October 18 [Day 53] (Valley View site) Temperatures ranged from 7C to 12C, ground winds were SW to WNW gusting 28 km/h to 1100 but thereafter light and ridge winds were WNW all day moderate to strong to 1030, moderate to 1730 and then light to moderate. Cloud cover ranged from 100 to 40% cumulus, stratocumulus and cirrus and ridges were clear all day. Raptor migration was the most diverse for many days and 57 birds of a total of 123 were not Golden Eagles. The 11 Rough-legged Hawks was the highest count of the season so far, and Sharp-shinned Hawk (25) and Red-tailed Hawk (7) had their highest counts since October 1. Two Cooper’s Hawks and single Northern Harrier and Peregrine Falcon (an adult) raised their record season’s totals to 293, 91 and 43 respectively. Although Golden Eagles moved fairly steadily between 0813 and 1800 only 66 birds were seen (53a,9sa,4j) and movement became slower as ridge wind velocity diminished after mid afternoon. Maximum raptor movement was 28 birds between 1300 and 1400.11.75 hours(629.55) BAEA 10 (105), NOHA 1 (91), SSHA 25 (961), COHA 2 (293), RTHA 7 (189), RLHA 11 (34), GOEA 66 (2369), PEFA 1 (43) TOTAL 123 (4457)
Mount Lorette [Day 26] (Bill Wilson) The temperature rose to 7.5C from a low of 1C and fell to 4C at 1900, ground winds were N-NE generally light but occasionally gusted to 20 km/h, ridge winds were WNW light to moderate all day and cloud cover was 60-100% cumulus with ridges mainly clear all day. The flight of 56 migrant raptors was dominated by 51 Golden Eagles (43a,1sa,2j,5u) that moved between 0913 and 1833. Non-raptor migrants included 2 Common Loons, a single flock of 150 Bohemian Waxwings and 3 Rusty Blackbirds. 12 hours (308.51) BAEA 2 (27), SSHA 2 (47), RLHA 1 (12), GOEA 51 (1579) TOTAL 56 (1735)