Friday, September 25 Vicki Ridge [Day 6] 0815-1915 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge, and Gord Petersen and Cathy Scrimshaw at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge at the Waterton 68 wellsite, 1310-1900). The temperature at 0815 was 8C, the high at 1100 was 10.5C and it was 7.5C at 1015. Winds were strong W-WSW all day, 30-40 gusting 50-60 km/h to 1600 and gusting to over 80 km/h to 1830 before moderating slightly to gusts of 60 km/h at the end of the day. Cloud cover was 80-100% dark cumulus, altocumulus and cirrus to 1400 after which it was variable 70-40% cumulus, altocumulus and lenticular that provided periods of sunshine. Periods of light rain occurred between 1100 and 1600 that originated from clouds well to the west and were driven east by the strong winds. At Waterton 61 a season-high total of 112 migrants of 7 species moved between 0836 and 1754 that comprised 2 Bald Eagles (1a, 1sa), 19 Sharp-shinned Hawks (2j, 17u), 2u Cooper’s Hawks, 5 Red-tailed Hawks (4 calurus light: 2a, 1j, 1u, and 1 dark adult harlani), 2 unidentified dark Buteos, 79 Golden Eagles (45a, 11sa, 18j, 5u), 2u columbarius Merlins (1 male, 1 female) and the season’s first Peregrine Falcon, an adult male bird. Movement was steady to 1600 and peaked at 25 birds between 1000 and 1100, but after 1600 only a further 4 birds were seen coincident with the increase in the wind velocity. At Waterton 68 a total of 64 birds of 8 species moved between 1309 and 1850 that comprised 1 Osprey, 1 late subadult Bald Eagle, 21 Sharp-shinned Hawks (2a, 1j, 18u), 1a Cooper’s Hawk, 1 light adult Swainson’s Hawk, 1 dark indeterminate Red-tailed Hawk, 4 rough-legged Hawks (3 light, 1 dark) and 34 Golden Eagles (14a, 7sa, 13j). The highest single hour counts were 16 between 1400 and 1500 and again between 1600 and 1700. The combined species count was 176 birds of 10 species between 0836 and 1850 that comprised 1 Osprey,  3 Bald Eagles (1a, 2sa), 40 Sharp-shinned Hawks (2a, 3j, 35u), 3 Cooper’s Hawks (1a, 2u), 1 light adult Swainson’s Hawk, 5 Red-tailed Hawks (4 calurus light: 2a, 1j, 1u, 1 dark adult harlani and 1 indeterminate dark bird), 2 unidentified dark Buteos, 113 Golden Eagles (59a, 18sa, 31j, 5u), 2u columbarius Merlins (1 male, 1 female) and 1a male Peregrine Falcon. Other birds seen were 1 male Hairy Woodpecker, 1 Northern [Yellow-shafted] Flicker, 2 Clark’s Nutcrackers, 8 Black-billed Magpies, 70 American Crows, 127 Common Ravens, 37 American Robins, 5 Pine Siskins and 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler.

11 hours (66.75) OSPR 1 (4), BAEA 3 (16), SSHA 40 (180), COHA 3 (40), SWHA 1 (2), RTHA 6 (68), RLHA 4 (5), UB 2 (3), GOEA 113 (284), MERL 2 (10) PEFA 1 (1) TOTAL 176 (644)

Friday, September 25 Mount Lorette [Day 6] 0750-1930 (Caroline Lambert, assisted by Patrick Farley). A total of 86 migrant raptors of 7 species comprised 2 Bald Eagles (1a, 1sa), 1u Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1u Northern Goshawk, 3 Red-tailed Hawks (1a, 1u light calurus and 1 indeterminate bird), 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk, 1 indeterminate Buteo, 76 Golden Eagles (38a, 7sa, 2j, 29u) and 1u Merlin.

11.67 hours (74.08) BAEA 2 (14), SSHA 1 (48), NOGO 1 (13), RTHA 3 (11), RLHA 1 (1), UB 1 (1), GOEA 76 (265), MERL 1 (2) TOTAL 86 (380)

Friday, September 25 Steeples (Vance Mattson).  No observation.

Saturday, September 26 Vicki Ridge [Day 7] 0800-1830 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge, and Gord Petersen and Cathy Scrimshaw at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge at the Waterton 68 wellsite, 1235-1815). The temperature at 0800 was 5C the high was 11.5C at 1400 and it was again 5C at 1830. Winds were W-WSW to 1730, 30-40 gusting 55 km/h except around 1500 when they gusted to 70 km/h. At 1730 the wind shifted to WNW and brought rain that shut down the count at 1830. Cloud cover was cumulus all day, 20-60% to 1730 that, with the exception of a period of rain from 1415 to 1440, gave sunshine and excellent observing conditions. The wind-shift at 1730 brought 80-100% dark stratocumulus and as Gord described in his notes: “The wall of gloom and rain descended”. At Waterton 61 a total of 91 migrants of 9 species were seen between 0858 and 1652 that comprised 1a Turkey Vulture, 4 Bald Eagles (1 late subadult, 2j, 1u), 1j male Northern Harrier, 43 Sharp-shinned Hawks (12a, 3j, 28u), 1a Cooper’s Hawk, 6a light morph Red-tailed Hawks, 1 light Rough-legged Hawk, 1 unidentified dark Buteo, 32 Golden Eagles (17a, 2sa, 12j, 1u) and 1u male Peregrine Falcon. The highest hourly counts were 22 (1000-1100) and 18 (1100-1200), but as with the previous two days the movement faded in the late afternoon and the last bird was seen at 1652. At Waterton 68 the total was 102 birds of 10 species seen between 1238 and 1809 that comprised 1a Turkey Vulture, 1j Bald Eagle, 50 Sharp-shinned Hawks (6a, 1j, 43u), 12 Cooper’s Hawks (1a, 5j, 6u), 1a light morph Broad-winged Hawk, 15 Red-tailed Hawks (13 light morphs: 7a, 3j, 2u; 1a intermediate morph; 1j dark morph harlani and 1 indeterminate dark morph bird), 1 dark morph  Rough-legged Hawk, 19 Golden Eagles (7a, 12j), 1u American Kestrel and 1u Merlin. The highest hourly counts were 29 (1500-1600) and 26 (1600-1700). The combined speciescount was 193 birds of 12 species between 0858 and 1809 that comprised 2a Turkey Vultures, 5 Bald Eagles (1sa, 3j, 1u), 1j male Northern Harrier, 93 Sharp-shinned Hawks (18a, 4j, 71u), 13 Cooper’s Hawks (2a, 5j, 6u), 1 light adult Broad-winged Hawk, 21 Red-tailed Hawks (18 light morphs: 13a, 3j, 2u, 1a intermediate morph, 1j dark morph harlani and 1 indeterminate dark morph bird), 2 Rough-legged Hawks (1 light, 1 dark), 1 unidentified dark Buteo, 51 Golden Eagles (24a, 2sa, 24j, 1u), 1u American Kestrel 1u Merlin and 1u male Peregrine Falcon. The highest combined species hourly count was 37 (1500-1600). Other birds seen were 1 Northern [Yellow-shafted] Flicker, 1 Clark’s Nutcracker, 18 Black-billed Magpies, 50 Common Ravens, 3 Mountain Bluebirds, 130 American Robins, 17 Pine Siskins and 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler.

10.5 hours (76.25) TUVU 2 (5), BAEA 5 (21), NOHA 1 (6), SSHA 93 (273), COHA 13 (53), BWHA 1 (7), RTHA 21 (89), RLHA 2 (7), UB 1 (4), GOEA 51 (335), AMKE 1 (6), MERL 1 (11), PEFA 1 (2) TOTAL 193 (837)

Saturday, September 26 Mount Lorette [Day 7] 0730-1940 Blake Weis, assisted by Heinz Unger). Observers recorded a total of 39 migrant raptors of 5 species that comprised 4 Bald Eagles (1a, 2sa, 1j), 6u Sharp-shinned Hawks, 2j Northern Goshawks, 26 Golden Eagles (6a, 6sa, 5j, 9u) and 1a male columbarius Merlin.

12.6 hours 986.24) BAEA 4 (18), SSHA 6 (54), NOGO 2 (15), GOEA 26 (291), MERL 1 (3) TOTAL; 39 (419)

Saturday, September 26 Steeples (Vance Mattson).  No observation.

Thursday, September 24 Vicki Ridge [Day 5] 0815-1900 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge, and Gord Petersen and Cathy Scrimshaw at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge at the Waterton 68 wellsite, 1320-1850). The temperature at 0815 was 10.5C, the high at 1300 was 14C and it was 8C at 1900. Winds were WSW-WNW all day, 40-50 gusting 60-70 km/h to 1500, 60-70 gusting 90-100 km/h to 1830 that finally dropped to 30-40 gusting 60 by 1900. Cloud cover was again very variable and fast changing with 40-60% cumulus, altocumulus and stratocumulus with frequent rain showers to 1100 and 100-80% cumulus and stratocumulus to the north and west to 1530 that again brought periods of rain. After 1530 the skies cleared with 10% cumulus allowing sunny conditions with occasional incursions of stratus cloud sweeping down from the west that brought yet more showers. At Waterton 61 only 10 migrants were seen between 0848 and 1806 with only 2 birds moving after 1402. The count was 1a Bald Eagle, 4 Sharp-shinned Hawks (1a, 2j, 1u), 1a dark morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk and 4 Golden Eagles (3a, 1j). At the Waterton 68 site no migrants were seen until 1342 but subsequently there was a steady movement of 61 birds to 1900 that comprised 2j Bald Eagles, 4 Sharp-shinned Hawks (1j, 3u), 3 Cooper’s Hawks (1j, 2u), 1j Northern Goshawk, 3a Red-tailed Hawks (1 light, 1 intermediate and 1 dark), 47 Golden Eagles (21a, 3sa, 23j) and 1 unidentified eagle. The combined total of 71 birds of 6 species counted between 0848 and 1900 was 3 Bald Eagles (1a, 2j), 8 Sharp-shinned Hawks (1a, 3j, 4u), 3 Cooper’s Hawks (1j, 2u), 1j Northern Goshawk, 4a Red-tailed Hawks (1 light, 1 intermediate and 2 dark), 51 Golden Eagles (24a, 3sa, 24j) and 1 unidentified eagle. The only other birds seen were 1 Northern Flicker, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 39 Common Ravens, 26 American Robins and 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler.

10.75 hours (54.75) BAEA 3 (13), SSHA 8 (140), COHA 3 (37), NOGO 1 (4), RTHA4 (62), GOEA 51 (171) UE 1 (1) TOTAL 71 (468)

Thursday, September 24 Mount Lorette [Day 5] 0715-1930 (Graeme Dunlop, assisted by Rick Robb). A total of 33 birds of 7 species were counted that comprised 1 subadult Bald Eagle, 3 Sharp-shinned Hawks (2a, 1u), 1u Cooper’s Hawk, 3 adult Northern Goshawks, 23 Golden Eagles (17a, 1sa, 2j, 3u), 1 female American Kestrel and 1u richardsonii Merlin.

12.25 hours (62.41) BAEA 1 (12), SSHA 3 (47), COHA 1 (5), NOGO 3 (12), GOEA 23 (189), AMKE 1 (1), MERL 1 (1) TOTAL 33 (294)

Thursday, September 24 Steeples (Vance Mattson).  No observation.

Wednesday, September 23 Vicki Ridge [Day 4] 0800-1915 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge, and Gord Petersen and Cathy Scrimshaw at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge at the Waterton 68 wellsite, 1310-1900). The temperature at 0800 was 10C the high at 1500 was a season-high 19.5C and it was still 16C at 1915. Winds were WSW-W all day 15-25 km/h to 1030, 30-40 gusting 50 to 1600 after which gusts increased to 65 km/h. Cloud cover throughout the day varied constantly between 20% and 100% altostratus, altocumulus, stratus, cumulus and lenticular that gave periods of sunshine and generally excellent observing conditions. At the Waterton 61 site a total of 81 migrants of 12 species were seen between 0848 and 1829 that comprised 2 immature Turkey Vultures, 1 Osprey, 2 juvenile Bald Eagles, 1 juvenile female Northern Harrier, 28 Sharp-shinned Hawks (4a, 24u), 3 Cooper’s Hawks (2a, 1u), 1 juvenile Northern Goshawk, 1a light morph Broad-winged Hawk, 5 calurus Red-tailed Hawks (2a and 2u light morphs; 1a dark morph), 1 unidentified Buteo, 31 Golden Eagles (20a, 2sa, 8j, 1u), 1 female American Kestrel and 4u columbarius Merlins (2 males and 2 females). The highest single hour count was 21 between 1000 and 1100, and the following hour produced 20 birds but subsequently, coincident with increased wind velocities, the flow diminished and the following 7 hours only produced 32 migrants. The Waterton 68 site produced 78 migrants of 9 species between 1312 and 1859 that comprised 1 Osprey, 1 juvenile Bald Eagle, 29 Sharp-shinned Hawks (7a, 2j, 20u), 5 Cooper’s Hawks (4a 1u), 10 Red-tailed Hawks (calurus 8: 4a and 3j light morphs, 1a intermediate morph; and 2 dark indeterminate birds), 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk that was the first of the season, 1u richardsonii Merlin and 1 Prairie Falcon. The combined count of 159 birds of 14 species was 2 immature Turkey Vultures, 2 Ospreys, 3j Bald Eagles, 1j female Northern Harrier, 57 Sharp-shinned Hawks (11a, 2j, 44u), 8 Cooper’s Hawks (6a, 2u), 1 juvenile Northern Goshawk, 1a  light morph Broad-winged Hawk, 15 Red-tailed Hawks (13 calurus: 11 light (6a, 3j, 2u), 1a intermediate morph, 1a dark; and 2 undifferentiated dark birds),  1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk, 1 unidentified Buteo, 60 Golden Eagles (28a, 5sa, 17j 10u), 1 female American Kestrel, 5u Merlins (2 male and 2 female columbarius and 1u richardsonii Merlin and 1 Prairie Falcon. The three hours between 1400 and 1700 each had a combined total of 20 birds. Other bird species seen were 2 Northern Flickers, 1 Pileated Woodpecker, 6 Clark’s Nutcrackers, 337 Common Ravens, 106 American Robins, 16 Cedar Waxwings, 28 Pine Siskins and 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler.

11.25 hours (44) TUVU 2 (3), OSPR 2 (3), BAEA 3 (10), NOHA 1 (5), SSHA 57 (132), COHA 8 (34), NOGO 1 (3), BWHA 1 (6), RTHA 15 (58), RLHA 1 (1), UB 1 (1), GOEA 60 (120), AMKE 1 (5), MERL 5 (8), PRFA 1 (2) TOTAL 159 (397)

Wednesday, September 23 Mount Lorette [Day 4] 0650-1925 (Bill Wilson assisted by Glenn Webber). The observers counted 72 migrant raptors of 5 species that comprised 2 Bald Eagles (1a, 1 undifferentiated immature bird), 1u Northern Harrier, 2u Sharp-shinned Hawks, 2 Northern Goshawks and a season-high 65 Golden Eagles (25a, 1sa, 10j, 29u).

12.58 hours (BAEA 2 (11), NOHA 1 (5), SSHA 2 (44), NOGO 2 (9) GOEA 65 (166) TOTAL 72 (261)

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

Tuesday, September 22 Vicki Ridge [Day 3] 0845-1900 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge). The temperature at 0845 was 9C, the high at 1700 was 13.5C and it was 11C at 1900. It was calm for much of the day with occasional winds variably from the E to the south that were generally light (5-9 km/h) but occasionally reached 15 km/h in the late afternoon. Cloud cover was 100% cumulus, altostratus and cirrostratus to 1200 when it became a blanket of uniform grey stratus that began to break at 1600 after which it gradually dwindled to 10% altocumulus by 1900 and gave welcome sunny conditions after 1700. The calm conditions were not conducive to migration and only 13 migrants of 6 species were seen between 1230 (a Merlin) and 1737 (the day’s only Golden Eagle). Birds seen up to 1600 were silhouetted against the uniform grey stratus cloud and aging was impossible. The count was 4 Sharp-shinned Hawks (1a, 3u), 3u Cooper’s Hawks, 1u Northern Goshawk, 3a calurus Red-tailed Hawks that soared high and glided high to the south in bright sunshine at 1636 and 1729, 1a Golden Eagle and 1u columbarius Merlin. Other bird species seen were 1 Red-naped Sapsucker, 4 Northern Flickers, 9 Clark’s Nutcrackers, 2 Black-billed Magpies, 23 Common Ravens, 1 Mountain Chickadee, 2 Red-breasted Nuthatches, 2 Mountain Bluebirds, 1 Townsend’s Solitaire, 148 American Robins, 17 Pine Siskins and 5 Yellow-rumped Warblers.

10.25 hours (32.75) SSHA 4 (75), COHA 3 (26), NOGO 1 (2), RTHA 3 (43), GOEA 1 (60), MERL 1 (3) TOTAL 13 (238)

Tuesday,, September 22 Mount Lorette [Day 3] 0740-2000 (George Halmazna assisted by Dan Parliament). Osprey 1, Bald Eagle 6 (3a, 1sa, 2j), Northern Harrier 3 (1a male, 2ju), Sharp-shinned Hawk 33 (3a, 30u), Cooper’s Hawk 3u, Northern Goshawk 1a, Red-tailed Hawk 5 (3a, 2j), Golden Eagle 20 (11a, 2sa, 7j), Peregrine Falcon 4u, Prairie Falcon 1: total 77 migrant raptors of 10 species.

12.33 hours (37.58) OSPR 1 (3), BAEA 6 (9), NOHA 3 (4), SSHA 33 (42), COHA 3 (4), NOGO 1 (7), RTHA 5 (8), GOEA 20 (101), PEFA 4 (4), PRFA 1 (1) TOTAL 77 (189)

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

Monday, September 21 Vicki Ridge [Day 2] 0745-1845 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge and Gord Petersen at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge at the Waterton 68 wellsite, 1330-1900). The temperature at 0745 was 10C, the high at 1500 was a season-high 19C and it was 16C at 1900. Winds were 30-40 gusting 50 km/h all day, WSW to 1500 and then W for the rest of the day, Cloud cover was 30-80% cirrostratus and cirrus to 1200 when it completely cleared for 30 minutes. From 1230 to 1400 60-80% cirrostratus, cirrus and altocumulus redeveloped after which 100% thick altostratus formed an arch to 1630 and finally 100% cirrostratus, altostratus, altocumulus and cirrus persisted for the rest of the day. Observing conditions were excellent throughout. A total of 44 migrants of 11 species were seen between 0857 and 1822 at the WT61 site that comprised 1 Osprey, 3 Bald Eagles (1 sa, 2j), 1j female Northern Harrier, 7 Sharp-shinned Hawks (2a, 2j, 3u), 3 Cooper’s Hawks (2a, 1j), 4 juvenile light morph Broad-winged Hawks, 1 intermediate juvenile Swainson’s Hawk, 12 Red-tailed Hawks (10 calurus: 8 light (6a, 2u), 2a dark, and 2 adult dark harlani), 9 Golden Eagles (6a, 2sa, 1j). 2 American Kestrels, (1 male, 1 female) and 1 male Prairie Falcon. At the Waterton 68 site Gord counted 81 migrants of 9 species between 1335 and 1842 that comprised 3 Bald Eagles (1a, 2j), 1a male Northern Harrier, 34 Sharp-shinned Hawks (6a, 4j, 24u), 10 Cooper’s Hawks (3a, 7u), 1 adult Northern Goshawk, 7 Red-tailed Hawks (5a calurus (4 light, 1 dark) and 2 undifferentiated dark birds, 22 Golden Eagles (13a, 3sa, 6u), 1u American Kestrel, 1u richardsonii Merlin and 1 small unidentified falcon. The combined count was 1 Osprey, 6 Bald Eagles (1a, 1sa, 4j), 2 Northern Harriers (1a male, 1j female), 41 Sharp-shinned Hawks (8a, 6j, 27u), 13 Cooper’s Hawks (5a, 1j, 7u), 1 adult Northern Goshawk, 4 juvenile light morph Broad-winged Hawks, 1 intermediate juvenile Swainson’s Hawk, 19 Red-tailed Hawks (15 calurus: 12 light (10a, 2u), 3a dark; 2a dark harlani and 2 undifferentiated dark birds),  31 Golden Eagles (19a, 5sa, 1j 6u), 3 American Kestrels (1 male, 1female, 1u), 1u richardsonii Merlin and 1 small unidentified falcon. The highest single-hour count was 24 between 1500 and 1600. Other bird species seen were 3 Canada Geese flying high to the north at 1059, 1 Ruffed Grouse, 1 Northern Flicker, 1 Pileated Woodpecker, 6 Clark’s Nutcrackers, 2 Black-billed Magpies, 36 Common Ravens, 2 Mountain Bluebirds, 1 Townsend’s Solitaire and 115 American Robins.

11.25 hours (22.5) OSPR 1 (1), BAEA 6 (7), NOHA 2 (4), SSHA 41 (71), COHA 13 (23), NOGO 1 (1), BWHA 4 (5), SWHA 1 (1), RTHA 19 (40), GOEA 31 (59), AMKE 3 (4), MERL 1 (2), PRFA 1 (1) UF 1 (1) TOTAL 125 (223)

Monday, September 21 Mount Lorette [Day 2] 0700-1945 (Graeme Dunlop, assisted by Cliff Hansen). Osprey 2, Bald Eagle 2 adults, Northern Harrier 1u female, Sharp-shinned Hawk 7 (2a, 5u), Cooper’s Hawk 1u, Northern Goshawk 5 (4a, 1j), Accipiter sp. 1, Red-tailed Hawk 1a (dark morph harlani), Golden Eagle 50 (32a, 3j, 15u) Total 70.

12.75 hours (25.25) OSPR 2 (2), BAEA 2 (3), NOHA 1 (1), SSHA 7 (9), COHA 1 (1), NOGO 5 (6), UA 1 (3), RTHA 1 (3), GOEA 50 (81) TOTAL 70 (112)

Monday, September 21 Steeples (Vance Mattson).  No observation.