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)

Wednesday, October 28 Vicki Ridge [Day 37] 0815-1835 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge; and Gord Petersen (1253-1703) at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge at the Waterton 68 wellsite). The temperature at 0815 was 3C, the high at 1100 and 1200 was 7C and it was 5C at 1835. Winds were W 15-20 gusting 30-45 km/h to 1400, WSW 30-40 gusting 50 km/h to 1700 after which they became light for the rest of the day. Cloud cover was 100% stratocumulus, cirrostratus and altocumulus to 1000, 60-80% Cu and altostratus to 1230 that produced the day’s only extended sunshine, and then 80-100% dark stratocumulus that gave gloomy conditions for the rest of the day. The count at Waterton 61 was 49 migrants of 6 species that were seen between 0846 and 1726 and comprised 16 Bald Eagles (10a, 2sa2, 3j, 1u), 8 Sharp-shinned Hawks (4a, 1j, 3u), 1u Cooper’s Hawk, 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk, 21 Golden Eagles (17a, 4sa), 1 unidentified eagle and 1 female American Kestrel that flew high to the south above the ridge at 1640. Only 10 birds moved before 1200 and the highest single-hour count was 12 between 1600 and 1700. At Waterton 68 50 migrants of 6 species moved between 1257 and 1659 comprising 9 Bald Eagles (6a, 1sa, 1j, 1u), 6 Sharp-shinned Hawks (2a, 4u), 2 Cooper’s Hawks (1j, 1u), 2a Northern Goshawks, 5 Rough-legged Hawks (4 light, 1 dark), 25 Golden Eagles (14a, 1j, 10u) and 1 unidentified eagle. The highest hourly counts were 16 (1500-1600) and 17 (1600-1700). The combined site count was 99 migrants of 7 species that moved between 0846 and 1726 that comprised 25 Bald Eagles (16a, 2sa2, 1sa, 4j, 2u), 14 Sharp-shinned Hawks (6a, 1j, 7u), 3 Cooper’s Hawks (1j, 2u), 6 Rough-legged Hawks (5 light, 1 dark), 46 Golden Eagles (31a, 4sa, 1j, 10u), 2 unidentified eagles and 1 female American Kestrel. The highest combined site hourly count was 29 between 1600 and 1700. Other birds seen were 9 Black-billed Magpies, 260 Common Ravens (156 at Waterton 61 and 104 at Waterton 68), 243 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches (218 at Waterton 61) and 41 Pine Siskins.

10.33 hours (367.6) BAEA 25 (194), SSHA 14 (928), COHA 3 (144), NOGO 2 (67), RLHA 6 (193), GOEA 46 (2347), UE 2 (12), AMKE 1 (16) TOTAL 99 (4224)

Wednesday, October 28 Mount Lorette [Day 37] 0810-1840 (Bill Wilson assisted by Glenn Webber). Despite apparently good migration and observing conditions only 14 migrants of 3 species were seen between 1250 and 1750 that comprised 3 Bald Eagles (2a, 1j), 1u Northern Goshawk and 10 Golden Eagles (6a, 3j, 1u).

10.5 hours (408.4) BAEA 3 (141), NOGO 1 (59), GOEA 10 (2475) TOTAL 14 (2976)

Wednesday, October 28 Steeples [Day 15] 1500-1700 (Vance Mattson). Two hours of observation at the Wolf Creek site produced no migrant raptors. The temperature was 6C, it was calm and 100% altostratus and stratus cloud cover obscured the higher ridges. Three non-migrant Golden Eagles, an adult, a subadult and a juvenile, were conspicuous in the area with one or two birds seen in the air for about half the time spent at the site.

2 hours (49) TOTAL 0 (113)

Tuesday, October 27 Vicki Ridge [Day 36] 0800-1830 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge; and Gord Petersen (1323-1810) at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge at the Waterton 68 wellsite). The temperature at 0800 was 2C, the high at 1200 and 1300 was 5C and it was 1C at 1830. Winds were strong W all day 40-60 gusting 70-90 km/h and cloud cover was 100-80% altostratus and altocumulus that formed a Chinook arch to early afternoon after which it was 80-90% altocumulus, cirrus, cirrostratus and cumulus for the rest of the day that produced brief periods of hazy sunshine. At Waterton 61 raptor movement was slow but persistent throughout the day with 33 migrants of 5 species seen between 0837 and 1734 that comprised 3 Bald Eagles (2a, 1j), 5 Sharp-shinned Hawks (2a, 3u), 2a Northern Goshawks, 1u Rough-legged Hawk and 22 Golden Eagles (21a, 1j). The highest hourly count was 6 between 1100 and 1200. A similar slow but steady movement was also seen at Waterton 68where 20 migrants of 5 species moved between 1323 and 1758. The count was 4a Bald Eagles, 2a Sharp-shinned Hawks, 1j Cooper’s Hawk, 2 light morph Rough-legged Hawks and 11 Golden Eagles (8a, 2j, 1u) with a single-hour high count of 5 between 1700 and 1800. The combined site total was 53 migrants of 6 species seen between 0837 and 1758 that comprised 7 Bald Eagles (6a, 1j), 7 Sharp-shinned Hawks (4a, 3u), 1j Cooper’s Hawk, 2a Northern Goshawks, 3 Rough-legged Hawks (2 light, 1u) and 33 Golden Eagles (29a, 3j, 1u). The combined site high hourly counts were 8 between 1300 and 1400, and between 1700 and 1800. Other birds seen were 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 3 Clark’s Nutcrackers, 2 Black-billed Magpies, 93 Common Ravens, 1020 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches (800 at Waterton 68) 22 Pine Siskins, and 4 Dark-eyed [hyemalis] Juncos.

10.5 hours (357.3) BAEA 7 (169), SSHA 7 (914), COHA 1 (141), NOGO 2 (65), RLHA 3 (187), GOEA 33 (2301) TOTAL 53 (4125)

Tuesday, October 27 Mount Lorette [Day 36] 0815-1830 (George Halmazna assisted by Dan Parliament). Strong WSW winds blew all day which also produced a slow count of 25 migrant raptors of 5 species that comprised 2 Bald Eagles (1a, 1j), 1u Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1u Cooper’s Hawk, 2 Northern Goshawks (1j, 1u) and 19 Golden Eagles (10a, 8j, 1u).

10.25 hours (397.9) BAEA 2 (138), SSHA 1 (100), COHA 1 (20), NOGO 2 (58), GOEA 19 (2465) TOTAL 25 (2962)

Tuesday, October 27 Steeples [Day 14] 1300-1700 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was initially -1C but rose to a high of 6C, it was mainly calm and an initial cloud cover of 100% grey altostratus became 40% altocumulus after 1350 and gave sunny conditions. A total of 5 migrants, 1a Bald Eagle and 4 Golden Eagles (3a, 2j), were seen and the resident Golden Eagle pair was also conspicuous.

4 hours (47) BAEA 1 (44), GOEA 4 (50) TOTAL 5 (113)