Vicki Ridge and Steeples, October 29

Tuesday, October 29 Vicki Ridge [Day 37] 0830-1830 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson, observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of Vicki Ridge). The temperature at 0830 was a season low -17C, the high at 1330 was briefly -3.5C and it was -8C at 1830. Winds were W-WNW 10-20 km/h to 1300, WNW 25 gusting 40 km/h at 1400 and W-WSW 20-35 gusting 45 km/h after 1500. It was cloudless all day, but there was extensive blowing snow on Vicki Ridge after 1400. There was a slow but steady movement of 33 migrant raptors of 5 species between 1024 and 1736 that comprised 9 Bald Eagles (2a, 2sa3, 3sa2, 1j, 1u), 1u male Northern Harrier, 1a light morph Broad-winged Hawk, 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk and 21 Golden Eagles (18a, 1sa, 2j). The highest hourly count was 7 between 1300 and 1400. Other birds seen were 2 Black-billed Magpies, 31 Common Ravens, 40 Bohemian Waxwings, 2 female Pine Grosbeaks, 97 migrating Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches and a flock of 27 that fed near the site which included 2 “Hepburn’s Rosy-Finches” (L.t.littoralis), 25 Common Redpolls, and 12 Dark-eyed Juncos (hyemalis and cismontanus) that fed with the Rosy-Finches.

10 hours (346) BAEA 9 (249), NOHA 1 (13), BWHA 1 (18), RLHA 1 (401), GOEA 21 (2545) TOTAL 33 (4115)

Tuesday, October 29 Steeples [Day 27] 1300-1700 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was -6C at 1200 and -3C at 1700, and it was calm and cloudless. Despite the pleasant conditions no migrant raptors were seen, but a resident adult Golden Eagle was seen on 2 occasions.

4 hours (118.8) TOTAL 0 (435)