Vicki Ridge Observations

Vicki Ridge is an observation site located in the Crowsnest Pass.

See the count reports for historical data. The following observations started in Fall 2021.

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10/23/2021

Observers: Blake Weis, Annie Finch

Start Time:

11:00 AM

End Time:

07:00 PM

Temperature:

4C - 5C

Description of the Day:

We started the count later than usual due to heavy rain in the morning. By 11 am it had turned to light rain and the ridges were still obscured. The low cloud slowly lifted off the mountains between 2 and 5 pm and the rain stopped around 4 pm. The first migrant was seen at 1:16 pm soaring low below the cloud in front of Patrick. It ramped up from there into a big rush late in the day. The last migrant passed just before sunset at 6:23 pm. Continuing the Saturday trend most of them were difficult to age silhouetted by heavy cloud cover. The highlight of the day was a black swift which few south down the valley around 4:50 pm. That species is scarce at any time of the year but seems especially rare this late into the fall.

Migrant Golden Eagle Count:

45 (13 adults, 3 juveniles, 29 unaged)

Migrant Other Raptor Count By Species:

2 Bald Eagles, 5 Rough-legged Hawks

Period with Most Migrants:

Most migrants (31 of 52) passed between 5 pm and 6 pm

Total Migratory Raptors:

Non-Migrant Raptors:

1 Bald Eagle

Other Birds of Note:

1 Black Swift, 1 Ruffed Grouse, 1 Downy Woodpecker, 2 Hairy Woodpeckers, 20 Bohemian Waxwings, 2 Common Redpolls, 5 Pine Siskins, 5 Lapland Longspurs, 1 White-crowned Sparrow