Vicki Ridge and Steeples, October 23

Wednesday, October 23 Vicki Ridge [Day 31] 0830-1815 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson,  observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of Vicki Ridge, and Gord Petersen  (1305-1545) observing at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge at the Waterton 68 wellsite). The temperature at 0830 was 0C the high from 1100 to 1500 was 4C and it was 0C at 0815 when observation ceased. Winds were upslope all day, light ESE-SE in the morning and then SE-NE 20 km/h to 1700 after which they were light again. Cloud cover was 100% low stratus to 1030 that substantially obscured the ridges which did not completely clear until 1020, after which there was 50-80% cumulus cloud that thickened to 90-100% cumulus and altostratus to 1800 which produced snow that obscured the ridges between 1730 and 1745; at the end of the day it cleared to 60% stratocumulus and cumulus. The conditions produced a weak and sporadic raptor movement of 33 birds of 7 species between 1049 and 1752 that comprised 3 Bald Eagles (2a, 1j), 1 juvenile female Northern Harrier, 5 Sharp-shinned Hawks (1a, 4u), 1a Northern Goshawk, 1a dark morph harlani Red-tailed Hawk, 14 Rough-legged Hawks (10 light, 1 dark , 3u) and 8 Golden Eagles (3a, 2j, 3u). The total includes 1u Rough-legged Hawk and 3u Golden Eagles seen between 1307 and 1529 from the Waterton 68 wellsite. All 5 Sharp-shinned Hawks were seen between 1439 and 1444 and 8 of the 14 Rough-legged Hawks moved between 1503 and 1511. This is the 5^th successive day since October 19 that the count at the site has diminished. Other birds seen were 1 Downy Woodpecker, 5 Canada Jays, 1 Steller’s Jay, 7 Clark’s Nutcrackers, 4 Black-billed Magpies, 16 Common Ravens, 66 Bohemian Waxwings, 4 female Pine Grosbeaks and 100 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches.

9.75 hours (297.9) BAEA 3 (203), NOHA 1 (11), SSHA 5 (501), NOGO 1 (54), RTHA 1 (131), RLHA 14 (360), GOEA 8 (2426) TOTAL 33 (3881)

Wednesday, October 23 Steeples [Day 22] 1630-1745 (Vance Mattson). It was a sunny clear day but because of teaching commitments Vance could only be at the site at the end of the day when the temperature was 9C, it was calm and cloud cover was 50% cumulus. Two adult migrant Bald Eagles were seen and the resident juvenile Golden Eagle soared above the ridge.

1.25 hours (96.5) BAEA 2 (147) TOTAL 2 (418)