Sunday, October 11 Vicki Ridge [Day 22] 0800-1850 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson, assisted by Pat Lucas (1530-1800) observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge; and Gord Petersen and Cathy Scrimshaw at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge at the Waterton 68 wellsite, 1145-1830). The temperature at 0800 was 3C the high was 7C (1200-1300 and 1600-1700) and it was 4C at 1850. Winds were WSW to 1530 when they switched to W, strong all day gusting 50-70 km/h to 1300 and 80-90 km/h after 1400 that only moderated to 15-35 km/h after 1830. Cloud cover was mainly dark cumulus with stratus to the west that varied between 10 and 70% and brought periods of snow flurries especially after 1300. At 1800 the cloud mass to the west moved eastwards and brought 90-100% altostratus, altocumulus, cirrus and cumulus for the rest of the day. Observing conditions were generally good all day except during brief periods when the flurries thickened to snow showers. At the Waterton 61 site a total of 124 migrant raptors of 6 species were counted between 0821 and 1740 that comprised 2 Bald Eagles (1sa, 1u), 1j male Northern Harrier, 7 Sharp-shinned Hawks (4a, 1j, 2u), 3a light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks, 2 light morph Rough-legged Hawks and 109 Golden Eagles (88a, 4sa, 13j, 4u). The day started well with 35 Golden Eagles moving between 0821 and 0859, followed by 26 migrants including 25 Golden Eagles during the following hour but the flow then gradually reduced and only 13 birds were seen after 1400. At the Waterton 68 site a total of 129 migrants of 7 species were counted between 1149 and 1809 that comprised 4 Bald Eagles (3a, 1sa), 28 Sharp-shinned Hawks (3a, 1j, 24u), 2 Cooper’s Hawks (1j, 1u), 1a light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk, 14 Rough-legged Hawks (10 light, 4 dark), 79 Golden Eagles (46a, 3sa, 23j, 7u) and 1j Peregrine Falcon. The maximum hourly count was 35 between 1200 and 1300. The combined species count was 253 migrant raptors of 8 species that moved between 0821 and 1809 and comprised 6 Bald Eagles (3a, 2sa, 1u), 1j male Northern Harrier, 35 Sharp-shinned Hawks (7a, 2j, 26u), 2 Cooper’s Hawks (1j, 1u), 4a light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks, 16 Rough-legged Hawks (12 light, 4 dark), 188 Golden Eagles (134a, 7sa, 36j, 11u) and 1j Peregrine Falcon. The highest combined-site hourly count was 50 between 1200 and 1300. Other bird species seen were 1 unidentified large gull, 1 Pacific Loon that flew high to the west at 1226, 1 Clark’s Nutcracker, 22 Black-billed Magpies, 114 Common Ravens, 20 American Robins and 8 Pine Siskins.

10.83 hours (240.1) BAEA 6 (53), NOHA 1 (21), SSHA 35 (799), COHA 2 (123), RTHA 4 (195), RLHA 16 (62), GOEA 188 (1238), PEFA 1 (4) TOTAL 253 (2613)

Sunday, October 11 Mount Lorette [Day 22] 0800-1900 (Lori Anderson assisted by Patrick Farley). Observers counted 79 raptors of 6 species that comprised 4a Bald Eagles, 1j dark morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk, 1u Rough-legged Hawk, 65 Golden Eagles (29a, 4sa, 8j, 24u), 6 unidentified eagles, 1u columbarius Merlin and 1 large unidentified falcon.

11 hours (262.1) BAEA 4 (74), RTHA 1 (56), RLHA 1 (14), GOEA 65 (1756), UE 6 (19), MERL 1 (11), UF 1 (7) TOTAL 79 (2132)

Sunday, October 11 Steeples [Day 6] 1200-1815 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 11C, winds were S moderate to strong and cloud cover was 100-70% altostratus and dark cumulus. For the first time this season there was a fairly strong raptor movement of 33 birds of 5 species between 1215 and 1805 that comprised 17 Bald Eagles (6a, 2sa, 9j), 4u Sharp-shinned Hawks, 1a Northern Goshawk, 1a light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk, 9 Golden Eagles (6a, 1j, 2u) and 1 unidentified eagle. The highest hourly count was 13 between 1600 and 1700. The count was a near duplicate as that on the same date last year for both eagle species, including the age ratios. The resident pair of Golden Eagles was seen moving west into the valley and a non-migrant juvenile Bald eagle was also recorded.

6.25 hours (18.5) BAEA 17 (18), SSHA 4 (6), NOGO 1 (1), RTHA 1 (3), GOEA 9 (9), UE 1 (1) TOTAL 33 (39)

Saturday, October 10 Vicki Ridge [Day 21] 0800-1715 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson, assisted by Carol and Cornell van Rike (1350-1445) 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, 1045-1540). The temperature at 0800 was 12C the high was 16C at 1100 after which it steadily fell and was 9C when the count was abandoned at 1715. Winds were WSW all day, 20-30 km/h to 0950 after which they were strong for the rest of the day gusting to 55 km/h to 1200 and then gusting 70-80 km/h for the rest of the day. Cloud cover was 70-90% cumulus, altocumulus, cirrus, altostratus and lenticular to 1230 when light rain started to blow to the east from darkening cumulus cloud in the west, which became steady rain after 1400. After 1400 cloud cover was 70-100% dark stratocumulus to the west and altostratus to the east. There was a light smoke haze initially which significantly thickened after 1115 but which disappeared after the rain started. It was a really unpleasant day! At Waterton 61 a total of only 17 migrants of 3 species were seen between 0919 and 1641 that comprised 3u Sharp-shinned Hawks, 1u Cooper’s Hawk and 13 Golden Eagles (8a, 2j, 3u). Seven birds were seen between 1000 and 1100 and 6 between 1200 and 1300 but only 1 bird was seen after 1415. There was a stronger movement at Waterton 68 where 43 migrants of 4 species moved between 1054 and 1522 comprising 7 Sharp-shinned Hawks (1j, 6u), 1u Cooper’s Hawk, 2a calurus Red-tailed Hawks and 33 Golden Eagles (18a, 2sa, 6j, 7u). The highest hourly count was 14 between 1200 and 1300, and rain brought the count to an end at 1540. The combined speciescount was 60 migrant raptors of 4 species that moved between 0919 and 1641 and comprised 10 Sharp-shinned Hawks (1j, 9u), 2u Cooper’s Hawks, 2a calurus Red-tailed Hawks and 46 Golden Eagles (26a, 2sa, 8j, 10u). The highest hourly combined count was 20 between 1200 and 1300. After leaving the site it became apparent that the Livingstone Range to the north was completely obscured by cloud. Only three other bird species were seen: 1 Clark’s Nutcracker, 24 Common Ravens and 8 American Robins.

9.25 hours (229.2) SSHA 10 (764), COHA 2 (121), RTHA 2 (191) GOEA 46 (1050) TOTAL 60 (2360)

Saturday, October 10 Mount Lorette [Day 21] 0800-1820 (Blake Weis assisted by Sandy Graham). The total of 102 migrant raptors of 4 species comprised 1a Bald Eagle, 1u Sharp-shinned Hawk, 3 Northern Goshawks (2a, 1j), 95 Golden Eagles (10a, 6sa, 9j, 70u) and 2 unidentified eagles. The high percentage of unaged Golden Eagles resulted from very high flying birds being silhouetted against a dense cloud cover.

10.33 hours (251.1) BAEA 1 (70), SSHA 1 (95), NOGO 3 (44), GOEA 95 (1691) UE 2 (13) TOTAL 102 (2053)

Saturday, October 10 Steeples (Vance Mattson). No observation (weather). Rain with heavily overcast conditions.

Friday, October 09 Vicki Ridge [Day 20] 0800-1900 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson, assisted by Doug and Teresa Dolmen (1015-1615) and Trevor Lewis (1600-1715), 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, 1240-1830). The temperature at 0800 was 1C (which is the lowest temperature recorded so far this season), the high from 1300 to 1700 was 16C and it was 13C at 1900. It was calm to 1000 but subsequently winds were WSW-W for the rest of the day, 20-30 gusting 45 km/h to 1230, 40-50 gusting 60 km/h to 1600 and moderating to 20 km/h after 1720. At the Waterton 61site observers counted 73 migrant raptors of 9 species between 1012 and 1725 that comprised 1a Bald Eagle, 27 Sharp-shinned Hawks (7a, 20u), 1u Cooper’s Hawk, 3a Northern Goshawks, 1 unidentified small Accipiter, 5a calurus Red-tailed Hawks, 1a light morph Ferruginous Hawk, 4 Rough-legged Hawks (3 light, 1u), 29 Golden Eagles (23a, 1sa, 1j, 4u) and 1a female columbarius Merlin. The highest hourly count was 20 between 1300 and 1400. At the Waterton 68 site 75 migrants of 6 species moved between 1241 and 1801 that comprised 2a male Northern Harriers, 40 Sharp-shinned Hawks (3a, 37u), 7u Cooper’s Hawks, 3 Red-tailed Hawks (1j intermediate morph calurus and 2a harlani (1 dark and 1 intermediate), 4 Rough-legged Hawks (3 light, 1 dark) and 19 Golden Eagles (3a, 7j, 9u). The highest single-hour count was 23 between 1300 and 1400. ). The combined speciescount was 148 migrant raptors of 10 species that moved between 1002 and 1801 and comprised 1a Bald Eagle, 2a male Northern Harriers, 67 Sharp-shinned Hawks (10a, 57u), 8u Cooper’s Hawks, 3a Northern Goshawks, 1 unidentified small Accipiter, 8 Red-tailed Hawks (calurus 6: 4a light morphs, 1j intermediate morph and 1a dark morph; and 2a harlani (1 dark and 1 intermediate morph), 1a light morph Ferruginous Hawk, 8 Rough-legged Hawks (6 light, 1 dark, 1u), 48 Golden Eagles (26a, 1sa, 8j, 13u) and 1a female columbariusMerlin. The highest single-hour count was 43 between 1300 and 1400 and 30 migrants were recorded during the following hour. Other bird species noted were 1 Northern Flicker, 1 Canada Jay, 1 Clark’s Nutcracker, 10 Black-billed Magpies, 42 Common Ravens, 20 American Robins, 1j White-crowned Sparrow, 3 Dark-eyed Juncos (1 hyemalis and 2u) and 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler.

11 hours (220) BAEA 1 (47), NOHA 2 (20), SSHA 67 (754), COHA 8 (119), NOGO 3 (22), UA 1 (7), RTHA 8 (189), FEHA 1 (2), RLHA 8 (46), GOEA 48 (1004), MERL 1 (24) TOTAL 148 (2300)

Friday, October 09 Mount Lorette [Day 20] 0815-1900 (Joel Duncan assisted by Rick Robb). Observers recorded a total of 52 migrant raptors of 5 species that comprised 1 late subadult Bald Eagle, 1u Northern Harrier, 2 Sharp-shinned Hawks (1a, 1u), 1j dark morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk, 45 Golden Eagles (27a, 2sa, 1j, 15u) and 2 unidentified eagles.

10.75 hours (240.8) BAEA 1 (69), NOHA 1 (9), SSHA 2 (94), RTHA 1 (55), GOEA 45 (1596), UE 2 (11) TOTAL 52 (1951)

Friday, October 09 Steeples [Day 5] 1230-1700 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 18C, winds were moderate S and cloud cover was 100-60% cumulus, altostratus and lenticular, but despite these promising conditions no migrant raptors were seen and the only raptor recorded was a non-migrant juvenile Bald Eagle.

4.5 hours (12.25) TOTAL 0 (6)

Thursday, October 08 Vicki Ridge [Day 19] 0750-1905 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson, assisted by Phil Nicholas (1100-1745), 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, 0905-1710). The temperature at 0750 was 14C, the high at 1400 and again at 1600 was 20C and it was 15C at 1905. Winds were again strong WSW-W all day 30-40 gusting 60 km/h. Cloud cover was 10-20% cumulus to 0930 and then increased to 40-90% cumulus, altostratus altocumulus and cirrus to 1730 after which 70-100% dark cumulus moved from the west and threatened the rain that began to fall around 2000. The thin smoke haze that has persisted for the last several days became noticeably thicker after 1330. At the Waterton 61 site observers counted a total of 172 migrant raptors of 8 species between 0824 and 1739 that comprised 3 Bald Eagles (1a, 2sa), 17 Sharp-shinned Hawks (3a, 14u), 3 Cooper’s Hawks (1a, 2u), 1a Northern Goshawk, 2 light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks (1a, 1u), 2 light morph Rough-legged Hawks, 143 Golden Eagles (99a, 8sa, 32j, 4u) and 1u male columbarius Merlin. The highest hourly count was 45 (including 43 Golden Eagles) between 0900 and 1000 and movement was fairly steady thereafter with only a couple of 40-minute hiatuses during the day until the lowering dark cumulus cloud stopped the migration at 1739. At the Waterton 68 site Gord counted a very similar total of 174 raptors of 7 species between 0914 and 1651 that comprised 3a Bald Eagles, 30 Sharp-shinned Hawks (2a, 1j, 27u), 2u Cooper’s Hawks, 1u Northern Goshawk, 3a light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks, 4 Rough-legged Hawks (3 light, 1 dark) and 131 Golden Eagles (84a, 2sa, 33j, 12u). The highest hourly counts were 30 (0900-1000) and 35 (1400-1500). The combined species count was a season high 346 migrants of 8 species that moved between 0824 and 1739 and comprised 6 Bald Eagles (4a, 2sa), 47 Sharp-shinned Hawks (5a, 1j, 41u), 5 Cooper’s Hawks (1a, 4u), 2 Northern Goshawks (1a, 1u), 5 light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks (4a, 1u), 6 Rough-legged Hawks (5 light, 1 dark), a season-high 274 Golden Eagles (183a, 10sa, 65j, 16u) and 1u male columbarius Merlin. The highest combined-site hourly count was 75 between 0900 and 1000 and the second highest was 57 between 1400 and 1500.  Only four other bird species were noted: 8 Black-billed Magpies, 9 Common Ravens, 7 American Robins and 8 Pine Siskins.

11.25 hours (209) BAEA 6 (46), SSHA 47 (687), COHA 5 (111), NOGO 2 (19), RTHA 5 (181), RLHA 6 (38), GOEA 274 (956), MERL 1 (23) TOTAL 346 (2152)

Thursday, October 08 Mount Lorette [Day 19] 0745-1900 (Graeme Dunlop assisted by Joel Duncan). When 46 Golden Eagles were counted between 1000 and 1100 the observers envisaged a very high count but progressively deteriorating weather through the afternoon produced a final count of 167 migrant raptors of 7 species which, although a good total, failed to meet early expectations. The count of 7 species was 6 Bald Eagles (2a, 2sa, 1j, 1u), 1u Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1a Cooper’s Hawk, 5a Northern Goshawks, 152 Golden Eagles (62a, 13sa, 3j, 74u), 1u American Kestrel and 1 unidentified large falcon.

11.25 hours (230) BAEA 6 (68), SSHA 1 (92), COHA 1 (16), NOGO 5 (41), GOEA 152 (1551), AMKE 1 (2) UF 1 (6) TOTAL 167 (1899)

Thursday, October 08 Steeples (Vance Mattson).  No observation (weather). When Vance was finally free to go to the site at 1600 it began to rain, with heavy cloud developing to the north!

Wednesday, October 07 Vicki Ridge [Day 18] 0810-1830 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge, and Denise Cocciolone Amatto at the northern end of Vicki Ridge; and Gord Petersen and Cathy Scrimshaw at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge at the Waterton 68 wellsite, 1010-1745). The temperature at 0810 was 4C, the high at 1600 was 15C and it was 13C at 1830 when the count was abandoned. It was calm to 1120 and again after 1800, and between winds were variable E to S and generally light with the exception of around 1400 when they occasionally gusted up to 15 km/h from the E. There was a light westerly flow aloft all day but it failed to lower to ridgetop level. Cloud cover was 80-90% cumulus to 0930 which quickly cleared to 10-30% altocumulus and cirrus to 1100 and was subsequently 50-80% altocumulus, cirrus, altostratus and lenticular with minor cumulus to the west for the rest of the day. Observing conditions were excellent throughout but at Waterton 61 only 12 migrants of 7 species were counted between 1109 and 1608 that comprised 1j male Northern Harrier, 3 Sharp-shinned Hawks (2a, 1j), 2a Cooper’s Hawks, 1a light morph Broad-winged Hawk, 2a calurus Red-tailed Hawks (1light, 1 dark), 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk and 2 Golden Eagles (1a, 1sa). Six of the birds occurred between 1200 and 1300. The observers at Waterton 68 also counted 12 migrants of 4 species between 1118 and 1551 that comprised 2u Sharp-shinned Hawks, 1a Cooper’s Hawk, 1u Red-tailed Hawk and 8 Golden Eagles (1j 7u). Most of the eagles were seen soaring west of the Carbondale Ridge and distance precluded detailed identification. Six of the birds were seen between 1300 and 1400. The combined species count was 24 migrants of 7 species that moved between 1109 and 1608 and comprised 1j male Northern Harrier, 5 Sharp-shinned Hawks (2a, 1j, 2u), 3a Cooper’s Hawks, 1a light morph Broad-winged Hawk, 3 Red-tailed Hawks (2a calurus (1light, 1 dark) and 1 indeterminate bird), 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk and 10 Golden Eagles (1a, 1sa, 1j, 7u). The highest combined count hour was 10 between 1200 and 1300. One positive aspect of the calm conditions was that it was easier to locate other bird species that were 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 1 juvenile Northern Shrike, 6 Canada Jays, 11 Black-billed Magpies, 35 Common Ravens, 3 Black-capped Chickadees, 2 Mountain Chickadees, 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch, 1 Townsend’s Solitaire, 33 American Robins, 1 female Evening Grosbeak, 1 Cassin’s Finch that sang briefly in the morning and 1 Pine Siskin.

10.33 hours (197.7) NOHA 1 (18), SSHA 5 (640), COHA 3 (106), BWHA 1 (18), RTHA 3 (176), RLHA 1 (32), GOEA 10 (682) TOTAL 24 (1806)

Wednesday, October 07 Mount Lorette [Day 18] 0655-1905 (Bill Wilson assisted by Glenn Webber). There was another strong movement at Mount Lorette where the observers counted 125 migrant raptors of 7 species that comprised 5 Bald Eagles (3a, 1sa3, 1sa2), 3u Sharp-shinned Hawks, 2a Cooper’s Hawks, 1a Northern Goshawk, 2 light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks (1a, 1j), 3 Rough-legged Hawks (2 light, 1 dark), 106 Golden Eagles (66a, 4sa, 13j, 1 undifferentiated immature, 22u) and 3 unidentified eagles. The last four days at the site have produced 728 Golden Eagles and the October count there so far is 1108 birds.

12.18 hours (218.8) BAEA 5 (62), SSHA 3 (91), COHA 2 (15), NOGO 1 (36), RTHA 2 (54), RLHA 3 (13), GOEA 106 (1399), UE 3 (9) TOTAL 125 (1732)

Wednesday, October 07 Steeples (Vance Mattson).  No observation.