Vicki Ridge and Steeples, October 7-9

Monday, October 07 Vicki Ridge [Day 16] 0815-1845 (Peter Sherrington to 0920, Gord Petersen after 0920, assisted by Trevor Lewis, observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of Vicki Ridge, Ridge, and Raymond Toal (1405-1600) observing at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge at the Waterton 68 wellsite).  The temperature at 0815 was 6C, the high at 1600 and 1700 was 12C and it was 9C at 1845. Winds were strong W-WSW and occasionally SW all day, 30-50 gusting up to 90 km/h and cloud cover was 20-30% altostratus, cirrostratus and lenticular to 1000, 70-90% altostratus, cirrus with dark cumulus increasing from the west to 1500 after which it thinned to 60-30% cirrus, cumulus and altostratus until the end of observation when dark cumulus again moved from the west bringing light rain showers. Observing was challenging because of the strong winds and cloud cover often made detailed identification impossible. A total of 103 migrant raptors of 6 species were counted between 0838 and 1640 that comprised 5 Bald Eagles (3a, 2sa), 10 Sharp-shinned Hawks (1a, 9u), 2a Cooper’s Hawks, 2a Red-tailed Hawks (1 light calurus, 1 dark harlani), 7 Rough-legged Hawks (4 light, 2 dark, 1u), 71 Golden Eagles (25a, 12sa, 10j, 24u) and 6 unidentified eagles. The count includes 10 birds seen by Raymond at the Waterton 68 site: 1u Sharp-shinned Hawk, 8 Golden Eagles (5a, 2sa, 1u) and 1 unidentified eagle. Birds moved steadily all day with high hourly counts of 18 (1000-1100) and 21 (1500-1600). The only other birds seen were 18 Common Ravens and 61 American Robins.

10.5 hours (152.9) BAEA 5 (71), SSHA 10 (350), COHA 2 (55), RTHA 2 (103), RLHA 7 (40), GOEA 71 (816), UE 6 (13) TOTAL 103 (1541)

Monday, October 07 Steeples (Vance Mattson). No observation because of teaching commitments.

Tuesday, October 08 Vicki Ridge No observation: a cold front moved from the north overnight bringing rain and then heavy snow all day.

Tuesday, October 08 Steeples No observation: the day was 100% overcast with rain in the morning and heavy snow throughout the afternoon.

Wednesday, October 09 Vicki Ridge [Day 17] 1600-1830 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson assisted by Trevor Lewis, observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of Vicki Ridge). Light snow and low cloud persisted in the area to 1500 when it rapidly cleared and we manage to get to the site through 40 cm of fresh snow at 1600. The temperature was -7C and dropped to -8C at 1830, winds were very light SE and an initial cloud cover of 70% cumulus quickly diminished and by 1830 it was cloudless. A total of 11 migrant raptors were seen between 1603 and 1725 that comprised 2 juvenile Bald Eagles, 1a dark morph harlani Red-tailed Hawk and 8 Golden Eagles (4a, 3sa, 1j). Other birds seen were a flock of 8 Canada Geese that flew west at 1812, a large flock of about 200 unidentified ducks that flew high to the west at 1650, 79 Common Ravens most of which flew to the west to roost late in the day, about 250 American Robins and 1 Dark-eyed [cismontanus] Junco.

2.5 hours (155.4) BAEA 2 (73), RTHA 1 (104), GOEA 8 (824) TOTAL 11 (1552)

Wednesday, October 09 Steeples [Day 9] 1645-1900 (Vance Mattson). After yesterday’s heavy snow today was clear so Vance rushed to the site after work and counted 49 migrant raptors of 5 species between 1645 and 1843. The count comprised 10 Bald Eagles (6a, 5j), 4u Sharp-shinned Hawks, 1 unidentified Accipiter, 8 calurus Red-tailed Hawks (5 light: 3a, 2j, 1u, and 2a dark), 1 dark morph Rough-legged Hawk, 23 Golden Eagles (11a, 1sa, 10j, 1u) and 2 unidentified eagles. Birds were already in the air when Vance arrived and by 1745 36 migrants had been counted. The initial movement consisted of Bald Eagles, Sharp-shinned Hawks and Red-tailed Hawks, while nearly all the last migrants were Golden Eagles, the last 5 of which were juveniles. The temperature was 2C that dropped to -1C by 1900, it was calm and cloud cover was 30-60% cumulus that produced sunny conditions throughout although some cloud hung in front of the mountains and obscured the front face of Mount Bill Nye. Flight was generally slow and low with increasing flapping as the day progressed. One wonders how many birds were missed before 1645?

2.25 hours (37), BAEA 10 (41), SSHA 4 (19), RTHA 8 (22), RLHA 1 (1), GOEA 23 (44), UA 1 (1), UE 2 (3) TOTAL 49 (139)