Thursday, September 24 Vicki Ridge [Day 5] 0815-1900 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson 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, 1320-1850). The temperature at 0815 was 10.5C, the high at 1300 was 14C and it was 8C at 1900. Winds were WSW-WNW all day, 40-50 gusting 60-70 km/h to 1500, 60-70 gusting 90-100 km/h to 1830 that finally dropped to 30-40 gusting 60 by 1900. Cloud cover was again very variable and fast changing with 40-60% cumulus, altocumulus and stratocumulus with frequent rain showers to 1100 and 100-80% cumulus and stratocumulus to the north and west to 1530 that again brought periods of rain. After 1530 the skies cleared with 10% cumulus allowing sunny conditions with occasional incursions of stratus cloud sweeping down from the west that brought yet more showers. At Waterton 61 only 10 migrants were seen between 0848 and 1806 with only 2 birds moving after 1402. The count was 1a Bald Eagle, 4 Sharp-shinned Hawks (1a, 2j, 1u), 1a dark morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk and 4 Golden Eagles (3a, 1j). At the Waterton 68 site no migrants were seen until 1342 but subsequently there was a steady movement of 61 birds to 1900 that comprised 2j Bald Eagles, 4 Sharp-shinned Hawks (1j, 3u), 3 Cooper’s Hawks (1j, 2u), 1j Northern Goshawk, 3a Red-tailed Hawks (1 light, 1 intermediate and 1 dark), 47 Golden Eagles (21a, 3sa, 23j) and 1 unidentified eagle. The combined total of 71 birds of 6 species counted between 0848 and 1900 was 3 Bald Eagles (1a, 2j), 8 Sharp-shinned Hawks (1a, 3j, 4u), 3 Cooper’s Hawks (1j, 2u), 1j Northern Goshawk, 4a Red-tailed Hawks (1 light, 1 intermediate and 2 dark), 51 Golden Eagles (24a, 3sa, 24j) and 1 unidentified eagle. The only other birds seen were 1 Northern Flicker, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 39 Common Ravens, 26 American Robins and 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler.

10.75 hours (54.75) BAEA 3 (13), SSHA 8 (140), COHA 3 (37), NOGO 1 (4), RTHA4 (62), GOEA 51 (171) UE 1 (1) TOTAL 71 (468)

Thursday, September 24 Mount Lorette [Day 5] 0715-1930 (Graeme Dunlop, assisted by Rick Robb). A total of 33 birds of 7 species were counted that comprised 1 subadult Bald Eagle, 3 Sharp-shinned Hawks (2a, 1u), 1u Cooper’s Hawk, 3 adult Northern Goshawks, 23 Golden Eagles (17a, 1sa, 2j, 3u), 1 female American Kestrel and 1u richardsonii Merlin.

12.25 hours (62.41) BAEA 1 (12), SSHA 3 (47), COHA 1 (5), NOGO 3 (12), GOEA 23 (189), AMKE 1 (1), MERL 1 (1) TOTAL 33 (294)

Thursday, September 24 Steeples (Vance Mattson).  No observation.

Wednesday, September 23 Vicki Ridge [Day 4] 0800-1915 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson 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, 1310-1900). The temperature at 0800 was 10C the high at 1500 was a season-high 19.5C and it was still 16C at 1915. Winds were WSW-W all day 15-25 km/h to 1030, 30-40 gusting 50 to 1600 after which gusts increased to 65 km/h. Cloud cover throughout the day varied constantly between 20% and 100% altostratus, altocumulus, stratus, cumulus and lenticular that gave periods of sunshine and generally excellent observing conditions. At the Waterton 61 site a total of 81 migrants of 12 species were seen between 0848 and 1829 that comprised 2 immature Turkey Vultures, 1 Osprey, 2 juvenile Bald Eagles, 1 juvenile female Northern Harrier, 28 Sharp-shinned Hawks (4a, 24u), 3 Cooper’s Hawks (2a, 1u), 1 juvenile Northern Goshawk, 1a light morph Broad-winged Hawk, 5 calurus Red-tailed Hawks (2a and 2u light morphs; 1a dark morph), 1 unidentified Buteo, 31 Golden Eagles (20a, 2sa, 8j, 1u), 1 female American Kestrel and 4u columbarius Merlins (2 males and 2 females). The highest single hour count was 21 between 1000 and 1100, and the following hour produced 20 birds but subsequently, coincident with increased wind velocities, the flow diminished and the following 7 hours only produced 32 migrants. The Waterton 68 site produced 78 migrants of 9 species between 1312 and 1859 that comprised 1 Osprey, 1 juvenile Bald Eagle, 29 Sharp-shinned Hawks (7a, 2j, 20u), 5 Cooper’s Hawks (4a 1u), 10 Red-tailed Hawks (calurus 8: 4a and 3j light morphs, 1a intermediate morph; and 2 dark indeterminate birds), 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk that was the first of the season, 1u richardsonii Merlin and 1 Prairie Falcon. The combined count of 159 birds of 14 species was 2 immature Turkey Vultures, 2 Ospreys, 3j Bald Eagles, 1j female Northern Harrier, 57 Sharp-shinned Hawks (11a, 2j, 44u), 8 Cooper’s Hawks (6a, 2u), 1 juvenile Northern Goshawk, 1a  light morph Broad-winged Hawk, 15 Red-tailed Hawks (13 calurus: 11 light (6a, 3j, 2u), 1a intermediate morph, 1a dark; and 2 undifferentiated dark birds),  1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk, 1 unidentified Buteo, 60 Golden Eagles (28a, 5sa, 17j 10u), 1 female American Kestrel, 5u Merlins (2 male and 2 female columbarius and 1u richardsonii Merlin and 1 Prairie Falcon. The three hours between 1400 and 1700 each had a combined total of 20 birds. Other bird species seen were 2 Northern Flickers, 1 Pileated Woodpecker, 6 Clark’s Nutcrackers, 337 Common Ravens, 106 American Robins, 16 Cedar Waxwings, 28 Pine Siskins and 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler.

11.25 hours (44) TUVU 2 (3), OSPR 2 (3), BAEA 3 (10), NOHA 1 (5), SSHA 57 (132), COHA 8 (34), NOGO 1 (3), BWHA 1 (6), RTHA 15 (58), RLHA 1 (1), UB 1 (1), GOEA 60 (120), AMKE 1 (5), MERL 5 (8), PRFA 1 (2) TOTAL 159 (397)

Wednesday, September 23 Mount Lorette [Day 4] 0650-1925 (Bill Wilson assisted by Glenn Webber). The observers counted 72 migrant raptors of 5 species that comprised 2 Bald Eagles (1a, 1 undifferentiated immature bird), 1u Northern Harrier, 2u Sharp-shinned Hawks, 2 Northern Goshawks and a season-high 65 Golden Eagles (25a, 1sa, 10j, 29u).

12.58 hours (BAEA 2 (11), NOHA 1 (5), SSHA 2 (44), NOGO 2 (9) GOEA 65 (166) TOTAL 72 (261)

Wednesday, September 23 Steeples (Vance Mattson).  No observation.

Tuesday, September 22 Vicki Ridge [Day 3] 0845-1900 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge). The temperature at 0845 was 9C, the high at 1700 was 13.5C and it was 11C at 1900. It was calm for much of the day with occasional winds variably from the E to the south that were generally light (5-9 km/h) but occasionally reached 15 km/h in the late afternoon. Cloud cover was 100% cumulus, altostratus and cirrostratus to 1200 when it became a blanket of uniform grey stratus that began to break at 1600 after which it gradually dwindled to 10% altocumulus by 1900 and gave welcome sunny conditions after 1700. The calm conditions were not conducive to migration and only 13 migrants of 6 species were seen between 1230 (a Merlin) and 1737 (the day’s only Golden Eagle). Birds seen up to 1600 were silhouetted against the uniform grey stratus cloud and aging was impossible. The count was 4 Sharp-shinned Hawks (1a, 3u), 3u Cooper’s Hawks, 1u Northern Goshawk, 3a calurus Red-tailed Hawks that soared high and glided high to the south in bright sunshine at 1636 and 1729, 1a Golden Eagle and 1u columbarius Merlin. Other bird species seen were 1 Red-naped Sapsucker, 4 Northern Flickers, 9 Clark’s Nutcrackers, 2 Black-billed Magpies, 23 Common Ravens, 1 Mountain Chickadee, 2 Red-breasted Nuthatches, 2 Mountain Bluebirds, 1 Townsend’s Solitaire, 148 American Robins, 17 Pine Siskins and 5 Yellow-rumped Warblers.

10.25 hours (32.75) SSHA 4 (75), COHA 3 (26), NOGO 1 (2), RTHA 3 (43), GOEA 1 (60), MERL 1 (3) TOTAL 13 (238)

Tuesday,, September 22 Mount Lorette [Day 3] 0740-2000 (George Halmazna assisted by Dan Parliament). Osprey 1, Bald Eagle 6 (3a, 1sa, 2j), Northern Harrier 3 (1a male, 2ju), Sharp-shinned Hawk 33 (3a, 30u), Cooper’s Hawk 3u, Northern Goshawk 1a, Red-tailed Hawk 5 (3a, 2j), Golden Eagle 20 (11a, 2sa, 7j), Peregrine Falcon 4u, Prairie Falcon 1: total 77 migrant raptors of 10 species.

12.33 hours (37.58) OSPR 1 (3), BAEA 6 (9), NOHA 3 (4), SSHA 33 (42), COHA 3 (4), NOGO 1 (7), RTHA 5 (8), GOEA 20 (101), PEFA 4 (4), PRFA 1 (1) TOTAL 77 (189)

Tuesday,, September 22 Steeples (Vance Mattson).  No observation.

Monday, September 21 Vicki Ridge [Day 2] 0745-1845 (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, 1330-1900). The temperature at 0745 was 10C, the high at 1500 was a season-high 19C and it was 16C at 1900. Winds were 30-40 gusting 50 km/h all day, WSW to 1500 and then W for the rest of the day, Cloud cover was 30-80% cirrostratus and cirrus to 1200 when it completely cleared for 30 minutes. From 1230 to 1400 60-80% cirrostratus, cirrus and altocumulus redeveloped after which 100% thick altostratus formed an arch to 1630 and finally 100% cirrostratus, altostratus, altocumulus and cirrus persisted for the rest of the day. Observing conditions were excellent throughout. A total of 44 migrants of 11 species were seen between 0857 and 1822 at the WT61 site that comprised 1 Osprey, 3 Bald Eagles (1 sa, 2j), 1j female Northern Harrier, 7 Sharp-shinned Hawks (2a, 2j, 3u), 3 Cooper’s Hawks (2a, 1j), 4 juvenile light morph Broad-winged Hawks, 1 intermediate juvenile Swainson’s Hawk, 12 Red-tailed Hawks (10 calurus: 8 light (6a, 2u), 2a dark, and 2 adult dark harlani), 9 Golden Eagles (6a, 2sa, 1j). 2 American Kestrels, (1 male, 1 female) and 1 male Prairie Falcon. At the Waterton 68 site Gord counted 81 migrants of 9 species between 1335 and 1842 that comprised 3 Bald Eagles (1a, 2j), 1a male Northern Harrier, 34 Sharp-shinned Hawks (6a, 4j, 24u), 10 Cooper’s Hawks (3a, 7u), 1 adult Northern Goshawk, 7 Red-tailed Hawks (5a calurus (4 light, 1 dark) and 2 undifferentiated dark birds, 22 Golden Eagles (13a, 3sa, 6u), 1u American Kestrel, 1u richardsonii Merlin and 1 small unidentified falcon. The combined count was 1 Osprey, 6 Bald Eagles (1a, 1sa, 4j), 2 Northern Harriers (1a male, 1j female), 41 Sharp-shinned Hawks (8a, 6j, 27u), 13 Cooper’s Hawks (5a, 1j, 7u), 1 adult Northern Goshawk, 4 juvenile light morph Broad-winged Hawks, 1 intermediate juvenile Swainson’s Hawk, 19 Red-tailed Hawks (15 calurus: 12 light (10a, 2u), 3a dark; 2a dark harlani and 2 undifferentiated dark birds),  31 Golden Eagles (19a, 5sa, 1j 6u), 3 American Kestrels (1 male, 1female, 1u), 1u richardsonii Merlin and 1 small unidentified falcon. The highest single-hour count was 24 between 1500 and 1600. Other bird species seen were 3 Canada Geese flying high to the north at 1059, 1 Ruffed Grouse, 1 Northern Flicker, 1 Pileated Woodpecker, 6 Clark’s Nutcrackers, 2 Black-billed Magpies, 36 Common Ravens, 2 Mountain Bluebirds, 1 Townsend’s Solitaire and 115 American Robins.

11.25 hours (22.5) OSPR 1 (1), BAEA 6 (7), NOHA 2 (4), SSHA 41 (71), COHA 13 (23), NOGO 1 (1), BWHA 4 (5), SWHA 1 (1), RTHA 19 (40), GOEA 31 (59), AMKE 3 (4), MERL 1 (2), PRFA 1 (1) UF 1 (1) TOTAL 125 (223)

Monday, September 21 Mount Lorette [Day 2] 0700-1945 (Graeme Dunlop, assisted by Cliff Hansen). Osprey 2, Bald Eagle 2 adults, Northern Harrier 1u female, Sharp-shinned Hawk 7 (2a, 5u), Cooper’s Hawk 1u, Northern Goshawk 5 (4a, 1j), Accipiter sp. 1, Red-tailed Hawk 1a (dark morph harlani), Golden Eagle 50 (32a, 3j, 15u) Total 70.

12.75 hours (25.25) OSPR 2 (2), BAEA 2 (3), NOHA 1 (1), SSHA 7 (9), COHA 1 (1), NOGO 5 (6), UA 1 (3), RTHA 1 (3), GOEA 50 (81) TOTAL 70 (112)

Monday, September 21 Steeples (Vance Mattson).  No observation.

Introduction This is the 29^th consecutive year that RMERF has conducted at least one fall count in the Front Ranges of the Alberta Rocky Mountains. In 1992 an extensive reconnaissance count of 33 days was made at Mount Lorette that produced 2661 migrant raptors of which 2044 were Golden Eagles and demonstrated that the Alberta Front Ranges were a significant flyway for the species. Between 1993 and 2005 full-season counts of 75-101 days were conducted there with the exceptions of 1997 when a full count was conducted at Plateau Mountain about 90 km to the SSE and 2002 when circumstances limited observations at Mount Lorette to only 14 days.

From 2006 to 2009 the principal observation site moved to the Piitaistakis-South Livingstone ridge, which is the southern culmination of the Alberta Front Ranges, near the Crowsnest Pass during which time daily comparative counts of between 40 and 45 days were conducted at Mount Lorette coinciding with the main movement of Golden Eagles. In 2010 Mount Lorette again became the principal observation site with counts conducted over a standard period of September 20 to November 15. This season observers at Mount Lorette will be posting their daily results directly to the RMERF website at www.eaglewatch.ca. This blog will therefore only cover the Vicki Ridge and Steeples sites although I will endeavour to keep the Lorette numbers in the summary chart at the end of the blog up to date.

Fall counts have been conducted on Vicki Ridge since 2017 and this season will be the third consecutive complete (September 20 to November 17) count at the site which is located 4.5 km WNW of the Hamlet of Beaver Mines in SW Alberta.

Vance Mattson will again be watching at his Steeples site for the 11^th consecutive year since 2009. This site is located on the east side of the Kootenay Valley (Rocky Mountain Trench) 36 km NE of Cranbrook, British Columbia.  Information on all the RMERF sites and reports of previous years’ spring and fall counts may be found on our website www.eaglewatch.ca.

Sunday, September 20 Vicki Ridge [Day 1] 0800-1915 (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, 1325-1840). Since September 11 the area was under a blanket of smoke originating from fires in California, Oregon and Washington. Light rain fell overnight, however, and the dawn revealed a smokeless sky and clear ridges for the first time in 9 days. The temperature at 0800 was 12C, the high at 1600 was 16.5C and it was 13C at 1915. Winds were moderate to strong WSW-W all day, 15-20 km/h to 1000 then 30-40 gust 50 km/h for the rest of the day. Cloud cover was 90-100% dark stratocumulus that produced very light rain showers to 1030; at 1245 the clouds began to break and 90% cumulus at 1300 gradually reduced to 30% by the end of observation and it was mainly sunny after 1500. The conditions produced a fairly strong opening day count of 100 raptors of 11 species between 0932 and 1831 with a high hourly count of 28 birds between 1600 and 1700. The count at the Waterton 61 site was 1u Turkey Vulture, 1j Bald Eagle, 2j male Northern Harriers, 18 Sharp-shinned Hawks (6a, 1j, 11u), 3 Cooper’s Hawks (1a, 1j, 1u), 3 small Accipiters, 16 Red-tailed Hawks (15 calurus light morphs: 13a, 2u, and 1 undifferentiated dark morph bird), 1a, light morph Ferruginous Hawk, 14 Golden Eagles (8a, 4sa, 2j), 1 male American Kestrel and 1u female columbarius Merlin). At the Waterton 68 site Gord counted 39 migrants of 5 species between 1330 and 1820 that comprised 12 Sharp-shinned Hawks (3a, 3j, 16u), 7 Cooper’s Hawks (2a, 1j, 4u), 1 adult light morph Broad-winged Hawk, 5 Red-tailed Hawks (3u calurus light morphs; and 3 undifferentiated birds (1 light and 2 dark morph birds), and 14 Golden Eagles (3a, 4j, 7u). The combined count of 100 birds was 1u Turkey Vulture, 1j Bald Eagle, 2j male Northern Harriers, 30 Sharp-shinned Hawks (9a, 4j, 17u), 10 Cooper’s Hawks (3a, 2j, 5u), 3 small Accipiters, 1 adult light morph Broad-winged Hawk, 21 Red-tailed Hawks (15 calurus light morphs: 13a, 4u, and 4 undifferentiated birds (1 light and 3 dark morph birds), 1a, light morph Ferruginous Hawk, 28 Golden Eagles (11a, 4sa, 6j, 7u), 1 male American Kestrel and 1u female columbarius Merlin). Other bird species seen were 14 Northern Flickers, 5 Clark’s Nutcrackers, 20 Black-billed Magpies, 30 American Crows, 87 Common Ravens, 26 Mountain Bluebirds, 1 Townsend’s Solitaire, 366 American Robins and 12 Yellow-rumped Warblers.

11.25 hours TUVU 1, BAEA 1, NOHA 2, SSHA 30, COHA 10, UA 3, BWHA 1, RTHA 21, FEHA 1, GOEA 28, AMKE 1, MERL 1 TOTAL 100

Sunday, September 20 Mount Lorette [Day 1] 0730-2000 (Lori Anderson, assisted by Caroline Lambert).

12.5 hours SSHA 2 (1a, 1u), NOGO 1a, UA 2, SWHA 2a (1light, 1 dark), RTHA 2 (1a intermediate calurus, 1 indeterminate bird), 31 Golden Eagles (18a, 2sa, 2j, 9u) and UE 1 TOTAL 42

Sunday, September 20 Steeples (Vance Mattson).  No observation. Because of teaching commitments Vance will be unable to start the count until October 1 and will subsequently only be able to conduct sporadic counts.