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)

Monday, October 26 Vicki Ridge [Day 35] 0845-1845 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge; and Gord Petersen (1320-1815) at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge at the Waterton 68 wellsite). The temperature at 0845 was -6C, the high was -1C from 1500 to 1700 and it was -4C at 1845. Winds were W 30-40 gusting 60 and occasionally 70 km/h all day and cloud cover was 100-80% altostratus and altocumulus to 1430 that reduced to 60% at 1500 and at 1600 it was 10% lenticular and altocumulus; by 1700 it was 30% altocumulus, lenticular and cirrus which increased to 70% after 1800 and provided an even more spectacular sunset than yesterday’s. At Waterton 61 there was another steady movement of 124 raptors of 5 species between 0858 and 1812 that comprised 5a Bald Eagles, 5 Sharp-shinned Hawks (3a, 2u), 3a Northern Goshawks, 109 Golden Eagles (99a, 3sa, 7j) and 2 male Peregrine Falcons (1a, 1u). The highest single-hour count was 25, including 24 Golden Eagles, between 1300 and 1400. For the second consecutive day there was a disappointing count at Waterton 68 where only 28 migrants of 3 species were seen between 1329 and 1751. The total comprised 3 Bald Eagles (2a, 1j), 2 Northern Goshawks (1j, 1u) and 23 Golden Eagles (14a, 1j, 8u). Movement was slow but steady with every hourly count up to 1800 producing either 5 or 6 migrants. The combined site count was 152 birds of 5 species that moved between 0855 and 1812 and comprised 8 Bald Eagles (7a, 1j), 5 Sharp-shinned Hawks (3a, 2u), 5 Northern Goshawks (3a, 1j, 1u), 132 Golden Eagles (113a, 3sa, 8j, 8u) and 2 male Peregrine Falcons (1a, 1u). The highest single-hour combined site count was 31 between 1300 and 1400. Other birds seen were 1 Northern Flicker, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 168 Common Ravens (most of which were feeding on gut-piles near the Waterton 68 site), 3 American Robins, 466 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches (390 at Waterton 68 and 76 at Waterton 61), 8 Pine Siskins, and 3 Dark-eyed [hyemalis] Juncos.

10 hours (346.8) BAEA 8 (162), SSHA 5 (907), NOGO 5 (63), GOEA 132 (2268), PEFA 2 (6) TOTAL 152 (4072)

Monday, October 26 Mount Lorette [Day 35] 0815-1845 (Caroline Lambert assisted by Cliff Hansen). A total of 43 migrants of 3 species moved between 0815 and 1750 and comprised 2 Bald Eagles (1sa, 1j), 1j dark morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk and 40 Golden Eagles (24a, 6sa, 5j, 5u). All birds moved low against the face of the Fisher Range.

10.5 hours (387.7) BAEA 2 (136), RTHA 1 (65), GOEA 40 (2446) TOTAL 43 (2937)

Monday, October 26 Steeples (Vance Mattson). No observation because of teaching commitments.

Sunday, October 25 Vicki Ridge [Day 34] 0800-1845 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge; and Gord Petersen (0930-1820) at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge at the Waterton 68 wellsite). The temperature at 0800 was a season-low -20C, the high was -3C between 1400 and 1600 and it was -6C at 1845. Winds were initially E-ENE 5-8 km/h but by 0900 a westerly flow started that persisted all day and became progressively stronger. Winds gusted to 20 km/h to 1300 after which gusts were 50-60 km/h, and were WNW gusting to 70km/h after 1800. There was extensive blowing snow on the ridges throughout the afternoon and low wind-chill values made observing uncomfortable. It was cloudless and sunny to 1700 when the first trace of altocumulus cloud appeared to the west and by 1800 cloud cover was 60-70% lenticular and altocumulus that provided a spectacular sunset spectacle. At Waterton 61 a total of 101 migrants of 4 species moved between 0836 and 1836 that comprised 13 Bald Eagles (8a, 1sa3, 3sa2, 1u), 1a Sharp-shinned Hawks, 1u Rough-legged Hawk and 86 Golden Eagles (75a, 2sa, 6j, 3u). Movement was initially slow with only 7 Golden Eagles recorded before 1200, but was steady throughout the afternoon and peaked at 33 birds (31 Golden Eagles) between 1500 and 1600. By contrast at the Waterton 68 site only 28 birds of 3 species were seen between 1145 and 1814 that comprised 4 Bald Eagles (1a, 2sa3, 1j), 2a Northern Goshawks, 21 Golden Eagles (6a, 1sa, 3j, 11u) and 1 indeterminate eagle. Movement was very sporadic and mainly west of the ridge with highest single-hour counts of 6 between 1400-1500, and 1500-1600. The combined sitescount was 129 migrant raptors of 5 species between 0836 and 1836 that comprised 17 Bald Eagles (9a, 3sa3, 3sa2, 1j, 1u), 1a Sharp-shinned Hawk, 2a Northern Goshawks, 1u Rough-legged Hawk, 107 Golden Eagles (81a, 3sa, 9j, 14u) and 1 indeterminate eagle. The highest combined single hour count was 39 between 1500 and 1600. Other bird species recorded were 1 Canada Jay, 1 Clark’s Nutcracker, 5 Black-billed Magpies, 2 American Crows, 45 Common Ravens, 7 American Robins, 60 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches, 5 Red Crossbills, and 4 Dark-eyed [hyemalis] Juncos.

10.75 hours (336.8) BAEA 17 (154), SSHA 1 (902), NOGO 2 (58), RLHA 1 (184), GOEA 107 (2136) UE 1 (10) TOTAL 129 (3920)

Sunday, October 25 Mount Lorette [Day 34] (Lori Anderson assisted by Patrick Farley). A total of 64 migrant raptors of 4 species was counted between 1020 and 1820 that comprised 5 Bald Eagles (1a, 2sa, 2j), 1j female Northern Harrier, 1j light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk, 56 Golden Eagles (43a, 3sa, 1j, 9u) and 1 indeterminate eagle. Most birds were seen after 1500 when the wind increased.

10 hours (377.2) BAEA 5 (134), NOHA 1 (11), RTHA 1 (64), GOEA 56 (2406), UE 1 (23) TOTAL 64 (2894)

Sunday, October 25 Steeples [Day 13] 1215-1915 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was -9C at 1215, the high was -3C and it was -5C at 1815, and it was calm and cloudless throughout. Twenty-one migrants of 2 species moved between 1301 and 1734 that consisted of 1a Bald Eagle and a season-high 20 Golden Eagles (14a, 3sa, 2j, 1u). Movement was slow but steady with a peak of 7 between 1710 and 1734. All the eagles moved low and slow with many using flapping flight and the calm sunny conditions gave excellent views of the birds. Three of the Golden Eagles briefly perched at various points on the ridge before resuming their journey.

6 hours (43) BAEA 1 (43), GOEA 20 (46) TOTAL 21 (108)

Saturday, October 24 Vicki Ridge [Day 33] 1230-1830 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge). Steady snow fell overnight and well into the morning so we didn’t start the count until 1230 when there was 15 cm of fresh snow on the ground and the temperature was -14C; the “high” was -13C at 1600 and at 1830 it was -19C which is the lowest value so far recorded this season. Winds were E-SSE all afternoon 3-8 occasionally gusting to 13 km/h and cloud cover was initially 100% stratocumulus that produced very light snow to 1300 after which it was 80-60% cumulus which provided sunny periods and was 100% thin cirrostratus and altocumulus after 1800. Despite the unpromising conditions a total of 14 migrant raptors of 3 species were seen between 1301 and 1716 that comprised 2 Bald Eagles (1a, 1j), 4 light morph Rough-legged Hawks and 8 Golden Eagles (7a, 1j). Five of the birds moved between 1600 and 1700. There was a surprising variety of other bird species that comprised 20 Canada Geese in 3 small flocks, 4 Trumpeter Swans (2 + 2) that flew high to the west, 1 Wilson’s Snipe that flew high to the south above the middle of the valley at 1316, 1a Herring Gull that also flew high to the south at 1814 and was the last bird seen today, 1a Northern Shrike, 1 Canada Jay, 1 Clark’s Nutcracker, 5 Black-billed Magpies, 27 Common Ravens, 1 Townsend’s Solitaire, 1 American Robin, 50 Bohemian Waxwings and 80 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches.

6 hours (326.1) BAEA 2 (137), RLHA 4 (183), GOEA 8 (2029) TOTAL 14 (3791)

Saturday, October 24 Mount Lorette [Day 33] (Blake Weis assisted by Annie Finch). Light snow fell to 1000, the temperature rose to -8C from a low of -16C and the Fisher Range was 10-20% cloud-covered throughout the day. A gratifying total of 47 migrants of 4 species was recorded comprising 21 Bald Eagles (6a, 1sa3, 8sa2, 1sa1, 3 undifferentiated sa and 2j), 1u Northern Goshawk, 1a intermediate morph harlani Red-tailed Hawk, 21 Golden Eagles (8a, 1sa, 12u) and 3 indeterminate eagles.

9.85 hours (367.2) BAEA 21 (129), NOGO 1 (56), RTHA 1 (63), GOEA 21 (2350), UE 3 (22) TOTAL 47 (2830)

Saturday, October 24 Steeples [Day 12] 1215-1745 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was -3C that fell to -5C by the end of observation, it was calm and 60% cumulus cloud cover gave mainly sunny conditions. Only 4 migrants were seen: 2 Bald Eagles (1a, 1j) and 2a Golden Eagles.

4.5 hours (37) BAEA 2 (42), GOEA 2 (26) TOTAL 4 (87)

Friday, October 23 Vicki Ridge [Day 32] 0830-1100 (Peter Sherrington observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge). The temperature at 0830 was -13C and it was -11C at 1100. It was calm to 1030 when the wind became ESE 12 km/h, and cloud cover was 100% stratus with some cumulus visible between 0900 and 1000. Very light snow fell to 1015 when it became steady but the ridges were clear until 1100 when they became substantially obscured by moderate snow and the count was abandoned for the day. Snow continued to fall throughout the day and the ridges remained obscured but by 1900 only 5 cm of snow had accumulated. No migrant raptors were seen and other birdsobserved were 3 Black-billed Magpies, 4 Common Ravens, a flock of 60 non-migrating Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches, 2 American Tree Sparrows and 7a Dark-eyed Juncos (6 hyemalis and 1 montanus).

2.5 hours (320.1) TOTAL 0 (3777)

Friday, October 23 Mount Lorette (Caroline Lambert) No observation. Light snow fell all day and the ridges were completely obscured.

Friday, October 23 Steeples (Vance Mattson). No observation. Light snow fell all day, it was heavily overcast and the ridges were completely obscured.