Friday, September 27 Vicki Ridge [Day 8] 0845-0945 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of Vicki Ridge). The temperature was 1C, it was calm and cloud cover was 100% stratus that completely obscured Kyllo Ridge but the southern end of Vicki Ridge was visible until 0945 when it also became obscured. At 0928 a female columbarius Merlin flew from the east and perched on a snag north of the site until 0937 when it flew strongly to the south. The only other birds seen were 86 American Robins and 2 Dark-eyed [Oregon] Juncos.

I hour (76.08) MERL 1 (6) TOTAL 1 (563)

Friday, September 27 Steeples (Vance Mattson). No observation.

Saturday, September 28 Vicki Ridge. No observation: heavy snow all day.

Saturday, September 28 Steeples (Vance Mattson). No observation.

Sunday, September 29 Vicki Ridge. No observation: heavy snow all day.

Sunday, September 29 Steeples [Day 3] 1500-1700 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 7C, winds were moderate N and cloud cover was 100% uniform grey-white stratus but there was no snow. The ridges cleared at 1400 but the mountains to the north remained largely obscured and no migrant or resident raptors were seen.

2 hours (11) TOTAL 0 (44)

Monday, September 30 Vicki Ridge [Day 9] 1600-1830 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of Vicki Ridge). The snow finally ceased at around 1100 and we arrived at the site shortly after the access road was ploughed. The temperature was -3C at 1600 and fell to -4C at 1700 and 1800, winds were calm or light ESE, cloud cover was 100% stratocumulus but all ridges were clear. There was about 1 metre of fresh snow at the site. No migrant or resident raptors were seen and other birds recorded were 1 Canada Jay, 4 Common Ravens, 5 Mountain Bluebirds, 400 American Robins, 1 White-crowned Sparrow and 7 Dark-eyed [Oregon] Juncos.

2.5 hours (78.58) TOTAL 0 (563)

Monday, September 30 Steeples (Vance Mattson). No report received.

Thursday, September 26 Vicki Ridge [Day 7] 0815-1845 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of Vicki Ridge; 1400-1650 Raymond Toal observing at the mid-point of Kyllo Ridge, and 1325-1730 Gord Petersen at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge at the Waterton 68 wellsite). It was an unpleasant start to the day with a temperature at 0815 of 5C, WSW winds gusting over 70 km/h, 100% uniform stratus cloud cover and steady light rain. At 0940, however, the rain stopped and the sky rapidly cleared and was 20% cumulus at 1000 and was then sunny for the rest of the day. The temperature reached a high of 14C at 1400 and was 12C at 1700 but then dropped rapidly to 6C at 1800 and was 4C at 1845. Winds were W-SW 30-40 gusting 55 to 1700 when they shifted to E-NE and were mainly light. Cloud cover from 1000 to 1600 was 10-30% cumulus after which it quickly thickened to 70% cumulus for the rest of the day, and after the rain stopped observing conditions were excellent. The count on Vicki Ridge was 41 birds between 0945 and 1843 that comprised 1 Osprey, 2 subadult Bald Eagles, 11 Sharp-shinned Hawks (5a, 6u), 1 adult Cooper’s Hawk, 1 juvenile Northern Goshawk, 1 adult light morph Broad-winged Hawk, 12 Red-tailed Hawks (calurus light 5a, 1u; calurus dark 3a and 1 intermediate adult; 2 dark harlani 1a, 1j), 1j dark morph Rough-legged Hawk, 8 Golden Eagles (5a, 1j, 2u), 1 female American Kestrel, 1 female columbarius Merlin and 1 large falcon that was probably a Prairie Falcon. Only 3 migrants were seen at the mid-ridge site: 1u Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1a Golden Eagle and 1 female American Kestrel. The count of 42 birds at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge was 28 Sharp-shinned Hawks (3a, 25u), 2u Cooper’s Hawks, 1a Northern Goshawk, 6 Red-tailed Hawks (calurus light 3a, 2j; harlani dark 1a), 4 Golden Eagles (1a, 3u) and 1 unidentified eagle. A late subadult Bald Eagle seen at 1550 flew to the ESE and was seen at 1558 at the Vicki Ridge site. Otherwise there appeared to be no duplication of records and the total movement observed across the ridge system was 86 migrants of 12 species that comprised 1 Osprey, 2 subadult  Bald Eagles, 40 Sharp-shinned Hawks (8a, 32u), 3 Cooper’s Hawks (1a, 2u), 2 Northern Goshawks (1a, 1j), 1 adult light morph Broad-winged Hawk, 18 Red-tailed Hawks (15 calurus: 8a, 2j, 1u light morphs, 1 adult intermediate morph, 3a dark morphs, and 2a, 1j dark morph harlani), 1j dark morph Rough-legged Hawk, 13 Golden Eagles (7a, 1j, 5u), 1 unidentified eagle, 2 female American Kestrels, 1 female columbarius Merlin and 1 large falcon that was probably a Prairie Falcon. Other bird species were scarce and comprised 1a California Gull, 31 Common Ravens, 2 Mountain Bluebirds, 70 American Robins, 1 Cedar Waxwing and 20 Pine Siskins. A single Mourning Cloak butterfly was also on the wing. The area is currently under a winter storm watch and the forecast calls for rain on Friday and significant snowfall on Saturday, Sunday and Monday so the prospect of migration for the next four days is not good.

10.5 hours (75.08) OSPR 1 (4), BAEA 2 (13), SSHA 40 (226), COHA 3 (36), NOGO 2 (11), BWHA 1 (4), RTHA 18 (73), RLHA 1 (5), GOEA 13 (140), UE 1 (2), AMKE 2 (13), MERL 1 (5), UF 1 (1) TOTAL 86 (562)

Thursday, September 26 Steeples [Day 2] 1400-1745 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 16C, winds were calm to moderate S and cloud cover was initially 60% cumulus that reduced to 10% by 1530 before quickly increasing again to 40% for the remainder of the observation period. The only migrants seen were 1 adult Bald Eagle, 1u Sharp-shinned Hawk and 1u American Kestrel. There was one sighting of the resident Golden Eagle pair that interacted at length over Mount Bill Nye.

3.75 hours (9) BAEA 1 (8), SSHA 1 (14), AMKE 1 TOTAL 3 [44]

Wednesday, September 25 Vicki Ridge [Day 6] 0815-1915 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of Vicki Ridge; 1525-1720 Denise Cocciolone-Amatto and Raymond Toal observing at the mid-point of Kyllo Ridge, and 1500-1820 Gord Petersen at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge at the Waterton 68 wellsite). The temperature at 0815 was 4C, the high between 1400 and 1600 was 14.5C and it was 10C at the end of observation at 1915. Winds were again W-WSW all day 20-30 km/h to 1300 after which they increased to 30-40 gusting 55 km/h for the rest of the day. Cloud cover was 10-40% cumulus and cirrus to 1600 after which it thickened to 70-100% altostratus, cirrostratus and cumulus for the rest of the day, and observing conditions were excellent throughout. The count on Vicki Ridge was 71 birds comprising 2 Bald Eagles (1sa, 1j), 1 juvenile female Northern Harrier, 25 Sharp-shinned Hawks (9a, 3j, 13u), 8 Cooper’s Hawks (5a, 1j, 2u), 2 Northern Goshawks (1a, 1j), 1 juvenile light morph Broad-winged Hawk, 10 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks, 1 juvenile light morph Ferruginous Hawk, 1 dark morph Rough-legged Hawk and 20 Golden Eagles (10a, 2sa, 7j, 1u). The count of 16 birds at the mid-ridge site was 2u Sharp-shinned Hawks, 1a Cooper’s Hawk, 1 juvenile Northern Goshawk, 11 Golden Eagles (8a, 3j) and 1 unidentified eagle; and the count of 37 birds at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge was 1 juvenile Bald Eagle, 28 Sharp-shinned Hawks (3a, 25u), 1u Cooper’s Hawk, 3 Red-tailed Hawks (calurus light 2a, harlani dark 1a), 1a dark Ferruginous Hawk and 3 Golden Eagles (2a, 1j). There appeared to be no duplication in the counting of birds at the three sites and the total movement observed across the ridge system was 124 migrants of 10 species that comprised 3 Bald Eagles (1sa, 2j), 1 juvenile female Northern Harrier, 55 Sharp-shinned Hawks (12a, 3j, 40u), 10 Cooper’s Hawks (6a, 1j, 3u), 3 Northern Goshawks (1a, 2j), 1 juvenile light morph Broad-winged Hawk, 13 Red-tailed Hawks (12 adult light morph calurus and 1a dark morph harlani), 2 Ferruginous Hawks (1 juvenile light morph and 1a dark morph), 1 dark morph Rough-legged Hawk, 34 Golden Eagles (20a, 2sa, 11j, 1u), and 1 unidentified eagle. The highest hourly combined counts were 29 (1600-1700) and 24 (1700-1800). Other bird species seen were 1 Northern (Red-shafted) Flicker, 7 Clark’s Nutcrackers, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 31 Common Ravens, 2 Red-breasted Nuthatches, 7 Mountain Bluebirds, 2 Townsend’s Solitaires, 145 American Robins, 16 Cedar Waxwings, 40 Pine Siskins, and 2 Yellow-rumped Warblers.

11 hours (64.58) BAEA 3 (11), NOHA 1 (9), SSHA 55 (186), COHA 10 (33), NOGO 3 (9), BWHA 1 (3), RTHA 13 (55), RLHA 1 (4), GOEA 34 (127), UE 1 (1) TOTAL 124 (476)

Wednesday, September 25 Steeples (Vance Mattson). No observation because of teaching commitments.

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.