Tuesday, November 03 Vicki Ridge [Day 43] 0715-1745 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge; and Gord Petersen (1300-1715) at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge at the Waterton 68 wellsite). The temperature at 0715 was 10C, the high at 1300 and 1400 was 16C and it was 12C at 1745. Winds were strong W-WSW all day 30-40 gusting 50-70 km/h in the morning and 40-60 gusting 70-90 and occasionally 100 km/h throughout the afternoon. Cloud cover was 90-30% altostratus that formed a Chinook Arch to the E and SE to 1330, and 30-10% altostratus, altocumulus and lenticular that gave sunny conditions for much of the rest of the day. At Waterton 61 there was a meagre count of 6 birds of 3 species between 0833 and 1243 that comprised 2 light morph Rough-legged Hawks, 3 Golden Eagles (2a. 1j) and 1a female Peregrine Falcon. At Waterton 68, by contrast, there was a steady movement of 20 migrants of 6 species between 1355 and 1705 that comprised 8 Bald Eagles (4a, 1sa3, 1sa2, 2j), 1u Sharp-shinned Hawk, 2 Northern Goshawks (1a, 1j), 1 dark morph Rough-legged Hawk, 7 Golden Eagles (3a, 1j, 3a) and 1 probable male Prairie Falcon. Eight of the birds were seen between 1600 and 1700. The combined site count was 26 birds of 7 species that were seen between 0833 and 1705 and comprised 8 Bald Eagles (4a, 1sa3, 1sa2, 2j), 1u Sharp-shinned Hawk, 2 Northern Goshawks (1a, 1j), 3 Rough-legged Hawks (2 light, 1 dark), 10 Golden Eagles (5a, 2j, 3a), 1a female Peregrine Falcon and 1 probable male Prairie Falcon. Only three other bird species were seen: 1 Clark’s Nutcracker, 90 Common Ravens of which 71 were at Waterton 68 and 15 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches. The unseasonably warm weather also produced a single flying Mourning Cloak butterfly at the Waterton 61 site.

10.5 hours (430.1) BAEA 8 (297), SSHA 1 (954), NOGO 2 (95), RLHA 3 (263), GOEA 10 (2503), PEFA 1 (8), PRFA 1 (5) TOTAL 26 (4638)

Tuesday, November 03 Mount Lorette [Day 43] 0715-1705 (George Halmazna assisted by Dan Parliament). The temperature reached 15C, but ridge winds gusting up to 165 km/h produced only 3u migrating Golden Eagles between 1206 and 1430.

9.83 hours (465.4) GOEA 3 (2582) TOTAL 3 (3120)

Tuesday, November 03 Steeples (Vance Mattson) No observation. It was clear for most of the day but when Vance finished work at 1600 it was overcast and raining and no observation was possible.

Monday, November 02 Vicki Ridge [Day 42] 0710-1740 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson, assisted by Phil Nicholas (1210-1450), observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge; and Gord Petersen (1220-1710) at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge at the Waterton 68 wellsite). The temperature at 0710 was 10C, the high was 15C (1300-1500) and it was 12C at 1740. Winds were strong W-WSW all day 30-40 gusting 60 km/h to 0900 and 50-60 gusting 70-90 km/h for the rest of the day. Cloud cover was 60-70% altocumulus, lenticular and cirrus to 1100 and 40-20% altocumulus and lenticular for the rest of the day. At Waterton 61 the strong winds produced a very sporadic count of 17 birds of 5 species between 0750 and 1631 that comprised 2 Bald Eagles (1a, 1j), 3 Sharp-shinned Hawks (2a, 1u), 1a Cooper’s Hawk, 2 light morph Rough-legged Hawks, 8 Golden Eagles (7a, 1j) and 1 unidentified eagle. The highest hourly counts were 4 between 1100 and 1200, and 1300 to 1400, and only 1 bird was seen after 1435. Movement was more persistent at the Waterton 68 site where 21 migrants of 6 species moved between 1225 and 1710 that comprised 5 Bald Eagles (2a, 3j), 1u Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1j Cooper’s Hawk, 1u Northern Goshawk, 5 Rough-legged Hawks (4 light, 1 dark) and 8 Golden Eagles (6a, 1j, 1u). The hourly counts after 1225 were 3, 3, 5, 6 and 4 during which time only 7 migrants were seen at Waterton 61. The combined site count of 38 migrants of 6 species that moved between 0750 and 1710 was 7 Bald Eagles (3a, 4j), 4 Sharp-shinned Hawks (2a, 2u), 2 Cooper’s Hawks (1a, 1j), 1u Northern Goshawk, 7 Rough-legged Hawks (6 light, 1 dark), 16 Golden Eagles (13a, 2j, 1u) and 1 unidentified eagle. The highest combined sites hourly counts were 7 (1300-1400 and 1400-1500). Other birds seen were 1 Pileated Woodpecker, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 153 Common Ravens of which 128 were at Waterton 68, 1 American Robin and 1 Common Redpoll.

10.5 hours (419.6) BAEA 7 (289), SSHA 4 (953), COHA 2 (148), NOGO 1 (93), RLHA 7 (260), GOEA 16 (2493), UE 1 (32) TOTAL 38 (4612)

Monday, November 02 Mount Lorette [Day 42] 0745-1715 (Caroline Lambert assisted by Graeme Dunlop). Sixteen migrants of 2 species were seen between 0925 and 1553: 5 Bald Eagles (3a, 1sa, 1u) and 11 Golden Eagles (6a, 1sa, 1j, 3u). Apart from one Bald Eagle that moved fairly low to the south above the river the rest of the eagles moved extremely high above the Fisher Range buoyed by the very strong SW-WSW winds that blew all day.

9.5 hours (455.6) BAEA 5 (160), GOEA 11 (2579) TOTAL 16 (3117)

Monday, November 02 Steeples [Day 19] 1500-1630 (Vance Mattson observing at the Wolf Creek site). The temperature was 9C, it was calm and cloud cover was 20% altostratus that gave sunny conditions. No migrants were seen, but 3 resident Golden Eagles (2a, 1sa) were present.

1.5 hours (59.5) TOTAL 0 (123)

NOTE: CHANGE FROM MOUNTAIN DAYLIGHT TIME (MDT) TO MOUNTAIN STANDARD TIME (MST) (- 1 HOUR)

Sunday, November 01 Vicki Ridge [Day 4] 0715-1745 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge; and Gord Petersen (1235-1710) at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge at the Waterton 68 wellsite). The temperature at 0715 was 6C, the high was 13C at 1600 and it was 10C at 1745. Winds were WSW-WNW all day, 30-40 gusting 50-60 km/h to 1100, 50 gusting to 70-80 km/h around noon, 20-30 gusting 50 km/h to 1600 and becoming light after 1700. Cloud cover was initially 30% altocumulus and lenticular but it rapidly increased to 80-100% altostratus, lenticular, altocumulus and cirrus which gave gloomy conditions to 1500 after which hazy sunshine prevailed. At Waterton 61 the day started well with 10 raptors moving before 0900 but the next 5 hours produced only 3 birds and a further 10 were seen after 1400. The rather disappointing count of 5 species between 0757 and 1710 was 2 Bald Eagles (both sa2), 2a Northern Goshawks, 1a dark morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk, 7 Rough-legged Hawks (6 light, 1u) and 11 Golden Eagles (8a, 3j). Movement was steadier at Waterton 68 where 38 migrants of 4 species moved between 1246 and 1637 comprising 9 Bald Eagles (2a, 1sa3, 3j, 3u), 4 Northern Goshawks (3a, 1j), 12 Rough-legged Hawks (10 light, 2 dark) and 13 Golden Eagles (6a, 1sa, 6u). Maximum hourly counts were 13 between 1400 and 1500, and 1500 to 1600. The combined sites count was 61 migrants of 5 species between 0757 and 1710 that comprised 11 Bald Eagles (2a, 1sa3, 2sa2, 3j, 3u), 6 Northern Goshawks (5a, 1j), 1a dark morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk, 19 Rough-legged Hawks (16 light, 2 dark, 1u) and 24 Golden Eagles (14a, 1sa, 3j, 6u).  The busiest combined site hourly count was 17 birds between 1400 and 1500. Other birds seen were 137 Common Ravens of which 83 were at Waterton 68), 20 Bohemian Waxwings at Waterton 61, 70 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches of which 40 were at Waterton 68, and a flock of 7 migrating Common Redpolls at Waterton 61. The flocks identified as Pine Siskins between October 26 and 28 were probably also redpolls.

10.5 hours (409.1) BAEA 11 (282), NOGO 6 (92), RTHA 1 (212), RLHA 19 (253), GOEA 24 (2477) TOTAL 61 (4574)

Sunday, November 01 Mount Lorette [Day 41] 0730-1715 (Lori Anderson assisted by Patrick Farley). A total of 33 migrants of 4 species was counted between 0850 and 1648. The flight comprised 3 Bald Eagles (1a, 1sa2, 1sa1), 1a male Northern Harrier, 1u unidentified Buteo and 26 Golden Eagles (12a, 2sa, 1j, 11u).

9.75 hours BAEA 3 (155), NOHA 1 (14), UB 1 (4), GOEA 26 (2568), UE 2 (27) TOTAL 33 (3101)

Sunday, November 01 Steeples [Day 18] 1130-1630 (Vance Mattson). The starting temperature was 1C but reached a high of 9C, it was calm and 60% thin altostratus cloud cover produced mainly sunny conditions. A total of 7 migrants of 4 species were counted that comprised 2a Sharp-shinned Hawks, 1a Northern Goshawk, 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk and 3 Golden Eagles (2a, 1sa). The first 4 migrants moved between 1422 and 1440 and the remaining 3 between 1531 and 1550. Non-migrants were 3 Bald Eagles (2a, 1j) with the adults indulging in a spirited duel that produced at least 6 barrel-rolls, and a juvenile Golden Eagle.

5 hours (58) SSHA 2 (13), NOGO 1 (2), RLHA 1 (1), GOEA 3 (54) TOTAL 7 (123)

Saturday, October 31 Vicki Ridge [Day 40] 0810-1840 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson, assisted by Phil Nicholas (1145-1720), observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge; and Gord Petersen (1322-1816) at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge at the Waterton 68 wellsite). The temperature at 0810 was 1C, the high at 1500 was 9C and it was 5C at 1840, and the wind was W 10-20 gusting 30 km/h to 1100 then WSW 30-40 gusting 50-60 km/h for the rest of the day. It was cloudless with occasional traces of altocumulus to 1300 when 10% altocumulus developed and after 1330 cloud cover was 50-60% altocumulus and lenticular for the rest of the day. At Waterton 61 a total of 86 migrant raptors of 6 species was seen between 0839 and 1750 that comprised 15 Bald Eagles (11a, 2sa2, 1sa1, 1j), 3 Sharp-shinned Hawks (2a, 1u), 1a Cooper’s Hawk, 6a Northern Goshawks, 17 light morph Rough-legged Hawks and 44 Golden Eagles (39a, 3sa, 2j). Movement was steady to 1536 and peaked at 33 birds between 1200 and 1300. Only four more migrants and no eagles were seen after 1536. After 1400 the main movement moved to the westernmost ridge as the wind velocity increased and at the Waterton 68 site a total of 41 migrants of 5 species were seen between 1328 and 1812 with a high single hour count of 13 between 1400 and 1500. The count there was 4 Bald Eagles (2a, 1j, 1u), 5u Sharp-shinned Hawks, 6 Northern Goshawks (5a, 1u), 8 light morph Rough-legged Hawks, 16 Golden Eagles (8a, 2j, 5u) and 2 unidentified eagles. The combined sites count was 127 birds of 6 species that moved between 0839 and 1812 and comprised 19 Bald Eagles (13a, 2sa2, 1sa1, 2j, 1u), 8 Sharp-shinned Hawks (2a, 6u), 1a Cooper’s Hawk, 12 Northern Goshawks (11a, 1u), 25 light morph Rough-legged Hawks, 60 Golden Eagles (47a, 3sa, 4j, 6u) and 2 unidentified eagles. Other birds seen were 1 Clark’s Nutcracker, 5 Black-billed Magpies, 253 Common Ravens (172 at Waterton 68), 50 Bohemian Waxwings at Waterton 61 and 662 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches of which 400 were at Waterton 68.

10.5 hours (398.6) BAEA 19 (271), SSHA 8 (949), COHA 1 (146), NOGO 12 (86), RLHA 25 (234), GOEA 60 (2453), UE 2 (31) TOTAL 127 (4513)

October summary with variance compared to the 2017-2019 three-year average. (New high counts for the month in bold). 29 days (=), 278 hours (+6.4%) TUVU 0,  OSPR 2 (-14.3%), BAEA 240 (-1.9%), NOHA 18 (+200%), SSHA 490 (+43.4%), COHA 63 (+45%), NOGO 78 (+13.6%), BWHA 7 (-53.3%), SWHA 0, RTHA 90 (-22.9%), FEHA 1 (-70.0%), RLHA 220 (-48.3%), GOEA 2062 (-4.2%), AMKE 6 (+28.6%), MERL 12 (+24.1%), GYRF 1 (-70%), PEFA 2 (-28.6%), PRFA 2 (-33.3%), UA 4 (-7.7%), UB 2 (-85.7%), UE 29(+155.9%), UF 0, UU 1 (-25%) TOTAL 3333 (-4.2%).

Saturday, October 31 Mount Lorette [Day 40] 0835-1845 (Blake Weis assisted by Annie Finch). A total of 24 migrant raptors of 5 species moved between 1040 and 1742 that comprised 5 Bald Eagles (3a, 1sa2 and 1 undifferentiated immature bird), 1a male Northern Harrier, 2 Sharp-shinned Hawks (1a, 1u), 2 Northern Goshawks (1a, 1j) and 14 Golden Eagles (5a, 3sa, 2j, 4u).

10.16 hours (436.3) BAEA 5 (152), NOHA 1 (13), SSHA 2 (102), NOGO 2 (63), GOEA 14 (2542) TOTAL 24 (3068)

October summary with variance compared to the 1993-2019 (excluding 1997, 2002, 2006, 2007 and 2008) 22-year average. (New high counts for the month in bold). 29 days (-2.9%). 301.3 hours (-5.4%) TUVU 0, OSPR 3 (+450%), BAEA 126 (-4.9%), NOHA 5 (+0.9%), SSHA 34 (-50.5%), COHA 13 (+31.8%), NOGO 38 (+39.8%), BWHA 0, SWHA 0,RTHA 39 (+175.9%), FEHA 0, RLHA 21 (-46.3%), GOEA 2120 (-22%), AMKE 1 (+10%), MERL 4 (-7.4%), GYRF 2 (+33.3%), PEFA 0, PRFA 3 (+106.3%), UA 2 (-42.9%), UB 2 (-25.4%), UE 23 (+368.5%), UF 6 (+325.6%) UU 2 (-13.7%) TOTAL 2444 (-19.8%).

Saturday, October 31 Steeples (Vance Mattson). No observation. Vance decided to check out the Purcell Mountains today where he found what seems to be a new Golden Eagle territory, which would be the third so far for his study area.

October summary. 17 days (53 hours) BAEA 46, SSHA 11, NOGO 1, RTHA 4, GOEA 51, UE 2, AMKE 1 TOTAL 116

Friday, October 30 Vicki Ridge [Day 39] 0830-1845 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge; and Gord Petersen (1515-1825) at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge at the Waterton 68 wellsite). The day’s high temperature was 9C at 0830 and 0900 that fell to 4 C as steady moderate rain and hail fell from 0935 to 1330, recovered to 6C at 1400 and was 5C at 1845. Winds were strong WSW-W all day generally 30-40 gusting 50-60 km/h but were 60 gusting 70-90 km/h around 1000 and again from 1500 to 1700. Cloud cover was 100% stratus and cumulus to 1325 after which it became very variable with 40-100% cumulus, and altocumulus cloud producing some sunny periods, and rain showers to 1550. At Waterton 61 a total of 21 migrants of 5 species were seen between 0902 and 1811 that comprised 9 Bald Eagles (8a and 1 bird in transitional sa2 and sa3 plumage), 2 Sharp-shinned Hawks (1a, 1u), 1u Northern Goshawk, 3 Rough-legged Hawks (2 light, 1 dark) and 6a Golden Eagles. Three birds moved before the rain started at 0935 and the rest moved slowly and sporadically after 1334 with a high hourly count of 6 between 1400 and 1500. At Waterton 68 a total of 29 raptors of 5 species moved between 1551 and 1825 that comprised 6 Bald Eagles (5a, 1 j), 1u Sharp-shinned Hawk, 2u Northern Goshawks, 9 Rough-legged Hawks (8 light, 1 dark) and 11 Golden Eagles (9a, 2u). Just 1 bird was seen before 1600 but the next two hours produced 19 and 12 migrants respectively. The combined sites count was 50 birds of 5 species that moved between 0902 and 1825 and comprised 15 Bald Eagles (13a, 1sa2/3 and 1 j), 3 Sharp-shinned Hawks (1a, 2u), 3u Northern Goshawks, 12 Rough-legged Hawks (10 light, 2 dark) and 17 Golden Eagles (15a, 2u). The highest combined sites hourly counts were 19 (1600-1700) and 12 (1700-1800) and 6 birds moved between 1800 and 1825. Other birds seen were 1 Northern [Red-shafted] Flicker, 1 Clark’s Nutcracker, 2 Black-billed Magpies, 198 Common Ravens and 60 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches.

10.25 hours (388.1) BAEA 15 (252), SSHA 3 (941), NOGO 3 (74), RLHA 12 (209), GOEA 17 (2393) TOTAL 50 (4386)

Friday, October 30 Mount Lorette [Day 39] 0945-1830 (Caroline Lambert assisted by Sandy Graham). Because of rain and low cloud to the west the count was started at Lusk Creek (0945), then moved to Barrier Lake (1130) and Wasootch Creek (1209) and finally to the Hay Meadow (1305) as conditions progressively improved towards the west. Ridge winds were also very strong throughout the afternoon. A total of 37 migrants of 3 species was recorded, 27 of which were seen from the Hay Meadow where the eagles moved very high in the strong winds. The total flight was 5 Bald Eagles (4a, 1u), 1u Northern Goshawk, 29 Golden Eagles (13a, 3sa, 2j, 11u) and 2 unidentified eagles.

9.25 hours (426.2) BAEA 5 (147), NOGO 1 (61), GOEA 19 (2528) UE 2 (25) TOTAL 37 (3044)

Friday, October 30 Steeples [Day 17] 1300-1600 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 11C, winds were moderate SE and cloud cover was 100% dark cumulus and altostratus that produced periodic light rain. The only migrants seen were an adult and a juvenile Bald Eagle at 1417 and 1429 respectively.

3 hours (53) BAEA 2 (46) TOTAL 2 (116)

Thursday, October 29 Vicki Ridge [Day 38] 0830-1845 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson, assisted by Phil Nicholas (1100-1536) observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge; and Phil Nicholas (1550-1725) at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge at the Waterton 68 wellsite). The temperature at 0830 was 6C, the high was 9C at 1600 and it was 5C at 1845. The wind was WSW all day, light to 1100 then 20-30 gusting to 60 km/h to 1700 when it again became light. Cloud cover was 100% cirrostratus, cumulus and altocumulus to 1100 and then 90-100% stratocumulus with altostratus and altocumulus seen through small breaks in the cloud that gave gloomy conditions for the rest of the day. At Waterton 61 the first migrant was not seen until 1112 after which there was a steady movement involving 85 birds of 8 species up to 1745. The flight comprised 36 Bald Eagles (18a, 4 sa2, 1sa1, 11j, 2u), 8 Sharp-shinned Hawks (3a, 5u), 1a Cooper’s Hawk, 4 Northern Goshawks (3a, 1j), 1 undifferentiated dark morph Red-tailed Hawk, 4 light morph Rough-legged Hawks, 28 Golden Eagles (25a, 2j, 1u), 2 unidentified eagles and 1a male Peregrine Falcon. The highest single-hour count was 26 between 1600 and 1700. From 1550 to 1725 Phil was at the Waterton 68 site where he saw 27 migrants of 4 species between 1604 and 1707 that comprised 7 Bald Eagles (6a, 1j), 2u Sharp-shinned Hawks, 1 unidentified dark Buteo, 1a Golden Eagle, 15 unidentified eagles that were distant silhouetted birds to the west of the ridge, and 1u columbarius Merlin. Twenty-five of the birds were seen between 1600 and 1700. The combined site count was 112 birds of 9 species that moved between 1112 and 1745 and comprised a season high 43 Bald Eagles (24a, 4sa2, 1sa1, 12j, 2u), 10 Sharp-shinned Hawks (3a 7u), 1a Cooper’s Hawk, 4 Northern Goshawks (3a, 1j), 1 undifferentiated dark morph Red-tailed Hawk, 4 light morph Rough-legged Hawks, 1 unidentified dark Buteo, 29 Golden Eagles (26a, 2j, 1u), 15 unidentified eagles, 1u columbarius Merlin and 1a male Peregrine Falcon. The highest combined site hourly count was 51 between 1600 and 1700. Other birds seen were 1 Common Loon that flew high to the west at 1514, 1 Canada Jay, 4 Black-billed Magpies, 39 Common Ravens, 2 American Robins and 774 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches.

10.25 hours (377.9) BAEA 43 (237), SSHA 10 (938), COHA 1 (145), NOGO 4 (71), RTHA 1 (211), RLHA 4 (197), UB 1 (8), GOEA 29 (2376), UE 17 (29), MERL 1 (25), PEFA 1 (7) TOTAL 112 (4336)

Thursday, October 29 Mount Lorette [Day 38] 0830-1700 (Graeme Dunlop assisted by Rick Robb). Light rain fell for most of the day and low cloud obscured the Fisher Range on occasion but despite the conditions a total of 31 migrants of 7 species migrated at a low altitude between 0915 and 1445 The flight comprised 1a Bald Eagle, 1j Northern Harrier, 2u Cooper’s Hawks, 1 undifferentiated dark morph Red-tailed Hawk, 24 Golden Eagles (10a, 2sa, 2j. 10u), and 1 small unidentified falcon. Only one bird was seen after 1400.

8.5 hours (416.9) BAEA 1 (142), NOHA 1 (12), COHA 2 (22), NOGO 1 (60), RTHA 1 (66), GOEA 24 (2499), UF 1 (8) TOTAL 31 (3007)

Thursday, October 29 Steeples [Day 16] 1600-1700 (Vance Mattson). One hour of observation at the Wolf Creek site, where the temperature was 10C, it was calm with a cloud cover of 50% cumulus and altostratus, produced a single migrating adult Golden Eagle. Non-migrants consisted of one adult Bald Eagle, and a Golden Eagle that was harassed by an adult Northern Goshawk that included one dive directly at the eagle that remained indifferent throughout the assault.

1 hour (50) GOEA 1 (51) TOTAL 1 (114)