October 10 [Day 46] (Valley View site) It was another cold day starting at -12C at 0715, briefly rising to -6C at 1600 before falling to -11C at 1900. Ground winds were light all day mainly WSW and aloft were also light E until 1800 when they switched to N. Cloud cover was 100% stratus until 1830 when the cloud finally broke reducing to 60% altostratus at 1900. Light snow persisted until 1420, but the ridges were just visible and only became clear after the snow stopped. The only bird seen before noon was a very dark adult male Merlin that flew from the north and perched on a tree for 2 minutes before continuing south. The bird showed all the characters of F.c.suckleyi (“Black Merlin”), a subspecies normally confined to the Pacific coast, and is a new record for the count. Golden Eagles started to move in low numbers after 1200 while the snow was still falling, but increased significantly after it stopped at 1420, peaking at 20 birds between 1605 and 1632 after which migration suddenly ceased for the day. The 51 Golden Eagles counted comprised 25a, 9sa, 16j and 1u, and the only other raptors counted were 2 adult Bald Eagles and an adult female Northern Harrier. An American Three-toed Woodpecker flying high to the south at 1430 was the 99th bird species seen this season, and a Purple Finch (male) was only the second seen this season. 12 hours (545.88) BAEA 2 (78), NOHA 1 (88), GOEA 51 (1179) MERL 1 (25) TOTAL 55 (3142)
Mount Lorette [Day 18] (Ron Dutcher) Because of heavy ground fog in the valley Ron didn’t start the count until 1100 and watched from the parking lot of the Nakiska ski hill until 1600 in order to see above the fog, before going down to the Hostel Hill observation site for the rest of the day. The temperature high was -2C at 1300 and fell to -8C at 1800, and both ground and ridge winds were light all day, E to 1530 and subsequently W. Cloud cover was 100% until early afternoon after which a blue patch over the middle of the valley gradually expanded to cover 70% of the sky by late afternoon. The Fisher Range was not completely clear of cloud until 1600, but the first migrant Golden Eagle moved low to the south at 1540 and the last 6 of the day’s 32 birds were seen at 1810. There was little lift and most of the birds moved low against the Fisher Range ridge with much flapping. A flock of 45 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches was the first record of the species this season. 7.75 hours (219.59) GOEA 32 (924) TOTAL 32 (1044)