RMERF counts, September 22

Saturday, September 22 Mount Lorette [Day 3] 0800-1300 (Blake Weis, assisted by Ruth Morrow). The temperature at 0800 was -1C, the high at 1000 was 0C and it was again -1C at 1300 when steady sleet and rain ended the day’s count. Ground winds were N-NW 5-10 gusting 15 km/h all day, and ridge winds were moderate NW. Cloud cover was 100% stratocumulus to 1200 with slight breaks after 1100, 90% cumulus, altostratus and stratocumulus from 1200-1230 after which it was again 100% stratocumulus. The eastern ridges were 100% obscured to 1200 and after 1230, and 90% obscured from 1200 to 1230, while the west was 100% obscured to 1100, 50% from 1100 to 1200, 90% from 1200-1230 and subsequently again 100%. No migrant raptors were seen, but 1 adult Bald Eagle, 1 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk and a male columbarius Merlin that was seen hunting above the Hay Meadow, were considered to be non-migrants. Other birds, however were fairly common and varied and comprised (including birds seen at Mount Lorette Ponds) 40 Canada Geese migrating to the south, 5 unidentified ducks, 1 Wilson’s Snipe, 2 Belted Kingfishers, 1 Northern Flicker, 1 Pileated Woodpecker, 3 Common Ravens, 1 Black-capped Chickadee, 1 Boreal Chickadee, 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch, 1 Brown Creeper, 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet, 11 Ruby-crowned Kinglets, 1 Swainson’s Thrush, 5 Varied Thrushes, 4 American Robins, 10 American Pipits, 3 White-winged Crossbills, 200 Pine Siskins, 11 Dark-eyed Juncos, 16 White-crowned Sparrows, 15 Savannah Sparrows, 1 Orange-crowned Warbler, 1 female Common Yellowthroat, 8 Yellow-rumped Warblers and 3 Wilson’s Warblers. Unsurprisingly there were no visitors today.

5 hours (21.25) TOTAL 0 (1)

Saturday, September 22 Vicki Ridge NO OBSERVATION. There were E to ESE 10-18 km/h upslope winds all day, the temperature was 2-4C, and low cloud and fog completely obscured the ridge.

Saturday, September 22 Steeples [Day 3] 1200-1700 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 16C, winds were moderate to strong S-SW and cloud cover was 100% stratus, altostratus and cumulus. Light to heavy rain fell between 1330 and 1400 followed by intermittent rain showers and steady rain began at 1700 to bring the day to a close. Only 3 migrants were seen: 1u Sharp-shinned Hawk at 1324, 1 adult dark morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk at 1247 and the season’s first Peregrine Falcon, a juvenile bird, at 1252. Non-migrants were 1 Turkey Vulture, 2 adult Bald Eagles and 1 adult female Northern Harrier.

5 hours (12.5) SSHA 1 (16), RTHA 1 (29), PEFA 1 (1) TOTAL 3 (59)