Vicki Ridge and Steeples, November 09

Saturday, November 09 Vicki Ridge [Day 48] 0730-1100 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of Vicki Ridge). The temperature at 0730 was 7C, it dropped to 6C at 0800 but rose again to 7C from 0900 to 0935 when the passage of a cold front reduced the temperature to 1C in 5 minutes and when the count was abandoned at 1100 it was -3C. Winds were W-WNW 15-20 km/h to 0935 when they suddenly switched to ESE 25-35 km/h, and cloud cover was 100% cirrostratus, altocumulus and cumulus that gave hazy sunshine and ideal viewing conditions to 1935 when fog started to pour over Vicki Ridge and by 1945 we were encased in 100% dense fog that persisted for the rest of the day. I briefly returned to the site at 1400 where the fog was still dense but freezing drizzle was giving way to light snow which became moderate and steady after 1700. Three migrants were seen moving high to the south over Vicki Ridge: single adult Bald Eagles at 0842 and 0845 and a light morph Rough-legged Hawk at 0851. Other birds recorded were a small flock of Canada Geese that were heard calling as they flew west in the fog at 0959 and before 0935 we saw 1 Black-billed Magpie, 24 Common Ravens and 6 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches. Prospects for tomorrow are not good as the forecast calls for low temperatures and snowfall for most of the day.

3.5 hours (431) BAEA 2 (360), RLHA 1 (436) TOTAL 3 (4485)

Saturday, November 09 Steeples [Day 33] 1200-1600 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 7C, it was calm and cloud cover was 100% altostratus and cumulus. No migrants were recorded but a single adult resident Golden Eagle was seen on four occasions.

4 hours (141.3) TOTAL 0 (448)