subscribe: Posts | Comments

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.

03/18/2022

Observers: Bill Wilson and Ruth Morrow

Start Time:

06:40 AM

End Time:

08:05 PM

Temperature:

Low 0 C, high +5.5 C

Description of the Day:

A mostly cloudy day (70 to 100% cumulus) with relatively light ground winds (mostly 5 to 15 km/h but gusting to 20 to 30 at times) that often left us wishing the sun would shine through a bit more. Winds aloft were mostly west to southwest 15 to 30 km/h. The migration seemed slow most of the time, but in the 9 hours between the first eagle at 10:30 am to the last at 7:30 pm the migrants added up to a nice total of 99 golden eagles and 4 bald eagles.

Migrant Golden Eagle Count:

99

Migrant Other Raptor Count By Species:

4 Bald Eagles

Period with Most Migrants:

24 golden eagles and 1 bald eagle between 16:00 and 17:00.

Total Migratory Raptors:

103

Non-Migrant Raptors:

1 juvenile bald eagle flying south about 100 m up and two northern goshawks soaring, interacting, and flying south a few hundred metres up.

Other Birds of Note:

Great Horned Owls hooting in the distance across the river, Canada Jays, Bohemian Waxwings, one starling, Hairy Woodpecker, chickadees, American Dipper, and assorted ravens.

Other Observations:

Nothing of note.

Number of Visitors:

25