Vicki Ridge and Steeples, October 22

Tuesday, October 22 Vicki Ridge [Day 30] 0830-1845 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson, assisted by Phil Nicholas, Gord Petersen and Peter Hodgkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of Vicki Ridge, and Gord Petersen assisted by Peter Hodgkinson (1210-1320) observing at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge at the Waterton 68 wellsite). The temperature at 0845 was 6.5C, the high was 10C at 1500 and it was 6C at 1845 but there were many short-term variations as rain and hail clouds periodically swept east from the mountains: at 1200, for example, the temperature was 9C but at 1300 it was 5C that recovered to 8C at 1400. Winds were strong W-WSW all day 60-70 gusting 100 km/h to 1030 after which they diminished to 40-50 gusting 70 km/h to 1300 and were then 30-40 gusting 50 km/h for the rest of the day. Cloud cover also varied widely with 70- 80 % stratocumulus and cumulus that brought periods of rain and hail to 1300, after which it 40-50% cumulus and altocumulus that allowed sunny periods between 1330 and 1530, and then 90-100% mainly dark cumulus developed again for the rest of the day that brought light rain showers. Not surprisingly raptor movement was generally slow and sporadic until late afternoon when there was an influx of 16 Rough-legged Hawks between 1724 and 1805. The count of 53 birds of 8 species between 0936 and 1905 comprised 2 Bald Eagles (1a, 1j), 3 Sharp-shinned Hawks (1a, 2u), 1u Cooper’s Hawk, 5 Northern Goshawks (4a, 1u), 3 light morph Broad-winged Hawks (2a, 1j), 25 Rough-legged Hawks (22 light, 3 dark), 12 Golden Eagles (8a, 1sa, 1j, 2u) and 2 Merlins (1a female richardsonii and 1u male columbarius). This total includes 1u Sharp-shinned Hawk and 4 Golden Eagles (1a, 1sa, 2u) seen between 1218 and 1316 from the Waterton 68 wellsite. The highest hourly count was 17 between 1700 and 1800 that included 14 Rough-legged Hawks. Other birds recorded were 25 Canada Geese that flew very high to the ESE at 1734, 1 Clark’s Nutcracker, 3 Black-billed Magpies, 18 Common Ravens, 45 Bohemian Waxwings and 40 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches.

10 hours (288.2) BAEA 2 (200), SSHA 3 (496), COHA 1 (80), NOGO 5 (53), BWHA 3 (17), RLHA 25 (346), GOEA 12 (2418), MERL 2 (17) TOTAL 53 (3848)

Tuesday, October 22 Steeples [Day 21] 1300-1800 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 12C and conditions were calm with 80% altocumulus and cumulus cloud cover that brought rain showers between 1445 and 1600. After 1600 50% cumulus cloud allowed sunny skies and the wind became moderate W but these seemingly favourable conditions only produced one more migrant: an adult Golden Eagle at 1639. The count of 23 migrants of 3 species between 1149 and 1639 was 14 Bald Eagles (10a, 4j), 1a female Northern Harrier and 8 Golden Eagles (6a, 1j, 1u), with a high hourly count of 12 between 1400 and 1500. Single resident Golden Eagles (1a and 1j) were seen on three occasions that included an impressive sky-dancing display at 1450 and another of shorter duration over Mount Bill Nye at 1800. An adult non-migrant Bald Eagle glided to the north near the end of the day.

5 hours (95.25) BAEA 14 (145), NOHA 1 (11), GOEA 8 (172) TOTAL 23 (416)