Since the fall of 2009, there has been a reconnaissance count at or near the Steeples Ridge which is located on the east side of the Kootenay Valley (Rocky Mountain Trench) 25 km NE of Cranbrook, B.C.
Steeples Observations
See the count reports for historical data.
09/29/2021
Observers: Bill Wilson, Brian McBride, Cliff Hansen, James Bannon, and Teresa Gawron
07:20 AM
07:35 PM
+5.5 C to +11 C
Generally a pleasant day, lots of cumulus cloud but lots of sun. Winds quite variable from 5 to 20 km/h and the odd gust to 40 or even 60 km/h. A cold front moved in about 2:30 pm, dropping the temperature by three degrees.
65 (46 adults, 1 subadult, 9 juveniles and 9 unaged)
2 Bald Eagles, 3 Sharp-shinned Hawks, 1 Cooper's Hawk, 1 Northern Goshawk, 4 unID accipiters, 1 Red-tailed Hawk, 1 unID buteo, 2 Merlins, and 2 Peregrine Falcons.
More than half of the 82 migrants came through after 4 pm, with a peak of 20 between 5 and 6 pm.
82
Northern Goshawk 1, Red-tailed Hawk 1, Golden Eagle 1.
4 Ruby-crowned Kinglets, 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet, plus an American Dipper serenading us most of the afternoon.
The migrant Red-tailed Hawk was a rufous morph, looking stunningly beautiful in late afternoon light against blue sky, with very light underwings, rufous body, and lightly red tail.
3
