RMERF counts, November 13

Tuesday, November 13 Mount Lorette [Day 51] 0815-1630 (Blake Weis, assisted by Katherine Peterson). The temperature at 0815 was -2C and the high was 3C from 1400 to 1630. Ground winds were variable 0-10 km/h all day that gusted 15-20 km/h to 1600, and ridge winds were W-SW moderate to strong all day. Cloud cover was initially 100% cirrostratus, altostratus, altocumulus and cirrus that diminished to 40% cirrus and altocumulus at 1100 before increasing again to 100% cirrostratus, altostratus, cirrus and altocumulus from 1400 to 1630. All ridges were clear, but only 5 migrant eagles were seen: 2 Bald Eagles (1a, 1j) and 3 Golden Eagles (1sa, 2u), that moved between 0947 and 1509. The 2 Bald Eagles and 1 Golden Eagle moved to the west of the site, and the other 2 Golden Eagles used the Fisher Range to the east. An adult Bald Eagle and an adult Northern Goshawk were non-migrants. Other birds identified were 1 female Common Merganser on the river, 1u Northern Shrike, 4 Canada Jays, 1 Clark’s Nutcracker, 12 Common Ravens, 1 Black-capped Chickadee, 3 Brown Creepers, 1 Golden-crowned Kinglets, 47 Common Redpolls, 1 White-winged Crossbill and 5 Pine Siskins. There were only 2 visitors today.

8.25 hours (520) BAEA 2 (212), GOEA 3 (2678) TOTAL 5 (3138)

Tuesday, November 13 Vicki Ridge [Day 48] 0800-1700 (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite). The temperature at 0800 was 1C the high at 1300 and 1400 was 6C and it was 3C at 1700. Winds were W 30-40 gusting to 65 km/h in the morning and WSW 40-60 gusting to 90 km/h in the afternoon. Cloud cover was 100% altostratus and lenticular to 1130, 70-80% altostratus, altocumulus and cirrostratus to 1300 and then 100% altostratus and altocumulus for the rest of the day. A total of 19 migrant raptors of 4 species moved between 0816 and 1623 comprising 2 adult Bald Eagles, 1 adult female Northern Goshawk, 15 Golden Eagles (13a, 2u) and 1 male Prairie Falcon. Twelve birds were seen before 1200 but afternoon movement was light and sporadic as the wind velocity increased. The resident Golden Eagle family group (2a and 1j) were still present and other birds seen were 3 Clark’s Nutcrackers, 2 Black-billed Magpies, 25 Common Ravens, 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch, 25 Red Crossbills and 55 Common Redpolls.

9 hours (416.9) BAEA 2 (424), NOGO 1 (102), GOEA 15 (2692), PRFA 1 (10) TOTAL 19 (4687)

Tuesday, November 13 Steeples [Day 49] 1315-1615 (Vance Mattson, observing from Diorite Creek). The mountains at the Bill Nye site were again heavily shrouded but it was clear to the north so Vance observed from a new site, “Diorite Creek”, which is 27 km to the north along the same range and just north of Premier Lake. The temperature reached 4C, conditions were calm and cloud cover was 50% altostratus, cumulus and stratus that gave periods of sunshine. The only migrant seen was a juvenile Golden Eagle at 1408. Non-migrant birds were a juvenile Bald Eagle, and an adult Golden Eagle that soared and hunted over the flank of Diorite Mountain.

3 hours (209.5) GOEA 1 (177) TOTAL 1 (486)