October 1 [Day 38] It was a cool day with the temperature only reaching 3C from a low of -1.5C with WNW to W winds gusting to 50 km/h. Cloud cover started at 10% altostratus and cumulus but increased after 0930 to 50-80% cumulus before diminishing to 30% after 1800, generally giving good observation conditions. Raptor migration started early with the first two Golden Eagles moving south at 0748 and after 0900 movement was strong all day until the last Golden Eagle was seen at 1855. The combined species total of 232, the Golden Eagle total of 133 (75a,21sa,28j,9u) and the Bald Eagle total of 13 (9a,3sa,1j) were all seasonal highs and an adult female Northern Harrier, an adult Peregrine Falcon and 5 adult Cooper’s Hawks all extended their species record counts. The 64 Sharp-shinned Hawks was the highest count since September 22, and 2 of the 8 Red-tailed Hawks were adult dark morph “Harlan’s Hawks”. The highest hourly count was 1100-1200 when a season high 56 raptors moved including 40 Golden Eagles. There was some songbird movement dominated by 98 American Robins, and a group of 3 Pine Grosbeaks were the first for the season [bird species # 88]. A single “Yellow-shafted” Northern Flicker was also a seasonal first. 12.5 hours (470.63) OSPR 1 (46), BAEA 13 (45), NOHA 1 (86), SSHA 64 (895), COHA 5 (280), NOGO 3 (90), UA 1 (34), RTHA 8 (166), GOEA 133 (645), PEFA 1 (42), PRFA 1 (11), UU 1 (10) TOTAL 232 (2510)
Mount Lorette [Day 11] (Joel Duncan) The temperature ranged from -4C to 8C with ground winds SW 10-20 km/h and W-NW ridge winds rated as moderate. Cloud cover increased to a maximum 90% cumulus and altostratus at 1300 before gradually decreasing again to 10% at 1900. Of the day’s total of 52 migrant raptors 46 were Golden Eagles that moved between 0825 and 1901 with 11 of the Golden Eagles seen between 1700 and 1800. Other migrants included a Herring Gull, 3 Townsend’s Solitaires and 18 American Pipits. 11.25 hours (146.17) BAEA 1 (11), SSHA 1 (39), NOGO 1 (12), RTHA 1 (16), RLHA 2 (5), GOEA 46 (401) TOTAL 52 (501)