Saturday, September 21 Vicki Ridge [Day 2]

Saturday, September 21 Vicki Ridge [Day 2] 0815-1930 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge, assisted by Gord Petersen, Denise Cocciolone-Amatto and Carrie Bergman). The temperature at 0815 was 6C, the high at 1500 was 15.5C and it was 12C at 1930. Winds were WSW to W all day, 15-20 km/h to 1000 after which they increased to 25-40 gusting 50 km/h for the rest of the day. Cloud cover was initially 10% cumulus and cirrostratus but quickly thickened and was mainly 60-90% altostratus, altocumulus, cirrostratus and cirrocumulus for the rest of the day that allowed hazy sunshine for most of the time and provided excellent observing conditions throughout. Raptor movement was slow but steady all day with a total of 72 birds of 10 species recorded between 0827 and 1908. The flight comprised 1 immature Turkey Vulture, 5 Bald Eagles (1 adult, 1 late subadult, 3 juveniles), 1 juvenile female Northern Harrier, 29 Sharp-shinned Hawks (8a, 2j, 19u), 5 Cooper’s Hawks (1a, 4u), 2 Northern Goshawks (1a, 1j), 4 calurus Red-tailed Hawks (2a and 1u light morphs; 1 adult rufous morph), 21 Golden Eagles (17a, 3sa, 1j), 3u American Kestrels and 1 adult Peregrine Falcon. A probable family group of 2 adult and 1 juvenile Red-tailed Hawks were seen hunting above the ridge throughout the day with the juvenile bird often acting aggressively towards migrating birds, and a pair of resident American Kestrels were frequently seen near the site. The highest hourly counts were 14 between 1400 and 1500 and 12 between 1500 and 1600. Other bird species seen were 50 Canada Geese, 1 Ruffed Grouse, 1 Northern Flicker, 19 Clark’s Nutcrackers, 79 Common Ravens, 6 Mountain Bluebirds, 1 Townsend’s Solitaire, 178 American Robins, 40   36 Cedar Waxwings, 1 Cassin’s Finch, 101 Pine Siskins and 5 Yellow-rumped Warblers.

11.25 hours (20.5) TUVU 1 (1), BAEA 5 (5), NOHA 1 (4), SSHA 29 (54), COHA 5 (14), NOGO 2 (3), RTHA 4 (14), GOEA 21 (31), AMKE 3 (8), PEFA 1 (1) TOTAL 72 (141)

Saturday, September 21 Steeples (Vance Mattson). No report received.