Vicki Ridge and Steeples, October 19

Saturday, October 19 Vicki Ridge [Day 27] 0830-1845 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of Vicki Ridge, and Gord Petersen (1340-1825) observing at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge at the Waterton 68 wellsite). The temperature at 0830 was 2C, the high at 1500 and 1600 was 7C and it was 3C at 1845. Winds were steady WSW all day 10-20 km/h that increased to 20-30 km/h between 1400 and 1600, and cloud cover was 80-100% cumulus and dark stratocumulus that produced snow flurries to 1330, but the rest of the afternoon was 100% thin cirrostratus and altocumulus that gave hazy sunshine and excellent observing conditions. The count from the Waterton 61 wellsite was 155 birds of 12 species between 0843 and 1825 that comprised 12 Bald Eagles (6a, 1sa, 3j, 1 undifferentiated immature, 1u), 21 Sharp-shinned Hawks (3a, 18u), 2 Cooper’s Hawks (1a, 1u), 4 Northern Goshawks (2a, 2j), 2 light morph Broad-winged Hawks (1a, 1j), 3a dark morph harlani Red-tailed Hawks, 1 juvenile light morph Ferruginous Hawk, 49 Rough-legged Hawks (43 light, 1 dark, 5u), 58 Golden Eagles (46a, 6sa, 6j), 1 female dark grey morph Gyrfalcon, 1a male Peregrine Falcon and 1 female Prairie Falcon. At the western edge of Kyllo Ridge between 1342 and 1823 Gord counted 109 birds of 7 species that comprised 3 Bald Eagles (2a, 1u), 8 Sharp-shinned Hawks (1a, 7u), 3u Cooper’s Hawks, 1a Northern Goshawk, 1a light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk, 25 Rough-legged Hawks (15 light, 2 dark, 8u) and 69 Golden Eagles (8a, 1sa, 7j, 52u). The high number of un-aged Golden Eagles resulted from birds moving well to the west of the ridge being silhouetted against bright hazy sunshine from the low-angle sun. The total movement observed across the ridge system between 0843 and 1825 was 264 migrants of 12 species that comprised 15 Bald Eagles (8a, 1sa, 3j, 1 undifferentiated immature, 2u), 29 Sharp-shinned Hawks (4a, 25u), 5 Northern Goshawks (3a, 2j), 2 light morph Broad-winged Hawks (1a, 1j), 4a Red-tailed Hawks (1 light calurus, 3 dark harlani), 1 juvenile light morph Ferruginous Hawk, 74 Rough-legged Hawks (58 light, 3 dark, 13u), 126 Golden Eagles (54a, 7sa, 13j, 52u), 1 female dark grey morph Gyrfalcon, 1a male Peregrine Falcon and 1 female Prairie Falcon. The highest combined-site hourly count was 63 between 1500 and 1600. Other birds identified were 28 Canada Geese that flew high to the ESE at 1340, 1a Northern Shrike, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 15 Common Ravens, 70 Bohemian Waxwings, 1 female Pine Grosbeak and 1170 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches.

10.25 hours (258.7) BAEA 15 (174), SSHA 29 (467) COHA 5 (77), NOGO 5 (34), BWHA 2 (12), RTHA 4 (128), FEHA 1 (7), RLHA 74 (280), GOEA 126 (2269), GYRF 1 (4), PEFA 1 (8), PRFA 1 (3) TOTAL 264 (3542)

Saturday, October 19 Steeples [Day 19] 1300-1830 (Vance Mattson). It was an extremely pleasant day with a temperature of 10C, almost no wind and a cloud cover of 70-50% cumulus that was mainly concentrated around the ridges and, like yesterday, obscured the SW face of Mount Bill Nye on and off throughout the day. A total of 54 migrants of 5 species moved between 1440 and 1726 that comprised 23 Bald Eagles (16a, 1sa, 6j), 4 Northern Harriers (1a female, 3u juveniles), 3a Sharp-shinned Hawks, 1a Northern Goshawk and 23 Golden Eagles (16a, 1sa, 5j, 1u). The hourly counts were 15 (1400-1500), 9 (1500-1600), 22 (1600-1700) and 8 after 1700. There was extensive soaring and slow gliding flight throughout. Resident Golden Eagles were seen on three occasions, and included a brief display flight at 1425.

5.5 hours (84.75) BAEA 23 (124), NOHA 4 (10), SSHA 3 (38), NOGO 1 (3), GOEA 23 (150) TOTAL 54 (372)