RMERF Count Summary 2019 Fall
COUNT DATE: 15/11/2019, (Day 57 of 57)
TIME: Start: 08:05 – End: 15:35, Day Total: 07:30hrs, (To Date: 269:25hrs)
OBSERVERS: Caroline Lambert, Eric Langshaw, Rosemary Power
DESCRIPTION OF DAY: Today was the last day of the autumn 2019 count. We left at 3:35 – no raptors had been seen during the previous 4 hours despite what appeared to be excellent conditions.
TEMPERATURE: Min: 0, Max: +5
PERIOD WITH MOST MIGRANTS: 9 – 10
MIGRANT EAGLE COUNT BY SPECIES:
– Golden Eagle: Total: 2, (To Date: 472)
– Bald Eagle: Adult: 1, Total: 1, (To Date: 98)
MIGRANT RAPTOR COUNT BY SPECIES:
– None observed
TOTAL MIGRATORY RAPTORS: Daily: 3, (To Date: 628)
NON MIGRANT RAPTORS: Northern Goshawk
OTHER BIRDS OF NOTE: Common Raven 6, Mountain Chickadee 5, Black-capped Chickadee 5, Canada Jay 2, Killdeer 1, American Dipper 1.
OTHER OBSERVATIONS: wolf tracks, pine marten tracks, a morning cloak butterfly and a vole (species ?)
NUMBER OF VISITORS: Daily: 5, (To Date: 336)
COUNT DATE: 14/11/2019, (Day 56 of 57)
TIME: Start: 08:00 – End: 17:00, Day Total: 09:00hrs, (To Date: 261:55hrs)
OBSERVERS: Cliff Hansen and Rick Robb
DESCRIPTION OF DAY: The day began with a temperature of -7 degrees, calm to very light surface winds, 100% thin cirrus cloud cover and all ridges clear. Ridge wind seemed to be light from the west. Temperatures warmed to +2 by 15:00 hours. By noon, surface winds increased to 5-10 kph with some gusts to 15 and remained so until sunset. A chinook was expected but chinook clouds did not form until after 15:00.
TEMPERATURE: Min: -7, Max: +2
PERIOD WITH MOST MIGRANTS: 14:00 – 15:00 produced 1 x BAEA, 1 x RLHA, and 2 x GOEA.
MIGRANT EAGLE COUNT BY SPECIES:
– Golden Eagle: Adult: 4, Sub-Adult: Juvenile: Unaged: 1, Total: 5, (To Date: 470)
– Bald Eagle: Adult: 1, Total: 1, (To Date: 97)
MIGRANT RAPTOR COUNT BY SPECIES:
– Rough-legged Hawk: 1
TOTAL MIGRATORY RAPTORS: Daily: 7, (To Date: 625)
NON MIGRANT RAPTORS: 1 x BAEA
OTHER BIRDS OF NOTE: 11 x CORA, 3 x CAJA, 1 x RUGR.
OTHER OBSERVATIONS: 1 x White-tailed Deer (M), 3x Red Squirrels, & fresh Pine Marten tracks.
NUMBER OF VISITORS: Daily: 2, (To Date: 331)
COUNT DATE: 13/11/2019, (Day 55 of 57)
TIME: Start: 07:30 – End: 17:10, Day Total: 09:40hrs, (To Date: 252:55hrs)
OBSERVERS: George Halmazna, Caroline Lambert, Rosemary Power
DESCRIPTION OF DAY: Clear and calm day. 7 migrating raptors only. Closing on last day of observation for this Fall migration.
TEMPERATURE: Min: -5, Max: +3
PERIOD WITH MOST MIGRANTS: 15-16:00 ( 3 GOEA )
MIGRANT EAGLE COUNT BY SPECIES:
– Golden Eagle: Adult: 4, Sub-Adult: 0, Juvenile: 1, Unaged: 0, Total: 5, (To Date: 465)
– Bald Eagle: Adult: 2, Total: 2, (To Date: 96)
MIGRANT RAPTOR COUNT BY SPECIES:
– None observed
TOTAL MIGRATORY RAPTORS: Daily: 7, (To Date: 618)
NON MIGRANT RAPTORS: 0
OTHER BIRDS OF NOTE: HAWO-1, CAJA-3, CORA-23, KILL-1, BCCH-3, MOCH-1, PIGR-1.
OTHER OBSERVATIONS: Red Squirrels-3, Tracks ( fresh ) – Moose-1, WTD-3.
NUMBER OF VISITORS: Daily: 28, (To Date: 329)
COUNT DATE: 12/11/2019, (Day 54 of 57)
TIME: Start: 07:10 – End: 17:10, Day Total: 10:00hrs, (To Date: 243:15hrs)
OBSERVERS: Bill Wilson and Sandy Graham
DESCRIPTION OF DAY: Mountains obscured in light to occasionally moderate snow, ending around 11:00. Ridges still partially and variably obscured most of the afternoon, but clear by the end of the day. Ground winds mostly 5 – 10 km/h, maximum gust 20 km/h. Ridge winds SW 13 to 30 km/h.
TEMPERATURE: Min: -3, Max: 0
PERIOD WITH MOST MIGRANTS: No migrants.
MIGRANT EAGLE COUNT BY SPECIES:
– None observed
MIGRANT RAPTOR COUNT BY SPECIES:
– None observed
TOTAL MIGRATORY RAPTORS: Daily: 0, (To Date: 611)
NON MIGRANT RAPTORS: 0
OTHER BIRDS OF NOTE: 1 Northern Pygmy-owl (highlight of the day!), 2 Mallards, 2 Common Goldeneye, 1 Killdeer, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 2 American Dippers, 10 raven sightings, 3 Canada Jays, 1 starling.
OTHER OBSERVATIONS: Nothing of note.
NUMBER OF VISITORS: Daily: 7, (To Date: 301)
COUNT DATE: 11/11/2019, (Day 53 of 57)
TIME: Start: 08:25 – End: 16:45, Day Total: 08:20hrs, (To Date: 233:15hrs)
OBSERVERS: George Halmazna, Dan Parliament, Graeme Dunlop
DESCRIPTION OF DAY: Clear day with Cs developing in afternoon. Strong SSW winds on Kananaskis Ridge, with gusts up to 104 km. Snow was blowing off from all ridges around. Raptors were migrating between 12 and 15:00 hrs only.
TEMPERATURE: Min: -17, Max: -3
PERIOD WITH MOST MIGRANTS: 12-13:00 and 14-15:00 ( 3 raptors in each hour )
MIGRANT EAGLE COUNT BY SPECIES:
– Golden Eagle: Adult: 1, Sub-Adult: 0, Juvenile: 2, Unaged: 1, Total: 4, (To Date: 460)
– Bald Eagle: Adult: 1, Juvenile: 1, Total: 2, (To Date: 94)
MIGRANT RAPTOR COUNT BY SPECIES:
– Northern Goshawk: 1
TOTAL MIGRATORY RAPTORS: Daily: 7, (To Date: 611)
NON MIGRANT RAPTORS: 0
OTHER BIRDS OF NOTE: CAJA-4, CORA-16, BCCH-2, DEJU-1, EUST-2.
OTHER OBSERVATIONS: Red Squirrels – 2 and more tracks, WTD-3 ( tracks )
NUMBER OF VISITORS: Daily: 29, (To Date: 294)
COUNT DATE: 10/11/2019, (Day 52 of 57)
TIME: Start: 07:50 – End: 17:15, Day Total: 09:25hrs, (To Date: 224:55hrs)
OBSERVERS: Bill Wilson
DESCRIPTION OF DAY: Snow until about 11:00, with the mountains very hazy to completely invisible. After that, it cleared off surprisingly quickly. Wind generally 5 to 10 sometimes gusting to 15 or 20 km/h.
TEMPERATURE: Min: -12, Max: -10
PERIOD WITH MOST MIGRANTS: All six migrant eagles were seen between 12:30 and 15:10
MIGRANT EAGLE COUNT BY SPECIES:
– Golden Eagle: Adult: 1, Sub-Adult: Juvenile: Unaged: Total: 1, (To Date: 456)
– Bald Eagle: Adult: 3, Sub-Adult: 1, Juvenile: 1, Total: 5, (To Date: 92)
MIGRANT RAPTOR COUNT BY SPECIES:
– None observed
TOTAL MIGRATORY RAPTORS: Daily: 6, (To Date: 604)
NON MIGRANT RAPTORS: 0
OTHER BIRDS OF NOTE: Swan – flock of 12 with 3 Canada Geese; one late flock of 50 Canada Geese; one flock of 35 Mallards (all of the above flying south high up); 1 Common Merganser flying north; 3 Canada Jays; 1 magpie; 5 Common Ravens; 1 starling; 1 Pine Grosbeak; 1 Snow Bunting.
OTHER OBSERVATIONS: Nothing of note.
NUMBER OF VISITORS: Daily: 9, (To Date: 265)
COUNT DATE: 09/11/2019, (Day 51 of 57)
TIME: Start: 08:20 – End: 13:45, Day Total: 05:25hrs, (To Date: 215:30hrs)
OBSERVERS: Blake Weis, Sandy Graham
DESCRIPTION OF DAY: At the start of observation it was -1 with wind gusting up to 25 from the north. Thick fog hung over the north side of the valley but the sky was clear above the site. The fog moved in over the course of the morning. By 13:00 it had cooled to -4, and fog obscured all ridges for the rest of the day. We left the site at 13:45 but I lingered in the area until 16:30 in case it cleared up. No migrant raptors were seen.
TEMPERATURE: Min: -4, Max: -1
PERIOD WITH MOST MIGRANTS: No migrants
MIGRANT EAGLE COUNT BY SPECIES:
– None observed
MIGRANT RAPTOR COUNT BY SPECIES:
– None observed
TOTAL MIGRATORY RAPTORS: Daily: 0, (To Date: 598)
NON MIGRANT RAPTORS: N/A
OTHER BIRDS OF NOTE: Common Merganser: 3, Ruffed Grouse: 1, Killdeer: 1, American Dipper: 1, Pine Siskin: 1
OTHER OBSERVATIONS: White-tailed Deer: 2
NUMBER OF VISITORS: Daily: 0, (To Date: 256)
COUNT DATE: 08/11/2019, (Day 50 of 57)
TIME: Start: 08:10 – End: 17:20, Day Total: 09:10hrs, (To Date: 210:05hrs)
OBSERVERS: Caroline Lambert, Cliff Hansen
DESCRIPTION OF DAY: It was unusually warm (9C) all day and very windy. The ridges were clear, and with the wind from the west, migration conditions were excellent. Our expectations were high, but reality fell far short with just four migrants.
TEMPERATURE: Min: 7, Max: 9
PERIOD WITH MOST MIGRANTS: Half of the four migrants passed by at 12:55.
MIGRANT EAGLE COUNT BY SPECIES:
– Golden Eagle: Adult: 1, Sub-Adult: 0, Juvenile: 1, Unaged: 0, Total: 2, (To Date: 455)
– Bald Eagle: Adult: 1, Total: 1, (To Date: 87)
MIGRANT RAPTOR COUNT BY SPECIES:
– Northern Goshawk: 1
TOTAL MIGRATORY RAPTORS: Daily: 4, (To Date: 598)
NON MIGRANT RAPTORS: One Bald Eagle, one Common Goshawk
OTHER BIRDS OF NOTE: We were entertained by an American Dipper that caught a small fish, a Hairy Woodpecker that pecked at the driftwood in front of us, and a Killdeer that complained loudly. Four Canada Jays came to check us out. Other than that, there were the usual Common Ravens (at least 5), a Black-billed Magpie, a Black-capped Chickadee, a couple each of Mountain and Boreal Chickadees, a few Pine Siskins, and a half dozen Bohemian Waxwings.
OTHER OBSERVATIONS: A moth was flying around.
NUMBER OF VISITORS: Daily: 2, (To Date: 256)
COUNT DATE: 07/11/2019, (Day 49 of 57)
TIME: Start: 07:50 – End: 17:20, Day Total: 09:30hrs, (To Date: 200:55hrs)
OBSERVERS: Cliff Hansen and Rick Robb
DESCRIPTION OF DAY: Cloud cover varied from 90% Ac with a high thin Ci to 100% Cu and high thin Ci to noon then reducing to 30% cover at sunset. Temperatures warmed from a low of -8 at 9:00 to +2 at 15:00 then cooled to -1 at sunset. Ground wind were light and variable all day increasing from calm to a max of 5-10 kph with only one gust before 14:00 to 15 kph. A chinook arch became apparent after 15:00. Ridge winds prior to the arch appeared to be light from the west. After the arch, ridge winds strengthened to moderate from the southwest as indicated by the pluming snow.
TEMPERATURE: Min: -8, Max: +2
PERIOD WITH MOST MIGRANTS: 16:00 – 17:00 produced 5 GOEAs.
MIGRANT EAGLE COUNT BY SPECIES:
– Golden Eagle: Adult: 7, Sub-Adult: 1, Juvenile: 2, Unaged: 3, Total: 13, (To Date: 453)
MIGRANT RAPTOR COUNT BY SPECIES:
– Northern Goshawk: 1
TOTAL MIGRATORY RAPTORS: Daily: 14, (To Date: 594)
NON MIGRANT RAPTORS: One adult BAEA that perched on a tree near the pump houses and remained there for much of the afternoon.
OTHER BIRDS OF NOTE: CORA x 9, BBMA x 1, CAJA x 3, RUBL x 1 and ATSP x 1.
OTHER OBSERVATIONS: White-tailed Deer x 2 and Red Squirrel x 1.
NUMBER OF VISITORS: Daily: 6, (To Date: 254)
COUNT DATE: 06/11/2019, (Day 48 of 57)
TIME: Start: 07:30 – End: 17:00, Day Total: 09:30hrs, (To Date: 191:25hrs)
OBSERVERS: George Halmazna, Brian McBride
DESCRIPTION OF DAY: Clear and sunny day with morning temperature -18C and highest -6C.Calm in the valley, mild wind on ridges ( up to 27 km from WSW on Nakiska Ridge ). 8 migrating raptors mainly between 13-15 hrs over Fisher Range.
TEMPERATURE: Min: -18, Max: -6
PERIOD WITH MOST MIGRANTS: 13:00-14:00 and 14:00-15:00
MIGRANT EAGLE COUNT BY SPECIES:
– Golden Eagle: Adult: 2, Sub-Adult: 0, Juvenile: 1, Unaged: 2, Total: 5, (To Date: 440)
– Bald Eagle: Adult: 2, Total: 2, (To Date: 86)
MIGRANT RAPTOR COUNT BY SPECIES:
– Northern Goshawk: 1
TOTAL MIGRATORY RAPTORS: Daily: 8, (To Date: 580)
NON MIGRANT RAPTORS: 0
OTHER BIRDS OF NOTE: CNGO-10, DOWO-1, CORA-6, CAJA-3, CORE-4
OTHER OBSERVATIONS: Tracks of 2 WTD, Red Squirrel-5,
NUMBER OF VISITORS: Daily: 8, (To Date: 248)
COUNT DATE: 05/11/2019, (Day 47 of 57)
TIME: Start: 07:30 – End: 13:10, Day Total: 05:40hrs, (To Date: 181:55hrs)
OBSERVERS: Bill Wilson
DESCRIPTION OF DAY: Both sides of the valley were almost invisible in cloud and falling snow all morning, and the forecast was for this to continue into the night. Wind generally NNE 5 to 10 km/h with maximum gust 26 km/h. I left the site at noon and left the area at 13:00, checking Lusk Creek on the way out (also socked in). Brian McBride was staying overnight in the area and said if the weather improved he’d monitor any migration. (Thanks, Brian!)
TEMPERATURE: Min: -2, Max: -1
PERIOD WITH MOST MIGRANTS: No migrants.
MIGRANT EAGLE COUNT BY SPECIES:
– None observed
MIGRANT RAPTOR COUNT BY SPECIES:
– None observed
TOTAL MIGRATORY RAPTORS: Daily: 0, (To Date: 572)
NON MIGRANT RAPTORS: None.
OTHER BIRDS OF NOTE: 1 American Dipper, 4 Common Ravens, 3 Starlings, 1 American Tree Sparrow.
OTHER OBSERVATIONS: Nothing of note.
NUMBER OF VISITORS: Daily: 1, (To Date: 240)
COUNT DATE: 04/11/2019, (Day 46 of 57)
TIME: Start: 08:00 – End: 16:50, Day Total: 08:50hrs, (To Date: 176:15hrs)
OBSERVERS: George Halmazna, Dan Parliament
DESCRIPTION OF DAY: Relatively calm day in valley with lot of Stratus / fog on ridges. West and east was completely covered in morning hours and in late afternoon. Observed 8 GOEA only. All were migrating over Fisher Range.
TEMPERATURE: Min: -8, Max: +1
PERIOD WITH MOST MIGRANTS: Between 14-15:00 hrs – 5 migrating GOEA
MIGRANT EAGLE COUNT BY SPECIES:
– Golden Eagle: Adult: 7, Sub-Adult: 0, Juvenile: 0, Unaged: 1, Total: 8, (To Date: 435)
MIGRANT RAPTOR COUNT BY SPECIES:
– None observed
TOTAL MIGRATORY RAPTORS: Daily: 8, (To Date: 572)
NON MIGRANT RAPTORS: 0
OTHER BIRDS OF NOTE: CORA-12, BCCH-13, BOCH-1, MOCH-2, RUGR-1, CAJA-3, DOWO-1, PIWO-2, RCKI-1, EUST-1, PIGR-3, SNBU-8.
OTHER OBSERVATIONS: Wolf tracks, Coyote 1 and 2 sets of tracks, Elk and WTD tracks.
NUMBER OF VISITORS: Daily: 20, (To Date: 239)
COUNT DATE: 03/11/2019, (Day 45 of 57)
TIME: Start: 06:50 – End: 13:00, Day Total: 06:10hrs, (To Date: 167:25hrs)
OBSERVERS: Bill Wilson
DESCRIPTION OF DAY: Eastern ranges clear at sunrise, but both sides of the valley were obscured in snow by about 09:00 and remained so. With the snow forecast to continue into the night, I packed it in at 13:00.
TEMPERATURE: Min: -2, Max: 0
PERIOD WITH MOST MIGRANTS: No migrants.
MIGRANT EAGLE COUNT BY SPECIES:
– None observed
MIGRANT RAPTOR COUNT BY SPECIES:
– None observed
TOTAL MIGRATORY RAPTORS: Daily: 0, (To Date: 564)
NON MIGRANT RAPTORS: None.
OTHER BIRDS OF NOTE: The only birds were one American Dipper (twice), five ravens and one vocal flyover that was either a Pine Siskin or a redpoll.
OTHER OBSERVATIONS: Nothing of note.
NUMBER OF VISITORS: Daily: 0, (To Date: 219)
COUNT DATE: 02/11/2019, (Day 44 of 57)
TIME: Start: 08:35 – End: 17:50, Day Total: 09:15hrs, (To Date: 161:15hrs)
OBSERVERS: Blake Weis, Eric Langshaw, Rosemary Power
DESCRIPTION OF DAY: It was a slow day despite what seemed like good flying conditions
TEMPERATURE: Min: -3, Max: 5
PERIOD WITH MOST MIGRANTS: 8 of the day’s 10 migrants passed between 13:00 and 15:00
MIGRANT EAGLE COUNT BY SPECIES:
– Golden Eagle: Adult: 5, Sub-Adult: Juvenile: Unaged: Total: 5, (To Date: 427)
– Bald Eagle: Juvenile: 1, Total: 1, (To Date: 84)
– Unidentified Eagle: Total: 1, (To Date: 12)
MIGRANT RAPTOR COUNT BY SPECIES:
– Northern Goshawk: 1
– Merlin: 1
– Unidentified Raptor: 1
TOTAL MIGRATORY RAPTORS: Daily: 10, (To Date: 564)
NON MIGRANT RAPTORS: Bald Eagle: 1
OTHER BIRDS OF NOTE: European Starling: 1, American Robin: 1, Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch: 10, Common Redpoll: 3, Pine Siskin: 1, American Tree Sparrow: 1
OTHER OBSERVATIONS: Bull Moose: 1
NUMBER OF VISITORS: Daily: 8, (To Date: 219)
COUNT DATE: 01/11/2019, (Day 43 of 57)
TIME: Start: 08:35 – End: 18:35, Day Total: 10:00hrs, (To Date: 152:00hrs)
OBSERVERS: Caroline Lambert, Pat Farley
DESCRIPTION OF DAY: The day started out cold, but with clear skies and no ground wind. Snow was blowing off the ridges, though, making good conditions for migration right from the start. A steady trickle of birds was seen throughout the day.
TEMPERATURE: Min: -13, Max: 1
PERIOD WITH MOST MIGRANTS: Although there were migrants passing through every hour, the period from 13:00 to 16:00 was slightly busier than at other times.
MIGRANT EAGLE COUNT BY SPECIES:
– Golden Eagle: Adult: 10, Sub-Adult: 1, Juvenile: 4, Unaged: 6, Total: 21, (To Date: 422)
– Bald Eagle: Adult: 5, Juvenile: 2, Total: 7, (To Date: 83)
– Unidentified Eagle: Total: 1, (To Date: 11)
MIGRANT RAPTOR COUNT BY SPECIES:
– Northern Goshawk: 1
TOTAL MIGRATORY RAPTORS: Daily: 30, (To Date: 554)
NON MIGRANT RAPTORS: None
OTHER BIRDS OF NOTE: 4 CAJA, 15 CORA, 2 BCCH, 2 MOCH, 2 PISI, 5 SNBU
OTHER OBSERVATIONS: Nothing
NUMBER OF VISITORS: Daily: 5, (To Date: 211)
COUNT DATE: 31/10/2019, (Day 42 of 57)
TIME: Start: 08:20 – End: 18:20, Day Total: 10:00hrs, (To Date: 142:00hrs)
OBSERVERS: Cliff Hansen, Rick Robb and Graham Dunlop
DESCRIPTION OF DAY: It was a cold but rather pleasant day. Ground winds were light increasing to 5-15 kph by 17:00 then decreasing. Cloud cover increased from 30% Sc and Cu to about 70% Cu by noon and remained so until sunset. Ridge winds appeared to be light as there was no apparent drifting of the fog generated by snow making on the ski hill but the Cu above drifted at a moderate rate from the NW. the first migrant, a GOEA appeared at 10:45 on the west side of the valley. GOEA migration increase steadily until 15:00 (18 seen between 14:00 & 15:00) then decreased with the last GOEA passing at 15:37. After that three BAEAs passed by. Most used the traditional route from Lorette – Patrick – Fisher Range. The the winds did present problems for them. Many did glide by high (difficult to age against bright cloud) but many others flapped by low across the face of the Fisher Range. Rick and I appreciated the able assistance provided by Graham Dunlop whose amazing eyes first spotted many of the high fliers.
TEMPERATURE: Min: -8, Max: 0
PERIOD WITH MOST MIGRANTS: Most migrants passed by between 14:00 – 15:00
MIGRANT EAGLE COUNT BY SPECIES:
– Golden Eagle: Adult: 30, Sub-Adult: 1, Juvenile: Unaged: 14, Total: 45, (To Date: 401)
– Bald Eagle: Adult: 3, Total: 3, (To Date: 76)
MIGRANT RAPTOR COUNT BY SPECIES:
– None observed
TOTAL MIGRATORY RAPTORS: Daily: 48, (To Date: 524)
NON MIGRANT RAPTORS: GOSH
OTHER BIRDS OF NOTE: CORA x 10, CAJA x 2, DOWO, HAWO, COME x 3 (m), and AMDI x 2.
OTHER OBSERVATIONS: Red Squirrels x 2
NUMBER OF VISITORS: Daily: 4, (To Date: 206)
COUNT DATE: 30/10/2019, (Day 41 of 57)
TIME: Start: 08:00 – End: 18:10, Day Total: 10:10hrs, (To Date: 132:00hrs)
OBSERVERS: George Halmazna, Eric Langshaw
DESCRIPTION OF DAY: Clear with increasing and thickening of Cirrus. No strong wind on rigges till late afternoon. From -16C to -2.5C. Ground wind mainly from SW up to 20 km/hr. Very quiet from birds activity point of view. Migrating eagles after 14:20 hrs.
TEMPERATURE: Min: -16, Max: -2.5
PERIOD WITH MOST MIGRANTS: 2 raptors between 14-15 hrs and 16-17 hrs.
MIGRANT EAGLE COUNT BY SPECIES:
– Golden Eagle: Adult: 2, Sub-Adult: 0, Juvenile: 1, Unaged: 1, Total: 4, (To Date: 356)
– Unidentified Eagle: Total: 1, (To Date: 10)
MIGRANT RAPTOR COUNT BY SPECIES:
– Sharp-shinned Hawk: 1
TOTAL MIGRATORY RAPTORS: Daily: 6, (To Date: 476)
NON MIGRANT RAPTORS: 0
OTHER BIRDS OF NOTE: CAJA-3, CORA-11
OTHER OBSERVATIONS: WTD-2, BHS-2,
NUMBER OF VISITORS: Daily: 17, (To Date: 202)
COUNT DATE: 29/10/2019, (Day 40 of 57)
TIME: Start: 09:00 – End: 18:35, Day Total: 09:35hrs, (To Date: 121:50hrs)
OBSERVERS: Dan Parliament, Cliff Hansen
DESCRIPTION OF DAY: A bone chilling start to the day at minus 23 C. Fortunately for the observers minimal ground wind and full sunshine mitigated against the cold. Unfortunately for migrant raptors, the low winds resulted in poor flying conditions. The first GOEA migrant was at 1420 hrs, and tracked low across Patrick. The Grade 8 class from John Ware School in Calgary stopped for a brief orientation as part of their 3 day outdoor education class.
TEMPERATURE: Min: -23, Max: -5
PERIOD WITH MOST MIGRANTS: 16:00-17:00
MIGRANT EAGLE COUNT BY SPECIES:
– Golden Eagle: Adult: 11, Sub-Adult: 1, Juvenile: 2, Unaged: Total: 14, (To Date: 352)
– Bald Eagle: Adult: 4, Total: 4, (To Date: 73)
MIGRANT RAPTOR COUNT BY SPECIES:
– Rough-legged Hawk: 1
TOTAL MIGRATORY RAPTORS: Daily: 19, (To Date: 470)
NON MIGRANT RAPTORS: Adult BAEA 1
OTHER BIRDS OF NOTE: Mall 5, BCCH 2, MOCH 1, CORA 8, CAJA 3, DOWO 1, HAWP 1, DEJU (Slate) 1, EUST 2
OTHER OBSERVATIONS: Coyote 1, Red Squirrel 1
NUMBER OF VISITORS: Daily: 51, (To Date: 185)
COUNT DATE: 28/10/2019, (Day 39 of 57)
TIME: Start: 08:20 – End: 16:15, Day Total: 07:55hrs, (To Date: 112:15hrs)
OBSERVERS: George Halmazna, Dan Parliament
DESCRIPTION OF DAY: Cold, windy, snowing all day. Reduced visibility. 8 migrating raptors only. 100% Stratus / snow. Left early after increasing of snow and loosing visibility in late afternoon.
TEMPERATURE: Min: -18, Max: -10
PERIOD WITH MOST MIGRANTS: 11:00-12:00 and 13:00-14;00
MIGRANT EAGLE COUNT BY SPECIES:
– Golden Eagle: Total: 1, (To Date: 338)
– Bald Eagle: Adult: 2, Sub-Adult: 3, Total: 5, (To Date: 69)
MIGRANT RAPTOR COUNT BY SPECIES:
– Northern Goshawk: 2
TOTAL MIGRATORY RAPTORS: Daily: 8, (To Date: 451)
NON MIGRANT RAPTORS: 0
OTHER BIRDS OF NOTE: CNGO-104, MALL-327, COGO-33, CAJA-4,CORA-9, BCCH-3, MOCH-3, GCKI-1, BOWA-52, PIGR-1.
OTHER OBSERVATIONS: WTDeer-3, Red Squirrel-4, Meadow Vole-1.
NUMBER OF VISITORS: Daily: 2, (To Date: 134)
COUNT DATE: 27/10/2019, (Day 38 of 57)
TIME: Start: 07:45 – End: 19:00, Day Total: 11:15hrs, (To Date: 104:20hrs)
OBSERVERS: Bill Wilson, Lori Anderson
DESCRIPTION OF DAY: 90% to 100% altostratus, often with weak to moderate sun showing through. Winds generally less than about 10 km/h. Only eleven raptors were seen up to 4:25 pm, but then things picked up nicely.
TEMPERATURE: Min: -7, Max: 0
PERIOD WITH MOST MIGRANTS: 26 of the 37 migrant raptors were seen in the hour and three-quarters from 16:26 to 18:11.
MIGRANT EAGLE COUNT BY SPECIES:
– Golden Eagle: Adult: 16, Sub-Adult: 2, Juvenile: 3, Unaged: 1, Total: 22, (To Date: 337)
– Bald Eagle: Adult: 7, Sub-Adult: 2, Juvenile: 2, Unaged: 1, Total: 12, (To Date: 64)
MIGRANT RAPTOR COUNT BY SPECIES:
– Sharp-shinned Hawk: 1
– Rough-legged Hawk: 2
TOTAL MIGRATORY RAPTORS: Daily: 37, (To Date: 443)
NON MIGRANT RAPTORS: 0
OTHER BIRDS OF NOTE: CAGO 311, MALL 100, HAWO 1, AMDI 2, BCCH 3, MOCH 5, GCKI 2, CAJA 4, CORA 6, PISI 1, PIGR 3.
OTHER OBSERVATIONS: 3 White-tailed Deer.
NUMBER OF VISITORS: Daily: 14, (To Date: 132)
COUNT DATE: 26/10/2019, (Day 37 of 57)
TIME: Start: 08:40 – End: 18:20, Day Total: 09:40hrs, (To Date: 93:05hrs)
OBSERVERS: Blake Weis, Karen Anderson
DESCRIPTION OF DAY: It snowed starting around 11 am. When we noticed some clearing to the north we moved to Lusk Creek from 16:00 to the end of the day.
TEMPERATURE: Min: -4, Max: -1
PERIOD WITH MOST MIGRANTS: Seven migrants were counted at Hay Meadow between 9:00 and 11:00, before the snow arrived. No others were seen until late in the day when 14 migrants were recorded at Lusk Creek between 16:00 and 18:00
MIGRANT EAGLE COUNT BY SPECIES:
– Golden Eagle: Adult: 2, Sub-Adult: Juvenile: 1, Unaged: 2, Total: 5, (To Date: 315)
– Bald Eagle: Adult: 5, Juvenile: 2, Unaged: 4, Total: 11, (To Date: 52)
– Unidentified Eagle: Total: 1, (To Date: 9)
MIGRANT RAPTOR COUNT BY SPECIES:
– Sharp-shinned Hawk: 1
– Northern Goshawk: 3
TOTAL MIGRATORY RAPTORS: Daily: 21, (To Date: 406)
NON MIGRANT RAPTORS: Rough-legged Hawk: 1
OTHER BIRDS OF NOTE: Pileated Woodpecker: 1, Hairy Woodpecker: 1, American Dipper: 1, Bohemian Waxwing: 12, Pine Grosbeak: 1, Common Redpoll: 1, Pine Siskin: 1,
OTHER OBSERVATIONS: N/A
NUMBER OF VISITORS: Daily: 1, (To Date: 118)
COUNT DATE: 25/10/2019, (Day 36 of 57)
TIME: Start: 08:40 – End: 19:00, Day Total: 10:20hrs, (To Date: 83:25hrs)
OBSERVERS: Caroline Lambert, Brian McBride
DESCRIPTION OF DAY: The day started with warm and exceptionally strong winds at ground and presumably ridge level. Nearly half the day’s birds passed by before 11am. But then a cold front came in bringing some light rain and a negative temperature gradient. We were undecided about packing it in – the wind at ground level was swirling around so there was no good shelter from the rain. However, we stuck it out and were rewarded with 10 more eagles between when the rain ended and before it got dark.
TEMPERATURE: Min: 3, Max: 11
PERIOD WITH MOST MIGRANTS: After the rain ended around 17:00 to about 18:00.
MIGRANT EAGLE COUNT BY SPECIES:
– Golden Eagle: Adult: 9, Sub-Adult: 0, Juvenile: 0, Unaged: 9, Total: 18, (To Date: 310)
– Unidentified Eagle: Total: 1, (To Date: 8)
MIGRANT RAPTOR COUNT BY SPECIES:
– None observed
TOTAL MIGRATORY RAPTORS: Daily: 19, (To Date: 385)
NON MIGRANT RAPTORS: 2 Golden Eagles flew north along the Fisher Range and then crossed the valley to Collembola where they disappeared in the low clouds.
OTHER BIRDS OF NOTE: 2 RUGR, 4 CAJA, 5 CORA, 4 MOCH, 2 AMDI, 10 BOWA, 2 PISI
OTHER OBSERVATIONS: None
NUMBER OF VISITORS: Daily: 4, (To Date: 117)
COUNT DATE: 24/10/2019, (Day 35 of 57)
TIME: Start: 08:45 – End: 18:45, Day Total: 10:00hrs, (To Date: 73:05hrs)
OBSERVERS: Cliff Hansen and Rick Robb
DESCRIPTION OF DAY: Chinook conditions prevailed all day. Ground wind were light from generally the south until noon then gradually increased and changed to the southwest and were 5 to 20 gusting to 40 kph at sunset. Ridge winds were strong from the west. Most raptors were high and often difficult to age against bright clouds. Rick and I thank Graham, Jim and Denis for invaluable assistance in spotting many very high birds.
TEMPERATURE: Min: 2, Max: 10
PERIOD WITH MOST MIGRANTS: 16:00 – 17:00 with 16 GOEA and one SSHA.
MIGRANT EAGLE COUNT BY SPECIES:
– Golden Eagle: Adult: 62, Sub-Adult: 2, Juvenile: 3, Unaged: 22, Total: 89, (To Date: 292)
MIGRANT RAPTOR COUNT BY SPECIES:
– Sharp-shinned Hawk: 6
TOTAL MIGRATORY RAPTORS: Daily: 95, (To Date: 366)
NON MIGRANT RAPTORS: 0
OTHER BIRDS OF NOTE: DEJU x 2, AMDI x 1, CAJA x 4, CORA x 5, BBMA x 1, BOWA x 30, NOSK x 1, HAWO x 1 and one “V” of migrating geese, probably CAGO.
OTHER OBSERVATIONS: White-tailed Deer x 2.
NUMBER OF VISITORS: Daily: 10, (To Date: 113)
COUNT DATE: 23/10/2019, (Day 34 of 57)
TIME: Start: 08:30 – End: 18:40, Day Total: 10:10hrs, (To Date: 63:05hrs)
OBSERVERS: Caroline Lambert, Brian McBride
DESCRIPTION OF DAY: It was a slow day with almost nothing moving, in spite of apparently strong ridge winds. Perhaps winds from the northwest do not suit them for migration, although the few raptors we saw didn’t seem to be having much trouble moving south. The flock of Bohemian Waxwings, which was in the vicinity all day, was a nice distraction from the lack of raptors.
TEMPERATURE: Min: -3, Max: 4
PERIOD WITH MOST MIGRANTS: The few migrants that passed by were scattered throughout the day.
MIGRANT EAGLE COUNT BY SPECIES:
– Golden Eagle: Adult: 5, Sub-Adult: 0, Juvenile: 0, Unaged: 0, Total: 5, (To Date: 203)
– Bald Eagle: Adult: 2, Sub-Adult: 1, Total: 3, (To Date: 41)
MIGRANT RAPTOR COUNT BY SPECIES:
– Northern Goshawk: 2
– Rough-legged Hawk: 1
TOTAL MIGRATORY RAPTORS: Daily: 11, (To Date: 271)
NON MIGRANT RAPTORS: 1 NOGO
OTHER BIRDS OF NOTE: 60 Canada Geese flying south, 1 HAWO, 4 CAJA, 1 BBMA, 8 CORA, 2 BCCH, 4 MOCH, 1 BOCH, 2 AMDI, 30 BOWA, 6 ATSP, 6 DEJU
OTHER OBSERVATIONS: Brian saw an American Mink scamper by while I was checking out the tree sparrows
NUMBER OF VISITORS: Daily: 2, (To Date: 103)
COUNT DATE: 22/10/2019, (Day 33 of 57)
TIME: Start: 08:15 – End: 18:50, Day Total: 10:35hrs, (To Date: 52:55hrs)
OBSERVERS: Dan Parliament, Sandy Graham
DESCRIPTION OF DAY: A quiet day for migration with 11 Golden Eagles and one Bald Eagle. Conditions were somewhat blustery with low cloud and occasional brief snow flurries.
TEMPERATURE: Min: 6, Max: 8
PERIOD WITH MOST MIGRANTS: 16:00-17:00, three GOEAs
MIGRANT EAGLE COUNT BY SPECIES:
– Golden Eagle: Adult: 5, Sub-Adult: 1, Juvenile: 1, Unaged: 4, Total: 11, (To Date: 198)
– Bald Eagle: Juvenile: 1, Total: 1, (To Date: 38)
MIGRANT RAPTOR COUNT BY SPECIES:
– None observed
TOTAL MIGRATORY RAPTORS: Daily: 12, (To Date: 260)
NON MIGRANT RAPTORS: Adult Bald Eagle, Unaged Northern Goshawk
OTHER BIRDS OF NOTE: COME 2, CORA 7, MOCH 3, CAJA 4, BOWA 25, DEJU 1, AMDI 1
OTHER OBSERVATIONS: None
NUMBER OF VISITORS: Daily: 17, (To Date: 101)
COUNT DATE: 21/10/2019, (Day 32 of 57)
TIME: Start: 08:00 – End: 19:00, Day Total: 11:00hrs, (To Date: 42:20hrs)
OBSERVERS: Lori Anderson, Cliff Hansen
DESCRIPTION OF DAY: This was a very odd day. My first bird was like a bad omen. It was a single Raven kiting over the summit of Mt. Lorette in a frozen standstill staring west . The count for the day indeed ended up being extremely low. It may be that the upper WNW winds were not favorable for southerly flying. The Ravens seemed very happy though to have free reign of the valley and formed in endless murders of up to 13 throughout the day. Ravens were everywhere and in every direction. One even flew over us showing off it´s imitation Pygmy Owl call. If it weren´t for them, the large flock of Bohemian Waxwings that spent the day flying to and fro, and the 4 friendly Canada Jays that kept us entertained, the day would have passed very slowly.
TEMPERATURE: Min: -3, Max: 4
PERIOD WITH MOST MIGRANTS: The period between 11:00 and 12:00 gave us a high count for the day of 3 migrants.
MIGRANT EAGLE COUNT BY SPECIES:
– Golden Eagle: Adult: 3, Sub-Adult: 1, Juvenile: Unaged: 2, Total: 6, (To Date: 187)
– Bald Eagle: Adult: 1, Total: 1, (To Date: 37)
MIGRANT RAPTOR COUNT BY SPECIES:
– Northern Harrier: 1
TOTAL MIGRATORY RAPTORS: Daily: 8, (To Date: 248)
NON MIGRANT RAPTORS: None
OTHER BIRDS OF NOTE: 1 Northern Shrike, 4 Canada Jays, 30 Bohemian Waxwings,1 Mountain Chickadee, 1 Downy Woodpecker, 1 American Dipper and 20 Common Ravens.
OTHER OBSERVATIONS: 1 Red Squirrel.
NUMBER OF VISITORS: Daily: 8, (To Date: 84)
COUNT DATE: 20/10/2019, (Day 31 of 57)
TIME: Start: 08:15 – End: 19:00, Day Total: 10:45hrs, (To Date: 31:20hrs)
OBSERVERS: Lori Anderson and Rosemary Power
DESCRIPTION OF DAY: Today was a very interesting day with quite a diverse selection of raptors and other birds with activity from sunrise to sunset. At the break of dawn the first four Goldens appeared and made their way south and there was a steady flow of migrators all day except for a lull from 3-4 when none appeared. A large number seemed to come up from Wasootch and appeared north of the Fisher range. The Goshawks were unusually vocal and active today.
TEMPERATURE: Min: -5, Max: +3
PERIOD WITH MOST MIGRANTS: The largest number of migrants appeared between 12:00 and 15:00.
MIGRANT EAGLE COUNT BY SPECIES:
– Golden Eagle: Adult: 38, Sub-Adult: 6, Juvenile: 7, Unaged: 6, Total: 57, (To Date: 181)
– Bald Eagle: Adult: 1, Sub-Adult: 2, Juvenile: 3, Total: 6, (To Date: 36)
– Unidentified Eagle: Total: 3, (To Date: 7)
MIGRANT RAPTOR COUNT BY SPECIES:
– Sharp-shinned Hawk: 2
– Cooper’s Hawk: 1
– Northern Goshawk: 1
– Unidentified Accipiter: 1
– Red-tailed Hawk: 2
– Rough-legged Hawk: 1
– Prairie Falcon: 1
TOTAL MIGRATORY RAPTORS: Daily: 75, (To Date: 240)
NON MIGRANT RAPTORS: 1 GOEA, 2 NOGO
OTHER BIRDS OF NOTE: 4 Canada Jays, 3 Common Mergansers, 2 Hairy Woodpeckers, 2 Downy Woodpeckers, 1 Mountain Chickadee, 3 Boreal Chickadees, 3 Golden Crowned Kinglets, 1 American Dipper, 30 Bohemian Waxwings, 11 Common Ravens, 2 Dark-eyed Juncos, 5 European Starlings.
OTHER OBSERVATIONS: 2 White-Tailed Deer, 1 Red Squirrel
NUMBER OF VISITORS: Daily: 40, (To Date: 76)
COUNT DATE: 19/10/2019, (Day 30 of 57)
TIME: Start: 07:55 – End: 18:45, Day Total: 10:50hrs, (To Date: 20:35hrs)
OBSERVERS: Blake Weis, Ruth Morrow
DESCRIPTION OF DAY: Snow was threatened to blow in from the north and west before 10 AM and after 17:00 but only a few flakes fell at Hay Meadow. Migration was slow much of the day despite decent conditions, most raptors moved through in the last few hours. Most migrants were on the eastern ridges, a few bald eagles flew above the valley and none used the western ridges. There was a surprisingly high number of bald eagles relative to the total count.
TEMPERATURE: Min: 0, Max: 6
PERIOD WITH MOST MIGRANTS: 20 of the day’s 50 migrants passed between 17:00 and 18:00.
MIGRANT EAGLE COUNT BY SPECIES:
– Golden Eagle: Adult: 8, Sub-Adult: 4, Juvenile: 3, Unaged: 6, Total: 21, (To Date: 124)
– Bald Eagle: Adult: 14, Sub-Adult: 4, Juvenile: 6, Total: 24, (To Date: 30)
– Unidentified Eagle: Total: 1, (To Date: 4)
MIGRANT RAPTOR COUNT BY SPECIES:
– Northern Goshawk: 3
– Rough-legged Hawk: 1
TOTAL MIGRATORY RAPTORS: Daily: 50, (To Date: 165)
NON MIGRANT RAPTORS: Bald Eagle: 3
OTHER BIRDS OF NOTE: Ruffed Grouse: 2, Northern Shrike: 1, Golden-crowned Kinglet: 16, Ruby-crowned Kinglet: 1, American Dipper: 1, American Robin: 2, Bohemian Waxwing: 65, Pine Grosbeak: 3, Pine Siskin: 1, Lapland Longspur: 1, American Tree Sparrow: 1, Rusty Blackbird: 1
OTHER OBSERVATIONS: 1 Mountain goat on top of Mt. Lorette, 1 least chipmunk
NUMBER OF VISITORS: Daily: 24, (To Date: 36)
COUNT DATE: 18/10/2019, (Day 29 of 57)
TIME: Start: 08:55 – End: 18:40, Day Total: 09:45hrs, (To Date: 9:45hrs)
OBSERVERS: Caroline Lambert, Cliff Hansen, Jim St. Laurent
DESCRIPTION OF DAY: The day started with both ridges obscured, and with some drizzle, and ended with most of the ridges obscured and sleet. In between it was cool and windy, but the ridges were clear. The eagles flew from when the drizzle stopped shortly after sunrise until the clouds closed in again, just before sunset, all above the eastern ridge, and many very high.
TEMPERATURE: Min: 3, Max: 7
PERIOD WITH MOST MIGRANTS: The flow was mostly steady throughout the day, with slightly more from 15:00 to 16:00.
MIGRANT EAGLE COUNT BY SPECIES:
– Golden Eagle: Adult: 67, Sub-Adult: 4, Juvenile: 6, Unaged: 26, Total: 103, (To Date: 103)
– Bald Eagle: Adult: 3, Sub-Adult: 1, Unaged: 2, Total: 6, (To Date: 6)
– Unidentified Eagle: Total: 3, (To Date: 3)
MIGRANT RAPTOR COUNT BY SPECIES:
– Northern Goshawk: 3
TOTAL MIGRATORY RAPTORS: Daily: 115, (To Date: 115)
NON MIGRANT RAPTORS: 1 GOEA
OTHER BIRDS OF NOTE: 1 Mountain Chickadee, 2 Black-capped Chickadees, 1 Dark-eyed Junco, 3 Canada Jays, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 10 Common Ravens, 2 Golden-crowned Kinglets, 20 Bohemian Waxwings, 1 Northern Shrike
OTHER OBSERVATIONS: None
NUMBER OF VISITORS: Daily: 12, (To Date: 12)
