Tuesday, November 12 Vicki Ridge [Day 51] 0730-1700 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson,  observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of Vicki Ridge, and Gord Petersen  (0912-1202) observing at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge at the Waterton 68 wellsite). The temperature at 0730 was 1C, the high was 3C at 1100 and it was 2C at 1700. Winds were steady W-WSW all day 30-40 gusting to 55 km/h, and cloud cover was 100% dark stratus, altostratus and cumulus all day with some cirrostratus to 0910. Very light snow began at 0910 followed by periods of steady light snow between 1000 and 1350 that partially obscured the ridges. There were light flurries after 1350 and steady light snow resumed at 1630. Despite the miserable conditions a total of 9 migrants of 4 species were seen between 0850 and 1620 although 6 of these moved between 1026 and 1058. The flight was 3 Bald Eagles (2a, 1u), 1a Northern Goshawk, 2 light morph Rough-legged Hawks and 3 Golden Eagles (2a, 1j). The count includes 1a Golden Eagle seen by Gord at the WT 68 site at 1045. The only other birds seen were 3 Black-billed Magpies, 78 Common Ravens and a flock of 20 Bohemian Waxwings.

9.5 hours (452.5) BAEA 3 (393), NOGO 1 (91), RLHA 2 (440), GOEA 3 (2748) TOTAL 9 (4544)

Tuesday, November 12 Steeples No observation: it snowed all day and the ridges and valley were completely obscured.

Monday, November 11 Vicki Ridge [Day 50] 0745-1715 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson,  observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of Vicki Ridge, and Gord Petersen  (1242-1650) observing at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge at the Waterton 68 wellsite). The temperature at 0745 was -7C and from 1100 to the end of observation it was 0C with the exceptions of 1300 and 1700 when it reached the day’s highs of 0.5C. Winds were strong WNW all day 30-50 gusting to 70 km/h. It was cloudless to 1000 when 50% thin cirrostratus developed that became 100% between 1100 and 1430, after which the cloud thickened to 100-70% mainly altostratus and altocumulus that gave gloomy late afternoon light but finally a spectacular sunset. The count from the Waterton 61 wellsite was 20 birds of 4 species between 0811 and 1647 that comprised 9 Bald Eagles (8a, 1j), 1a Northern Goshawk, 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk and 9 Golden Eagles (8a, 1j). At the western edge of Kyllo Ridge Gord counted 30 birds of 5 species between 1245 and 1650 that comprised 21 Bald Eagles (16a, 1sa, 2j, 2u), 1u Sharp-shinned Hawk, 2a Northern Goshawks, 1 dark morph Rough-legged Hawk, 4 Golden Eagles (1a, 2j, 1u) and 1 unidentified eagle. The total movement observed across the ridge system between 0811 and 1647 was 50 migrants of 5 species that comprised 30 Bald Eagles (24a, 1sa, 3j, 1u), 1u Sharp-shinned Hawk, 3a Northern Goshawks, 2 Rough-legged Hawks (1 light, 1 dark), 13 Golden Eagles (9a, 1sa, 2j, 1u) and 1 unidentified eagle. The highest combined-site hourly count was 17, that included 13 Bald Eagles, between 1400 and 1500. The only other birds seen were 1 Black-billed Magpie, 62 Common Ravens and 1 male Dark-eyed [hyemalis] Junco.

9.5 hours (443) BAEA 30 (390), SSHA 1 (513), NOGO 3 (90), RLHA 2 (438), GOEA 13 (2745), UE 1 (24) TOTAL 50 (4535)

Monday, November 11 Steeples [Day 34] 1345-1600 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was -4C, it was calm and cloud cover was 100% thin altostratus, altocumulus and cirrus. The ridges were shrouded until 1400 after which they cleared fairly quickly, but no migrant or resident raptors were seen.

2.25 (143.5) TOTAL 0 (448)

Sunday, November 10 Vicki Ridge [Day 49] 0445-1715 (Peter Sherrington observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of Vicki Ridge). Steady snow fell for most of the day and obscured all ridges, but at 1430 the snow more-or less stopped in Beaver Mines so I arrived at the site at 1445 where the ridges were almost clear, the temperature was -14C, the wind was SE 5-10 km/h and there was 12 cm of fresh snow on the ground. By 1500 the ridges were completely clear and by 1600 the sky was cloudless. Winds remained light and by 1700 it was calm and -17C. No migrant raptors were seen, but other birds recorded were 379 Canada Geese that flew to the W or SW in 7 flocks between 1520 and 1613, 1 hunting Northern Hawk-Owl at 1710, 1u Northern Shrike, 13 Common Ravens and 1 male Pine Grosbeak.

2.5 hours (433.5) TOTAL 0 (4485)

Sunday, November 10 Steeples No observation: snow and low cloud all day obscured the ridges and no observation was possible.

Saturday, November 09 Vicki Ridge [Day 48] 0730-1100 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of Vicki Ridge). The temperature at 0730 was 7C, it dropped to 6C at 0800 but rose again to 7C from 0900 to 0935 when the passage of a cold front reduced the temperature to 1C in 5 minutes and when the count was abandoned at 1100 it was -3C. Winds were W-WNW 15-20 km/h to 0935 when they suddenly switched to ESE 25-35 km/h, and cloud cover was 100% cirrostratus, altocumulus and cumulus that gave hazy sunshine and ideal viewing conditions to 1935 when fog started to pour over Vicki Ridge and by 1945 we were encased in 100% dense fog that persisted for the rest of the day. I briefly returned to the site at 1400 where the fog was still dense but freezing drizzle was giving way to light snow which became moderate and steady after 1700. Three migrants were seen moving high to the south over Vicki Ridge: single adult Bald Eagles at 0842 and 0845 and a light morph Rough-legged Hawk at 0851. Other birds recorded were a small flock of Canada Geese that were heard calling as they flew west in the fog at 0959 and before 0935 we saw 1 Black-billed Magpie, 24 Common Ravens and 6 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches. Prospects for tomorrow are not good as the forecast calls for low temperatures and snowfall for most of the day.

3.5 hours (431) BAEA 2 (360), RLHA 1 (436) TOTAL 3 (4485)

Saturday, November 09 Steeples [Day 33] 1200-1600 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 7C, it was calm and cloud cover was 100% altostratus and cumulus. No migrants were recorded but a single adult resident Golden Eagle was seen on four occasions.

4 hours (141.3) TOTAL 0 (448)

Friday, November 08 Vicki Ridge [Day 47] 0730-1730 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson,  observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of Vicki Ridge, and Gord Petersen  (1413-1700) observing at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge at the Waterton 68 wellsite). The temperature at 0730 was 4C, the high at 1300 was 12.5C and it was still 10C at 1730. Winds were strong WSW-W, consistent 30-40 gusting 50-60 km/h all day, and cloud cover was 80-100% cirrostratus, altocumulus, altostratus, lenticular and cirrus with dark cumulus to the west throughout the day. There was hazy sunshine for most of the day and observing conditions were very good. The count from the Waterton 61 wellsite was 45 birds of 4 species between 0828 and 1641 that comprised 21 Bald Eagles (11a, 2sa2, 1sa, 7j), 5 adult Northern Goshawks, 3 Rough-legged Hawks (1 light, 1 dark, 1u) and 16 Golden Eagles (14a, 1sa, 1j). At the western edge of Kyllo Ridge Gord counted 19 birds of 3 species between 1420 and 1656 that comprised 15 Bald Eagles (12a, 1sa, 2j), 1a Northern Goshawk, 1u Golden Eagle and 2 unidentified eagles. The total movement observed across the ridge system between 0828 and 1656 was 64 migrants of 4 species that comprised a season-high 36 Bald Eagles (23a, 2sa2, 2sa, 9j, 6a Northern Goshawks, 3 Rough-legged Hawks (1 light, 1 dark, 1u), 17 Golden Eagles (14a, 1sa, 1j, 1u) and 2 unidentified eagles. The highest combined-site hourly count was 13 between 1600 and 1700 all of which were Bald Eagles. The only other birds seen were 6 Black-billed Magpies, 106 Common Ravens which were conspicuous in the air throughout the day, 11 Bohemian Waxwings and 41 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches in 2 flocks.

10 hours (427.5) BAEA 36 (358), NOGO 6 (87), RLHA 3 (435), GOEA 17 (2732) UE 2 (23) TOTAL 64 (4482)

Friday, November 08 Steeples (Vance Mattson). ). No observation because of a prior commitment.