Vicki Ridge and Steeples, October 24

Thursday, October 24 Vicki Ridge [Day 32] 0830-1845 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson, observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of Vicki Ridge). The temperature at 0830 was 3C, the high was 9.5C at 1400 and it was 6.5C at the end of observation. Winds were strong W-WSW all day 30-50 gusting to 70 km/h in the late morning and 50-60 km/h in the afternoon. Cloud cover was 70-100% varying combinations of altostratus, altocumulus, cirrus and cirrostratus with some dark cumulus developing in the west late in the afternoon. There was a moderate but fairly persistent raptor movement of 50 birds of 6 species between 1010 and 1825 that comprised 1sa Bald Eagle, 3 Sharp-shinned Hawks (1a, 2a), 5 Northern Goshawks (3a, 2u), 1j light morph harlani Red-tailed Hawk that hunted and perched in the area between 1256 and 1710, 6 Rough-legged Hawks (4 light, 1 dark, 1u) and 34 Golden Eagles (33a, 1sa). The highest single-hour count was 11 between 1100 and 1200, and 27 of the birds moved before 1300. Other birds seen were 1 male Downy Woodpecker, 1 Clark’s Nutcracker, 3 Black-billed Magpies, 19 Common Ravens, 2 female Pine Grosbeaks and 300 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches.

10.25 hours (308.2) BAEA 1 (204), SSHA 3 (504), NOGO 5 (59), RTHA 1 (132), RLHA 6 (366), GOEA 34 (2460) TOTAL 50 (3931)

Thursday, October 24 Steeples [Day 23] 1300-1700 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 6C, winds were moderate to strong W and cloud cover was 100% altostratus. No migrants were seen, but the resident pair of Golden Eagles made a single flight across the ridge.

4 hours (100.5) TOTAL 0 (418)