September 21 [Day 28] The temperature rose to a high of 12C from a low of 12C and winds were WNW and occasionally W 30-60km/h all day. The sky was cloudless at 0700 but cirrus and altostratus started to develop at 0800 reaching 100% at 1400 and staying between 70% and 90% for the rest of the day generally giving excellent observing conditions. Raptor movement was slow in the morning with only 9 birds moving before noon, but was strong throughout the afternoon peaking at 31 birds between 1300 and 1400, with the last bird, a Golden Eagle, observed at 1851. The combined species total of 156 is the highest so far this season and the flight was again dominated by Sharp-shinned Hawks with 75 being the second highest count of the season. Golden Eagles also had their second highest count with 39 birds (5a, 15sa, 19j) moving and Bald Eagles had their highest count so far at 4 (3a, 1j). Both Osprey (2) and Broad-winged Hawk (1 light morph adult) increased their site-record counts to 33 and 41 respectively, and 3 more adult Peregrine Falcons brought the season’s total to 23. One of the 6 Northern Harriers seen was the first adult male of the season: 54 of the 62 birds seen so far have been juveniles. Non-raptor migrants included 1 Red-naped Sapsucker, 4 Red-breasted Nuthatches, 13 Golden-crowned and 8 Ruby-crowned Kinglets, 6 Townsend’s Solitaires and 25 American Robins, but for the first time this season no warblers were recorded. Of the 19 Dark-eyed Juncos seen, 9 were hyemalis (“Slate-coloured”) and 1 was a male mearnsi (“Pink-sided”). 12.75 hours (349.34) OSPR 2 (33), BAEA 4 (15), NOHA 6 (62), SSHA 75 (545), COHA 17 (174), NOGO 2 (49), BWHA 1 (41), RTHA 7 (106), GOEA 39 (164), PEFA 3 (23) TOTAL 156 (1299)
Mount Lorette [Day 2] (George Halmazna) The temperature ranged from -3C to 18C, ground winds were light W and ridge winds were light to moderate all day and cloud cover was 10-100% altocumulus thinning to 40% cirrus late in the day. As yesterday, Golden Eagles dominated the flight of 40 raptors with 31 moving steadily (and slowly) along the Fisher Range between 0815 and 1810. Passerine movement included 2 Barn Swallows, 40 Ruby-crowned Kinglets, 14 Yellow-rumped Warblers, 42 American Robins, 36 Cedar Waxwings and 1 White-throated Sparrow. 12.5 hours (25) OSPR 1 (2), SSHA 1 (5), COHA 1 (4), NOGO 3 (6), RTHA 3 (3), GOEA 31 (69) TOTAL 40 (91)