RMERF counts, October 1 and 2

Monday, October 01 Mount Lorette [Day 10] 0700-1130 (George Halmazna, assisted by Dan Parliament). The temperature was -4C to -3C, wind was NW to 0800, then N 5-10 km/h and cloud cover was 100% low stratus that obscured all ridges. Visibility was good in the valley, however, until the snow, that started falling at 0900, became heavy after 1100 and brought the day to a close without any raptors having been seen. Other birds in the area were 1 American Three-toed Woodpecker, 5 Common Ravens, 1 Mountain Chickadee, 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet, 3 Red-breasted Nuthatches, 1 Varied Thrush, 12 American Robins, 27 White-crowned Sparrows, 8 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches and 29 Pine Siskins. A Grey Wolf howled from the E at 0818 and again from the NE at 0859.

4.5 hours (105.2) TOTAL 0 (380)

Monday, October 01 Vicki Ridge [Day 8] 0845-1600 (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Hilary Atkinson, observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite). The temperature at 0845 was 4C, reached a high of 9C at 1300 was still 7C at 1500 but rapidly fell to 1C at the end of observation. Winds were W 20-30 gusting 40 km/h to 1330 after which they reduced to 10-20 km/h and at 1520 the wind switched to E 30 km/h bringing fog that by 1600 had completely obscured the ridges. Cloud cover was 70% cumulus to 1000 and then 100% stratocumulus for the rest of the day. Migration conditions were favourable for much of the day and a total of 92 migrants of 10 species were counted between 0859 and 1534 comprising 2 Bald Eagles (1a, 1j), 25 Sharp-shinned Hawks (2a, 2j, 21u), 3 Cooper’s Hawks (2a, 1u), 4 Northern Goshawks (3a males, 1u), 1u light morph Broad-winged Hawk, 3 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks, 1 adult dark morph Ferruginous Hawk, 3 Rough-legged Hawks (1 light, 2 dark), 48 Golden Eagles (23a, 10sa, 15j) and 2u American Kestrels. Fifty migrants, including 33 Golden Eagles, were counted before 1100, but movement then slowed and only 11 birds were seen after 1400 and only 5 Golden Eagles were seen after 1300. Songbirds were conspicuous all day and included 43 Mountain Bluebirds, 2 Townsend’s Solitaires, 411 American Robins, 25 Red Crossbills, 150 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches and 158 Pine Siskins. Migrating Accipiters often paused for a while to avail themselves of the easy pickings.

7.25 hours (71.25) BAEA 2 (19), SSHA 25 (289), COHA 3 (37), NOGO 4 (17), BWHA 1 (14), RTHA 3 (54), FEHA 1 (3), RLHA 3 (13), GOEA 48 (229), AMKE 2 (10) TOTAL 92 (726)

Monday, October 01 Steeples. NO OBSERVATION. The mountains were again hidden by stratus cloud all day, and although not as low as yesterday the chances of finding migrating raptors were unpromising.

Tuesday, October 02 Mount Lorette [NO OBSERVATION]. Heavy snow all day: all mountains obscured.

Tuesday, October 02 Vicki Ridge [NO OBSERVATION]. Heavy snow all day; ridge completely obscured.

Tuesday, October 02 Steeples [NO OBSERVATION]. Steady rain all day: all mountains obscured.