 1j), 1j dark morph Rough-legged Hawk, 8 Golden Eagles (5a, 1j, 2u), 1 female American Kestrel, 1 female columbarius Merlin and 1 large falcon that was probably a Prairie Falcon. Only 3 migrants were seen at the mid-ridge site: 1u Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1a Golden Eagle and 1 female American Kestrel. The count of 42 birds at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge was 28 Sharp-shinned Hawks (3a, 25u), 2u Cooper’s Hawks, 1a Northern Goshawk, 6 Red-tailed Hawks (calurus light 3a, 2j; harlani dark 1a), 4 Golden Eagles (1a, 3u) and 1 unidentified eagle. A late subadult Bald Eagle seen at 1550 flew to the ESE and was seen at 1558 at the Vicki Ridge site. Otherwise there appeared to be no duplication of records and the total movement observed across the ridge system was 86 migrants of 12 species that comprised 1 Osprey, 2 subadult  Bald Eagles, 40 Sharp-shinned Hawks (8a, 32u), 3 Cooper’s Hawks (1a, 2u), 2 Northern Goshawks (1a, 1j), 1 adult light morph Broad-winged Hawk, 18 Red-tailed Hawks (15 calurus: 8a, 2j, 1u light morphs, 1 adult intermediate morph, 3a dark morphs, and 2a, 1j dark morph harlani), 1j dark morph Rough-legged Hawk, 13 Golden Eagles (7a, 1j, 5u), 1 unidentified eagle, 2 female American Kestrels, 1 female columbarius Merlin and 1 large falcon that was probably a Prairie Falcon. Other bird species were scarce and comprised 1a California Gull, 31 Common Ravens, 2 Mountain Bluebirds, 70 American Robins, 1 Cedar Waxwing and 20 Pine Siskins. A single Mourning Cloak butterfly was also on the wing. The area is currently under a winter storm watch and the forecast calls for rain on Friday and significant snowfall on Saturday, Sunday and Monday so the prospect of migration for the next four days is not good.

10.5 hours (75.08) OSPR 1 (4), BAEA 2 (13), SSHA 40 (226), COHA 3 (36), NOGO 2 (11), BWHA 1 (4), RTHA 18 (73), RLHA 1 (5), GOEA 13 (140), UE 1 (2), AMKE 2 (13), MERL 1 (5), UF 1 (1) TOTAL 86 (562)

Thursday, September 26 Steeples [Day 2] 1400-1745 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 16C, winds were calm to moderate S and cloud cover was initially 60% cumulus that reduced to 10% by 1530 before quickly increasing again to 40% for the remainder of the observation period. The only migrants seen were 1 adult Bald Eagle, 1u Sharp-shinned Hawk and 1u American Kestrel. There was one sighting of the resident Golden Eagle pair that interacted at length over Mount Bill Nye.

3.75 hours (9) BAEA 1 (8), SSHA 1 (14), AMKE 1 TOTAL 3 [44]