RMERF counts October 10
Tuesday, October 10 [Day 19] (Jim Davis, assisted by Chris Hunt) 0800-1900. The starting temperature was -3C which rose to a high of 11C at 1500 and was 4C when observation ended at 1900. Ground winds were E 1-5 km/h until 1200 and were subsequently SW 10-15 km/h, while ridge winds were SW, light to noon and after 1800 but otherwise moderate. Cloud cover was altostratus with cirrostratus in the morning, initially 100% that diminished to 20% by late morning, but was 80-100% throughout the afternoon. Viewing conditions were excellent all day. After 5 days of strong raptor movement today’s count of 45 birds was a bit of a disappointment but probably resulted from deterioration of weather conditions to the north with snow forecasted to arrive at the site tomorrow. The count involving 6 species, however, did include first seasonal ocurrences of American Kestrel and Gyrfalcon in addition to 2 Peregrine Falcons. Raptors moved between 1032 and 1821 and comprised 3 Bald Eagles (2a, 1j), 1 adult Sharp-shinned Hawk, 37 Golden Eagles (11a, 1sa, 10j, 15u), 1 adult male American Kestrel, 1 dark morph Gyrfalcon and 2 Peregrine Falcons (1a, 1u). With the exception of the Sharp-shinned Hawk and American Kestrel which flew low above the centre of the valley, all birds were located at the northern end of the Fisher Range and apart from 3 high-flying birds moved south close to the ridge top. With the exception of 1400-1500 when no birds were seen there was a steady movement all day with maximum hourly counts of 9 between 1100 and 1200, and again between 1300 and1400. A Boreal Owl called fom the NW corner of the Hay Meadow at 1600, and songbird migrants were 2 American Robins, 1 American Pipit and 1 Pine Siskin.
11 hours (223.8) BAEA 3 (51), SSHA 1 (66), GOEA 37 (1535), AMKE 1 (1), GYRF 1 (1), PEFA 2 (5) TOTAL 45 (1757)
Vicki Ridge [Day 20] (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Denise Cocciolone-Amatto and Raymond Toal) 0900-1830 (Observation from the ridge top). The temperature at 0900 was 3C, rose to a high of 11.5C at 1500 and was 8C at 1800. Winds were mainly WSW all day, 15-30 gusting 40 and occasionally 50 km/h, and cloud cover was 100-80 % altostratus to 1230 and again after 1600, but in between it was 70-20% cirrus, altocumulus and lenticular which produced a pleasant sunny afternoon. Observing conditions were excellent all day. There was a fairly strong raptor movement of 119 birds of 10 species that migrated between 1021 and 1807 that consisted of 3 adult Bald Eagles, 1 adult male Northern Harrier, 36 Sharp-shinned Hawks (19a, 1j, 16u), 1u Cooper’s Hawk, 2 Northern Goshawks (1a, 1j), 9 Red-tailed Hawks (6 calurus: 3a light, 3 dark (2a, 1j); and 2 harlani: 1a light, 1j dark), 18 Rough-legged Hawks (16 light, 2 dark), 46 Golden Eagles (14a, 8sa, 21j, 3u), 1 juvenile female columbarius Merlin and 2 adult Peregrine Falcons (1male, 1 female). Sixty-six of the birds were seen before 1400 but movement then became more sporadic for the rest of the afternoon. There was, however, a late flurry of 16 birds between 1708 and 1807 of which 12 were light morph Rough-legged Hawks. Other birds noted on the ridge included 4 Ruffed Grouse, 1 Northern Flicker, 2 Northern Shrikes (1a, 1j), 2 Grey Jays, 5 Clark’s Nutcrackers, 2 Red-breasted Nuthatches, 2 Mountain Bluebirds (a female and a male) and 6 American Robins. Three visitors also made it up the hill today.
9.5 hours (168.2) BAEA 3 (40), NOHA 1 (14), SSHA 36 (585), COHA 1 (77), NOGO 2 (54), RTHA 9 (186), RLHA 18 (77), GOEA 46 (846), MERL 1 (15), PEFA 2 (11) TOTAL 119 (1991)
Steeples [Day 14] (Vance Mattson) 1300-1700 (observation from Bull Mountain). The temperature was 13C, it was calm and 100% altostratus cloud blanketed the sky with the exception of 1530-1630 when some sun broke through. Only a single resident adult Golden Eagle was seen on two occasions, which did however include long periods of soaring beneath Vance’s vantage point on the SE flank of the mountain. The great views of the bird partially redeemed the absence of migrants today.
4 hours (71) TOTAL 0 (255)
MOUNT LORETTE SUMMARY COUNT (September 20 to November 15)
DAYS 19
HOURS 223.8
TURKEY VULTURE (TUVU) 0
OSPREY (OSPR) 1
BALD EAGLE (BAEA) 51
NORTHERN HARRIER (NOHA) 5
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (SSHA) 66
COOPER’S HAWK (COHA) 14
NORTHERN GOSHAWK (NOGO) 16
Accipiter sp. (UA) 3
BROAD-WINGED HAWK (BWHA) 1
SWAINSON’S HAWK (SWHA) 0
RED-TAILED HAWK (RTHA) 26
FERRUGINOUS HAWK (FEHA) 1
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (RLHA) 13
Buteo sp. (UB) 7
GOLDEN EAGLE (GOEA) 1535
Eagle sp. (UE) 2
AMERICAN KESTREL (AMKE) 1
MERLIN (MERL) 4
GYRFALCON (GYRF) 1
PEREGRINE FALCON (PEFA) 5
PRAIRIE FALCON (PRFA) 2
Falco sp. (UF) 1
Unidentified Raptor (UU) 2
TOTAL 1757
