RMERF counts, November 4

Sunday, November 04 Mount Lorette [Day 42] 0655-1725 (Bill Wilson, assisted by Lori Anderson). Both the starting and finishing temperatures were 6C and the high was 9C at 1300. Ground winds were SW all day, 2-15 km/h that gusted up to 36 km/h at 1100, and ridge winds were strong WSW to 0900 and then moderate to strong W for the rest of the day. Cloud cover was initially 40% cumulus and stratus, was then 70-90% cumulus to 1330 and was 80-100% cumulus and stratus for the rest of the day. The eastern ridges were clear all day and the west was 0-20% obscured apart from 1400 when it was 70% obscured and generated light snow flurries. Although migration conditions appeared to be reasonable only 6 migrants were seen between 0912 and 1539 that comprised 1 juvenile Sharp-shinned Hawk and 5 Golden Eagles (4a, 1u). One or two adult Bald Eagles and an adult Northern Goshawk were considered to be resident or non-migrant birds. Other birds seen were a flock of 44 Canada Geese that flew high to the south at 1706, 3 female Common Mergansers on the river, 4 Canada Jays, 38 Common Ravens, 2 American Robins that flew to the south, 1 American Dipper and 20 Bohemian Waxwings. Nineteen visitors were at the site today.

10.5 hours (438.6) SSHA 1 (67), GOEA 5 (2577) TOTAL 6 (2986)

Sunday, November 04 Vicki Ridge [Day 39] 0730-1645 (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite). The day started dramatically with rain and sleet driven by 80 km/h WNW winds which stopped at 0800 and there was no further significant precipitation. The temperature at 0800 was 3C, the high was 7C at 1100, 1300 and 1500 that coincided with sunny periods with moderate cumulus cloud cover that alternated with bands of dark thick stratocumulus cloud that periodically moved from the west. After 1500 there was only 10% cumulus cloud cover until the end of observation when the temperature was 3C and cloud thickened to 60% and produced spectacular sunset colours. After 0800 winds were strong W-WSW 40-50 gusting to 60-80 km/h all day. Raptor movement was sparse and very sporadic with 17 migrants of 6 species seen between 0812 and 1620 that comprised 3 Bald Eagles (2a, 1sa), 2 Northern Goshawks (1a, 1u), 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk, 8 Golden Eagles (7a, 1j), 1 white morph adult Gyrfalcon and 2 male Prairie Falcons. The maximum hourly count was only 4 birds between 1400 and 1500. Other birds seen included 2 Clark’s Nutcrackers, 130 Bohemian Waxwings, 200 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches and 36 Pine Siskins.

9.25 hours (351.7) BAEA 3 (344), NOGO 2 (95), RLHA 1 (426), GOEA 8 (2542), GYRF 1 (5), PRFA 2 (7) TOTAL 17 (4435)

Sunday, November 04 Steeples [Day 41] 1130-1700 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 8C and winds were initially moderate SW but became calm by 1500. Cloud cover was initially 100% altostratus, stratus and cumulus that produced light rain between 1330 and 1430, after which it gradually cleared and by 1600 it was 20% cumulus and sunny. The day produced 8 migrants of 3 species between 1158 and 1656 which is the highest count at the site since October 19. The flight comprised 5 Bald Eagles (2a, 3j), 1 adult Northern Goshawk and 2 adult Golden Eagles. Five of the birds were seen before 1217. A resident Golden Eagle soared above the ridge before gliding to the northwest into the valley at 1150.

5.5 hours (180) BAEA 5 (101), NOGO 1 (7), GOEA 2 (154) TOTAL 8 (446)