Sunday, October 20 Vicki Ridge [Day 28] 0830-1845 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of Vicki Ridge, and Gord Petersen (1330-1830) observing at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge at the Waterton 68 wellsite). The temperature at 0830 was 0C, the high was 5C at 1400 and 1500 and it was 1C at 1845. Winds were again WSW-W all day 10-15 km/h to 1000 then 30-40 gusting 50 km/h for the rest of the day. It was a mainly cloudy day with 60-100% altostratus, altocumulus and cumulus cloud to 1600 that produced periodic light snow flurries and one heavier snowfall between 1540 and 1600 that obscured the ridges. After 1600 cover was 100-80% mainly cirrostratus except around 1700 when dark cumulus cloud rapidly moved from the west and brought another brief snow shower. The count from the Waterton 61 wellsite was 103 birds of 9 species between 0845 and 1815 that comprised 10 Bald Eagles (6a, 1sa, 3j), 12 Sharp-shinned Hawks (3a, 9u), 6 Northern Goshawks (5a, 1u), 1a dark morph Broad-winged Hawk, 2a dark morph harlani Red-tailed Hawks, 12 Rough-legged Hawks (10 light, 2 dark), 58 Golden Eagles (50a, 2sa, 6j), 1a male columbarius Merlin that spectacularly scattered a flying flock of 60 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches over Vicki Ridge at 1737, and 1a male Peregrine Falcon. At the western edge of Kyllo Ridge between 1335 and 1827 Gord counted 59 birds of 6 species that comprised 10 Bald Eagles (4a, 3sa, 3j), 4u Sharp-shinned Hawks, 1u Cooper’s Hawk, 3 Northern Goshawks (2a, 1u), 19 Rough-legged Hawks (15 light, 2 dark, 2u), 21 Golden Eagles (15a, 1sa, 2j, 3u) and 1 unidentified eagle. The total movement observed across the ridge system between 0845 and 1827 was 162 migrants of 10 species that comprised 20 Bald Eagles (10a, 4sa, 6j), 16 Sharp-shinned Hawks (3a, 13u), 1u Cooper’s Hawk, 9 Northern Goshawks (7a, 2u), 1 dark morph Broad-winged Hawk, 2a dark morph harlani Red-tailed Hawks,   31 Rough-legged Hawks (25 light, 4 dark, 2u), 79 Golden Eagles (65a, 3sa, 8j, 3u), 1a male columbarius Merlin and 1a male Peregrine Falcon. The highest combined-site hourly count was 33 between 1400 and 1500. Other birds identified were 4 Black-billed Magpies, 60 Common Ravens and 535 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches.

10.25 hours (268.9) BAEA 20 (194), SSHA 16 (483), COHA 1 (78), NOGO 9 (43), BWHA 1 (13), RTHA 2 (130), RLHA 31 (311), GOEA 79 (2348), UE 1 (16), MERL 1 (15), PEFA 1 (9) TOTAL 162 (3704)

Sunday, October 20 Steeples [Day 20] 1200-1730 (Vance Mattson). The temperature rose to a high of 7C from 2C, winds were moderate S and then SE, and cloud cover was 60-100% altostratus and cumulus. There was a slow but steady eagle movement between 1304 and 1655 that comprised 7 Bald Eagles (5a, 2j) and 14 Golden Eagles (11a, 1sa, 1j, 1u). The hourly counts after 1300 were 5, 4, 5 and 7, and movement was generally at low altitude despite the ridges being clear all day. Non-migrants were 2 Bald Eagles (1a, 1j), 1a Sharp-shinned Hawk and 1a Golden Eagle.

5.5 hours (90.25) BAEA 7 (131), GOEA 15 (164) TOTAL 21 (393)

Saturday, October 19 Vicki Ridge [Day 27] 0830-1845 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of Vicki Ridge, and Gord Petersen (1340-1825) observing at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge at the Waterton 68 wellsite). The temperature at 0830 was 2C, the high at 1500 and 1600 was 7C and it was 3C at 1845. Winds were steady WSW all day 10-20 km/h that increased to 20-30 km/h between 1400 and 1600, and cloud cover was 80-100% cumulus and dark stratocumulus that produced snow flurries to 1330, but the rest of the afternoon was 100% thin cirrostratus and altocumulus that gave hazy sunshine and excellent observing conditions. The count from the Waterton 61 wellsite was 155 birds of 12 species between 0843 and 1825 that comprised 12 Bald Eagles (6a, 1sa, 3j, 1 undifferentiated immature, 1u), 21 Sharp-shinned Hawks (3a, 18u), 2 Cooper’s Hawks (1a, 1u), 4 Northern Goshawks (2a, 2j), 2 light morph Broad-winged Hawks (1a, 1j), 3a dark morph harlani Red-tailed Hawks, 1 juvenile light morph Ferruginous Hawk, 49 Rough-legged Hawks (43 light, 1 dark, 5u), 58 Golden Eagles (46a, 6sa, 6j), 1 female dark grey morph Gyrfalcon, 1a male Peregrine Falcon and 1 female Prairie Falcon. At the western edge of Kyllo Ridge between 1342 and 1823 Gord counted 109 birds of 7 species that comprised 3 Bald Eagles (2a, 1u), 8 Sharp-shinned Hawks (1a, 7u), 3u Cooper’s Hawks, 1a Northern Goshawk, 1a light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk, 25 Rough-legged Hawks (15 light, 2 dark, 8u) and 69 Golden Eagles (8a, 1sa, 7j, 52u). The high number of un-aged Golden Eagles resulted from birds moving well to the west of the ridge being silhouetted against bright hazy sunshine from the low-angle sun. The total movement observed across the ridge system between 0843 and 1825 was 264 migrants of 12 species that comprised 15 Bald Eagles (8a, 1sa, 3j, 1 undifferentiated immature, 2u), 29 Sharp-shinned Hawks (4a, 25u), 5 Northern Goshawks (3a, 2j), 2 light morph Broad-winged Hawks (1a, 1j), 4a Red-tailed Hawks (1 light calurus, 3 dark harlani), 1 juvenile light morph Ferruginous Hawk, 74 Rough-legged Hawks (58 light, 3 dark, 13u), 126 Golden Eagles (54a, 7sa, 13j, 52u), 1 female dark grey morph Gyrfalcon, 1a male Peregrine Falcon and 1 female Prairie Falcon. The highest combined-site hourly count was 63 between 1500 and 1600. Other birds identified were 28 Canada Geese that flew high to the ESE at 1340, 1a Northern Shrike, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 15 Common Ravens, 70 Bohemian Waxwings, 1 female Pine Grosbeak and 1170 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches.

10.25 hours (258.7) BAEA 15 (174), SSHA 29 (467) COHA 5 (77), NOGO 5 (34), BWHA 2 (12), RTHA 4 (128), FEHA 1 (7), RLHA 74 (280), GOEA 126 (2269), GYRF 1 (4), PEFA 1 (8), PRFA 1 (3) TOTAL 264 (3542)

Saturday, October 19 Steeples [Day 19] 1300-1830 (Vance Mattson). It was an extremely pleasant day with a temperature of 10C, almost no wind and a cloud cover of 70-50% cumulus that was mainly concentrated around the ridges and, like yesterday, obscured the SW face of Mount Bill Nye on and off throughout the day. A total of 54 migrants of 5 species moved between 1440 and 1726 that comprised 23 Bald Eagles (16a, 1sa, 6j), 4 Northern Harriers (1a female, 3u juveniles), 3a Sharp-shinned Hawks, 1a Northern Goshawk and 23 Golden Eagles (16a, 1sa, 5j, 1u). The hourly counts were 15 (1400-1500), 9 (1500-1600), 22 (1600-1700) and 8 after 1700. There was extensive soaring and slow gliding flight throughout. Resident Golden Eagles were seen on three occasions, and included a brief display flight at 1425.

5.5 hours (84.75) BAEA 23 (124), NOHA 4 (10), SSHA 3 (38), NOGO 1 (3), GOEA 23 (150) TOTAL 54 (372)

Friday, October 18 Vicki Ridge [Day 26] 0830-1900 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of Vicki Ridge, and Gord Petersen (1525-1845) observing at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge at the Waterton 68 wellsite). The temperature at 0830 was 3C which dropped to the day’s low of 2C at 0900; the high was 8C at 1400 and it was 3C at 1900. Winds were W-WSW all day, moderate to 1000 after which they were strong 40-50 gusting to 70 km/h for the rest of the day. Cloud cover was 80-100% cumulus (that was dark to the west all day) and altostratus to 1640 when it thinned to 40% and produced the day’s only persistent sunshine, and was then 50-70% for the rest of the day. Very light snow swept from the west throughout the day that became heavier between 1530 and 1615 when snow squalls obscured Vicki Ridge for up to 10-minute periods. Despite the weather there was a steady raptor movement throughout the day and the count from the Waterton 61 wellsite was 128 birds of 7 species between 0907 and 1819 that comprised 7 Bald Eagles (5a, 1j, 1u), 10 Sharp-shinned Hawks (1a, 9u), 2a Northern Goshawks, 20 Rough-legged Hawks (17 light, 3 dark), 84 Golden Eagles (73a, 4sa, 7j), 1 unidentified eagle, 2 columbariusMerlins (1 male, 1u) and 2a Peregrine Falcons (1 male, 1 female). At the western edge of Kyllo Ridge between 1529 and 1840 Gord counted 59 birds of 5 species that comprised 10 Bald Eagles (6a, 3sa, 1j), 4u Sharp-shinned Hawks, 1a Northern Goshawk, 12 Rough-legged Hawks (11 light, 1 dark) and 32 Golden Eagles (13a, 2sa, 6j, 11u). The total movement observed across the ridge system between 0907 and 1840 was 187 migrants of 7 species that comprised 17 Bald Eagles (11a, 3sa, 2j, 1u), 14 Sharp-shinned Hawks (1a, 13u), 3a Northern Goshawks, 32 Rough-legged Hawks (28 light, 4 dark), 116 Golden Eagles (86a, 6sa, 13j, 11u), 1 unidentified eagle, 2 columbarius Merlins (1 male, 1u) and 2a Peregrine Falcons (1 male, 1 female). The highest combined site hourly count was 40 between 1700 and 1800. Other birds identified were 25 Canada Geese that flew high to the SE at 1128, 1 Ruffed Grouse, 1a Northern Shrike, 4 Clark’s Nutcrackers, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 46 Common Ravens, 20 Bohemian Waxwings, 1 female Pine Grosbeak and 630 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches.

10.5 hours (248.4) BAEA 17 (159), SSHA 14 (438), NOGO 3 (29), RLHA 32 (206), GOEA 116 (2143), UE 1 (15), MERL 2 (14), PEFA 2 (7) TOTAL 187 (3278)

Friday, October 18 Steeples [Day 18] 1200-1830 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 10C, winds were moderate SW-S and cloud cover was 30-90% cumulus and altostratus. The SW face of Mount Bill Nye was obscured to 1540 after which the mountains were entirely clear. The raptor migration consisted entirely of 37 eagles that moved between 1315 and 1756 and comprised 13 Bald Eagles (9a, 4j), 22 Golden Eagles (15a, 2sa, 3j, 2u) and 2 unidentified eagles. Flight was more direct than usual although some soaring occurred, and the highest hourly counts were 9 (1400-1500) and 13 (1600-1700). Resident adult Golden Eagles were seen several times throughout the day that included a prolonged mutual display flight between 1425 and 1435 which included brief perching by each bird. Several aggressive passes were also made in the same area of the ridge, possibly at a third unseen perched eagle.

6.5 hours (79.25) BAEA 13 (101), GOEA 22 (127), UE 2 (6) TOTAL 37 (318)

Wednesday, October 16 Vicki Ridge [Day 24] 0830-1910 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson assisted by Doug and Teresa Dolmen, observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of Vicki Ridge, and Gord Petersen (1250-1845) observing at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge at the Waterton 68 wellsite). The temperature at 0830 was 7C, the high at 1400 was 15C and it was still 12C at 1910. Winds were W 8-20 km/h to 1130 after which they increased to 30 gusting 50 km/h and after 1420 they were strong WNW 40-50 gusting 70 km/h which moderated to gusts of 30-40 km/h after 1700. Cloud cover was an ever-changing kaleidoscope of altostratus, altocumulus, cirrus and lenticular that was 60-70% to 1000, rapidly varied between 0 and 50% to 1800 and was finally 70-90% altostratus at the end of the day. The count from the Waterton 61 wellsite was 280 birds of 9 species between 0842 and 1824 that comprised 10 Bald Eagles (5a, 2sa, 3j), 9 Sharp-shinned Hawks (5a, 4u), 2a Cooper’s Hawks, 1a Northern Goshawk, 1a light morph Broad-winged Hawk, 4a Red-tailed Hawks (3 light calurus and 1 dark harlani), 6 light morph Rough-legged Hawks, 246 Golden Eagles (200a, 14sa, 28j, 4u) and 1u columbarius Merlin. Sixteen Golden Eagles moved before 0900 and the next 4 hours saw passage of 50, 52, 51 and 33 birds respectively but hourly numbers then reduced significantly and only 7 birds were seen after 1600. At the western edge of Kyllo Ridge between 1251 and 1845 Gord counted 125 birds of 6 species that comprised 13 Bald Eagles (5a, 4sa, 4j), 17 Sharp-shinned Hawks (6a, 11u), 2u Cooper’s Hawks, 1a dark morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk, 12 Rough-legged Hawks (10 light, 1 dark, 1u) and 80 Golden Eagles (42a, 20sa, 9j, 9u). The total movement observed across the ridge system between 0842 and 1845 was 405 migrants of 9 species that comprised 23 Bald Eagles (10a, 6sa, 7j), 26 Sharp-shinned Hawks (11a, 15u), 4 Cooper’s Hawks (2a, 2u), 1a Northern Goshawk, 1a light morph Broad-winged Hawk, 5a Red-tailed Hawks (3 light, 1 dark calurusand 1 dark harlani, 18 Rough-legged Hawks (16 light, 1 dark, 1u), 326 Golden Eagles (242a, 34sa, 37j, 13u) and 1u columbarius Merlin. Other birds recorded were 1 Northern Pygmy-Owl that sang close to the site at 1648 but could not be located, 1 Steller’s Jay, 1 Clark’s Nutcracker, 4 Black-billed Magpies, 34 Common Ravens and 580 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches. Single Mourning Cloak and Zephyr Comma butterflies were also present, and to round-out an already splendid day a Long-eared Bat flew low at the site against a spectacular sunset sky at 1849.

10.67 hours (227.7) BAEA 23 (131), SSHA 26 (405), COHA 4 (69), NOGO 1 (22), BWHA 1 (10), RTHA 5 (122), RLHA 18 (133), GOEA 326 (1883), MERL 1 (12) TOTAL 405 (2866)

Wednesday, October 16 Steeples [Day 16] 1645-1745 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 11C, it was calm and cloud cover was 100% altostratus. Vance went to the site after work but saw no migrants or residents.

1 hour (69) TOTAL 0 (281)

Thursday, October 17 Vicki Ridge [Day 25] 0830-1845 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of Vicki Ridge, and Gord Petersen (1510-1820) observing at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge at the Waterton 68 wellsite). The temperature was 8C at 0830, reached a high at 1300 and 1600 of 10C but fell to 8C at 1400 and 1500, and was 6C at and after 1700. Winds were strong W-WSW all day 35-45 gusting 50-60 km/h with peak gusts of 70 km/h around 1600. Cloud cover was 100-80% altostratus and cumulus to 1100 when it began to clear from the west and was then variable 20-70% mainly cumulus to 1800 with dark cumulus to the west that periodically produced short very light rain showers. After 1730 80% dark cumulus prevailed. The count from the Waterton 61 wellsite was 178 birds of 7 species between 0911 and 1820 that comprised 9 Bald Eagles (5a, 4j), 10 Sharp-shinned Hawks (4a, 6u), 4 Northern Goshawks (3a, 1j), 2a light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks, 27 Rough-legged Hawks (25 light, 2 dark), 125 Golden Eagles (98a, 8sa, 19j) and 1a male Peregrine Falcon. At the western edge of Kyllo Ridge between 1512 and 1814 Gord counted 47 birds of 5 species that comprised 2 Bald Eagles (1a, 1sa), 9 Sharp-shinned Hawks (1j, 8u), 3 Cooper’s Hawks (2j, 1u), 14 Rough-legged Hawks (11 light, 3 dark) and 19 Golden Eagles (11a, 2sa, 5j, 1u). The total movement observed across the ridge system between 0911 and 1820 was 225 migrants of 8 species that comprised 11 Bald Eagles (6a, 1sa, 4j), 19 Sharp-shinned Hawks (4a, 1j, 14u), 3 Cooper’s Hawks (2j, 1u), 3 Northern Goshawks (3a, 1j), 2a light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks, 41 Rough-legged Hawks (36 light, 5 dark), 144 Golden Eagles (109a, 10sa, 24j, 1u) and 1a male Peregrine Falcon. The highest single hour count at the WT 61 site was 30 between 1200 and 1300, and the highest combined site count was 46 between 1500 and 1600. Other birds seen were 3 Black-billed Magpies, 18 Common Ravens, 1 American Robin and 550 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches.

10.25 hours (237.9), BAEA 11 (142), SSHA 19 (424), COHA 3 (72), NOGO 4 (26), RTHA 2 (124), RLHA 41 (174), GOEA 144 (2027), PEFA 1 (5) TOTAL 225 (3091)

Thursday, October 17 Steeples [Day 17] 1345-1730 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 10C, winds were moderate SW and cloud cover was 60-100% altostratus, altocumulus and cumulus. No migrants were seen, but single resident adult Golden Eagles were seen on four occasions.

3.75 hours (72.75) TOTAL 0 (281)

Tuesday, October 15 Vicki Ridge [Day 23] 0830-1910 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson assisted by Marilyn and Gord Weber, observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of Vicki Ridge, and Gord Petersen (1410-1850) observing at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge at the Waterton 68 wellsite). The temperature at 0830 was 0C, the high was 12C at 1700 and it was still 8C at 1910. Winds were SW-W all day, 10 km/h to 0930 and then 25-40 gusting 60 km/h for the rest of the day. Cloud cover was 100% altostratus (that formed a Chinook Arch), altocumulus, and cirrostratus to 1630 when the Arch began to slip to the east leaving 50-70% altostratus, lenticular, altocumulus and cirrus cover that produced particularly spectacular sky-forms after the sun set behind Kyllo Ridge to the west. Observing conditions were very good all day. The count from the Waterton 68 wellsite was 123 birds of 5 species between 0940 and 1858 that comprised 2 Bald Eagles (1sa, 1j), 1u Sharp-shinned Hawk that was the first migrant of the day, 1a light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk, 3 Rough-legged Hawks (2 light, 1u), 115 Golden Eagles (102a, 2sa, 8j, 1u) and 1 unidentified eagle. Movement was initially very slow with only 22 birds moving before 1400, but then Golden Eagle migration quickly picked up with 70 birds counted between 1600 and 1800. At the western edge of Kyllo Ridge between 1418 and 1848 Gord counted 105 birds of 5 species that comprised 2 Bald Eagles (1a,1j), 2u Cooper’s Hawks, 1a Northern Goshawk, 7 light morph Rough-legged Hawks and 93 Golden Eagles (76a, 10sa, 6j, 1u). The total movement observed across the ridge system between 0940 and 1858 was 228 migrants of 7 species that comprised 4 Bald Eagles (1a, 1sa, 2j), 1u Sharp-shinned Hawk, 2u Cooper’s Hawks, 1a light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk, 10 Rough-legged Hawks (9 light, 1u), 208 Golden Eagles (178a, 12sa, 14j, 4u) ) and 1 unidentified eagle. The highest combined-site hourly count was 71 between 1700 and 1800 and 37 birds moved after 1800. Other birds seen were a flock of 50 Snow Geese that flew high to the ESE at 1602, 1a Northern Shrike, 1 Canada Jay, 2 Clark’s Nutcrackers, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 16 Common Ravens, 3 Pine Grosbeaks, 470 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches and 2 Dark-eyed [cismontanus] Juncos.

10.67 hours (217) BAEA 4 (108), SSHA 1 (379), COHA 2 (65), NOGO 1 (21), RTHA 1 (117), RLHA 10 (115), GOEA 208 (1557), UE 1 (14) TOTAL 228 (2461)

Tuesday, October 15 Steeples [Day 15] 1300-1700 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 11C, conditions were calm and 60-100% thin stratus cloud cover thickened as the day progressed. No migrants were seen but non-migratory birds were an adult Bald Eagle, an adult Sharp-shinned Hawk, and an adult Golden Eagle that was seen perched on the ridge for 35 minutes.

4 hours (68) TOTAL 0 (281)