Tuesday, November 10 Vicki Ridge [Day 47] 0815-1400 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge, including 1299-1310 at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge at the Waterton 68 wellsite). The temperature at 0815 was -5C, the high at 1100 was -1C and it was -3C when the count was abandoned for the day at 1400. Winds were W 30-40km/h throughout that gusted 50-65 km/h between 0900 and 1100, and cloud cover was 60-70% altocumulus and cumulus to 1045 which gave mainly sunny conditions before dark stratus began to move from the NNE and by 1130 it had blanketed the area. Light snow began to fall at 1200 which became moderate by 1400 and obscured all the ridges. A total of 5 migrants of 3 species were recorded between 0925 and 1158 that comprised 1a Northern Goshawk, 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk and 3 Golden Eagles (1a, 1sa, 1j). At 0930 the goshawk and an adult and a juvenile Golden Eagle soared high above Vicky Ridge in bright sunshine and raised our hopes of a decent movement but it was not to be! Other birds seen were 6 Black-billed Magpies, 30 Common Ravens and 25 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches that fed at the Waterton 61 site and included 2 birds of the coastal mountains race littoralis (“Hepburn’s Rosy-Finch”).

5.75 hours (464.6) NOGO 1 (98), RLHA 1 (284), GOEA 3 (2530) TOTAL 5 (4721)

Tuesday, November 10 Mount Lorette (George Halmazna assisted by Dan Parliament). No observation (weather). Snow all day with the mountains obscured.

Tuesday, November 10 Steeples (Vance Mattson) No observation (weather). Snow and low overcast cloud obscured the mountains all day.

Monday, November 09 Vicki Ridge [Day 46] 0730-1730 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge; and Gord Petersen (1304-1705) at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge at the Waterton 68 wellsite). The temperature at 0730 was -8C, the high at 1400 was -3.5C and it was -6C at 1730. Winds were WSW-W all day 40-50 gusting 70-85 km/h that created serious blowing snow both in the valley and on the ridges all day. It was cloudless to 1100 when 10-30% cirrus developed for the rest of the day, with traces of cumulus after 1600. At Waterton 61 a total of 17 migrants of 4 species were counted between 0946 and 1638 that comprised 6 Bald Eagles (4a, 1j, 1u), 2a calurus Red-tailed Hawks (1 light, 1 dark), 8 Golden Eagles (7a, 1j) and 1 Prairie Falcon. The highest hourly count was 6 between 1000 and 1100. At Waterton 68 a total of 20 migrants of 3 species were seen between 1338 and 1658 that comprised 11 Bald Eagles (10a, 1j), 1 dark morph Rough-legged Hawk, and 8a Golden Eagles. The hourly high count was 11 (1400-1500). The combined site total was 37 migrants of 5 species seen between 0946 and 1658 that comprised 17 Bald Eagles (14a, 2j, 1u), 2a calurus Red-tailed Hawks (1 light, 1 dark), 1 dark morph Rough-legged Hawk, 16 Golden Eagles (15a, 1j) and 1 Prairie Falcon. The highest combined site hourly count was 12 between 1400 and 1500. Other bird species seen were 1 female Hairy Woodpecker, 121 Common Ravens of which 85 were seen at Waterton 68, 1 Brown Creeper, 3 female Pine Grosbeaks, 25 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches of which 19 fed close to the Waterton 61 site, and 32 migrating Common Redpolls.

10 hours (458.9) BAEA 17 (321), RTHA 2 (214), RLHA 1 (283), GOEA 16 (2527), PRFA 1 (6) TOTAL 37 (4716)

Monday, November 09 Mount Lorette [Day 49] 0810-1715 (Caroline Lambert assisted by Graeme Dunlop). A total of 23 migrant raptors of 4 species were recorded between 0857 and 1621 that comprised 9 Bald Eagles (7a, 1sa, 1u), 1a Northern Goshawk, 1j light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk, 1 unidentified Buteo, 10 Golden Eagles (6a, 1sa, 3j) and 1 unidentified eagle.

9.08 hours (514.5) BAEA 9 (195), NOGO 1 (67), RTHA 1 (67), UB 1 (5), GOEA 10 (2596), UE 1 (29) TOTAL 23 (3177)

Monday, November 09 Steeples (Vance Mattson) No observation because of work commitments.

Sunday, November 08 Vicki Ridge (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson). No observation (weather).  The temperature was -10C to -9C, winds were variable but generally light, and light to moderate snow fell all day with a total accumulation of around 25 cm at 1800. Clear weather is forecast for tomorrow.

Sunday, November 08 Mount Lorette [Day 48] 0800-1700 (Lori Anderson). The temperature was -10C at the start, but rose to -6.5C at the end of observation, winds were mainly moderate NNE and light snow fell all day, but the Fisher Range ridge was just visible. A total of 11 Bald Eagles (7a, 1sa, 3j) was counted, all of which migrated fairly low towards the south above the middle of the valley.

9 hours (505.4) BAEA 11 (186) TOTAL 11 (3154)

Sunday, November 08 Steeples [Day 21] 1300-1600 (Vance Mattson). Observation was from the Wolf Creek site where the temperature was 2C, winds were moderate SW and cloud cover was 100% altostratus. Only two migrant adult Bald Eagles were seen. The resident pair of Golden Eagles were also observed on several occasions including a chasing flight by one bird against a third adult Golden Eagle. One of the resident birds stooped at a low angle on the retreating intruder and as it gained ground it extended its talons before making contact. It appeared that the birds would lock talons, but the contact was brief and the intruder continued on its way while the resident returned to perch on a snag on its home cliff face. A non-migrant subadult Bald Eagle was also observed.

3 hours (65.5) BAEA 2 (48) TOTAL 2 (125)

Saturday, November 07 Vicki Ridge (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson). No observation (weather). The temperature was -1C to 1500 and then -2C, winds were light in the morning but were WNW gusting to 30 km/h in the afternoon and light snow fell all day with 8 cm of fresh snow at 1930 on top of the 6 cm that fell overnight. The winter storm warning extends throughout tomorrow.

Saturday, November 07 Mount Lorette [Day 47] 0750-1630 (Blake Weis assisted by Cliff Hansen). It was clear with light winds to 1400 after which they became NE gusting to 55km/h. Light snow began to fall at 1200 that gradually increased and obscured the ridges by 1415. Observation from the Hay Meadow site produced 10 migrants after 1034 that comprised 7 Bald Eagles (3a, 1sa1, 1sa, 2u), 1u Northern Goshawk, 1a Golden Eagle and 1 unidentified eagle. Between 1415 and 1545 observation was conducted at the Wasootch Creek site where an additional adult Northern Goshawk was seen, and when that site became obscured the observers moved to Lusk Creek which was clear but no further migrants were seen.

8 hours (496.4) BAEA 7 (175), NOGO 2 (66), GOEA 1 (2586), UE 1 (28) TOTAL 11 (3143)

Saturday, November 07 Steeples (Vance Mattson) No observation (weather). The mountains were entirely shrouded in cloud all day.

Friday, November 06 Vicki Ridge (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson). No observation (weather). The temperature was 1 to 2C, winds were light E-SSE and cloud cover was 100% stratus. Light rain fell for most of the morning and fog obscured the ridges until 1015 when it partially cleared and we went to the Waterton 61 site. By 1030, however, the ridges were again obscured and apart from some brief periods they remained so for the rest of the day. Very light snow began to fall at 1125 and steady snow fell after 1400; 30-50 cm of snow is forecast to fall over the weekend so prospects for migration are poor until Monday, November 09.

Friday, November 06 Mount Lorette [Day 46] 0750-1650 (Blake Weis assisted by Rick Robb). The Mount Lorette site proved to be just north of the Colorado low-pressure weather system that was bringing snow to SW Alberta so the Fisher Range was only intermittently draped by cloud in the afternoon and the winds were generally light SSW. A total of 4 migrant eagles were seen that comprised 3 Bald Eagles (2a, 1sa3) and 1a Golden Eagle.

8 hours (488.4) BAEA 3 (168), GOEA 1 (2585) TOTAL 4 (3132)

Friday, November 06 Steeples [Day 20] 1300-1600 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 4C, it was calm and cloud cover was 100% altostratus and dark cumulus. No migrants were seen, but 2 resident Golden Eagles (1a, 1sa) were seen with the adult perching on a rocky ledge on the ridge for over an hour.

3 hours (62.5) TOTAL 0 (123)