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.

Thursday, October 22 Vicki Ridge [Day 31] 1130-1830 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge. Steady snow fell to 1130 when the count started with 35 cm of fresh snow on the ground. The temperature at 1130 was -10C, the high at 1500 was -9C and it was -12C at 1830, and winds were generally light ESE-SSE with regular gusts to 15 km/h. Cloud cover was initially 80% cumulus and stratocumulus that reduced to 60% at 1300 and produced an hour of hazy sunshine before it thickened again to 100% stratocumulus and cumulus that became 80% cumulus after 1800. Light snow fell throughout the count but the ridges, although on occasion hazy, remained clear. The only migrant raptors seen were 3 adult Golden Eagles that moved south at 1240, 1347 and 1503. Other birds seen were 51 Canada Geese that flew south in 2 flocks: 26 at 1339 and 25 at 1655, 7 Canada Jays, 8 Black-billed Magpies, 21 Common Ravens, 1 Townsend’s Solitaire, 2 American Robins, 80 Bohemian Waxwings in 2 flocks that were the first of the season, 50 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches that fed on bare rock surfaces on the western flank of Vicki Ridge, 6 American Tree Sparrows and 7 Dark-eyed [hyemalis] Juncos. Persistent snow is forecast to fall over the next two days so observation opportunities may be limited.

7 hours (317.6) GOEA 3 (2021) TOTAL 3 (3777)

Thursday, October 22 Mount Lorette [Day 32] 0815-1800 (Graeme Dunlop). Because of the high wind-chill values and light snow that fell all day Graeme decided to watch from the Wasootch Creek site on highway 40 between Mount Lorette and the northern end of the Fisher range. This proved to be a good decision as the tops of the mountains and the ridges were often shrouded with cloud and raptor movement was low from Mount Lorette with some birds moving SE along Wasootch Creek and the rest moving low against the lower slopes of the Fisher Range. A total of 21 raptors of 6 species moved in this fashion between 0930 and 1750 with all but 6 of the birds seen before 1200. The count was 5a Bald Eagles, 1a female Northern Harrier, 2a Sharp-shinned Hawks, 1j Northern Goshawk, 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk and 11 Golden Eagles (7a, 2sa, 2j). Graeme believes that most if not all of these birds could not have been seen if he had observed from the usual Hay Meadow site.

9.75 hours (357.3) BAEA 5 (108), NOHA 1 (10), SSHA 2 (99), NOGO 1 (55), RLHA 1 (26), GOEA 11 (2329) TOTAL 21 (2783)

Thursday, October 22 Steeples [Day 11] 1615-1745 (Vance Mattson). The cloud cleared from the ridges in the afternoon but no migrants were seen. The temperature was 1C, it was calm and 60% cumulus and altocumulus cloud gave sunny conditions. A resident adult and a juvenile Golden Eagle soared together over the first truly snow–covered landscape seen this season. The forecast calls for 5-10 cm of snow tomorrow so observation is unlikely.

1.5 hours (32.5) TOTAL 0 (83)