October 25 [Day 60] (Valley View site) The temperature ranged from -4.5C to 6C but variable ground winds gusting to 40 km/h made observation uncomfortable. Ridge winds were WNW moderate to strong, and it was cloudless until 1200 but by 1300 there was 100% altostratus which gradually thickened throughout the afternoon. Raptor migration was slow in the morning with the first Golden Eagle appearing at 0836 and by noon only 13 birds had moved. Things improved in the afternoon with another 54 birds recorded before 1600 after which things slowed down considerably with only 9 more birds seen, the last of which was at 1712. Of the day’s 76 migrant raptors 67 were Golden Eagles (55a,6sa,6j) and a further 7 were Bald Eagles (4a,1sa,2j). A single Cooper’s Hawk brought the season’s total to 300 for the first time ever on a RMERF count. 11.16 hours (707.29) BAEA 7 (227), COHA 1 (300), RLHA 1 (41), GOEA 67 (3437) TOTAL 76 (5746)
Mount Lorette [Day 33] (Bill Wilson) Temperatures ranged from -9C to 7C, ground winds were light SE-SSW occasionally gusting to 20 km/h while ridge winds were W moderate, and cloud cover was similar to that at P-SL: cloudless to 1100 and 100% altostratus after 1200. The first Golden Eagles were seen at 0828 and 0831 but the 3rd didn’t appear until 1204 after which movement was fairly steady peaking at 15 (4 Bald and 11 Golden Eagles) between 1500 and 1600 with the last Golden Eagle recorded at 1738. The total flight of 47 birds comprised 9 Bald Eagles and 38 Golden Eagles. 11.16 hours (384.33) BAEA 9 (78), GOEA 38 (2004) TOTAL 47 (2225)