Wednesday, September 25 Vicki Ridge [Day 6]

Wednesday, September 25 Vicki Ridge [Day 6] 0815-1915 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of Vicki Ridge; 1525-1720 Denise Cocciolone-Amatto and Raymond Toal observing at the mid-point of Kyllo Ridge, and 1500-1820 Gord Petersen at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge at the Waterton 68 wellsite). The temperature at 0815 was 4C, the high between 1400 and 1600 was 14.5C and it was 10C at the end of observation at 1915. Winds were again W-WSW all day 20-30 km/h to 1300 after which they increased to 30-40 gusting 55 km/h for the rest of the day. Cloud cover was 10-40% cumulus and cirrus to 1600 after which it thickened to 70-100% altostratus, cirrostratus and cumulus for the rest of the day, and observing conditions were excellent throughout. The count on Vicki Ridge was 71 birds comprising 2 Bald Eagles (1sa, 1j), 1 juvenile female Northern Harrier, 25 Sharp-shinned Hawks (9a, 3j, 13u), 8 Cooper’s Hawks (5a, 1j, 2u), 2 Northern Goshawks (1a, 1j), 1 juvenile light morph Broad-winged Hawk, 10 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks, 1 juvenile light morph Ferruginous Hawk, 1 dark morph Rough-legged Hawk and 20 Golden Eagles (10a, 2sa, 7j, 1u). The count of 16 birds at the mid-ridge site was 2u Sharp-shinned Hawks, 1a Cooper’s Hawk, 1 juvenile Northern Goshawk, 11 Golden Eagles (8a, 3j) and 1 unidentified eagle; and the count of 37 birds at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge was 1 juvenile Bald Eagle, 28 Sharp-shinned Hawks (3a, 25u), 1u Cooper’s Hawk, 3 Red-tailed Hawks (calurus light 2a, harlani dark 1a), 1a dark Ferruginous Hawk and 3 Golden Eagles (2a, 1j). There appeared to be no duplication in the counting of birds at the three sites and the total movement observed across the ridge system was 124 migrants of 10 species that comprised 3 Bald Eagles (1sa, 2j), 1 juvenile female Northern Harrier, 55 Sharp-shinned Hawks (12a, 3j, 40u), 10 Cooper’s Hawks (6a, 1j, 3u), 3 Northern Goshawks (1a, 2j), 1 juvenile light morph Broad-winged Hawk, 13 Red-tailed Hawks (12 adult light morph calurus and 1a dark morph harlani), 2 Ferruginous Hawks (1 juvenile light morph and 1a dark morph), 1 dark morph Rough-legged Hawk, 34 Golden Eagles (20a, 2sa, 11j, 1u), and 1 unidentified eagle. The highest hourly combined counts were 29 (1600-1700) and 24 (1700-1800). Other bird species seen were 1 Northern (Red-shafted) Flicker, 7 Clark’s Nutcrackers, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 31 Common Ravens, 2 Red-breasted Nuthatches, 7 Mountain Bluebirds, 2 Townsend’s Solitaires, 145 American Robins, 16 Cedar Waxwings, 40 Pine Siskins, and 2 Yellow-rumped Warblers.

11 hours (64.58) BAEA 3 (11), NOHA 1 (9), SSHA 55 (186), COHA 10 (33), NOGO 3 (9), BWHA 1 (3), RTHA 13 (55), RLHA 1 (4), GOEA 34 (127), UE 1 (1) TOTAL 124 (476)

Wednesday, September 25 Steeples (Vance Mattson). No observation because of teaching commitments.