Vicki Ridge and Steeples, October 28

Monday, October 28 Vicki Ridge [Day 36] 1610-1800 (Peter Sherrington observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of Vicki Ridge).  Steady snow, moderate to strong NE winds and low cloud persisted to 1500 when it quickly cleared. I arrived at the site at 1610 where there was 14 cm of fresh snow and a temperature of -10C that dropped to -12C at 1800. The wind was NNE-ENE 15-30 km/h and cloud cover was 60-70% cumulus that gave mainly sunny conditions. A total of 10 migrant raptors of 2 species were counted between 1618 and 1730, all to the west of the observation site. The count was 2 light morph Rough-legged Hawks, and 8 Golden Eagles (5a, 1j, 2u). Other birds seen were 147 Canada Geese that flew W in 5 flocks between 1618 and 1734, 225 unidentified ducks that flew high to the west in 5 tight flocks between 1640 and 1740, 2 Clark’s Nutcrackers, 39 Common Ravens, 4 Bohemian Waxwings, 12 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches and a flock of 30 Common Redpolls.

1.83 hours (336) RLHA 2 (400), GOEA 8 (2524) total 10 (4082)

Monday, October 28 Steeples (Vance Mattson). No observation because of teaching commitments. It was cloud most of the day, but when Vance drove home in the late afternoon the mountains were totally clear.