RMERF counts, October 24

Wednesday, October 24 Mount Lorette [Day 31] 0830-1850 (Caroline Lambert, assisted by Joel Duncan). The temperature reached a high of 10C at 1400 and 1500 from a morning low of -1C and it was 7C at the end of observation. Ground winds were SW all day, 0-5 km/h in the morning but gusted 20-30 km/h in the afternoon, while ridge winds were strong SW all day. Cloud cover was 100-80% altostratus, cumulus and altocumulus to 1700 after which it gradually thinned to 20% at the end of the day. The west was 40% obscured between 1400 and 1600 and there were light rain showers around 1600. The cloud cover made aging of high-flying eagles difficult as most were merely silhouettes. A total of 45 migrant raptors of 3 species moved between 0905 and 1759 comprising 2u Bald Eagles, 1 unidentified Accipiter, 41 Golden Eagles (23a, 1sa, 17u) and 1 unidentified eagle. All birds moved on the eastern route mostly high above the Fisher Range and 34 were seen after 1300 with a maximum hourly count of 11 (10 Golden Eagles) between 1400 and 1500. No resident birds were seen but 2 separate migrant Golden Eagles performed brief display flights before continuing to glide high to the SE. An adult Northern Shrike was seen apparently attempting to predate an American Dipper which repeatedly dived beneath the surface of the river to avoid capture, before the shrike itself was chased away by a flock of 4 Canada Jays. A flock of 24 Cassin’s Finches perched in a leafless aspen tree near the site and were photographed by Caroline. Ten visitors were at the site today.

10.33 (327.5) BAEA 2 (141), UA 1 (7), GOEA 41 (2304), UE 1 (24), TOTAL 45 (2666)

Wednesday, October 24 Vicki Ridge [Day 27] 0845-1800 (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Hilary Atkinson and Gord Petersen observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite). The temperature at 0845 was 10C, the high at 1300 was 13C and it was 9.5C at the end of observation. Winds were W-WSW all day 30-50 gusting 60-70 km/h in the morning and 30-40 gusting 50-60 km/h in the afternoon. Cloud cover was 100-80% altostratus, altocumulus and cumulus that formed a Chinook arch to 1130 which quickly cleared to 10% cumulus at 1200 and was 10-20% cumulus to 1730 when it increased to 40% scattered cumulus. The exception was around 1500 when 80% dark cumulus moved rapidly from the west and produced a light rain shower for 10 minutes before just as quickly dissipating. Raptor movement was sporadic between 0912 and 1717 and a total of 71 birds of 5 species was seen comprising 4 Bald Eagles (2a, 1sa, 1j), 2 adult Northern Goshawks, 2 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks, 7 Rough-legged Hawks (5 light, 2u) and 56 Golden Eagles (39a, 3sa, 8j, 6u). The highest hourly count was 18 that included 13 Golden Eagles from 1600 to 1700, but only a single bird, an adult Golden Eagle, was seen after 1700. Other birds were scarce but included 1 Ruffed Grouse, 1 male Hairy Woodpecker, 3 Canada Jays, 2 Clark’s Nutcrackers, 4 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches and 10 Pine Siskins.

9.25 hours (250.9) BAEA 4 (184), NOGO 2 (69), RTHA 2 (166), RLHA 7 (285), GOEA 56 (2249), TOTAL 71 (3786)

Wednesday, October 24 Steeples [Day 31] 1530-1800 (Vance Mattson). Rain showers preceded Vance’s arrival at the site where the temperature was 13C, winds were moderate to strong S and cloud cover was 40-60% cumulus. No migrants nor resident raptors were seen.

2.5 hours (137) TOTAL 0 (418)