Vicki Ridge and Steeples, October 3

Thursday, October 03 Vicki Ridge [Day 12] 0830-1915 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of Vicki Ridge and Gord Petersen (1330-1815) observing at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge at the Waterton 68 wellsite). The temperature at 0830 was 3C, the high at 1400 was 11.5C and it was 5.5C at 1915. Winds were again W-WSW all day, initially 30-40 gusting 55 km/h after which they were 30 gusting 40 for the rest of the day. Cloud cover was initially 100% altostratus that formed a Chinook arch that slowly moved to the east and after 1200 50-70% altostratus and altocumulus gave sunny conditions to 1700 when the arch re-formed. Observing conditions were excellent all day. The count on Vicki Ridge was 41 birds between 0919 and 1832 that comprised 4 Bald Eagles (2a, 1sa, 1j), 7 Sharp-shinned Hawks (4a, 3u), 2a Cooper’s Hawks, 6a Red-tailed Hawks (3 light and 2 dark calurus and 1 dark harlani), 1 dark morph Rough-legged Hawk, 17 Golden Eagles (8a, 2 sa, 7j), 1 male American Kestrel, 2 Gyrfalcons (1 grey morph and 1 white morph) and 1 male Prairie Falcon. The count of 30 birds between 1347 and 1807 at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge was 3 Bald Eagles (2a, 1sa), 5 Sharp-shinned Hawks (1a, 4u), 1u Cooper’s Hawk, 1a Northern Goshawk, 1a light morph Broad-winged Hawk, 1a “Krider’s” Red-tailed Hawk and 2a light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks, 2 light Rough-legged Hawks, 13 Golden Eagles (5a, 5sa, 1j, 2u) and 1 unidentified eagle. The total movement observed across the ridge system between 0919 and 1832 was 71  migrants of 11 species that comprised 7 Bald Eagles (4a, 2sa, 1j), 12 Sharp-shinned Hawks (5a, 7u), 3 Cooper’s Hawks (2a, 1u), 1a Northern Goshawk, 1a Light morph Broad-winged Hawk, 9a Red-tailed Hawks (1 “Krider’s”, 7 calurus: 5 light and 2 dark morphs, and 1 dark morph harlani), 3 Rough-legged Hawks (2 light, 1 dark), 30 Golden Eagles (13a, 7sa, 8j, 2u), 1 unidentified eagle, 1 male American Kestrel, 2 Gyrfalcons (1 grey and 1 white morph) and 1 male Prairie Falcon. The highest hourly count was 14 between 1700 and 1800. Other bird species seen were 1 Blue Jay, 2 Clark’s Nutcrackers, 5 American Crows, 22 Common Ravens, 9 Mountain Bluebirds, 140 American Robins, 30 Cedar Waxwings that flew south in a single flock at 1145, and 1 Dark-eyed [Oregon] Junco.

10.75 hours (109.6) BAEA 7 (27), SSHA 12 (263), COHA 3 (44), NOGO 1 (13), BWHA 1 (6), RTHA 9 (89), RLHA 3 (9), GOEA 30 (273), UE 1 (6), AMKE 1 (16), GYRF 2 (3) PRFA 1 (2) TOTAL 71 (797)

Thursday, October 03 Steeples [Day 5] 1345-1700 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 10C, conditions were calm and cloud cover was 100% altostratus and cumulus. Although the ridges were clear no migrant or resident raptors were seen.

3.25 hours (18.25) TOTAL 0 (52)