September 25 [Day 32] The warm weather persisted with the temperature ranging from 9.5C to 19C. Winds were S-SE light to moderate until 1235 when they switched to SW and then W after 1500 gradually increasing in velocity, peaking at 58 km/h at 1900. There was a slight smoke haze until noon, and cloud cover was generally 5-30% cirrus until 1800 when spectacular altostratus/lenticular cloud developed reaching 60% at 1900. It was a good day of raptor migration with a season high 163 birds of 12 species moving between 1006 and 1854, peaking between 1300 and 1400 at a season high 42 birds. Two Ospreys increased the record seasonal total to 37 and the bird that passed high to the S at 1306 was carrying a fish in its talons. The 5 Northern Harriers brought the season’s total to a record 77 birds, and the 28 Cooper’s Hawks was the highest total for the season and also established a new record for the site of 240 birds. The 16 American Kestrels was the highest single day total for the species on any RMERF count and brought the total for the season to 52: another record. The late movement of 2 Peregrine Falcons at 1825 and 1829 brought the day’s total to 4 and the season’s total to yet another record 36 birds. Golden Eagle is the only species that is somewhat underperforming at the moment with only 24 birds moving today, but the promised cooler weather starting on Sunday should provide an impetus for their southward movement. Migrant passerines included 29 Red-breasted Nuthatches, 1 White-breasted Nuthatch, 22 Ruby-crowned Kinglets, 17 Mountain Bluebirds, 36 American Robins, 16 Cedar Waxwings and 15 Yellow-rumped Warblers, while a single flock of 9 Black-billed Magpies flying high to the S east of the ridge at 1047 also looked like they were migrating. 12.5 hours (399.51) OSPR 2 (37), BAEA 3 (22), NOHA 5 (77), SSHA 56 (744), COHA 28 (240), NOGO 10 (78), UA 2 (27), RTHA 9 (134), RLHA 1 (3), GOEA 24 (267), AMKE 16 (52), MERL 2 (11), PEFA 4 (36), UU 1 (6) TOTAL 163 (1803)
Mount Lorette [Day 5] (George Halmazna) The temperature ranged from 1C to 21C, ground winds were generally light S, only briefly gusting to 17 km/h, and cloud cover was 10-40% cirrus with minor altocumulus for most of the day reaching 70% in the late afternoon. After 1345 smoke from the controlled burn reappeared and was often thick enough to obscure adjacent mountains. It was another disappointing raptor count with only 3 Golden Eagles (2a, 1sa) moving between 1600 and 1700. The highlight of the day was a male Yellow-bellied Sapsucker which is only the 5th record for the site and the 2nd fall record. Passerine movement was dominated by 83 Ruby-crowned Kinglets and 44 American Robins, all of which moved before noon. 12.75 hours (73.67) GOEA 3 (84) TOTAL 3 (115)