Tuesday, September 24 Vicki Ridge [Day 5] 0815-1915 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge assisted by Raymond Toal). The starting temperature was 8.5C, the high at 1500 was 14.5C and it was 9.6C at 1915. Winds were again strong W-WSW all day 40-50 gusting 70-80 km/h and cloud cover was a continuously changing mix of cumulus, stratocumulus cirrus and cirrostratus that was generally 60-90% but briefly diminished to 30% at 1600. Light rain showers occurred throughout the day, but observing conditions were mainly very good. There was again a fairly strong but sporadic raptor movement involving 66 birds of 11 species that moved between 0858 and 1843 with a maximum hourly count of only 13 between 1400 and 1500. The count comprised 2 Ospreys, 1 adult Bald Eagle, 3 Northern Harriers (2 juvenile males and 1u), 15 Sharp-shinned Hawks (6a, 1j, 8u), 6 Cooper’s Hawks (4a, 2u), 1u Northern Goshawk, 1 small unidentified Accipiter, 11 calurus Red-tailed Hawks (7a light morphs and 4 dark morphs: 3a, 1j), 2 light morph Rough-legged Hawks, 21 Golden Eagles (9a, 3sa, 8j, 1u), 2 male American Kestrels and 1 female columbarius Merlin. Other bird species seen were 1 Northern (Red-shafted) Flicker, 4 Clark’s Nutcrackers, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 18 Common Ravens, 37 Mountain Bluebirds, 32 American Robins, 46 Cedar Waxwings, 50 Pine Siskins, 1 Dark-eyed [Oregon] Junco and 5 Yellow-rumped Warblers.

11 hours (53.58) OSPR 2 (3), BAEA 1 (8), NOHA 3 (8), SSHA 15 (131), COHA 6 (23), NOGO 1 (6), UA 1 (2), RTHA 11 (42), RLHA 2 (3), GOEA 21 (93), AMKE 2 (11), MERL 1 (4) TOTAL 66 (352)

Tuesday, September 24 Steeples [Day 1] 1315-1830 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 17C, conditions were mainly calm and initial overcast skies cleared to 60-40% cumulus and altocumulus after 1330 which gave mostly sunny conditions for the rest of the day. The first day of the count was productive with 41 birds of 7 species moving between 1315 and 1830 that comprised 1 Osprey, 7 Bald Eagles (4a, 3j), 1 juvenile female Northern Harrier, 13 Sharp-shinned Hawks (5a, 2j, 6u), 9 light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks (5a, 2j, 2u), 9 Golden Eagles (6a, 3j) and 1 female American Kestrel. Movement was general high with most birds appearing above the “gap” and soaring briefly before gliding south above the main ranges. Resident birds were a pair of Sharp-shinned Hawks, 1 juvenile calurus Red-tailed Hawk, and an adult Golden Eagle that glided northwest into the valley.

5.25 hours OSPR 1, BAEA 7, NOHA 1, SSHA 13, RTHA 9, GOEA 9, AMKE 1 TOTAL 41

Monday, September 23 Vicki Ridge [Day 4] 0815-1900 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge assisted by Raymond Toal, and Gord Petersen at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge at the Waterton 68 wellsite, 1405-1745). The temperature at 0815 was 10C, the high at 1400 and again at 1600 was 13C and it was 11C at the end of observation. Winds were strong W-WSW all day, 35-45 gusting to over 70 km/h and cloud cover was 100% mainly dark stratocumulus and altocumulus all day that produced light and occasionally moderate rain showers throughout. Despite these unpromising conditions there was a sporadic raptor movement between 0815 and 1826 involving 46 birds of 8 species seen at both sites. The combined count was 1 juvenile male Northern Harrier, 16 Sharp-shinned Hawks (2a, 1j, 13u), 1 juvenile Cooper’s Hawk, 1 juvenile light morph Swainson’s Hawk, 13 Red-tailed Hawks (calurus light 8a, 1u, calurus dark 1a, borealis 1 juvenile, harlani 1 dark adult and 1 bird of unknown race, morph or age), 1 indeterminate dark Buteo, 10 Golden Eagles (2a, 5sa, 2j, 1u), 1 female American Kestrel and 2 Merlins (1 adult male richardsonii and 1 adult female columbarius). The total includes 21 birds seen by Gord between 1405 and 1730 at the western edge of the ridge system: 9 Sharp-shinned Hawks (1a, 8u), 4 adult calurus Red-tailed Hawks (3 light, 1 dark), 7 Golden Eagles (1a, 3sa, 2j, 1u) and the female Kestrel. He commented that it was so windy there that it was hard to hold his binoculars steady even though he was observing from inside his vehicle! The highest hourly count was 22 between 1400 and 1500. Other bird species recorded were 1 Northern Pygmy-Owl, 1 Northern (Red-shafted) Flicker, 2 Clark’s Nutcrackers, 9 Black-billed Magpies, 18 Common Ravens, 1 female Western Bluebird, 30 Mountain Bluebirds, 1 Townsend ’s Solitaire, 142 American Robins, 43 Cedar Waxwings and 1 Pine Siskin.

NOHA 1 (5), SSHA 16 (116), COHA 1 (17), SWHA 1 (2), RTHA 13 (31), UB 1 (4), GOEA 10 (72), AMKE 1 (9), MERL 2 (3) TOTAL 46 (286)

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

Sunday, September 22 Vicki Ridge [Day 3] 0815-1935 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge, assisted by Gord Petersen, Denise Cocciolone-Amatto, Raymond Toal and Cathy Scrimshaw). The warm weather continued with a temperature of 11C at 0815, a high of 17.5C at 1500 and it was 14C when observation ceased at 1935. Winds were again WSW-W all day 30-40 gusting to 55 km/h to 1600 after which they were 30-40 km/h and became light after 1900. Cloud cover was 10-20% cumulus to the west until 1530 when 80% altostratus and cirrus quickly developed and formed a spectacular Chinook Arch that persisted for the rest of the day. There was another fairly strong and persistent raptor movement involving 99 birds of 13 species that moved between 0848 and 1921 and comprised 2 adult Turkey Vultures, 2 Bald Eagles (1 subadult and 1 undifferentiated immature bird), 46 Sharp-shinned Hawks (5a, 4j, 37u), 2 Cooper’s Hawks (1a, 1u), 2 Northern Goshawks (1a, 1j), 2 Broad-winged Hawks (1 light juvenile and 1 dark adult), 1u light morph Swainson’s hawk, 4 calurus Red-tailed Hawks (3 light: 1a, 1j, 1u and 1 dark adult), 2 light morph Ferruginous Hawks (1a, 1j), 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk, 1 dark unidentified Buteo, 31 Golden Eagles (16a, 3sa, 12j), 1 female columbarius Merlin and 2 adult Peregrine Falcons (1 male, 1 female). Non-migrant birds were an adult Red-tailed Hawk that again hunted above the ridge for much of the day, and a male American Kestrel that briefly perched near the site. The highest hourly count was 24 between 1500 and 1600 and the most sustained Golden Eagle movement was 9 birds between 1104 and 1130. Other bird species seen were 2 Northern Flickers (1 Yellow-shafted and 1 Red-shafted), 8 American Crows that flew low to the west to roost at 1931, 50 Common Ravens, 12 Mountain Bluebirds, 1 Townsend ’s Solitaire, 183 American Robins, 32 Cedar Waxwings and 36 Pine Siskins.

11.33 hours (31.83) TUVU 2 (3), BAEA 2 (7), SSHA 46 (100), COHA 2 (16), NOGO 2 (5), BWHA 2 (2), SWHA 1 (1), FEHA 2 (3), RLHA 1 (1), UB 1 (2), GOEA 31 (62), MERL 1 (1), PEFA 2 (3) TOTAL 99 (240)

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

Saturday, September 21 Vicki Ridge [Day 2] 0815-1930 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge, assisted by Gord Petersen, Denise Cocciolone-Amatto and Carrie Bergman). The temperature at 0815 was 6C, the high at 1500 was 15.5C and it was 12C at 1930. Winds were WSW to W all day, 15-20 km/h to 1000 after which they increased to 25-40 gusting 50 km/h for the rest of the day. Cloud cover was initially 10% cumulus and cirrostratus but quickly thickened and was mainly 60-90% altostratus, altocumulus, cirrostratus and cirrocumulus for the rest of the day that allowed hazy sunshine for most of the time and provided excellent observing conditions throughout. Raptor movement was slow but steady all day with a total of 72 birds of 10 species recorded between 0827 and 1908. The flight comprised 1 immature Turkey Vulture, 5 Bald Eagles (1 adult, 1 late subadult, 3 juveniles), 1 juvenile female Northern Harrier, 29 Sharp-shinned Hawks (8a, 2j, 19u), 5 Cooper’s Hawks (1a, 4u), 2 Northern Goshawks (1a, 1j), 4 calurus Red-tailed Hawks (2a and 1u light morphs; 1 adult rufous morph), 21 Golden Eagles (17a, 3sa, 1j), 3u American Kestrels and 1 adult Peregrine Falcon. A probable family group of 2 adult and 1 juvenile Red-tailed Hawks were seen hunting above the ridge throughout the day with the juvenile bird often acting aggressively towards migrating birds, and a pair of resident American Kestrels were frequently seen near the site. The highest hourly counts were 14 between 1400 and 1500 and 12 between 1500 and 1600. Other bird species seen were 50 Canada Geese, 1 Ruffed Grouse, 1 Northern Flicker, 19 Clark’s Nutcrackers, 79 Common Ravens, 6 Mountain Bluebirds, 1 Townsend’s Solitaire, 178 American Robins, 40   36 Cedar Waxwings, 1 Cassin’s Finch, 101 Pine Siskins and 5 Yellow-rumped Warblers.

11.25 hours (20.5) TUVU 1 (1), BAEA 5 (5), NOHA 1 (4), SSHA 29 (54), COHA 5 (14), NOGO 2 (3), RTHA 4 (14), GOEA 21 (31), AMKE 3 (8), PEFA 1 (1) TOTAL 72 (141)

Saturday, September 21 Steeples (Vance Mattson). No report received.

MOUNT LORETTE, BEAVER MINES and STEEPLES RAPTOR COUNTS

FALL 2019

www.eaglewatch.ca

PETER SHERRINGTON

Introduction This is the 28^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.

Friday, September 20 Vicki Ridge [Day 1] 0745-1630 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge, Doug and Teresa Dolmen on the ridge top 1010-1540 and Raymond Toal walking the western edge of the ridge system 1300-1430.  The temperature at 0745 was 8C, the high was 16C at 1500 and it was 11C at 1630 when the count was ended because of rain. Winds were WNW-W 10-20 gusting 30 km/h to 1300 after which they were generally light and variable with a light northerly upper flow. Cloud cover was 70-100% altostratus, cirrostratus, cirrus and altocumulus to 1200 when cumulus cloud began to develop which became 90-100% dark cumulus and stratocumulus for the rest of the day. Light rain began to fall at 1530 and became persistent after 1600. There was a fairly strong and varied raptor movement of 69 birds of 10 species between 0905 and 1520 that comprised 1 Osprey, 3 juvenile Northern Harriers (1 male, 1 female and 1u), 25 Sharp-shinned Hawks (6a, 2j, 17u), 9 Cooper’s Hawks (3a, 2j, 4u), 1 juvenile Northern Goshawk, 1 unidentified small Accipiter, 10 calurus Red-tailed Hawks (6 light: 4a, 2j and 4 dark: 3a, 1j), 1 juvenile light morph Ferruginous Hawk, 2 unidentified dark morph Buteos, 10 Golden Eagles (5a, 4sa, 1j), 5 American Kestrels (1 male, 3 females and 1u) and 1 Prairie Falcon. Forty-one birds moved before 1200 with a high hourly count of 23 between 1100 and 1200. All birds were seen from the wellsite with the exception of a single juvenile Northern Harrier seen from the ridge top and single Sharp-shinned Hawk and American Kestrel on the western edge of Kyllo Ridge. Other bird species seen on the ridge top and from the wellsite were 45 Canada Geese, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 2 Northern Flickers, 1 Pileated Woodpecker, 1 Canada Jay, 26 Clark’s Nutcrackers, 6 Black-billed Magpies, 40 Common Ravens, 1 Black-capped Chickadee, 4 Mountain Chickadees, 4 Red-breasted Nuthatches, 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet, 29 Ruby-crowned Kinglets, 43 Mountain Bluebirds, 1 Townsend’s Solitaire, 87 American Robins, 40 European Starlings, 82 Cedar Waxwings, 3 Cassin’s Finches, 103 Pine Siskins, 1 White-crowned Sparrow, 7 Dark-eyed Juncos and 38 Yellow-rumped Warblers.

9.25 hours OSPR 1, NOHA 3, SSHA 25, COHA 9, NOGO 1, UA 1, RTHA 10, FEHA 1, UB 2, GOEA 10, AMKE 5, PRFA 1 TOTAL 69

Friday, September 20 Steeples (Vance Mattson).  No report received.