Vicki Ridge and Steeples, October 31

Thursday, October 31 Vicki Ridge [Day 39] 0815-1800 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of Vicki Ridge). The temperature at 0815 was -4C, the high at 1600 was 3C and it was -0.5C at 1800. Winds were W 30-40 gusting 55 km/h to 1500 when they became light NNW and then NNE-E 10-15 km/h after 1520 with the exception of 1715-1740 when it was calm, which is a rare occurrence at the site. Cloud cover was 100% altostratus and altocumulus forming a Chinook Arch to 1100 when it began to slowly move to the east and by 1300 it was 20% altostratus and altocumulus and 0% at 1400. By 1500 50% cumulus and altocumulus had again developed and at 1520 coincident with the wind shifting to the ENE cover became 80-90% dark cumulus which dissipated by 1700 without producing any precipitation, and it was then 30-60% light cumulus and altocumulus for the rest of the day. The day produced a fairly strong late-season movement of 41 raptors of 4 species between 0859 and 1703 that comprised 8 Bald Eagles (5a, 2sa2, 1j), 4 Northern Goshawks (3a, 1j), 3 Rough-legged Hawks (2 light, 1 dark) and 26 Golden Eagles (19a, 1sa, 3j, 3u) which is the highest count for the species at the site since October 24. Only 4 birds moved after 1520 when the wind shifted to the east, and the highest single-hour count was 13 between 1300 and 1400. Other birds seen were 1 Clark’s Nutcracker, 1 Black-billed Magpies, 67 Common Ravens, 3 Bohemian Waxwings, 25 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches and 10 Dark-eyed Juncos of the race hyemalis.

9.75 hours (365.8) BAEA 8 (264), NOGO 4 (72), RLHA 3 (404), GOEA 26 (2594) TOTAL 41 (4190)

Thursday, October 31 Steeples (Vance Mattson). No observation because of a prior commitment.