RMERF counts, October 23

Tuesday, October 23 Mount Lorette [Day 30] 0815-1900 (Rick Robb and Cliff Hansen). The starting temperature was -5C, the high was 15C at 1600 and it was 8C at 1900. Ground winds were light W all day, ridge winds were light SW and it was cloudless all day. The first migrant, a Bald Eagle, was not seen until 1330 and the first Golden Eagle did not appear until 1358 but the pace then quickened and when the last 2 Golden Eagles went south at 1828 a total of 74 migrants of 3 species had been recorded. The count was 5 adult Bald Eagles, 1 adult Sharp-shinned Hawk and 67 Golden Eagles (57a, 3sa, 4j, 3u). Most birds were initially located at the northern end of the Fisher Range and most movement involved flapping flight and brief attempts at soaring in the light-air conditions. Only late in the day did the birds manage to glide high above the ridge. Maximum hourly movement was 21, including 19 Golden Eagles, between 1700 and 1800, and 10 Golden Eagles were recorded between 0800 and 1828. Other birds seen were 15 unidentified swans flying high to the north above Mount Lorette which were probably heading for Lac des Arcs in the Bow Valley, 2 Ruffed Grouse, 1 Downy Woodpecker, 2 Canada Jays, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 8 Common Ravens, 2 Pine Grosbeaks and 10 Dark-eyed Juncos of the race cismontanus. Six visitors were at the site today.

10.75 hours (317.2) BAEA 5 (139), SSHA 1 (63), GOEA 67 (2263), UE 1 (23) TOTAL 74 (2621)

Tuesday, October 23 Vicki Ridge [Day 26] 0845-1745 (Doug and Teresa Dolman, assisted by Raymond Toal and Gord Petersen observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite). It was the warmest day of the season with a starting temperature of 8C, a high of 22C at 1400 and 1500 and it was still 14C at 1800. Winds were light SW to 1100 and subsequently mainly W-WSW 15-20 gusting 25 km/h. It was cloudless until 1100 when traces of cirrus developed that expanded to 10-30% until 1800 when it increased to 60%. A total of 65 migrant raptors of 6 species were recorded between 1104 and 1742 that comprised 14 Bald Eagles (5a, 8sa, 1j), 6 Sharp-shinned Hawks (1a, 5u), 2 Northern Goshawks (1a, 1j), 2 unidentified Accipiters, 1 adult rufous morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk, 13 Rough-legged Hawks (12 light, 1 dark) and 27 Golden Eagles (15a, 5sa, 3j, 3u). Most birds migrated above Vicki Ridge and the busiest hours were 15, including 5 Bald Eagles and 6 Golden Eagles between 1500 and 1600, and 14, including 10 Rough-legged Hawks and 2 Golden Eagles between 1700 and 1742. Other birds seen were 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 1 juvenile Northern Shrike, 3 Canada Jays, 2 Clark’s Nutcrackers, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 10 Common Ravens, 1 Black-capped Chickadee, 5 American Robins and 3 Red Crossbills, and a single Mourning Cloak butterfly was also recorded.

9 hours (241.7) BAEA 14 (180), SSHA 6 (615), NOGO 2 (67), UA 2 (7), RTHA 1 (164), RLHA 13 (278), GOEA 27 (2193) TOTAL 65 (3715)

Tuesday, October 23 Steeples [Day 30] 1300-1800 (Vance Mattson). A temperature of 11C, calm conditions and a cloudless sky again produced a slow migration day with only 3 birds recorded: an adult female Northern Harrier at 1556 and single juvenile Golden Eagles at 1423 and 1632. The resident adult female Golden Eagle was again conspicuous soaring, and perching on the ridge for up to 70 minutes.

5 hours (134.5) NOHA 1 (14), GOEA 2 (143) TOTAL 3 (418)