Tuesday, September 29 Vicki Ridge [Day 10] 0800-1920 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge, and Gord Petersen and Cathy Scrimshaw at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge at the Waterton 68 wellsite, 1310-1905). The temperature at 0800 was 13C, the high at 1630 was 23.5C, which is the highest so far this season, and it was 15C at 1920. Winds were WSW-W 30-40 gusting to 55 km/h to 1830 when it became calm for 10 minutes, and at 1840 the wind suddenly shifted to the E at 15-30 km/h where it remained for the rest of the day. Cloud cover throughout the day was 30-60% generally thin altocumulus and cirrus, with some lenticular cloud developing after 1600, which gave a sunny day and excellent observing conditions. At Waterton 61 a total of 63 migrants of 8 species were seen between 0837 and 1829 that comprised 3a Bald Eagles, 1a male Northern Harrier, 39 Sharp-shinned Hawks (25a, 14u), 2a Cooper’s Hawks, 1j Northern Goshawk, 1j dark morph Swainson’s Hawk, 5 calurus Red-tailed Hawks (2a light morphs and 2a, 1j dark morphs) and 11 Golden Eagles (7a, 3sa, 1j). Movement was very intermittent with birds appearing in clusters with long periods of inaction in between. The highest hourly counts were 11 (1000-1100) and 16 (1100-1200), and 10 from 1700 to 1800 when most of the birds seen soared high before moving to the south. At the Waterton 68 site a total of 54 migrants of 7 species moved between 1313 and 1844 which comprised 2a Bald Eagles, 38 Sharp-shinned Hawks (6a, 3j, 29u), 6 Cooper’s Hawks (3j, 3u), 1a intermediate morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk, 2 light morph Rough-legged Hawks, 4 Golden Eagles (2a, 2u) and 1u American Kestrel. Movement there was also intermittent with 20 of the birds occurring between 1313 and 1400. The combined species count was 117 birds of 10 species seen between 0837 and 1844 that comprised 5a Bald Eagles, 1a male Northern Harrier, 77 Sharp-shinned Hawks (31a, 3j, 43u), 8 Cooper’s Hawks (2a, 3j, 3u), 1j Northern Goshawk, 1j dark morph Swainson’s Hawk, 6 calurus Red-tailed Hawks (2a light morphs. 2a, 1j dark morphs, and 1a intermediate morph, 2 light morph Rough-legged Hawks, 15 Golden Eagles (9a, 3sa, 1j, 2u) and 1u American Kestrel. The highest hourly counts were 25 (1300-1400 and 22 (1700-1800). Other birds seen were 4 Clark’s Nutcrackers, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 195 Common Ravens, 49 American Robins and 101 Pine Siskins. When the wind shifted to the east at 1840 it brought in a total of 164 Canada Geese that flew high to the west and south in 5 flocks between 1856 and 1914, and a single Bonaparte’s Gull that flew high to the west at 1903.

11.33 hours (109.9) BAEA 5 (31), NOHA 1 (8), SSHA 77 (457), COHA 8 (82), NOGO 1 (6), SWHA 1 (3), RTHA 6 (121), RLHA 2 (14), GOEA 15 (389), AMKE 1 (10) TOTAL 117 (1172)

Tuesday, September 29 Mount Lorette [Day 10] 0740-1920 (George Halmazna, assisted by Dan Parliament). Observers counted 56 migrant raptors of 6 species that comprised 1u Bald Eagle, 5 Sharp-shinned Hawks (1a, 1j, 3u), 5 Northern Goshawks (4a, 1j), 6 (5a, 1j),calurus light morph Red-tailed Hawks, 35 (25a, 3j, 7u) Golden Eagles and 4u columbarius Merlins.

12.25 hours (122.7) BAEA 1 (13), SSHA 5 (63), NOGO 5 (22), RTHA 6 (22), GOEA 35 (390), MERL 4 (7) TOTAL 56 (569)

Tuesday, September 29 Steeples (Vance Mattson).  No observation.

Monday, September 28 Vicki Ridge [Day 8] 0800-1920 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge, and Gord Petersen and Cathy Scrimshaw at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge at the Waterton 68 wellsite, 1340-1910). The temperature at 0800 was 9C, the high at 1800 was 18C and it was still 16C at 1920. Winds were again W-WSW all day 30-50 gusting to 75 km/h, and cloud cover was 100-90% altostratus that formed a static Chinook Arch and gave gloomy conditions until 1735 when the setting sun dipped below the edge of the arch and bathed the area in brilliant sunshine until the sun dipped behind Kyllo Ridge at 1831. At the Waterton 61 site a total of 54 migrants of 7 species were seen between 0845 and 1729 that comprised 3 Bald Eagles (2a, 1j), 28 Sharp-shinned Hawks (4a, 2j, 22u), 3 Cooper’s Hawks (1a, 2u), 2a Broad-winged Hawks (1 light, 1 dark), 6 Red-tailed Hawks (4 calurus: 3 light (2a, 1j) and 1dark adult; and 2a dark harlani), 2 Rough-legged Hawks (1 light, 1 dark), 1 dark unidentified Buteo and 9 Golden Eagles (8a, 1sa). The highest hourly count was 12 between 1200 and 1300, and only 4 birds were seen after 1600. The Waterton 68 site produced 42 migrants of 5 species between 1343 and 1835 that comprised 26 Sharp-shinned Hawks (2a, 2j, 22u), 4 Cooper’s Hawks (1j, 3u), 3 Red-tailed Hawks (calurus dark 2a; and 1 indeterminate bird), 2 light morph Rough-legged Hawks, 1u unidentified Buteo, 5 Golden Eagles (3a, 1j, 1u) and 1 unidentified eagle. The highest hourly count was 10 between 1400 and 1500. The combined speciescount was 96 birds of 7 species seen between 0845 and 1835 that comprised 3 Bald Eagles (2a, 1j), 54 Sharp-shinned Hawks (6a, 4j, 44u), 7 Cooper’s Hawks (1a, 1j, 5u), 2a Broad-winged Hawks (1 light, 1 dark), 9 Red-tailed Hawks (6 calurus: light 3 (2a, 1j), dark 3a; 2a dark harlani; and 1 indeterminate bird ), 4 Rough-legged Hawks (3 light, 1 dark), 2 unidentified Buteos (1dark, 1u), 9 Golden Eagles (11a, 1sa, 1j, 1u) and 1 unidentified eagle. The highest combined site hourly count was 14 between 1400 and 1500. Other birds seen were 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 1 Steller’s Jay, 3 Clark’s Nutcracker, 33 Common Ravens, 3 Mountain Bluebirds, 82 American Robins and 1 Yellow-rumped [Myrtle] Warbler.

11.33 hours (98.58) BAEA 3 (26), SSHA 54 (380), COHA 7 (74), BWHA 2 (12), RTHA 9 (115), RLHA 4 (12), UB 2 (6), GOEA 14 (374), UE 1 (2)

Monday, September 28 Mount Lorette [Day 9] 0740-1920 (Caroline Lambert, assisted by Graeme Dunlop). A total of 35 migrant raptors of a season-high 10 species comprised 2 Bald Eagles (1sa, 1j), 1 juvenile Northern Harrier, 2u Sharp-shinned Hawks, 1u Cooper’s Hawk, 2u Northern Goshawks, 1 small unidentified Accipiter, 1j light morph Broad-winged Hawk, 3 calurus Red-tailed Hawks (2 light (1a, 1j) and 1a intermediate), 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk, 19 Golden Eagles (7a, 2sa, 10u), 1 unidentified eagle and 1u Peregrine Falcon.

11.67 (110.4) BAEA 2 (22), NOHA 1 (8), SSHA 2 (58), COHA 1 (7), NOGO 2 (17), UA 1 (4), BWHA 1 (4), RTHA 3 (16), RLHA 1 (3), UB 1 (2), GOEA 19 (355), PEFA 1 (5) TOTAL 35 (513)

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

Sunday, September 27 Vicki Ridge [Day 8] 0815-1915 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge, and Gord Petersen and Cathy Scrimshaw at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge at the Waterton 68 wellsite, 1230-1905). The temperature at 0815 was 4C the high at 1500 and 1600 was 11.5C and it was 9C at 1915. Winds were W-WSW all day 25-35 gusting 45 km/h and it was cloudless for most of the day with up to 10% lenticular cloud developing after 1515. At the Waterton 61 site a modest total of 42 raptors of 9 species were counted between 1034 and 1855 that comprised 1u Bald Eagle, 1j female Northern Harrier, 11 Sharp-shinned Hawks (1a, 2j, 8u), 4 Cooper’s Hawk (3a, 1j), 1u Northern Goshawk, 3 light morph Broad-winged Hawks (1a, 1j, 1u), 9 Red-tailed Hawks (calurus 8: 5 light morphs (4a, 1u), 1a intermediate morph and 2a dark morphs, and 1a dark morph harlani), 11 Golden Eagles (2a, 1sa, 6j, 2u) and 1u columbarius Merlin. Movement was slow for much of the day with 17 of the birds seen between 1600 and 1800. Migration was steadier to the west at the Waterton 68 site where 80 raptors of 8 species were seen between 1238 and 1904 that comprised 1u Turkey Vulture, 1a Bald Eagle, 42 Sharp-shinned Hawks (7a, 3j, 32u), 10 Cooper’s Hawks (2a, 2j, 6u), 8 Red-tailed Hawks (calurus 6: 5 light morphs (3a, 1j, 1u), 1a intermediate morph and 2 indeterminate birds), 1 dark morph Rough-legged Hawk, 14 Golden Eagles (8a, 5j, 1u) and 3 American Kestrels (2 females and 1u). Movement peaked at 15 birds between 1500 and 1600 and again between 1800 and 1900. The combined species count was 122 birds of 12 species seen between 1034 and 1904 that comprised 1u Turkey Vulture, 2 Bald Eagles (1a, 1u), 1j female Northern Harrier, 53 Sharp-shinned Hawks (8a, 5j, 40u), 14 Cooper’s Hawks (5a, 3j, 6u), 1u Northern Goshawk, 3 light morph Broad-winged Hawks (1a, 1j, 1u), 17 Red-tailed Hawks (calurus 14: 10 light morphs (7a, 1j, 1u), 2a intermediate morphs and 2a dark morphs, 1a dark morph harlani and 2 indeterminate birds), 1 dark morph Rough-legged Hawk, 25 Golden Eagles (10a, 1sa, 11j, 3u), 3 American Kestrels (2 females and 1u) and 1u columbarius Merlin. The highest hourly combined count was 22 between 1700 and 1800. Other birds seen were 1 Northern Flicker, 1 Clark’s Nutcracker, 199 Common Ravens, 3,  88 American Robins, 7 Pine Siskins, 1a Brewer’s Sparrow and 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler.

11 hours (87.25) TUVU 1 (6), BAEA 2 (23), NOHA 1 (7), SSHA 53 (326), COHA 14 (67), NOGO 1 (5), BWHA 3 (10), RTHA 17 (106), RLHA 1 (8), GOEA 25 (360), AMKE 3 (9), MERL 1 (12) TOTAL 122 (959)

Sunday, September 27 Mount Lorette [Day 8] 0715-1945 (Lori Anderson, assisted by Patrick Farley). Observers counted a total of 59 migrant raptors of 9 species that comprised 2 Bald Eagles (1a and 1 undifferentiated immature bird), 2 northern Harriers (1a male and 1u female), 2u Sharp-shinned Hawks, 1u Cooper’s Hawk, 3j light morph Broad-winged Hawks, 2 calurus Red-tailed Hawks (1j light, 1a intermediate), 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk, 45 Golden Eagles (25a, 3sa, 12j, 5u) and 1 unidentified small falcon.

12.5 hours (98.74) BAEA 2 (20), NOHA 2 (7), SSHA 2 (56), COHA 1 (6), BWHA 3 (3), RTHA 2 (13), RLHA 2 (1), GOEA 45 (336), UF 1 (1) TOTAL 59 (478)

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

Friday, September 25 Vicki Ridge [Day 6] 0815-1915 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge, and Gord Petersen and Cathy Scrimshaw at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge at the Waterton 68 wellsite, 1310-1900). The temperature at 0815 was 8C, the high at 1100 was 10.5C and it was 7.5C at 1015. Winds were strong W-WSW all day, 30-40 gusting 50-60 km/h to 1600 and gusting to over 80 km/h to 1830 before moderating slightly to gusts of 60 km/h at the end of the day. Cloud cover was 80-100% dark cumulus, altocumulus and cirrus to 1400 after which it was variable 70-40% cumulus, altocumulus and lenticular that provided periods of sunshine. Periods of light rain occurred between 1100 and 1600 that originated from clouds well to the west and were driven east by the strong winds. At Waterton 61 a season-high total of 112 migrants of 7 species moved between 0836 and 1754 that comprised 2 Bald Eagles (1a, 1sa), 19 Sharp-shinned Hawks (2j, 17u), 2u Cooper’s Hawks, 5 Red-tailed Hawks (4 calurus light: 2a, 1j, 1u, and 1 dark adult harlani), 2 unidentified dark Buteos, 79 Golden Eagles (45a, 11sa, 18j, 5u), 2u columbarius Merlins (1 male, 1 female) and the season’s first Peregrine Falcon, an adult male bird. Movement was steady to 1600 and peaked at 25 birds between 1000 and 1100, but after 1600 only a further 4 birds were seen coincident with the increase in the wind velocity. At Waterton 68 a total of 64 birds of 8 species moved between 1309 and 1850 that comprised 1 Osprey, 1 late subadult Bald Eagle, 21 Sharp-shinned Hawks (2a, 1j, 18u), 1a Cooper’s Hawk, 1 light adult Swainson’s Hawk, 1 dark indeterminate Red-tailed Hawk, 4 rough-legged Hawks (3 light, 1 dark) and 34 Golden Eagles (14a, 7sa, 13j). The highest single hour counts were 16 between 1400 and 1500 and again between 1600 and 1700. The combined species count was 176 birds of 10 species between 0836 and 1850 that comprised 1 Osprey,  3 Bald Eagles (1a, 2sa), 40 Sharp-shinned Hawks (2a, 3j, 35u), 3 Cooper’s Hawks (1a, 2u), 1 light adult Swainson’s Hawk, 5 Red-tailed Hawks (4 calurus light: 2a, 1j, 1u, 1 dark adult harlani and 1 indeterminate dark bird), 2 unidentified dark Buteos, 113 Golden Eagles (59a, 18sa, 31j, 5u), 2u columbarius Merlins (1 male, 1 female) and 1a male Peregrine Falcon. Other birds seen were 1 male Hairy Woodpecker, 1 Northern [Yellow-shafted] Flicker, 2 Clark’s Nutcrackers, 8 Black-billed Magpies, 70 American Crows, 127 Common Ravens, 37 American Robins, 5 Pine Siskins and 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler.

11 hours (66.75) OSPR 1 (4), BAEA 3 (16), SSHA 40 (180), COHA 3 (40), SWHA 1 (2), RTHA 6 (68), RLHA 4 (5), UB 2 (3), GOEA 113 (284), MERL 2 (10) PEFA 1 (1) TOTAL 176 (644)

Friday, September 25 Mount Lorette [Day 6] 0750-1930 (Caroline Lambert, assisted by Patrick Farley). A total of 86 migrant raptors of 7 species comprised 2 Bald Eagles (1a, 1sa), 1u Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1u Northern Goshawk, 3 Red-tailed Hawks (1a, 1u light calurus and 1 indeterminate bird), 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk, 1 indeterminate Buteo, 76 Golden Eagles (38a, 7sa, 2j, 29u) and 1u Merlin.

11.67 hours (74.08) BAEA 2 (14), SSHA 1 (48), NOGO 1 (13), RTHA 3 (11), RLHA 1 (1), UB 1 (1), GOEA 76 (265), MERL 1 (2) TOTAL 86 (380)

Friday, September 25 Steeples (Vance Mattson).  No observation.

Saturday, September 26 Vicki Ridge [Day 7] 0800-1830 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge, and Gord Petersen and Cathy Scrimshaw at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge at the Waterton 68 wellsite, 1235-1815). The temperature at 0800 was 5C the high was 11.5C at 1400 and it was again 5C at 1830. Winds were W-WSW to 1730, 30-40 gusting 55 km/h except around 1500 when they gusted to 70 km/h. At 1730 the wind shifted to WNW and brought rain that shut down the count at 1830. Cloud cover was cumulus all day, 20-60% to 1730 that, with the exception of a period of rain from 1415 to 1440, gave sunshine and excellent observing conditions. The wind-shift at 1730 brought 80-100% dark stratocumulus and as Gord described in his notes: “The wall of gloom and rain descended”. At Waterton 61 a total of 91 migrants of 9 species were seen between 0858 and 1652 that comprised 1a Turkey Vulture, 4 Bald Eagles (1 late subadult, 2j, 1u), 1j male Northern Harrier, 43 Sharp-shinned Hawks (12a, 3j, 28u), 1a Cooper’s Hawk, 6a light morph Red-tailed Hawks, 1 light Rough-legged Hawk, 1 unidentified dark Buteo, 32 Golden Eagles (17a, 2sa, 12j, 1u) and 1u male Peregrine Falcon. The highest hourly counts were 22 (1000-1100) and 18 (1100-1200), but as with the previous two days the movement faded in the late afternoon and the last bird was seen at 1652. At Waterton 68 the total was 102 birds of 10 species seen between 1238 and 1809 that comprised 1a Turkey Vulture, 1j Bald Eagle, 50 Sharp-shinned Hawks (6a, 1j, 43u), 12 Cooper’s Hawks (1a, 5j, 6u), 1a light morph Broad-winged Hawk, 15 Red-tailed Hawks (13 light morphs: 7a, 3j, 2u; 1a intermediate morph; 1j dark morph harlani and 1 indeterminate dark morph bird), 1 dark morph  Rough-legged Hawk, 19 Golden Eagles (7a, 12j), 1u American Kestrel and 1u Merlin. The highest hourly counts were 29 (1500-1600) and 26 (1600-1700). The combined speciescount was 193 birds of 12 species between 0858 and 1809 that comprised 2a Turkey Vultures, 5 Bald Eagles (1sa, 3j, 1u), 1j male Northern Harrier, 93 Sharp-shinned Hawks (18a, 4j, 71u), 13 Cooper’s Hawks (2a, 5j, 6u), 1 light adult Broad-winged Hawk, 21 Red-tailed Hawks (18 light morphs: 13a, 3j, 2u, 1a intermediate morph, 1j dark morph harlani and 1 indeterminate dark morph bird), 2 Rough-legged Hawks (1 light, 1 dark), 1 unidentified dark Buteo, 51 Golden Eagles (24a, 2sa, 24j, 1u), 1u American Kestrel 1u Merlin and 1u male Peregrine Falcon. The highest combined species hourly count was 37 (1500-1600). Other birds seen were 1 Northern [Yellow-shafted] Flicker, 1 Clark’s Nutcracker, 18 Black-billed Magpies, 50 Common Ravens, 3 Mountain Bluebirds, 130 American Robins, 17 Pine Siskins and 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler.

10.5 hours (76.25) TUVU 2 (5), BAEA 5 (21), NOHA 1 (6), SSHA 93 (273), COHA 13 (53), BWHA 1 (7), RTHA 21 (89), RLHA 2 (7), UB 1 (4), GOEA 51 (335), AMKE 1 (6), MERL 1 (11), PEFA 1 (2) TOTAL 193 (837)

Saturday, September 26 Mount Lorette [Day 7] 0730-1940 Blake Weis, assisted by Heinz Unger). Observers recorded a total of 39 migrant raptors of 5 species that comprised 4 Bald Eagles (1a, 2sa, 1j), 6u Sharp-shinned Hawks, 2j Northern Goshawks, 26 Golden Eagles (6a, 6sa, 5j, 9u) and 1a male columbarius Merlin.

12.6 hours 986.24) BAEA 4 (18), SSHA 6 (54), NOGO 2 (15), GOEA 26 (291), MERL 1 (3) TOTAL; 39 (419)

Saturday, September 26 Steeples (Vance Mattson).  No observation.

Thursday, September 24 Vicki Ridge [Day 5] 0815-1900 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge, and Gord Petersen and Cathy Scrimshaw at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge at the Waterton 68 wellsite, 1320-1850). The temperature at 0815 was 10.5C, the high at 1300 was 14C and it was 8C at 1900. Winds were WSW-WNW all day, 40-50 gusting 60-70 km/h to 1500, 60-70 gusting 90-100 km/h to 1830 that finally dropped to 30-40 gusting 60 by 1900. Cloud cover was again very variable and fast changing with 40-60% cumulus, altocumulus and stratocumulus with frequent rain showers to 1100 and 100-80% cumulus and stratocumulus to the north and west to 1530 that again brought periods of rain. After 1530 the skies cleared with 10% cumulus allowing sunny conditions with occasional incursions of stratus cloud sweeping down from the west that brought yet more showers. At Waterton 61 only 10 migrants were seen between 0848 and 1806 with only 2 birds moving after 1402. The count was 1a Bald Eagle, 4 Sharp-shinned Hawks (1a, 2j, 1u), 1a dark morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk and 4 Golden Eagles (3a, 1j). At the Waterton 68 site no migrants were seen until 1342 but subsequently there was a steady movement of 61 birds to 1900 that comprised 2j Bald Eagles, 4 Sharp-shinned Hawks (1j, 3u), 3 Cooper’s Hawks (1j, 2u), 1j Northern Goshawk, 3a Red-tailed Hawks (1 light, 1 intermediate and 1 dark), 47 Golden Eagles (21a, 3sa, 23j) and 1 unidentified eagle. The combined total of 71 birds of 6 species counted between 0848 and 1900 was 3 Bald Eagles (1a, 2j), 8 Sharp-shinned Hawks (1a, 3j, 4u), 3 Cooper’s Hawks (1j, 2u), 1j Northern Goshawk, 4a Red-tailed Hawks (1 light, 1 intermediate and 2 dark), 51 Golden Eagles (24a, 3sa, 24j) and 1 unidentified eagle. The only other birds seen were 1 Northern Flicker, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 39 Common Ravens, 26 American Robins and 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler.

10.75 hours (54.75) BAEA 3 (13), SSHA 8 (140), COHA 3 (37), NOGO 1 (4), RTHA4 (62), GOEA 51 (171) UE 1 (1) TOTAL 71 (468)

Thursday, September 24 Mount Lorette [Day 5] 0715-1930 (Graeme Dunlop, assisted by Rick Robb). A total of 33 birds of 7 species were counted that comprised 1 subadult Bald Eagle, 3 Sharp-shinned Hawks (2a, 1u), 1u Cooper’s Hawk, 3 adult Northern Goshawks, 23 Golden Eagles (17a, 1sa, 2j, 3u), 1 female American Kestrel and 1u richardsonii Merlin.

12.25 hours (62.41) BAEA 1 (12), SSHA 3 (47), COHA 1 (5), NOGO 3 (12), GOEA 23 (189), AMKE 1 (1), MERL 1 (1) TOTAL 33 (294)

Thursday, September 24 Steeples (Vance Mattson).  No observation.