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.

 

 

 

SUMMARY  COUNTS, FALL 2019
	MOUNT LORETTE September 20-November 15	VICKI RIDGE September 20-November 15	STEEPLES September 20-November 15
DAYS	3	3	0
HOURS	34.85	31.83	0
TURKEY VULTURE (TUVU)	0	3	0
OSPREY (OSPR)	0	1	0
BALD EAGLE (BAEA)	4	7	0
NORTHERN HARRIER (NOHA)	1	4	0
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (SSHA)	6	100	0
COOPER’S HAWK (COHA)	2	16	0
NORTHERN GOSHAWK (NOGO)	1	5	0
Accipiter sp. (UA)	2	1	0
BROAD-WINGED HAWK (BWHA)	0	2	0
SWAINSON’S HAWK (SWHA)	0	1	0
RED-TAILED HAWK (RTHA)	3	18	0
FERRUGINOUS HAWK (FEHA)	0	3	0
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (RLHA)	0	1	0
Buteo sp. (UB)	0	3	0
GOLDEN EAGLE (GOEA)	73	62	0
Eagle sp. (UE)	0	0	0
AMERICAN KESTREL (AMKE)	0	8	0
MERLIN (MERL)	0	1	0
GYRFALCON (GYRF)	0	0	0
PEREGRINE FALCON (PEFA)	0	3	0
PRAIRIE FALCON (PRFA)	0	1	0
Falco sp. (UF)	0	0	0
Unidentified Raptor (UU)	0	0	0
TOTALS	92	240	0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.

 

 

SUMMARY  COUNTS, FALL 2019
	MOUNT LORETTE September 20-November 15	VICKI RIDGE September 20-November 15	STEEPLES September 20-November 15
DAYS	1	2	0
HOURS	10.75	20.5	0
TURKEY VULTURE (TUVU)	0	1	0
OSPREY (OSPR)	0	1	0
BALD EAGLE (BAEA)	0	5	0
NORTHERN HARRIER (NOHA)	0	4	0
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (SSHA)	0	54	0
COOPER’S HAWK (COHA)	0	14	0
NORTHERN GOSHAWK (NOGO)	0	3	0
Accipiter sp. (UA)	0	1	0
BROAD-WINGED HAWK (BWHA)	0	0	0
SWAINSON’S HAWK (SWHA)	0	0	0
RED-TAILED HAWK (RTHA)	0	14	0
FERRUGINOUS HAWK (FEHA)	0	1	0
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (RLHA)	0	0	0
Buteo sp. (UB)	0	2	0
GOLDEN EAGLE (GOEA)	2	31	0
Eagle sp. (UE)	0	0	0
AMERICAN KESTREL (AMKE)	0	8	0
MERLIN (MERL)	0	0	0
GYRFALCON (GYRF)	0	0	0
PEREGRINE FALCON (PEFA)	0	1	0
PRAIRIE FALCON (PRFA)	0	1	0
Falco sp. (UF)	0	0	0
Unidentified Raptor (UU)	0	0	0
TOTALS	2	141	0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.

 

 

 

SUMMARY  COUNTS, FALL 2019
	MOUNT LORETTE September 20-November 15	VICKI RIDGE September 20-November 15	STEEPLES September 20-November 15
DAYS	1	1
HOURS	10.75	9.25
TURKEY VULTURE (TUVU)	0	0
OSPREY (OSPR)	0	1
BALD EAGLE (BAEA)	0	0
NORTHERN HARRIER (NOHA)	0	3
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (SSHA)	0	25
COOPER’S HAWK (COHA)	0	9
NORTHERN GOSHAWK (NOGO)	0	1
Accipiter sp. (UA)	0	1
BROAD-WINGED HAWK (BWHA)	0	0
SWAINSON’S HAWK (SWHA)	0	0
RED-TAILED HAWK (RTHA)	0	10
FERRUGINOUS HAWK (FEHA)	0	1
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (RLHA)	0	0
Buteo sp. (UB)	0	2
GOLDEN EAGLE (GOEA)	2	10
Eagle sp. (UE)	0	0
AMERICAN KESTREL (AMKE)	0	5
MERLIN (MERL)	0	0
GYRFALCON (GYRF)	0	0
PEREGRINE FALCON (PEFA)	0	0
PRAIRIE FALCON (PRFA)	0	1
Falco sp. (UF)	0	0
Unidentified Raptor (UU)	0	0
TOTALS	2	69

 

COUNT DATE: 15/11/2019, (Day 57 of 57)

TIME: Start: 08:05 – End: 15:35, Day Total: 07:30hrs, (To Date: 269:25hrs)

OBSERVERS: Caroline Lambert, Eric Langshaw, Rosemary Power

DESCRIPTION OF DAY: Today was the last day of the autumn 2019 count. We left at 3:35 – no raptors had been seen during the previous 4 hours despite what appeared to be excellent conditions.

TEMPERATURE: Min: 0, Max: +5

PERIOD WITH MOST MIGRANTS: 9 – 10

MIGRANT EAGLE COUNT BY SPECIES:

– Golden Eagle: Total: 2, (To Date: 472)

– Bald Eagle: Adult: 1, Total: 1, (To Date: 98)

MIGRANT RAPTOR COUNT BY SPECIES:

– None observed

TOTAL MIGRATORY RAPTORS: Daily: 3, (To Date: 628)

NON MIGRANT RAPTORS: Northern Goshawk

OTHER BIRDS OF NOTE: Common Raven 6, Mountain Chickadee 5, Black-capped Chickadee 5, Canada Jay 2, Killdeer 1, American Dipper 1.

OTHER OBSERVATIONS: wolf tracks, pine marten tracks, a morning cloak butterfly and a vole (species ?)

NUMBER OF VISITORS: Daily: 5, (To Date: 336)

 

COUNT DATE: 14/11/2019, (Day 56 of 57)

TIME: Start: 08:00 – End: 17:00, Day Total: 09:00hrs, (To Date: 261:55hrs)

OBSERVERS: Cliff Hansen and Rick Robb

DESCRIPTION OF DAY: The day began with a temperature of -7 degrees, calm to very light surface winds, 100% thin cirrus cloud cover and all ridges clear. Ridge wind seemed to be light from the west. Temperatures warmed to +2 by 15:00 hours. By noon, surface winds increased to 5-10 kph with some gusts to 15 and remained so until sunset. A chinook was expected but chinook clouds did not form until after 15:00.

TEMPERATURE: Min: -7, Max: +2

PERIOD WITH MOST MIGRANTS: 14:00 – 15:00 produced 1 x BAEA, 1 x RLHA, and 2 x GOEA.

MIGRANT EAGLE COUNT BY SPECIES:

– Golden Eagle: Adult: 4, Sub-Adult: Juvenile: Unaged: 1, Total: 5, (To Date: 470)

– Bald Eagle: Adult: 1, Total: 1, (To Date: 97)

MIGRANT RAPTOR COUNT BY SPECIES:

– Rough-legged Hawk: 1

TOTAL MIGRATORY RAPTORS: Daily: 7, (To Date: 625)

NON MIGRANT RAPTORS: 1 x BAEA

OTHER BIRDS OF NOTE: 11 x CORA, 3 x CAJA, 1 x RUGR.

OTHER OBSERVATIONS: 1 x White-tailed Deer (M), 3x Red Squirrels, & fresh Pine Marten tracks.

NUMBER OF VISITORS: Daily: 2, (To Date: 331)

 

COUNT DATE: 13/11/2019, (Day 55 of 57)

TIME: Start: 07:30 – End: 17:10, Day Total: 09:40hrs, (To Date: 252:55hrs)

OBSERVERS: George Halmazna, Caroline Lambert, Rosemary Power

DESCRIPTION OF DAY: Clear and calm day. 7 migrating raptors only. Closing on last day of observation for this Fall migration.

TEMPERATURE: Min: -5, Max: +3

PERIOD WITH MOST MIGRANTS: 15-16:00 ( 3 GOEA )

MIGRANT EAGLE COUNT BY SPECIES:

– Golden Eagle: Adult: 4, Sub-Adult: 0, Juvenile: 1, Unaged: 0, Total: 5, (To Date: 465)

– Bald Eagle: Adult: 2, Total: 2, (To Date: 96)

MIGRANT RAPTOR COUNT BY SPECIES:

– None observed

TOTAL MIGRATORY RAPTORS: Daily: 7, (To Date: 618)

NON MIGRANT RAPTORS: 0

OTHER BIRDS OF NOTE: HAWO-1, CAJA-3, CORA-23, KILL-1, BCCH-3, MOCH-1, PIGR-1.

OTHER OBSERVATIONS: Red Squirrels-3, Tracks ( fresh ) – Moose-1, WTD-3.

NUMBER OF VISITORS: Daily: 28, (To Date: 329)

 

COUNT DATE: 12/11/2019, (Day 54 of 57)

TIME: Start: 07:10 – End: 17:10, Day Total: 10:00hrs, (To Date: 243:15hrs)

OBSERVERS: Bill Wilson and Sandy Graham

DESCRIPTION OF DAY: Mountains obscured in light to occasionally moderate snow, ending around 11:00. Ridges still partially and variably obscured most of the afternoon, but clear by the end of the day. Ground winds mostly 5 – 10 km/h, maximum gust 20 km/h. Ridge winds SW 13 to 30 km/h.

TEMPERATURE: Min: -3, Max: 0

PERIOD WITH MOST MIGRANTS: No migrants.

MIGRANT EAGLE COUNT BY SPECIES:

– None observed

MIGRANT RAPTOR COUNT BY SPECIES:

– None observed

TOTAL MIGRATORY RAPTORS: Daily: 0, (To Date: 611)

NON MIGRANT RAPTORS: 0

OTHER BIRDS OF NOTE: 1 Northern Pygmy-owl (highlight of the day!), 2 Mallards, 2 Common Goldeneye, 1 Killdeer, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 2 American Dippers, 10 raven sightings, 3 Canada Jays, 1 starling.

OTHER OBSERVATIONS: Nothing of note.

NUMBER OF VISITORS: Daily: 7, (To Date: 301)

 

COUNT DATE: 11/11/2019, (Day 53 of 57)

TIME: Start: 08:25 – End: 16:45, Day Total: 08:20hrs, (To Date: 233:15hrs)

OBSERVERS: George Halmazna, Dan Parliament, Graeme Dunlop

DESCRIPTION OF DAY: Clear day with Cs developing in afternoon. Strong SSW winds on Kananaskis Ridge, with gusts up to 104 km. Snow was blowing off from all ridges around. Raptors were migrating between 12 and 15:00 hrs only.

TEMPERATURE: Min: -17, Max: -3

PERIOD WITH MOST MIGRANTS: 12-13:00 and 14-15:00 ( 3 raptors in each hour )

MIGRANT EAGLE COUNT BY SPECIES:

– Golden Eagle: Adult: 1, Sub-Adult: 0, Juvenile: 2, Unaged: 1, Total: 4, (To Date: 460)

– Bald Eagle: Adult: 1, Juvenile: 1, Total: 2, (To Date: 94)

MIGRANT RAPTOR COUNT BY SPECIES:

– Northern Goshawk: 1

TOTAL MIGRATORY RAPTORS: Daily: 7, (To Date: 611)

NON MIGRANT RAPTORS: 0

OTHER BIRDS OF NOTE: CAJA-4, CORA-16, BCCH-2, DEJU-1, EUST-2.

OTHER OBSERVATIONS: Red Squirrels – 2 and more tracks, WTD-3 ( tracks )

NUMBER OF VISITORS: Daily: 29, (To Date: 294)

 

COUNT DATE: 10/11/2019, (Day 52 of 57)

TIME: Start: 07:50 – End: 17:15, Day Total: 09:25hrs, (To Date: 224:55hrs)

OBSERVERS: Bill Wilson

DESCRIPTION OF DAY: Snow until about 11:00, with the mountains very hazy to completely invisible. After that, it cleared off surprisingly quickly. Wind generally 5 to 10 sometimes gusting to 15 or 20 km/h.

TEMPERATURE: Min: -12, Max: -10

PERIOD WITH MOST MIGRANTS: All six migrant eagles were seen between 12:30 and 15:10

MIGRANT EAGLE COUNT BY SPECIES:

– Golden Eagle: Adult: 1, Sub-Adult: Juvenile: Unaged: Total: 1, (To Date: 456)

– Bald Eagle: Adult: 3, Sub-Adult: 1, Juvenile: 1, Total: 5, (To Date: 92)

MIGRANT RAPTOR COUNT BY SPECIES:

– None observed

TOTAL MIGRATORY RAPTORS: Daily: 6, (To Date: 604)

NON MIGRANT RAPTORS: 0

OTHER BIRDS OF NOTE: Swan – flock of 12 with 3 Canada Geese; one late flock of 50 Canada Geese; one flock of 35 Mallards (all of the above flying south high up); 1 Common Merganser flying north; 3 Canada Jays; 1 magpie; 5 Common Ravens; 1 starling; 1 Pine Grosbeak; 1 Snow Bunting.

OTHER OBSERVATIONS: Nothing of note.

NUMBER OF VISITORS: Daily: 9, (To Date: 265)

 

COUNT DATE: 09/11/2019, (Day 51 of 57)

TIME: Start: 08:20 – End: 13:45, Day Total: 05:25hrs, (To Date: 215:30hrs)

OBSERVERS: Blake Weis, Sandy Graham

DESCRIPTION OF DAY: At the start of observation it was -1 with wind gusting up to 25 from the north. Thick fog hung over the north side of the valley but the sky was clear above the site. The fog moved in over the course of the morning. By 13:00 it had cooled to -4, and fog obscured all ridges for the rest of the day. We left the site at 13:45 but I lingered in the area until 16:30 in case it cleared up. No migrant raptors were seen.

TEMPERATURE: Min: -4, Max: -1

PERIOD WITH MOST MIGRANTS: No migrants

MIGRANT EAGLE COUNT BY SPECIES:

– None observed

MIGRANT RAPTOR COUNT BY SPECIES:

– None observed

TOTAL MIGRATORY RAPTORS: Daily: 0, (To Date: 598)

NON MIGRANT RAPTORS: N/A

OTHER BIRDS OF NOTE: Common Merganser: 3, Ruffed Grouse: 1, Killdeer: 1, American Dipper: 1, Pine Siskin: 1

OTHER OBSERVATIONS: White-tailed Deer: 2

NUMBER OF VISITORS: Daily: 0, (To Date: 256)

 

COUNT DATE: 08/11/2019, (Day 50 of 57)

TIME: Start: 08:10 – End: 17:20, Day Total: 09:10hrs, (To Date: 210:05hrs)

OBSERVERS: Caroline Lambert, Cliff Hansen

DESCRIPTION OF DAY: It was unusually warm (9C) all day and very windy. The ridges were clear, and with the wind from the west, migration conditions were excellent. Our expectations were high, but reality fell far short with just four migrants.

TEMPERATURE: Min: 7, Max: 9

PERIOD WITH MOST MIGRANTS: Half of the four migrants passed by at 12:55.

MIGRANT EAGLE COUNT BY SPECIES:

– Golden Eagle: Adult: 1, Sub-Adult: 0, Juvenile: 1, Unaged: 0, Total: 2, (To Date: 455)

– Bald Eagle: Adult: 1, Total: 1, (To Date: 87)

MIGRANT RAPTOR COUNT BY SPECIES:

– Northern Goshawk: 1

TOTAL MIGRATORY RAPTORS: Daily: 4, (To Date: 598)

NON MIGRANT RAPTORS: One Bald Eagle, one Common Goshawk

OTHER BIRDS OF NOTE: We were entertained by an American Dipper that caught a small fish, a Hairy Woodpecker that pecked at the driftwood in front of us, and a Killdeer that complained loudly. Four Canada Jays came to check us out. Other than that, there were the usual Common Ravens (at least 5), a Black-billed Magpie, a Black-capped Chickadee, a couple each of Mountain and Boreal Chickadees, a few Pine Siskins, and a half dozen Bohemian Waxwings.

OTHER OBSERVATIONS: A moth was flying around.

NUMBER OF VISITORS: Daily: 2, (To Date: 256)

 

COUNT DATE: 07/11/2019, (Day 49 of 57)

TIME: Start: 07:50 – End: 17:20, Day Total: 09:30hrs, (To Date: 200:55hrs)

OBSERVERS: Cliff Hansen and Rick Robb

DESCRIPTION OF DAY: Cloud cover varied from 90% Ac with a high thin Ci to 100% Cu and high thin Ci to noon then reducing to 30% cover at sunset. Temperatures warmed from a low of -8 at 9:00 to +2 at 15:00 then cooled to -1 at sunset. Ground wind were light and variable all day increasing from calm to a max of 5-10 kph with only one gust before 14:00 to 15 kph. A chinook arch became apparent after 15:00. Ridge winds prior to the arch appeared to be light from the west. After the arch, ridge winds strengthened to moderate from the southwest as indicated by the pluming snow.

TEMPERATURE: Min: -8, Max: +2

PERIOD WITH MOST MIGRANTS: 16:00 – 17:00 produced 5 GOEAs.

MIGRANT EAGLE COUNT BY SPECIES:

– Golden Eagle: Adult: 7, Sub-Adult: 1, Juvenile: 2, Unaged: 3, Total: 13, (To Date: 453)

MIGRANT RAPTOR COUNT BY SPECIES:

– Northern Goshawk: 1

TOTAL MIGRATORY RAPTORS: Daily: 14, (To Date: 594)

NON MIGRANT RAPTORS: One adult BAEA that perched on a tree near the pump houses and remained there for much of the afternoon.

OTHER BIRDS OF NOTE: CORA x 9, BBMA x 1, CAJA x 3, RUBL x 1 and ATSP x 1.

OTHER OBSERVATIONS: White-tailed Deer x 2 and Red Squirrel x 1.

NUMBER OF VISITORS: Daily: 6, (To Date: 254)

 

COUNT DATE: 06/11/2019, (Day 48 of 57)

TIME: Start: 07:30 – End: 17:00, Day Total: 09:30hrs, (To Date: 191:25hrs)

OBSERVERS: George Halmazna, Brian McBride

DESCRIPTION OF DAY: Clear and sunny day with morning temperature -18C and highest -6C.Calm in the valley, mild wind on ridges ( up to 27 km from WSW on Nakiska Ridge ). 8 migrating raptors mainly between 13-15 hrs over Fisher Range.

TEMPERATURE: Min: -18, Max: -6

PERIOD WITH MOST MIGRANTS: 13:00-14:00 and 14:00-15:00

MIGRANT EAGLE COUNT BY SPECIES:

– Golden Eagle: Adult: 2, Sub-Adult: 0, Juvenile: 1, Unaged: 2, Total: 5, (To Date: 440)

– Bald Eagle: Adult: 2, Total: 2, (To Date: 86)

MIGRANT RAPTOR COUNT BY SPECIES:

– Northern Goshawk: 1

TOTAL MIGRATORY RAPTORS: Daily: 8, (To Date: 580)

NON MIGRANT RAPTORS: 0

OTHER BIRDS OF NOTE: CNGO-10, DOWO-1, CORA-6, CAJA-3, CORE-4

OTHER OBSERVATIONS: Tracks of 2 WTD, Red Squirrel-5,

NUMBER OF VISITORS: Daily: 8, (To Date: 248)

 

COUNT DATE: 05/11/2019, (Day 47 of 57)

TIME: Start: 07:30 – End: 13:10, Day Total: 05:40hrs, (To Date: 181:55hrs)

OBSERVERS: Bill Wilson

DESCRIPTION OF DAY: Both sides of the valley were almost invisible in cloud and falling snow all morning, and the forecast was for this to continue into the night. Wind generally NNE 5 to 10 km/h with maximum gust 26 km/h. I left the site at noon and left the area at 13:00, checking Lusk Creek on the way out (also socked in). Brian McBride was staying overnight in the area and said if the weather improved he’d monitor any migration. (Thanks, Brian!)

TEMPERATURE: Min: -2, Max: -1

PERIOD WITH MOST MIGRANTS: No migrants.

MIGRANT EAGLE COUNT BY SPECIES:

– None observed

MIGRANT RAPTOR COUNT BY SPECIES:

– None observed

TOTAL MIGRATORY RAPTORS: Daily: 0, (To Date: 572)

NON MIGRANT RAPTORS: None.

OTHER BIRDS OF NOTE: 1 American Dipper, 4 Common Ravens, 3 Starlings, 1 American Tree Sparrow.

OTHER OBSERVATIONS: Nothing of note.

NUMBER OF VISITORS: Daily: 1, (To Date: 240)

 

COUNT DATE: 04/11/2019, (Day 46 of 57)

TIME: Start: 08:00 – End: 16:50, Day Total: 08:50hrs, (To Date: 176:15hrs)

OBSERVERS: George Halmazna, Dan Parliament

DESCRIPTION OF DAY: Relatively calm day in valley with lot of Stratus / fog on ridges. West and east was completely covered in morning hours and in late afternoon. Observed 8 GOEA only. All were migrating over Fisher Range.

TEMPERATURE: Min: -8, Max: +1

PERIOD WITH MOST MIGRANTS: Between 14-15:00 hrs – 5 migrating GOEA

MIGRANT EAGLE COUNT BY SPECIES:

– Golden Eagle: Adult: 7, Sub-Adult: 0, Juvenile: 0, Unaged: 1, Total: 8, (To Date: 435)

MIGRANT RAPTOR COUNT BY SPECIES:

– None observed

TOTAL MIGRATORY RAPTORS: Daily: 8, (To Date: 572)

NON MIGRANT RAPTORS: 0

OTHER BIRDS OF NOTE: CORA-12, BCCH-13, BOCH-1, MOCH-2, RUGR-1, CAJA-3, DOWO-1, PIWO-2, RCKI-1, EUST-1, PIGR-3, SNBU-8.

OTHER OBSERVATIONS: Wolf tracks, Coyote 1 and 2 sets of tracks, Elk and WTD tracks.

NUMBER OF VISITORS: Daily: 20, (To Date: 239)

 

COUNT DATE: 03/11/2019, (Day 45 of 57)

TIME: Start: 06:50 – End: 13:00, Day Total: 06:10hrs, (To Date: 167:25hrs)

OBSERVERS: Bill Wilson

DESCRIPTION OF DAY: Eastern ranges clear at sunrise, but both sides of the valley were obscured in snow by about 09:00 and remained so. With the snow forecast to continue into the night, I packed it in at 13:00.

TEMPERATURE: Min: -2, Max: 0

PERIOD WITH MOST MIGRANTS: No migrants.

MIGRANT EAGLE COUNT BY SPECIES:

– None observed

MIGRANT RAPTOR COUNT BY SPECIES:

– None observed

TOTAL MIGRATORY RAPTORS: Daily: 0, (To Date: 564)

NON MIGRANT RAPTORS: None.

OTHER BIRDS OF NOTE: The only birds were one American Dipper (twice), five ravens and one vocal flyover that was either a Pine Siskin or a redpoll.

OTHER OBSERVATIONS: Nothing of note.

NUMBER OF VISITORS: Daily: 0, (To Date: 219)

 

COUNT DATE: 02/11/2019, (Day 44 of 57)

TIME: Start: 08:35 – End: 17:50, Day Total: 09:15hrs, (To Date: 161:15hrs)

OBSERVERS: Blake Weis, Eric Langshaw, Rosemary Power

DESCRIPTION OF DAY: It was a slow day despite what seemed like good flying conditions

TEMPERATURE: Min: -3, Max: 5

PERIOD WITH MOST MIGRANTS: 8 of the day’s 10 migrants passed between 13:00 and 15:00

MIGRANT EAGLE COUNT BY SPECIES:

– Golden Eagle: Adult: 5, Sub-Adult: Juvenile: Unaged: Total: 5, (To Date: 427)

– Bald Eagle: Juvenile: 1, Total: 1, (To Date: 84)

– Unidentified Eagle: Total: 1, (To Date: 12)

MIGRANT RAPTOR COUNT BY SPECIES:

– Northern Goshawk: 1

– Merlin: 1

– Unidentified Raptor: 1

TOTAL MIGRATORY RAPTORS: Daily: 10, (To Date: 564)

NON MIGRANT RAPTORS: Bald Eagle: 1

OTHER BIRDS OF NOTE: European Starling: 1, American Robin: 1, Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch: 10, Common Redpoll: 3, Pine Siskin: 1, American Tree Sparrow: 1

OTHER OBSERVATIONS: Bull Moose: 1

NUMBER OF VISITORS: Daily: 8, (To Date: 219)

 

COUNT DATE: 01/11/2019, (Day 43 of 57)

TIME: Start: 08:35 – End: 18:35, Day Total: 10:00hrs, (To Date: 152:00hrs)

OBSERVERS: Caroline Lambert, Pat Farley

DESCRIPTION OF DAY: The day started out cold, but with clear skies and no ground wind. Snow was blowing off the ridges, though, making good conditions for migration right from the start. A steady trickle of birds was seen throughout the day.

TEMPERATURE: Min: -13, Max: 1

PERIOD WITH MOST MIGRANTS: Although there were migrants passing through every hour, the period from 13:00 to 16:00 was slightly busier than at other times.

MIGRANT EAGLE COUNT BY SPECIES:

– Golden Eagle: Adult: 10, Sub-Adult: 1, Juvenile: 4, Unaged: 6, Total: 21, (To Date: 422)

– Bald Eagle: Adult: 5, Juvenile: 2, Total: 7, (To Date: 83)

– Unidentified Eagle: Total: 1, (To Date: 11)

MIGRANT RAPTOR COUNT BY SPECIES:

– Northern Goshawk: 1

TOTAL MIGRATORY RAPTORS: Daily: 30, (To Date: 554)

NON MIGRANT RAPTORS: None

OTHER BIRDS OF NOTE: 4 CAJA, 15 CORA, 2 BCCH, 2 MOCH, 2 PISI, 5 SNBU

OTHER OBSERVATIONS: Nothing

NUMBER OF VISITORS: Daily: 5, (To Date: 211)

 

COUNT DATE: 31/10/2019, (Day 42 of 57)

TIME: Start: 08:20 – End: 18:20, Day Total: 10:00hrs, (To Date: 142:00hrs)

OBSERVERS: Cliff Hansen, Rick Robb and Graham Dunlop

DESCRIPTION OF DAY: It was a cold but rather pleasant day. Ground winds were light increasing to 5-15 kph by 17:00 then decreasing. Cloud cover increased from 30% Sc and Cu to about 70% Cu by noon and remained so until sunset. Ridge winds appeared to be light as there was no apparent drifting of the fog generated by snow making on the ski hill but the Cu above drifted at a moderate rate from the NW. the first migrant, a GOEA appeared at 10:45 on the west side of the valley. GOEA migration increase steadily until 15:00 (18 seen between 14:00 & 15:00) then decreased with the last GOEA passing at 15:37. After that three BAEAs passed by. Most used the traditional route from Lorette – Patrick – Fisher Range. The the winds did present problems for them. Many did glide by high (difficult to age against bright cloud) but many others flapped by low across the face of the Fisher Range. Rick and I appreciated the able assistance provided by Graham Dunlop whose amazing eyes first spotted many of the high fliers.

TEMPERATURE: Min: -8, Max: 0

PERIOD WITH MOST MIGRANTS: Most migrants passed by between 14:00 – 15:00

MIGRANT EAGLE COUNT BY SPECIES:

– Golden Eagle: Adult: 30, Sub-Adult: 1, Juvenile: Unaged: 14, Total: 45, (To Date: 401)

– Bald Eagle: Adult: 3, Total: 3, (To Date: 76)

MIGRANT RAPTOR COUNT BY SPECIES:

– None observed

TOTAL MIGRATORY RAPTORS: Daily: 48, (To Date: 524)

NON MIGRANT RAPTORS: GOSH

OTHER BIRDS OF NOTE: CORA x 10, CAJA x 2, DOWO, HAWO, COME x 3 (m), and AMDI x 2.

OTHER OBSERVATIONS: Red Squirrels x 2

NUMBER OF VISITORS: Daily: 4, (To Date: 206)

 

COUNT DATE: 30/10/2019, (Day 41 of 57)

TIME: Start: 08:00 – End: 18:10, Day Total: 10:10hrs, (To Date: 132:00hrs)

OBSERVERS: George Halmazna, Eric Langshaw

DESCRIPTION OF DAY: Clear with increasing and thickening of Cirrus. No strong wind on rigges till late afternoon. From -16C to -2.5C. Ground wind mainly from SW up to 20 km/hr. Very quiet from birds activity point of view. Migrating eagles after 14:20 hrs.

TEMPERATURE: Min: -16, Max: -2.5

PERIOD WITH MOST MIGRANTS: 2 raptors between 14-15 hrs and 16-17 hrs.

MIGRANT EAGLE COUNT BY SPECIES:

– Golden Eagle: Adult: 2, Sub-Adult: 0, Juvenile: 1, Unaged: 1, Total: 4, (To Date: 356)

– Unidentified Eagle: Total: 1, (To Date: 10)

MIGRANT RAPTOR COUNT BY SPECIES:

– Sharp-shinned Hawk: 1

TOTAL MIGRATORY RAPTORS: Daily: 6, (To Date: 476)

NON MIGRANT RAPTORS: 0

OTHER BIRDS OF NOTE: CAJA-3, CORA-11

OTHER OBSERVATIONS: WTD-2, BHS-2,

NUMBER OF VISITORS: Daily: 17, (To Date: 202)

 

COUNT DATE: 29/10/2019, (Day 40 of 57)

TIME: Start: 09:00 – End: 18:35, Day Total: 09:35hrs, (To Date: 121:50hrs)

OBSERVERS: Dan Parliament, Cliff Hansen

DESCRIPTION OF DAY: A bone chilling start to the day at minus 23 C. Fortunately for the observers minimal ground wind and full sunshine mitigated against the cold. Unfortunately for migrant raptors, the low winds resulted in poor flying conditions. The first GOEA migrant was at 1420 hrs, and tracked low across Patrick. The Grade 8 class from John Ware School in Calgary stopped for a brief orientation as part of their 3 day outdoor education class.

TEMPERATURE: Min: -23, Max: -5

PERIOD WITH MOST MIGRANTS: 16:00-17:00

MIGRANT EAGLE COUNT BY SPECIES:

– Golden Eagle: Adult: 11, Sub-Adult: 1, Juvenile: 2, Unaged: Total: 14, (To Date: 352)

– Bald Eagle: Adult: 4, Total: 4, (To Date: 73)

MIGRANT RAPTOR COUNT BY SPECIES:

– Rough-legged Hawk: 1

TOTAL MIGRATORY RAPTORS: Daily: 19, (To Date: 470)

NON MIGRANT RAPTORS: Adult BAEA 1

OTHER BIRDS OF NOTE: Mall 5, BCCH 2, MOCH 1, CORA 8, CAJA 3, DOWO 1, HAWP 1, DEJU (Slate) 1, EUST 2

OTHER OBSERVATIONS: Coyote 1, Red Squirrel 1

NUMBER OF VISITORS: Daily: 51, (To Date: 185)

 

COUNT DATE: 28/10/2019, (Day 39 of 57)

TIME: Start: 08:20 – End: 16:15, Day Total: 07:55hrs, (To Date: 112:15hrs)

OBSERVERS: George Halmazna, Dan Parliament

DESCRIPTION OF DAY: Cold, windy, snowing all day. Reduced visibility. 8 migrating raptors only. 100% Stratus / snow. Left early after increasing of snow and loosing visibility in late afternoon.

TEMPERATURE: Min: -18, Max: -10

PERIOD WITH MOST MIGRANTS: 11:00-12:00 and 13:00-14;00

MIGRANT EAGLE COUNT BY SPECIES:

– Golden Eagle: Total: 1, (To Date: 338)

– Bald Eagle: Adult: 2, Sub-Adult: 3, Total: 5, (To Date: 69)

MIGRANT RAPTOR COUNT BY SPECIES:

– Northern Goshawk: 2

TOTAL MIGRATORY RAPTORS: Daily: 8, (To Date: 451)

NON MIGRANT RAPTORS: 0

OTHER BIRDS OF NOTE: CNGO-104, MALL-327, COGO-33, CAJA-4,CORA-9, BCCH-3, MOCH-3, GCKI-1, BOWA-52, PIGR-1.

OTHER OBSERVATIONS: WTDeer-3, Red Squirrel-4, Meadow Vole-1.

NUMBER OF VISITORS: Daily: 2, (To Date: 134)

 

COUNT DATE: 27/10/2019, (Day 38 of 57)

TIME: Start: 07:45 – End: 19:00, Day Total: 11:15hrs, (To Date: 104:20hrs)

OBSERVERS: Bill Wilson, Lori Anderson

DESCRIPTION OF DAY: 90% to 100% altostratus, often with weak to moderate sun showing through. Winds generally less than about 10 km/h. Only eleven raptors were seen up to 4:25 pm, but then things picked up nicely.

TEMPERATURE: Min: -7, Max: 0

PERIOD WITH MOST MIGRANTS: 26 of the 37 migrant raptors were seen in the hour and three-quarters from 16:26 to 18:11.

MIGRANT EAGLE COUNT BY SPECIES:

– Golden Eagle: Adult: 16, Sub-Adult: 2, Juvenile: 3, Unaged: 1, Total: 22, (To Date: 337)

– Bald Eagle: Adult: 7, Sub-Adult: 2, Juvenile: 2, Unaged: 1, Total: 12, (To Date: 64)

MIGRANT RAPTOR COUNT BY SPECIES:

– Sharp-shinned Hawk: 1

– Rough-legged Hawk: 2

TOTAL MIGRATORY RAPTORS: Daily: 37, (To Date: 443)

NON MIGRANT RAPTORS: 0

OTHER BIRDS OF NOTE: CAGO 311, MALL 100, HAWO 1, AMDI 2, BCCH 3, MOCH 5, GCKI 2, CAJA 4, CORA 6, PISI 1, PIGR 3.

OTHER OBSERVATIONS: 3 White-tailed Deer.

NUMBER OF VISITORS: Daily: 14, (To Date: 132)

 

COUNT DATE: 26/10/2019, (Day 37 of 57)

TIME: Start: 08:40 – End: 18:20, Day Total: 09:40hrs, (To Date: 93:05hrs)

OBSERVERS: Blake Weis, Karen Anderson

DESCRIPTION OF DAY: It snowed starting around 11 am. When we noticed some clearing to the north we moved to Lusk Creek from 16:00 to the end of the day.

TEMPERATURE: Min: -4, Max: -1

PERIOD WITH MOST MIGRANTS: Seven migrants were counted at Hay Meadow between 9:00 and 11:00, before the snow arrived. No others were seen until late in the day when 14 migrants were recorded at Lusk Creek between 16:00 and 18:00

MIGRANT EAGLE COUNT BY SPECIES:

– Golden Eagle: Adult: 2, Sub-Adult: Juvenile: 1, Unaged: 2, Total: 5, (To Date: 315)

– Bald Eagle: Adult: 5, Juvenile: 2, Unaged: 4, Total: 11, (To Date: 52)

– Unidentified Eagle: Total: 1, (To Date: 9)

MIGRANT RAPTOR COUNT BY SPECIES:

– Sharp-shinned Hawk: 1

– Northern Goshawk: 3

TOTAL MIGRATORY RAPTORS: Daily: 21, (To Date: 406)

NON MIGRANT RAPTORS: Rough-legged Hawk: 1

OTHER BIRDS OF NOTE: Pileated Woodpecker: 1, Hairy Woodpecker: 1, American Dipper: 1, Bohemian Waxwing: 12, Pine Grosbeak: 1, Common Redpoll: 1, Pine Siskin: 1,

OTHER OBSERVATIONS: N/A

NUMBER OF VISITORS: Daily: 1, (To Date: 118)

 

COUNT DATE: 25/10/2019, (Day 36 of 57)

TIME: Start: 08:40 – End: 19:00, Day Total: 10:20hrs, (To Date: 83:25hrs)

OBSERVERS: Caroline Lambert, Brian McBride

DESCRIPTION OF DAY: The day started with warm and exceptionally strong winds at ground and presumably ridge level. Nearly half the day’s birds passed by before 11am. But then a cold front came in bringing some light rain and a negative temperature gradient. We were undecided about packing it in – the wind at ground level was swirling around so there was no good shelter from the rain. However, we stuck it out and were rewarded with 10 more eagles between when the rain ended and before it got dark.

TEMPERATURE: Min: 3, Max: 11

PERIOD WITH MOST MIGRANTS: After the rain ended around 17:00 to about 18:00.

MIGRANT EAGLE COUNT BY SPECIES:

– Golden Eagle: Adult: 9, Sub-Adult: 0, Juvenile: 0, Unaged: 9, Total: 18, (To Date: 310)

– Unidentified Eagle: Total: 1, (To Date: 8)

MIGRANT RAPTOR COUNT BY SPECIES:

– None observed

TOTAL MIGRATORY RAPTORS: Daily: 19, (To Date: 385)

NON MIGRANT RAPTORS: 2 Golden Eagles flew north along the Fisher Range and then crossed the valley to Collembola where they disappeared in the low clouds.

OTHER BIRDS OF NOTE: 2 RUGR, 4 CAJA, 5 CORA, 4 MOCH, 2 AMDI, 10 BOWA, 2 PISI

OTHER OBSERVATIONS: None

NUMBER OF VISITORS: Daily: 4, (To Date: 117)

 

COUNT DATE: 24/10/2019, (Day 35 of 57)

TIME: Start: 08:45 – End: 18:45, Day Total: 10:00hrs, (To Date: 73:05hrs)

OBSERVERS: Cliff Hansen and Rick Robb

DESCRIPTION OF DAY: Chinook conditions prevailed all day. Ground wind were light from generally the south until noon then gradually increased and changed to the southwest and were 5 to 20 gusting to 40 kph at sunset. Ridge winds were strong from the west. Most raptors were high and often difficult to age against bright clouds. Rick and I thank Graham, Jim and Denis for invaluable assistance in spotting many very high birds.

TEMPERATURE: Min: 2, Max: 10

PERIOD WITH MOST MIGRANTS: 16:00 – 17:00 with 16 GOEA and one SSHA.

MIGRANT EAGLE COUNT BY SPECIES:

– Golden Eagle: Adult: 62, Sub-Adult: 2, Juvenile: 3, Unaged: 22, Total: 89, (To Date: 292)

MIGRANT RAPTOR COUNT BY SPECIES:

– Sharp-shinned Hawk: 6

TOTAL MIGRATORY RAPTORS: Daily: 95, (To Date: 366)

NON MIGRANT RAPTORS: 0

OTHER BIRDS OF NOTE: DEJU x 2, AMDI x 1, CAJA x 4, CORA x 5, BBMA x 1, BOWA x 30, NOSK x 1, HAWO x 1 and one “V” of migrating geese, probably CAGO.

OTHER OBSERVATIONS: White-tailed Deer x 2.

NUMBER OF VISITORS: Daily: 10, (To Date: 113)

 

COUNT DATE: 23/10/2019, (Day 34 of 57)

TIME: Start: 08:30 – End: 18:40, Day Total: 10:10hrs, (To Date: 63:05hrs)

OBSERVERS: Caroline Lambert, Brian McBride

DESCRIPTION OF DAY: It was a slow day with almost nothing moving, in spite of apparently strong ridge winds. Perhaps winds from the northwest do not suit them for migration, although the few raptors we saw didn’t seem to be having much trouble moving south. The flock of Bohemian Waxwings, which was in the vicinity all day, was a nice distraction from the lack of raptors.

TEMPERATURE: Min: -3, Max: 4

PERIOD WITH MOST MIGRANTS: The few migrants that passed by were scattered throughout the day.

MIGRANT EAGLE COUNT BY SPECIES:

– Golden Eagle: Adult: 5, Sub-Adult: 0, Juvenile: 0, Unaged: 0, Total: 5, (To Date: 203)

– Bald Eagle: Adult: 2, Sub-Adult: 1, Total: 3, (To Date: 41)

MIGRANT RAPTOR COUNT BY SPECIES:

– Northern Goshawk: 2

– Rough-legged Hawk: 1

TOTAL MIGRATORY RAPTORS: Daily: 11, (To Date: 271)

NON MIGRANT RAPTORS: 1 NOGO

OTHER BIRDS OF NOTE: 60 Canada Geese flying south, 1 HAWO, 4 CAJA, 1 BBMA, 8 CORA, 2 BCCH, 4 MOCH, 1 BOCH, 2 AMDI, 30 BOWA, 6 ATSP, 6 DEJU

OTHER OBSERVATIONS: Brian saw an American Mink scamper by while I was checking out the tree sparrows

NUMBER OF VISITORS: Daily: 2, (To Date: 103)

 

COUNT DATE: 22/10/2019, (Day 33 of 57)

TIME: Start: 08:15 – End: 18:50, Day Total: 10:35hrs, (To Date: 52:55hrs)

OBSERVERS: Dan Parliament, Sandy Graham

DESCRIPTION OF DAY: A quiet day for migration with 11 Golden Eagles and one Bald Eagle. Conditions were somewhat blustery with low cloud and occasional brief snow flurries.

TEMPERATURE: Min: 6, Max: 8

PERIOD WITH MOST MIGRANTS: 16:00-17:00, three GOEAs

MIGRANT EAGLE COUNT BY SPECIES:

– Golden Eagle: Adult: 5, Sub-Adult: 1, Juvenile: 1, Unaged: 4, Total: 11, (To Date: 198)

– Bald Eagle: Juvenile: 1, Total: 1, (To Date: 38)

MIGRANT RAPTOR COUNT BY SPECIES:

– None observed

TOTAL MIGRATORY RAPTORS: Daily: 12, (To Date: 260)

NON MIGRANT RAPTORS: Adult Bald Eagle, Unaged Northern Goshawk

OTHER BIRDS OF NOTE: COME 2, CORA 7, MOCH 3, CAJA 4, BOWA 25, DEJU 1, AMDI 1

OTHER OBSERVATIONS: None

NUMBER OF VISITORS: Daily: 17, (To Date: 101)

 

COUNT DATE: 21/10/2019, (Day 32 of 57)

TIME: Start: 08:00 – End: 19:00, Day Total: 11:00hrs, (To Date: 42:20hrs)

OBSERVERS: Lori Anderson, Cliff Hansen

DESCRIPTION OF DAY: This was a very odd day. My first bird was like a bad omen. It was a single Raven kiting over the summit of Mt. Lorette in a frozen standstill staring west . The count for the day indeed ended up being extremely low. It may be that the upper WNW winds were not favorable for southerly flying. The Ravens seemed very happy though to have free reign of the valley and formed in endless murders of up to 13 throughout the day. Ravens were everywhere and in every direction. One even flew over us showing off it´s imitation Pygmy Owl call. If it weren´t for them, the large flock of Bohemian Waxwings that spent the day flying to and fro, and the 4 friendly Canada Jays that kept us entertained, the day would have passed very slowly.

TEMPERATURE: Min: -3, Max: 4

PERIOD WITH MOST MIGRANTS: The period between 11:00 and 12:00 gave us a high count for the day of 3 migrants.

MIGRANT EAGLE COUNT BY SPECIES:

– Golden Eagle: Adult: 3, Sub-Adult: 1, Juvenile: Unaged: 2, Total: 6, (To Date: 187)

– Bald Eagle: Adult: 1, Total: 1, (To Date: 37)

MIGRANT RAPTOR COUNT BY SPECIES:

– Northern Harrier: 1

TOTAL MIGRATORY RAPTORS: Daily: 8, (To Date: 248)

NON MIGRANT RAPTORS: None

OTHER BIRDS OF NOTE: 1 Northern Shrike, 4 Canada Jays, 30 Bohemian Waxwings,1 Mountain Chickadee, 1 Downy Woodpecker, 1 American Dipper and 20 Common Ravens.

OTHER OBSERVATIONS: 1 Red Squirrel.

NUMBER OF VISITORS: Daily: 8, (To Date: 84)

 

COUNT DATE: 20/10/2019, (Day 31 of 57)

TIME: Start: 08:15 – End: 19:00, Day Total: 10:45hrs, (To Date: 31:20hrs)

OBSERVERS: Lori Anderson and Rosemary Power

DESCRIPTION OF DAY: Today was a very interesting day with quite a diverse selection of raptors and other birds with activity from sunrise to sunset. At the break of dawn the first four Goldens appeared and made their way south and there was a steady flow of migrators all day except for a lull from 3-4 when none appeared. A large number seemed to come up from Wasootch and appeared north of the Fisher range. The Goshawks were unusually vocal and active today.

TEMPERATURE: Min: -5, Max: +3

PERIOD WITH MOST MIGRANTS: The largest number of migrants appeared between 12:00 and 15:00.

MIGRANT EAGLE COUNT BY SPECIES:

– Golden Eagle: Adult: 38, Sub-Adult: 6, Juvenile: 7, Unaged: 6, Total: 57, (To Date: 181)

– Bald Eagle: Adult: 1, Sub-Adult: 2, Juvenile: 3, Total: 6, (To Date: 36)

– Unidentified Eagle: Total: 3, (To Date: 7)

MIGRANT RAPTOR COUNT BY SPECIES:

– Sharp-shinned Hawk: 2

– Cooper’s Hawk: 1

– Northern Goshawk: 1

– Unidentified Accipiter: 1

– Red-tailed Hawk: 2

– Rough-legged Hawk: 1

– Prairie Falcon: 1

TOTAL MIGRATORY RAPTORS: Daily: 75, (To Date: 240)

NON MIGRANT RAPTORS: 1 GOEA, 2 NOGO

OTHER BIRDS OF NOTE: 4 Canada Jays, 3 Common Mergansers, 2 Hairy Woodpeckers, 2 Downy Woodpeckers, 1 Mountain Chickadee, 3 Boreal Chickadees, 3 Golden Crowned Kinglets, 1 American Dipper, 30 Bohemian Waxwings, 11 Common Ravens, 2 Dark-eyed Juncos, 5 European Starlings.

OTHER OBSERVATIONS: 2 White-Tailed Deer, 1 Red Squirrel

NUMBER OF VISITORS: Daily: 40, (To Date: 76)

 

COUNT DATE: 19/10/2019, (Day 30 of 57)

TIME: Start: 07:55 – End: 18:45, Day Total: 10:50hrs, (To Date: 20:35hrs)

OBSERVERS: Blake Weis, Ruth Morrow

DESCRIPTION OF DAY: Snow was threatened to blow in from the north and west before 10 AM and after 17:00 but only a few flakes fell at Hay Meadow. Migration was slow much of the day despite decent conditions, most raptors moved through in the last few hours. Most migrants were on the eastern ridges, a few bald eagles flew above the valley and none used the western ridges. There was a surprisingly high number of bald eagles relative to the total count.

TEMPERATURE: Min: 0, Max: 6

PERIOD WITH MOST MIGRANTS: 20 of the day’s 50 migrants passed between 17:00 and 18:00.

MIGRANT EAGLE COUNT BY SPECIES:

– Golden Eagle: Adult: 8, Sub-Adult: 4, Juvenile: 3, Unaged: 6, Total: 21, (To Date: 124)

– Bald Eagle: Adult: 14, Sub-Adult: 4, Juvenile: 6, Total: 24, (To Date: 30)

– Unidentified Eagle: Total: 1, (To Date: 4)

MIGRANT RAPTOR COUNT BY SPECIES:

– Northern Goshawk: 3

– Rough-legged Hawk: 1

TOTAL MIGRATORY RAPTORS: Daily: 50, (To Date: 165)

NON MIGRANT RAPTORS: Bald Eagle: 3

OTHER BIRDS OF NOTE: Ruffed Grouse: 2, Northern Shrike: 1, Golden-crowned Kinglet: 16, Ruby-crowned Kinglet: 1, American Dipper: 1, American Robin: 2, Bohemian Waxwing: 65, Pine Grosbeak: 3, Pine Siskin: 1, Lapland Longspur: 1, American Tree Sparrow: 1, Rusty Blackbird: 1

OTHER OBSERVATIONS: 1 Mountain goat on top of Mt. Lorette, 1 least chipmunk

NUMBER OF VISITORS: Daily: 24, (To Date: 36)

 

COUNT DATE: 18/10/2019, (Day 29 of 57)

TIME: Start: 08:55 – End: 18:40, Day Total: 09:45hrs, (To Date: 9:45hrs)

OBSERVERS: Caroline Lambert, Cliff Hansen, Jim St. Laurent

DESCRIPTION OF DAY: The day started with both ridges obscured, and with some drizzle, and ended with most of the ridges obscured and sleet. In between it was cool and windy, but the ridges were clear. The eagles flew from when the drizzle stopped shortly after sunrise until the clouds closed in again, just before sunset, all above the eastern ridge, and many very high.

TEMPERATURE: Min: 3, Max: 7

PERIOD WITH MOST MIGRANTS: The flow was mostly steady throughout the day, with slightly more from 15:00 to 16:00.

MIGRANT EAGLE COUNT BY SPECIES:

– Golden Eagle: Adult: 67, Sub-Adult: 4, Juvenile: 6, Unaged: 26, Total: 103, (To Date: 103)

– Bald Eagle: Adult: 3, Sub-Adult: 1, Unaged: 2, Total: 6, (To Date: 6)

– Unidentified Eagle: Total: 3, (To Date: 3)

MIGRANT RAPTOR COUNT BY SPECIES:

– Northern Goshawk: 3

TOTAL MIGRATORY RAPTORS: Daily: 115, (To Date: 115)

NON MIGRANT RAPTORS: 1 GOEA

OTHER BIRDS OF NOTE: 1 Mountain Chickadee, 2 Black-capped Chickadees, 1 Dark-eyed Junco, 3 Canada Jays, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 10 Common Ravens, 2 Golden-crowned Kinglets, 20 Bohemian Waxwings, 1 Northern Shrike

OTHER OBSERVATIONS: None

NUMBER OF VISITORS: Daily: 12, (To Date: 12)

Monday, April 22 Mount Lorette [Day 51] 0700-1845 (Blake Weis, assisted by Eric Langshaw). The starting temperature was 3C, the high was 15C from 1600 to 1800 and it was 12C at the end of the count. Ground winds were SSW to 1500 0-5 gusting up to 35 km/h, and SE-SW 5-10 gusting to 48 km/h for the rest of the day; ridge winds were SW all day, moderate to strong to 1300 after which they were strong to very strong. Cloud cover was 20-30% cirrus to 0900 and then 50-100% variable mixtures of cirrus, cirrostratus, altocumulus, cirrocumulus, cumulus and lenticular cloud with stratocumulus developing from the west after 1800, that 30% obscured the western mountains and brought rain that ended the count at 1845. Otherwise, the ridges were clear all day. The last day of the count saw a migration of 8 raptors of 5 species between 1134 and 1815 that comprised 1 Osprey, that was the only bird seen on the western route, 2u Sharp-shinned Hawks, 1u Cooper’s Hawk, 1 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk, 2u Golden Eagles and one medium-sized unidentified distant raptor. Apart from the Osprey all birds moved above the Fisher Range ridge or above the eastern side of the valley at variable heights, and 4 of the birds were seen between 1300 and 1400. A resident adult Northern Goshawk displayed above Olympic Summit at 0920, an adult Red-tailed Hawk was seen hunting on three occasions over Hummingbird Plume Hill and a resident adult Golden Eagle hunted on the SW flank of Mount Lorette at 1235. Other birds recorded in the area were 3 Canada Geese, 1 pair of Mallards, 1 male Common Merganser, 4 drumming Ruffed Grouse, 1 Wilson’s Snipe, 1 male Belted Kingfisher (the first of the season), 1 pair of Downy Woodpeckers, 1 pair of Northern Flickers, 6 Common Ravens, 6 Black-capped Chickadees, 9 Mountain Chickadees, 2 Boreal Chickadees, 3 Red-breasted Nuthatches, a pair of American Dippers at Troll Falls, 5 Golden-crowned Kinglets, 4 Ruby-crowned Kinglets, 1 pair of Mountain Bluebirds, 18 American Robins, 26 European Starlings, 1 American Pipit, 3 Pine Siskins, 1 singing Fox Sparrow, 2 Savannah Sparrows that were the first of the season, 2 Song Sparrows, 2 female Red-winged Blackbirds and 2 male Yellow-rumped Warblers (1 “Audubon’s” and 1 of undetermined race) that were also new for the season. Seven White-tailed Deer fed in the meadow in the morning, and the last day of the count saw 43 visitors at the site.

11.75 hours (592.9) OSPR 1 (3), SSHA 2 (11), COHA 1 (2), RTHA 1 (17), GOEA 2 (2134), UU 1 (5) TOTAL 8 (2460)

 

Mount Lorette April 1-22 summary (With variance from the long-term 1993-2018 22-year average, that excludes the anomalously low counts in 2008-2010 and 2012 which are considered invalid). 22 days (+4.1%), 272.3 hours (+11.7%), TUVU 1 (+633.1%), OSPR 3 (+61%), BAEA 87 (+22.5%), NOHA 5 (+27.9%), SSHA 10 (-54%), COHA 2 (-66.4%), NOGO 12 (-4.8%), UA 1 (+37.1%), BWHA 0, SWHA 0, RTHA 15 (-41.7%), FEHA 0, RLHA 11 (-21.7%), UB 3 (+127.6%), GOEA 834 (+66.9%) which is the highest April count since 2002, UE 7 (+366.7%), AMKE 0, MERL 5 (+12.2%), GYRF 0, PEFA 0, PRFA 0, UF 0, UU 2 (+51.7%) TOTAL 998 (+48.9%) of 11 species, which is the highest April count since 2002.

 Mount Lorette spring 2019 summary March 1-April 22 (With variance from the long-term 1993-2018 22-year average, that excludes the anomalously low counts in 2008-2010 and 2012 which are considered invalid). 51 days (+2,5%), 592.9 hours (+6.8%), TUVU 1 (+340%), OSPR 3 (+61%), BAEA 209 (+14.5%), NOHA 5 (+7.8%), SSHA 1 (-54.9%), COHA 2 (-69.9%), NOGO 18 (-20.5%), UA 1 (-51.1%), BWHA 0, SWHA 0, RTHA 17 (-44.3%), FEHA 0, RLHA 15 (-22.5%), UB 3 (+43.5%), GOEA 2134 (-26.6% and the second lowest spring count ever), UE 26 (+434.6%), AMKE 0, MERL 6 (-10.8%), GYRF 1 (-35.3%), PEFA 0, PRFA 2 (-4.3%), UF 1 (+15.8%), UU 5 (+16191%) TOTAL 2460 (-23.7%) of 13 species.

 

Monday, April 22 Beaver Mines [Day 51] 0600-2100 (Peter Sherrington assisted by Hilary Atkinson). The temperature at 0600 was 7C, dropped to the day’s low of 6C at 1700 before rising to a high of 16 C at 1300 and 1400 and again at 1600, and it was still 11C at 2100. Winds were W-WSW 15-25 gusting 40 km/h to 0900 after which they were strong W-WSW all day, 40-60 gusting to 85 km/h. Cloud cover was 100% cirrostratus and cirrocumulus to 1200, reduced to 80% cirrocumulus, cirrus and cirrostratus at 1300 and was mainly 100% stratus, lenticular, altocumulus and cumulus form the rest of the day, giving excellent viewing conditions throughout. There was a surprisingly strong and varied raptor migration for the last day of the count with 79 birds of a site record 16 species moving between 0757 and 2034. The flight comprised a site-record 4 Turkey Vultures (2a, 2u), 1 Osprey, 5 Bald Eagles (3a, 2j), 6 Northern Harriers (3 males: 2a, 1j, 2 females: 1a, 1j, and 1u), 10 Sharp-shinned Hawks (1a, 9u), 2 Cooper’s Hawks (1a, 1u), 4 Northern Goshawks (2a, 2u), 3 light morph Broad-winged Hawks (1a, 2u), 1 juvenile light morph Swainson’s Hawk, 4 light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks (2a, 2u), 1 dark morph Rough-legged Hawk, 32 Golden Eagles (6a, 7sa, 15j, 4u), 2 American Kestrels (1 male, 1u), 1u columbarius Merlin, 1 adult female Peregrine Falcon and 2 Prairie Falcons (1 male, and 1 female that was the last bird of the spring 2019 count at 2034). Birds moved steadily all day and the highest hourly counts were 10 (1000-1100, 1400-1500 and 1800-1900). Resident birds were a pair of Northern Harriers, 3 pairs of Red-tailed Hawks and 1 adult Golden Eagle. Other birds seen were 2 pairs of Canada Geese, 1 pair of Wood Ducks, 11 Mallards, 1 pair of Green-winged Teal, 2 Common Mergansers, 10 Rock Pigeons, the first Common Loon of the year that flew high to the SW at 1812, 1 male Northern Flicker, 1 Blue Jay, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 1 American Crow, 23 Common Ravens, 6 Tree Swallows, 1 Black-capped Chickadee, 1 Townsend’s Solitaire, 4 American Robins, 6 European Starlings, 11 Evening Grosbeaks, 8 Pine Siskins and 4 male Red-winged Blackbirds. It was an excellent end to what has otherwise generally been a poor and frustrating count.

15 hours (631.3) TUVU 4 (6), OSPR 1 (2), BAEA 5 (225), NOHA 6 (35), SSHA 10 (47), COHA 2 (7), NOGO 4 (33), BWHA 3 (5), SWHA 1 (3), RTHA 4 (120), RLHA 1 (30), GOEA 32 (642), AMKE 2 (8), MERL 1 (16), PEFA 1 (6), PRFA 2 (10) TOTAL 79 (1216)

 

Beaver Mines April 1-22 summary (With percentage variance from the 4-year average 2015-2018). 22 days (+7.3%), 295.5 hours (+57.5%), TUVU  (+1100%), OSPR 2 (-42.9%), BAEA 94 (-4.1%), NOHA 31 (-23.5%), SSHA 44 (-20.7%), COHA 7 (-40.4%), NOGO 20 (+9.6%), UA 0, BWHA 5 (+42.9%), SWHA 3 (+20%), RTHA 111 (-26.9%), FEHA 5 (+81.8%), RLHA 15 (+41.2%), UB 6 (-35.1%), GOEA 289 (+48.4%), UE 2 (+300%), AMKE 8 (+3.2%), MERL 14 (+80.6%), GYRF 2 (+33.3%), PEFA 5 (-28.6%), PRFA 6 (+140%), UF 0, UU 0 TOTAL 675 (+3.3%) of 18 species.

Beaver Mines spring 2018 summary February 25-April 22 (With percentage variance from the 4-year average 2015-2018). 51 days (+1%), 631.3 hours (+48.4%), TUVU 6 (+360%), OSPR 2 (-42.9%), BAEA 225 (-19.6%), NOHA 35 (-31.4%), SSHA 47 (-31.6%), COHA 7 (-47.2%), NOGO 33 (-38.3%), UA 0, BWHA 5 (-47.4%), SWHA 3 (+9.1%), RTHA 120 (-42.2%), FEHA 5 (-9.1%), RLHA 30 (-67.4%), UB 7 (-52.5%), GOEA 642 (-67.4%), UE 2 (-20%), AMKE 8 (-23.8%), MERL 15 (+4.9%), GYRF 6 (=), PEFA 6 (-29.4%), PRFA 10 (+53.8%), UF 0, UU 1 (-69.2%) TOTAL 1216 (-40.4%) of 18 species.

 

Monday, April 22 Steeples [Day 42] 1200-1800 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 14C, winds were moderate S and cloud cover was 100% altostratus and dark cumulus. A very slow April ended in the same manner with just two migrants seen: 1 juvenile Golden Eagle at 1510 and 1 subadult Bald Eagle at 1722. Non-migrants were 14 Turkey Vultures, 1 juvenile Bald Eagle, 4 Red-tailed Hawks and 2 sightings of adult Golden Eagles that included one hunting stoop from high altitude.

6 hours (206) BAEA 1 (219), GOEA 1 (455) TOTAL 2 (699)

 

Steeples April summary (With percentage variance from the 9-year average 2010-2018). 16 days (+38.5%), 75.25 hours (+67.2%), TUVU 0, OSPR 0, BAEA 29 (+2%), NOHA 0, SSHA 1 (-76.3%), COHA 0, NOGO 0, UA 0, BWHA 0, SWHA 0, RTHA 4 (-52.6%), FEHA 0, RLHA 1 (-36.7%), UB 0, GOEA 33 (-8.3%), UE 1, AMKE 1 (-10%), MERL 0, GYRF 0, PEFA 0, PRFA 0, UF 0, UU 0 TOTAL 70 (-24.5%) of 18 species. 

Steeples spring 2018 summary (With percentage variance from the 9-year average 2010-2018). 42 days (+28.6%), 206 hours (+56.4%), TUVU 3 (-67.5%), OSPR 0, BAEA 219 (+61.7%), NOHA 1 (+50%), SSHA 2 (-66%), COHA 0, NOGO 0, UA 0, BWHA 0, SWHA 0, RTHA 8 (-32.1%), FEHA 0, RLHA 3 (-15.6%), UB 0, GOEA 455 (+31.7%), UE 7 (+200%), AMKE 1 (-18.2%), MERL 0, GYRF 0, PEFA 0, PRFA 0, UF 0, UU 0 TOTAL 699 (+34.3%) of 8 species.

 

SUMMARY  COUNTS, SPRING 2019
	MOUNT LORETTE March 1-April 22	BEAVER MINES   March 1-April 22	STEEPLES      March 1-April 22
DAYS	51	51	42
HOURS	592.9	631.3	206
TURKEY VULTURE (TUVU)	1	6	3
OSPREY (OSPR)	3	2	0
BALD EAGLE (BAEA)	209	225	219
NORTHERN HARRIER (NOHA)	5	35	1
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (SSHA)	11	47	2
COOPER’S HAWK (COHA)	2	7	0
NORTHERN GOSHAWK (NOGO)	18	33	0
Accipiter sp. (UA)	1	0	0
BROAD-WINGED HAWK (BWHA)	0	5	0
SWAINSON’S HAWK (SWHA)	0	3	0
RED-TAILED HAWK (RTHA)	17	120	8
FERRUGINOUS HAWK (FEHA)	0	5	0
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (RLHA)	15	30	3
Buteo sp. (UB)	3	7	0
GOLDEN EAGLE (GOEA)	2134	642	455
Eagle sp. (UE)	26	2	7
AMERICAN KESTREL (AMKE)	0	8	1
MERLIN (MERL)	6	16	0
GYRFALCON (GYRF)	1	6	0
PEREGRINE FALCON (PEFA)	0	6	0
PRAIRIE FALCON (PRFA)	2	10	0
Falco sp. (UF)	1	0	0
Unidentified Raptor (UU)	5	1	0
TOTALS	2460	1216	699