October 15 [Day 50] (Valley View site) The temperature at 0715 was 5C, rose to 8.5C at 1200 and was still 5.5C at 1900. Ground winds ranged from W to N occasionally gusting 25 km/h while ridge winds were WNW moderate to strong all day. Cloud cover was 30-90% mixtures of cumulus, altocumulus, altostratus, cirrus and stratocumulus giving excellent observing conditions and although cloud drape lingered over the ridges until 1200 they were completely clear in the afternoon. Conditions were ideal for Golden Eagle flight and birds moved high above the Livingstone ridge in a steady stream between 0807 and 1855 with almost no breaks. Fourteen birds had moved south by 0900 and every hour between 1100 and 1900 had at least 20 birds with maximum passage of 41 between 1500 and 1600. The total of 268 Golden Eagles is the second highest of the season and comprised 218 adults, 27 subadults, 22 juveniles and 1 bird of unknown age. Only 5 other migrant raptors were seen including the season’s 3rd Gyrfalcon, an adult grey morph, at 1830. 12 hours (593.88) SSHA 2 (918), COHA 1 (289), NOGO 1 (97), GOEA 268 (1877), GYRF 1 (3) TOTAL 273 (3865)
Mount Lorette [Day 23] (Joel Duncan) The temperature rose from -2C to 8C at noon where it stayed until 1700, ground winds were SW generally light and ridge winds were moderate W, and cloud cover ranged from 80% cumulus and altostratus in the morning to 10% cirrus at 1900. All but 2 of the day’s 51 migrant raptors were Golden Eagles which moved from 0910 to 1757 with a maximum count of 14 between 1700 and 1800. The flight comprised 29 adults, 5 subadults, 5 juveniles and 10 birds of undetermined age. The only other migrants were a juvenile Northern Harrier and a light morph Rough-legged Hawk. Several of the non-raptor species observed yesterday were still present but a single American Coot was a first record for the season. 10.5 hours (274.09) NOHA 1 (5), RLHA 1 (9), GOEA 49 (1383) TOTAL 51 (1524)