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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.

11/01/2021

Observers: Lori Anderson, Blake Weis.

Start Time:

07:30 AM

End Time:

06:30 PM

Temperature:

-15C at 7:30, +3 at 14:00 and -3 at the end of the day.

Description of the Day:

The cloudless morning was bitter cold. When the long-awaited Sun finally touched the valley at 10:00, everything glittered like diamonds on the frosty white land, and steam evaporated on the river creating a fantasy dreamland! There was little to no wind at ground level and the ridges only received between 6 and 17 km/h SW/SSW all day with no gusts. Needless to say, there was very little raptor movement and much flapping from the few who dared make the trek. The nice thing was that we got some closer views of the eagles as they travelled from Lorette to the Fisher Range.

Migrant Golden Eagle Count:

8

Migrant Other Raptor Count By Species:

3 Bald Eagles ( 1 Adult, 1 Subadult Type I and 1 Juvenile) 1 Coopers Hawk.

Period with Most Migrants:

From 14:00 to 15:00 we had 4 Golden Eagles.

Total Migratory Raptors:

12

Non-Migrant Raptors:

2 Goshawks spent some time sitting in the trees across the river. 1 juvenile and 1 adult.

Other Birds of Note:

6 Ravens, 5 American Tree Sparrows, 1 Townsend's Solitaire, 1 Mountain Bluebird (female), 1 Pine Grosbeak, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 1 Black-capped Chickadee, 2 Golden-Crowned Kinglets, 4 Canada Jays, 4 Common Redpolls, 6 Dark-Eyed Juncos, 1 Duck sp.

Other Observations:

None

Number of Visitors:

0