Sunday, September 22 Vicki Ridge [Day 3]

Sunday, September 22 Vicki Ridge [Day 3] 0815-1935 (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, Raymond Toal and Cathy Scrimshaw). The warm weather continued with a temperature of 11C at 0815, a high of 17.5C at 1500 and it was 14C when observation ceased at 1935. Winds were again WSW-W all day 30-40 gusting to 55 km/h to 1600 after which they were 30-40 km/h and became light after 1900. Cloud cover was 10-20% cumulus to the west until 1530 when 80% altostratus and cirrus quickly developed and formed a spectacular Chinook Arch that persisted for the rest of the day. There was another fairly strong and persistent raptor movement involving 99 birds of 13 species that moved between 0848 and 1921 and comprised 2 adult Turkey Vultures, 2 Bald Eagles (1 subadult and 1 undifferentiated immature bird), 46 Sharp-shinned Hawks (5a, 4j, 37u), 2 Cooper’s Hawks (1a, 1u), 2 Northern Goshawks (1a, 1j), 2 Broad-winged Hawks (1 light juvenile and 1 dark adult), 1u light morph Swainson’s hawk, 4 calurus Red-tailed Hawks (3 light: 1a, 1j, 1u and 1 dark adult), 2 light morph Ferruginous Hawks (1a, 1j), 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk, 1 dark unidentified Buteo, 31 Golden Eagles (16a, 3sa, 12j), 1 female columbarius Merlin and 2 adult Peregrine Falcons (1 male, 1 female). Non-migrant birds were an adult Red-tailed Hawk that again hunted above the ridge for much of the day, and a male American Kestrel that briefly perched near the site. The highest hourly count was 24 between 1500 and 1600 and the most sustained Golden Eagle movement was 9 birds between 1104 and 1130. Other bird species seen were 2 Northern Flickers (1 Yellow-shafted and 1 Red-shafted), 8 American Crows that flew low to the west to roost at 1931, 50 Common Ravens, 12 Mountain Bluebirds, 1 Townsend ’s Solitaire, 183 American Robins, 32 Cedar Waxwings and 36 Pine Siskins.

11.33 hours (31.83) TUVU 2 (3), BAEA 2 (7), SSHA 46 (100), COHA 2 (16), NOGO 2 (5), BWHA 2 (2), SWHA 1 (1), FEHA 2 (3), RLHA 1 (1), UB 1 (2), GOEA 31 (62), MERL 1 (1), PEFA 2 (3) TOTAL 99 (240)

Sunday, September 22 Steeples (Vance Mattson). No observation.