Friday, October 16 Vicki Ridge [Day 27] 0800-1845 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson, assisted by Phil Nicholas (0945-1345) and Pat Lucas (1110-1400) observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge; and Gord Petersen (0840-1825) at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge at the Waterton 68 wellsite). The temperature at 0800 was 4C, the high at 1200 was 9C and it then varied between 6C and 8C throughout the afternoon to 1812 when a northern cold front arrived that lowered the temperature to 0C at 1845. Winds were strong W-WSW to 1812, 60-70 gusting to 85-100 km/h to 1030 then 45-55 gusting to 80 km/h to 1812 when the wind shifted to E-NE at 20 km/h signaling the arrival of the cold front. Cloud cover was initially 100% cirrus, cumulus and altocumulus, but for the rest of the morning it was 80-30% cumulus, stratocumulus and lenticular that gave mainly sunny conditions. Between 1300 and 1430 cloud cover was 90% stratus and cumulus and light to moderate rain fell from 1320 to 1420, then to 1745 it cleared to 60-90% cumulus and stratocumulus that produced frequent light showers and sunny periods. By 1800, however, cloud cover was 100% dark stratocumulus and after 1812 light snow began to fall. At Waterton 61 there was a moderate raptor movement of 47 birds of 5 species between 0839 and 1806 that comprised 8 Bald Eagles (1a, 5j, 2u), 3 Sharp-shinned Hawks (2a, 1u), 2a Red-tailed Hawks (1 light calurus and 1 dark harlani), 7 Rough-legged Hawks (5 light, 1dark, 1u) and 27 Golden Eagles (17a, 3sa, 4j, 4u). Twenty-eight birds moved before 1316 and when the rain started it appeared that the movement was probably over for the day, but after 1546 a further 19 migrants were seen that peaked at 13 birds between 1700 and 1800. We have found this season that the stronger the westerly winds the higher the percentage of migrants that use the westernmost ridge system at the Waterton 68 site and this was again demonstrated today as a total of 152 migrants of 6 species were counted there between 0858 and 1813. The count was 8 Bald Eagles (4a, 1sa3, 1sa2, 1sa1, and 1j), 6u Sharp-shinned Hawks, 1u Cooper’s Hawk, 2a Northern Goshawks, 54 Rough-legged Hawks (32 light, 14 dark, 8u) and 81 Golden Eagles (53a, 5sa, 15j, 8u). The highest hourly count of 48 birds occurred between 1700 and 1800 that included 42 Rough-legged Hawks, and a further 3 Rough-legged Hawks moved up to 1813 as the cold front arrived. High numbers of Rough-legged Hawks moving just ahead of an Arctic front has been noted several times before on our fall counts, but this was a particularly spectacular example. The combined site count was 199 migrants of 7 species that moved between 0839 and 1813 and comprised a season-high 16 Bald Eagles (5a, 3sa, 6j, 2u), 9 Sharp-shinned Hawks (2a, 7u), 1u Cooper’s Hawk, 2a Northern Goshawks, 2a Red-tailed Hawks (1 light calurus and 1 dark harlani),  a season-high 61 Rough-legged Hawks (37 light, 15 dark, 9u) and 108 Golden Eagles (70a, 8sa, 19j, 11u). The highest combined species hourly count was 61 between 1700 and 1800 that included 47 Rough-legged Hawks. Other bird specieswere 29 Canada Geese that flew high to the west at 1830, 1 Pileated Woodpecker, 3 Clark’s Nutcrackers, 4 Black-billed Magpies, 113 Common Ravens, 2 American Robins, and 8 Grey-crowned Rosy Finches at the Waterton 68 site.  The prospect for observation over the weekend is not encouraging as snow is forecast for both days.

10.75 hours (286.5) BAEA 16 (85), SSHA 9 (870), COHA 1 (134), NOGO 2 (44), RTHA 2 (205), RLHA 61 (158), GOEA 108 (1692) TOTAL 199 (3318)

Friday, October 16 Mount Lorette [Day 27] 0830-1405 (Caroline Lambert assisted by Cliff Hansen). A cold front brought snow to the area and by 1130 the Fisher Range was completely obscured. The observers then moved to the Lusk Creek site where 16 migrants of 3 species were seen between 1147 and 1350 that comprised 2 Northern Goshawks (1a, 1u), 2j light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks and 12 Golden Eagles (5a, 1j, 6u). At 1405 the ridge at Lusk Creek was finally obscured and the count was abandoned for the day.

5.58 hours (306.2) NOGO 2 (51), RTHA 2 (60), GOEA 12 (2063) TOTAL 16 (2477)

Friday, October 16 Steeples (Vance Mattson). No observation. It rained and was overcast for most of the day but cleared somewhat at 1500 when Vance had to attend a meeting!

Thursday, October 15 Vicki Ridge [Day 26] 0810-1910 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge; and Gord Petersen (0825-1210) and Denise Cocciolone-Amatto, Pat Lucas and Raymond Toal (1337-1740) at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge at the Waterton 68 wellsite). The temperature at 0810 was -2C, the high at 1400 was 7C and it was 3C at 1910. Winds were WSW-W all day initially 20 km/h then gradually increasing to 20-30 gusting 50 km/h at 1300 and gusting to 60 km/h between 1700 and 1800 before dropping to 30 km/h at the end of observation. Cloud cover was 0-20% cumulus to 1100 after which it was 50-70% cumulus with altocumulus, lenticular and cirrus cloud developing after 1700 as the wind increased. Observing conditions were good throughout although wind-chill made watching uncomfortable in the afternoon. At Waterton 61 a total of 119 migrants of 10 species moved between 0816 and 1851 that comprised 5 Bald Eagles (4a, 1j), 1j female Northern Harrier, 8 Sharp-shinned Hawks (4a, 4u), 2a Cooper’s Hawks, 10 Northern Goshawks (6a, 2j, 2u), 3 Red-tailed Hawks (1a, 1j light morph calurus and 1 undifferentiated dark bird), 5 light morph Rough-legged Hawks, 82 Golden Eagles (67a, 5sa, 10j), 1 unidentified eagle, 1 male American Kestrel and the first Gyrfalcon of the season, a grey morph adult male at 1235. The highest hourly count was 18 between 1400 and 1500 but movement was steady all day. At theWaterton 68 site observers counted 131 migrants of 7 species between 0828 and 1206, and between 1340 and 1736 that comprised 5 Bald Eagles (3a, 2j), 20 Sharp-shinned Hawks (4a, 1j 15u), 4u Cooper’s Hawks, 6 Northern Goshawks (1a, 3j, 2u), 1a dark morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk, 3 light morph Rough-legged Hawks, 90 Golden Eagles (66a, 6sa, 13j, 5u) and 2 unidentified eagles. The highest single-hour count was 29 between 1500 and 1600 but movement was steady all day. The combined site count was 250 migrants of 10 species that moved between 0816 and 1851 and comprised a season-high 10 Bald Eagles (7a, 3j), 1j female Northern Harrier, 28 Sharp-shinned Hawks (8a, 1j, 19u), 6 Cooper’s Hawks (2a, 4u), a season-high 16 Northern Goshawks (7a, 5j, 4u), 4 Red-tailed Hawks (1a, 1j light morph and 1a dark morph calurus, and 1 undifferentiated dark bird), 8 light morph Rough-legged Hawks, 172 Golden Eagles (133a, 11sa, 23j, 5u), 3 unidentified eagles, 1 male American Kestrel and the first Gyrfalcon of the season, a grey morph adult male at 1235. The highest hourly combined count was 44 between 1500 and 1600, but apart from 1200-1300 and 1800-1900 all hourly counts were in double-digits. Other bird species were 58 Snow Geese that moved to the north over Kyllo Ridge in two flocks: 50 at 1116 and 8 at 1136, 1 Canada Goose that flew high to the east at 1449, 1 Clark’s Nutcracker, 5 Black-billed Magpies, 18 American Crows, 37 Common Ravens, 2 Red-breasted Nuthatches, 8 American Robins and a total of 250 Grey-crowned Rosy Finches at the Waterton 68 site that were the first for the season.

11 hours (275.7) BAEA 10 (69), NOHA 1 (24), SSHA 28 (861), COHA 6 (133), NOGO 16 (42), RTHA 4 (203), RLHA 8 (97), GOEA 172 (1584), UE 3 (8), AMKE 1 (14), GYRF 1 (1) TOTAL 250 (3119)

Thursday, October 15 Mount Lorette [Day 26] 0800-1915 (Graeme Dunlop assisted by Glenn Webber). A total of 226 migrant raptors of 7 species were seen between 0810 and 1905 that comprised 1 Osprey, 9 Bald Eagles (5a, 3sa, 1u), 3a Cooper’s Hawks, 3 Northern Goshawks (2a, 1j), 1 undifferentiated light morph Red-tailed Hawk, 5 Rough-legged Hawks (3 light, 2 dark), 203 Golden Eagles (103a, 16sa, 30j, 54u) and 1 Prairie Falcon.

11.25 hours (300.7), OSPR 1 (6), BAEA 9 (87), COHA 3 (19), NOGO 3 (49), RTHA 1 (58), GOEA 203 (2051), PRFA 1 (4) TOTAL 226 (2461)

Thursday, October 15 Steeples [Day 8] 1615-1730 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 12C winds were light SW and 50% cumulus cloud cover allowed sunny conditions. Four migrants were seen: 3 juvenile Bald Eagles and 1 unidentified eagle, all of which moved before 1638. A resident adult Golden Eagle soared above the ridges at 1704 and then executed a fairly spirited display flight.

1.25 hours (25.75) BAEA 3 (40), UE 1 (2) TOTAL 4 (82)

Wednesday, October 14 Vicki Ridge [Day 25] 1045-1905 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge; and Gord Petersen at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge at the Waterton 68 wellsite, 1457-1845). Light snow fell to 1300 that obscured the ridges until 1045 when observation began with 5 cm of fresh snow on the ground. The temperature at 1045 was -1C, the high was 6.5C at 1600 and it was 2C at 1905. Winds were initially light E-ESE to 1400 and became W at 1450 although they were presaged by fog that formed on the highest point of Vicki Ridge at 1240 as the cold air from the east met the warmer air from the west. Westerly winds then prevailed for the rest of the day gusting to 20-30 km/h that reduced to 8-15 km/h at 1900. Cloud cover was 100% stratus to 1300 when it began to break and by 1400 there was 60% cumulus that reduced to 20% by 1800 and at the end of observation it was cloudless with just a trace of cumulus. Sunshine after 1400 provided excellent observing conditions for the rest of the day. At Waterton 61 only 2 raptors, both adult Cooper’s Hawks, were seen between 1250 and 1347 but the main migration began at 1404 and was subsequently continuous until the last Golden Eagle moved south just before dark at 1855. The final count of 94 birds of 6 species was 1a Bald Eagle, 12 Sharp-shinned Hawks (5a, 7u), 2a Cooper’s Hawks, 1a Northern Goshawk, 14 Rough-legged Hawks (13 light morphs and 1 u) and 64 Golden Eagles (55a, 3sa, 6j), The highest single-hour count was 29 between 1600 and 1700, At the Waterton 68 site Gord counted 122 migrants of 7 species between 1505 and 1838 that comprised 1sa3 Bald Eagle, 1a female Northern Harrier, 17u Sharp-shinned Hawks, 2u Cooper’s Hawks, 3 Northern Goshawks (1j 2u), 6 light morph Rough-legged Hawks and 92 Golden Eagles (66a, 7j, 19u). The highest single hour count was 50 between 1700 and 1800. The combined site count was 216 migrants of 7 species that moved between 1250 and 1855 and comprised 2 Bald Eagles (1a, 1sa3), 1a female Northern Harrier, 29 Sharp-shinned Hawks (5a, 24u), 24 Cooper’s Hawks (2a, 2u), 4 Northern Goshawks (1a, 1j, 2u), a season-high 20 Rough-legged Hawks (19 light morphs, 1u) and 156 Golden Eagles (121a, 3sa, 13j, 19u). The 4 hourly counts after 1500 were 29, 61, 71 and 43 respectively. Other bird species seen were 8 Snow Geese that flew high to the west at 1433, 4 Black-billed Magpies, 71 Common Ravens, 1 American Robin that flew high to the south at 1438 and 4 Pine Siskins.

8.33 hours (264.7) BAEA 2 (59), NOHA 1 (23), SSHA 29 (833), COHA 4 (127), NOGO 4 (26), RLHA 20 (89), GOEA 156 (1412) TOTAL 216 (2869)

Wednesday, October 14 Mount Lorette [Day 25] 0810-1905 (Bill Wilson assisted by Caroline Lambert). It snowed until 1355 and then 96 raptors of 5 species were counted between 1358 and 1900 that comprised 3 Bald Eagles (1a, 2j), 2 Northern Goshawks (1a, 1u), 1 unidentified small Accipiter, 1j dark morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk, 88 Golden Eagles (47a, 2sa, 11j, 28u) and 1 unidentified small raptor.

11.08 (289.4) BAEA 3 (78), NOGO 2 (46), UA 1 (6), RTHA 1 (57), GOEA 88 (1848), UU 1 (3) TOTAL 96 (2235)

Wednesday, October 14 Steeples (Vance Mattson). No observation.

Tuesday, October 13 Vicki Ridge [Day 24] 0810-1230 and 1500-1800 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0810 was 2C but dropped to 1C at 0900, reached a morning high of 3C at 1000 and was again 1C at 1230 when the count was suspended for 2.5 hours because of steady wet snow that obscured both the ridges. The temperature at 1500 when the count resumed was 3C and rose to 4C at 1600 where it remained for the rest of the day. Cloud cover was 100% stratus all day with the exception of 1600-1630 when it briefly broke to 70% cumulus that provided the day’s only sunshine. Light to moderate snow fell throughout the morning, and there were light rain showers from 1500-1610 that became steady rain to 1800 when the count was abandoned for the day. Winds in the morning were W-WSW 15-20 occasionally gusting to 30 km/h, and in the afternoon they were W 10-25 km/h that gusted to 45 km/h at 1800. The morning count produced 5 migrants between 0819 and 1028 that comprised 1j Bald Eagle, 2u Sharp-shinned Hawks and 2 light morph Rough-legged Hawks. The afternoon count was 3a Golden Eagles that moved between 1521 and 1546 and 1 small to medium unidentified raptor that was flying in the rain and disappeared behind the ridge at 1554. Other birds seen were 1 Downy Woodpecker, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 1 Northern Flicker, 1 Pileated Woodpecker, 13 Black-billed Magpies, 12 Common Ravens, 17 American Robins and 1 Dark-eyed [hyemalis] Junco.

7.33 hours (256.4) BAEA 1 (57), SSHA 2 (804), RLHA 2 (69), GOEA 3 (1256), UU 1 (1) TOTAL 9 (2653)

Tuesday, October 13 Mount Lorette [Day 24] 0845-1400 (George Halmazna assisted by Dan Parliament). A total of 4 Golden Eagles (2a, 2j) that moved between 0959 and 1012 were the only raptors seen. Snow started falling at 1030 and persisted to 1400 when the count was abandoned for the day.

5.25 hours (278.3) GOEA 4 (1760) TOTAL 4 (2139)

Tuesday, October 13 Steeples (Vance Mattson). No observation (weather). Rain and wet snow fell all day and the ridges were completely obscured.

Monday, October 12 Vicki Ridge [Day 23] 0800-0845 and 1045-1900 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson, 1500-1720 Denise Cocciolone Amatto assisted by Raymond Toal). There was no observer at the Waterton 68 site). The temperature at 0800 was 5C, the high at 1200 was 10C that dropped to 6C at 1300 following extensive hail fall, recovered to 8C at 1400 and was 5C at 1900. Winds were mainly WSW-W and occasionally WNW 15-25 km/h to 1300 and then 25 gusting 45-55 km/h for the rest of the day. Cloud cover was initially 100% stratocumulus that produced steady rain and then showers to 1045 (observers abandoned the site for 2 hours to 1045!) and was subsequently 70-90 % cumulus and stratocumulus for the rest of the day that produced regular rain, sleet and hail showers to 1500 after which there were occasional light rain showers and snow flurries. There were also brief sunny periods. The Livingstone Ridge to the north was cloud-covered until mid-afternoon when it partially cleared. The conditions allowed a movement of 31 raptors of 6 species between 1059 and 1828 that comprised 3 Bald Eagles (2a, 1u), 1a male Northern Harrier, 3 Sharp-shinned Hawks (1a, 2u), 4 calurus Red-tailed Hawks (2a, 1u light morphs and 1u intermediate morph), 5 Rough-legged Hawks (4 light, 1u) and 15 Golden Eagles (13a, 2j). The highest single hour count was 9 between 1500 and 1600. Other birds seen were 1 Northern Flicker, 2 Black-billed Magpies, 24 Common Ravens and 3 American Robins.

9 hours (249.1) BAEA 3 (56), NOHA 1 (22), SSHA 3 (802), RTHA 4 (199), RLHA 5 (67), GOEA 15 (1253) TOTAL 31 (2644)

Monday, October 12 Mount Lorette [Day 23] 0800-1900 (Graeme Dunlop assisted by Rick Robb). Poor weather conditions produced only 3 migrants: 1a Bald Eagle, 1a Sharp-shinned Hawk and 1 dark morph Rough-legged Hawk.

11 hours (273.1) BAEA 1 (75), SSHA 1 (96), RLHA 1 (15) TOTAL 3 (2135)

Monday, October 12 Steeples [Day 7] 1230-1830 (Vance Mattson). The temperature reached 12C and winds were initially SW, became E-SE between 1700 and 1800 after which it was calm. Clouds hung over the ridges until 1200 when they began to clear and cloud cover was then 60% altostratus and cumulus which gave partially sunny conditions. A season-high count of 39 migrants of 4 species comprised 19 Bald Eagles (13a, 6j), 5 Sharp-shinned Hawks (2a, 1j, 2u), 1a light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk and 14 Golden Eagles (12a, 2j). Only 1 migrant was seen before 1400 but the next 2 hours produced 14 and 16 migrants and the remaining 8 birds moved sporadically between 1600 and 1751. A non-migrant adult Golden Eagle was also recorded.

6 hours (24.5) BAEA 19 (37), SSHA 5 (11), RTHA 1 (4), GOEA 14 (23) TOTAL 39 (78)