December 9 [Day 103] (Valley View site) The temperature reached a high of -13C from a low at 1015 of -16C, which was also the temperature at 1700. Ground winds were mainly SW to NW and occasionally NE gusting to 50 km/h and ridge winds were mainly strong WNW. Cloud cover was 20-90% altocumulus, cirrostratus, cirrus and lenticular and a spectacular sunset proved a fitting end to the fall 2009 count. No migrant raptors were seen but an adult resident Golden Eagle displayed briefly above the Livingstone ridge at 1044 and probably the same bird glided high to the north above the valley at 1617. 7 hours (1142.8) TOTAL 0 (7145)
December summary This is only the second year that the count has extended into December, the other being in 2007: inclement weather precluded December counts in 2006 and 2008. Seven days were spent in the field (60 hours) with December 5 and 6 lost to poor weather and 48 migrant raptors were counted compared to 78 in 2007. The count comprised (with 2007 count in parenthesis) 36 Bald Eagles (69), 1 Red-tailed Hawk (0), 4 Rough-legged Hawks (4) and 7 Golden Eagles (3). Two migrant Northern Goshawks occurred in 2007 but the species was not recorded in December this year.

FINAL COUNT, AUGUST 25 TO DECEMBER 9 (variance from 2006-8 average in parentheses)

DAYS 103 (+10.8%)
HOURS 1142.8 (+15.16%)

TURKEY VULTURE (TUVU) 0 (=)
OSPREY (OSPR) 49 (+167%) New high count
BALD EAGLE (BAEA) 684 (+24.5%)
NORTHERN HARRIER (NOHA) 100 (+65.7%) New high count
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (SSHA) 1015 (-22.3%)
COOPER’S HAWK (COHA) 302 (+40.2%) New high count
NORTHERN GOSHAWK (NOGO) 136 (-27.8%)
Unidentified Accipiter (UA) 35 (-34.8%)
BROAD-WINGED HAWK (BWHA) 45 (+214%) New high count
SWAINSON’S HAWK (SWHA) 7 (+250%) New high count
RED-TAILED HAWK (RTHA) 195 (-14%)
FERRUGINOUS HAWK (FEHA) 10 (+400%) New high count
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (RLHA) 85 (-20.6%)
Unidentified Buteo (UB) 7 (+10.5%)
GOLDEN EAGLE (GOEA) 4293 (-14.45%)
Unidentified eagle (UE) 4 (-76%)
AMERICAN KESTREL (AMKE) 65 (-122%) New high count
MERLIN (MERL) 29 (-16.3%)
GYRFALCON (GYRF) 10 (+66.7%) New high count
PEREGRINE FALCON (PEFA) 48 (+63.6%) New high count
PRAIRIE FALCON (PRFA) 12 (-26.5%)
Unidentified Falco (UF) 3 (+12.5%)
Unidentified raptor (UU) 11 (-8.3%)

TOTAL 7145 (-9.72%)

Principal Observers: Peter Sherrington (95 days), Bill Wilson (4 days), Vance Mattson (3 days) and Doug and Teresa Dolman (1 day). The Principal Observers were skillfully assisted by Keith McClary (51 days), Phil Nicholas (41 days), Denise Coccioloni-Amatto (29 days), Nel Van Kamer (9 days), David Thomas (9 days), Dawn Hall (9 days), Doug and Teresa Dolman (6 days), Pat Lucas (5 Days), Peter Sherrington (3 days), Ben Johnson (2 days), Karole Michalsky (2 days), Angelo Mincone (2 days), Dominic Mincone (2 days), Patricia Wagenaar (2 days), Nancy and Terry Waters (2 days), John and Donna Dubbelboer (1 day), Brenda Kofell (1 day), Marian Mincone (1 day), Mark Sherrington (1 day), Gareth Thompson (1 day) Heinz and Marilyn Unger (1 day), Paul Vandervelde (1 days) and Michael Woertman (1 day).

Acknowledgements: To the Board, members and supporters of the Rocky Mountain Eagle Research Foundation for their continuing financial and material support, and to members of the Crowsnest Conservation Society for their support and many contributions to the success of the project. To the many people who invited me for meals and hospitality during the season, to Nel Van Kamer who cooked prepared meals for me and saved me hours of cooking time, and to all of the above for their support, friendship and companionship during what was a long and often arduous field season.

December 8 [Day 102] (Valley View site) The temperature was again -29C at 0800 and rose to a relatively pleasant -14C between 1300 and 1430 before falling to -20C at 1700. Fortunately ground winds were light varying from NE to SW and ridge and upper winds were NE moderate to light to 1430 when they backed to NNW. It was cloudless to 0900 after which cumulus and cirrus cloud developed reaching 90% at 1200 which gradually thinned becoming cloudless again after 1600. Very light snow fell between 1140 and 1300 and low cumulus enveloped part of the Livingstone Range between 1200 and 1430. The only migrant raptors were an adult Bald Eagle flying south from Bluff Mountain at 1351 and another adult Bald Eagle flapping south along the Livingstone ridge at 1511. A single American Tree Sparrow at 1253 was the 107th bird species recorded this season, and single Northern Shrike and Townsend’s Solitaire furnished latest records for the site. 9.75 hours (1135.8 hours) BAEA 2 (684) TOTAL 2 (7145)

December 7 [Day 101] (Valley View site) It was the coldest day of the season with a temperature high of -18C from 1200 to 1420 from a low of -29C and by 1700 it was down to -25C again. Ground winds were NE to NNE gusting to 15 km/h until 1100 after which they mercifully became light SW to W, and ridge winds appeared to be light or moderate NE to N all day. Skies were essentially cloudless all day with only occasional traces of ephemeral cumulus cloud in the afternoon. A total of 9 raptors migrated between 1136 and 1404 comprising 7 Bald Eagles (6 adults and 1 subadult), 1 adult intermediate morph “Harlan’s” Red-tailed Hawk and a juvenile Golden Eagle. The Harlan’s Hawk is the first ever December record for a Red-tailed Hawk on a RMERF count and was the first at the site since November 4, and the Golden Eagle was the latest ever recorded at this site. With the exception of one adult Bald Eagle seen over the Livingstone ridge, all the birds moved south over Bluff Mountain to the west of the observation site. A single Townsend’s Solitaire seen on a couple of occasions was the latest ever recorded on a count here. 9.75 hours (1126) BAEA 7 (682), RTHA 1 (195), GOEA 1 (4293) TOTAL 9 (7143)

December 5 & 6 No observation. Cold, north winds, snow and ridges obscured all weekend. On December 5 at 1437, however, David McIntyre observed an adult Golden Eagle flying south over his house on the North Burmis Road immediately east of south Livingstone Range ridge. The bird had blue patagial tags on both wings with white numbers which could not be read because of the conditions and is probably a bird marked by Rob Domenech of the Raptor View Research Institute in Montana. It was obviously a migrant so I have added it to the count.

December 4 [Day 100] (Valley View site) The temperature was -7C until 1000 when it rose to -6C, ground winds were NW to W gusting to 50 km/h and ridge winds were moderate to strong changing from WSW to W to WNW between 1720 and 0900. Cloud cover started at 10% altocumulus, but quickly increased and thickened to 100% stratus after 1030 when an arctic cold front moved through bringing north winds gusting to 50 km/h, snow and obscuring most of the ridges by 1100. Taking heed of a winter storm warning I left at 1115. No migrant raptors were seen so the Bald Eagle recorded yesterday at 1401 was the last to move south ahead of the approaching arctic front. The storm is forecast to persist throughout the weekend so I plan to shut the count down for a couple of days and resume it for one or two more days when it finally clears again. 4 hours (116.3) No migrant raptors.

December 3 [Day 99] (Valley View site) The temperature regime was similar to yesterday’s with a low of -18C rising to -5C between 1300 and 1530 and falling to -7C at 1700. Ground winds were variable gusting up to 15 km/h and ridge winds appeared to be moderate WNW changing to NW to N after 1400, while the high upper flow was N all day. Cloud cover was thin cirrostratus and altostratus 20-50% in the morning gradually increasing to 100% after 1500. Raptor movement started with a juvenile Bald Eagle flapping low to the south above the valley at 0813, followed some time after by 5 adult Bald Eagles between 1028 and 1127. There was a brief high movement along the Livingstone ridge between 1346 and 1401 involving 3 adult Golden Eagles and 2 adult Bald Eagles and that was it for the day. A Northern Shrike at 1620 was a first December record for the site. 9.92 hours (1112.3) BAEA 8 (675), GOEA 3 (4291) TOTAL 11 (7133)

December 2 [Day 98] (Valley View site) It was the second coldest day of the season with a morning low of -18C and the temperature reaching -5C at 1400 but falling again to -15C at 1820. It was cloudless all day with traces of cumulus cloud between 1000 and 1530, and it was mainly calm both in the valley and at ridge level. Raptor movement again started early with a Bald Eagle and 2 Rough-legged Hawks flying south between 0804 and 0821, but the next Bald Eagle was not seen until 1143. Movement picked up in the afternoon with 14 more migrants peaking at 6 between 1400 and 1500 which included 4 Bald Eagles flying south together at 1420. The last of the day’s 18 migrants were 2 Bald Eagles flapping low to the south at 1640. The flight comprised 14 Bald Eagles (10 adults, 3 subadults, 1 juvenile), 2 light morph Rough-legged Hawks and 2 adult Golden Eagles. Because of the calm conditions all birds flapped extensively and the day’s first Golden Eagle at 1143 soared for 5 minutes before finally flapping and gliding to the south along the Livingstone ridge. A Great Horned Owl singing at 1702 was the first owl species detected during a count in December. 10 hours (1102.4) BAEA 14 (667), RLHA 2 (85), GOEA 2 (4288) TOTAL 18 (7122)

December 1 [Day 97] (Valley View site) A cold front passed overnight dumping 18 cm of fresh snow at the site and lowering the temperature to -13C under a cloudless sky at 0720. Ground winds were initially light NE changing to WSW in the afternoon with occasional gusts to 15 km/h. Ridge winds were initially N to NW light to moderate until 1130 when a light to moderate W flow established becoming moderate after 1500. Up to 30% cumulus cloud cover developed between 1130 and 1630 giving excellent observing conditions, and under sunny skies the temperature rose to -3C at 1300 falling to -6C at 1700. December raptor movement started promisingly with a Rough-legged Hawk flying south at 0818 and an adult Bald Eagle gliding south at 0845, but the next birds did not appear until 1201 when 2 Bald Eagles, an adult and a juvenile, went south. There was then another long gap until 1523 when a Rough-legged Hawk flew overhead to the south and the last migrants of the day were 2 more Bald Eagles, an adult and a juvenile, at 1546. Migration conditions appeared to be ideal all day so the passage of only 7 birds may suggest that we are finally running out of migrants. An American Dipper flying high from the Gold Creek canyon towards the west at 0756 was a first December record, and was reminiscent of crepuscular high flight away from a river that was first observed at our Mount Lorette site which may be movement between watersheds or even true migratory flight. 10 hours (1092.4) BAEA 5 (653), RLHA 2 (83) TOTAL 7 (7104)

November 30 [Day 96] (Valley View site) The temperatures ranged between 2C and 4C all day, ground winds were mainly NW to SW gusting to 40 km/h and ridge winds were strong W moderating after 1200. Cloud cover was 70-100% cumulus, altostratus and stratocumulus with periods of light snow and hail after 1100 which occluded the Livingstone Range to the north on occasion. An early movement of 8 raptors between 0804 (a Rough-legged Hawk) and 1040 made it appear that we would get the 16 birds necessary to reach a total of 1000 migrants for the month of November for the first time. The only other migrants seen, however, were the day’s second Bald Eagle and a female grey morph Gyrfalcon flying south together at 1219, but the 994 migrant raptors counted during November does establish a new RMERF record for the month. The Gyrfalcon also sets a new RMERF high count mark of 10 birds, with 9 having been counted on 4 previous fall counts: 1993 and 2004 at Mount Lorette, 1997 at Plateau Mountain and 2007 here. The flight comprised 2 Bald Eagles (1 adult, 1 juvenile), a Rough-legged Hawk and 6 adult Golden Eagles. A flock of 400 Bohemian Waxwings was the largest recorded so far this season. 9.92 hours (1082.4) BAEA 2 (648), RLHA 1 (81), GOEA 6 (4286), GYRF 1 (10) TOTAL 10 (7097)
November Summary No days were lost to weather although precipitation severely impacted counts on the 6th, 7th, 17th and 19th, and the month was generally characterised by high winds and above average temperatures. The 30 days spent in the field equals the effort in 2007 but the 310 hours is the highest ever for November at the site. The days and hours are 9.76% and 20.4% above the 2006-8 average for the site respectively. The combined species total of 994 (+24.2%) is the highest November total for the site, and monthly records were also set for Bald Eagle (377: +51.2%), Northern Harrier (4: +1100%), Cooper’s Hawk (2: +500%) and Rough-legged Hawk (32: +23.1%). The Golden Eagle count of 558 was the second highest for November (+18.39%) but the seasonal total to date of 4286 remains the lowest ever for the site, 729 birds (-14.59%) below average. The counts of 4 Gyrfalcons and 1 Peregrine Falcon were average for the month. Three species were below average: Northern Goshawk (14: -51.2%), Red-tailed Hawk (1: -40%) and Prairie Falcon (1: -50%), while Sharp-shinned Hawk and Merlin were not recorded during the month and the remaining 6 species have never been recorded here in November.

November 29 [Day 95] (Valley View site) The temperature reached 4C at 1300 from a low of 1C and fell to 2.5C after 1600. Ground winds were N-NW in the morning gusting to 70 km/h until 1030, then becoming moderate W-SW gusting to 20 km/h. Ridge winds were strong WNW to 1400 after which they became moderate W, and cloud cover was 70-100% altostratus, cumulus and lenticular with slight occlusion of the Livingstone Range to 1300. Most of the raptor movement was again early with 12 birds moving between 0907 and 1358 with 9 of the birds occurring before 1108. The flight comprised 4 adult Bald Eagles, 1 Rough-legged Hawk and 7 Golden Eagles (6 adults and 1 juvenile). 9.92 hours (1072.4) BAEA 4 (646), RLHA 1 (80), GOEA 7 (4280) TOTAL 12 (7087)

November 28 [Day 94] (Valley View site) (Bill Wilson 1000-1400 while I attended a RMERF board meeting in Blairmore) It was a cool day with the temperature reaching a high of -1C between 1200 and 1630 from a low of -5C. Ground winds were mainly WNW to NE gusting to 25 km/h and ridge winds were WNW moderate to strong becoming strong after 1600. Cloud cover was 100-80% altostratus, cumulus, altocumulus and lenticular with the Livingstone Range to the north gradually becoming draped with cloud after 1100. It looked like a good raptor movement was in the offing with 16 birds migrating between 0819 and 1158, but that bird proved to be the last of the day probably because of adverse weather conditions to the north. The flight was dominated by 9 adult Golden Eagles and 5 adult Bald Eagles but the highlights were an adult Peregrine Falcon at 0830, which is the first seen since October 30 and the latest ever at the site by 1 day, and an un-aged Northern Harrier at 0925 which is also the latest ever by 19 days and was the 100th recorded this season. Also notable was an American Dipper flying high to the south at 0757 which is only the second ever seen on the count, is a first fall record and the 107th bird species recorded this season. It was a good morning: pity about the afternoon! 10 hours (1062.5) BAEA 5 (642), NOHA 1 (100), GOEA 9 (4273), PEFA 1 (48) TOTAL 16 (7075)

November 27 [Day 93] (Valley View site) It was -1C to 0C, calm and overcast with steady snow obscuring all ridges until 1330 after which the sky rapidly cleared. At 1400 it was 2C, sunny with only 20% cumulus cloud cover and the ridges were almost clear. Ground winds after 1400 were SW-NW 5-10 gusting 15 km/h while ridge winds were NW moderate. The cumulus cloud cover gradually increased to 80% by 1700 when the temperature had again reached -1C. For most of the day the prospect of raptor movement seemed remote but at 1420 2 adult Bald Eagles glided high to the south above the Livingstone ridge and were quickly followed by 8 more Bald Eagles and a juvenile Golden Eagle before the end of the hour. Movement then slowed but a further 5 birds moved south before 1659 when the last bird of the day, a juvenile Bald Eagle, disappeared to the south. The flight comprised 13 Bald Eagles (10 adults, 1 subadult and 2 juveniles), 1 dark morph Rough-legged Hawk and 2 Golden Eagles (1 adult and 1 juvenile) 8.33 hours (1052.5) BAEA 13 (637), RLHA 1 (79), GOEA 2 (4264) TOTAL 16 (7059)

November 26 [Day 92] (Valley View site) The temperature rose from a morning low of 5C to 9C at 1200 but then fell steadily throughout the afternoon to 4C at 1700. Ground winds were W-NW 10-20 km/h to 1300 after which they became light, and ridge winds were W moderate to strong to 1400 after which they were moderate. Cloud cover was 30-70% altostratus, cumulus and cirrus to noon after which the cloud cover thickened and darkened to 90-100% stratocumulus and cumulus until 1700 when it partially cleared to 40% cumulus and altostratus. Very light rain fell from 1300 to 1630 and the Livingstone Range was partially obscured in cloud between 1400 and1630. Raptor movement started early with 10 birds (4 Bald Eagles, 1 Rough-legged Hawk and 5 Golden Eagles) seen between 0836 and 1033, but it then slowed with 2 further Golden Eagles at 1114 and 1334, and just when it appeared that migration was over for the day 3 adult Bald Eagles moved south together at 1547. 10.08 hours (1044.2) BAEA 7 (624), RLHA 1 (78), GOEA 7 (4262) TOTAL 15 (7043)

November 25 [Day 91] (Valley View site) It was even more pleasant than yesterday with the temperature rising to 8.5C from a low of 4C and it was still 5.5C at 1700. Ground winds varied from NW to SW generally 10-25km/h but occasionally gusting 50 km/h, and ridge winds were strong WNW for most of the day except between 1200 and 1430 when they moderated somewhat. An altostratus Chinook Arch formed over the Livingstone Range until 1330 when it moved off to the east leaving a variable cloud cover of 60-90% combinations of cumulus, altostratus, altocumulus and cirrus, and once again observation conditions were excellent. Raptor movement was again strong with 61 birds moving between 0933 and 1626 with 35 of the birds moving between 1300 and 1500. The combined species count was the highest since November 9 while the 49 Bald Eagles (46 adults, 1 subadult and 2 juveniles) was the highest count of the season so far and equals the highest count ever at the site. The total of 10 Golden Eagles comprised 9 adults and 1 subadult, an adult Northern Goshawk was the first migrant since November 13 and an adult grey morph Gyrfalcon at 1532 was the 9th of the season which equals the high count for the species at the site. The Bald Eagle recorded at 1352 was the 7000th migrant raptor of the season, while that at 1404 was the 600th Bald Eagle of the season. 10.08 hours (1034.1) BAEA 49 (617), NOGO 1 (136), GOEA 10 (4255), GYRF 1 (9) TOTAL 61 (7028)

November 25 [Day 91] (Valley View site) It was even more pleasant than yesterday with the temperature rising to 8.5C from a low of 4C and it was still 5.5C at 1700. Ground winds varied from NW to SW generally 10-25km/h but occasionally gusting 50 km/h, and ridge winds were strong WNW for most of the day except between 1200 and 1430 when they moderated somewhat. An altostratus Chinook Arch formed over the Livingstone Range until 1330 when it moved off to the east leaving a variable cloud cover of 60-90% combinations of cumulus, altostratus, altocumulus and cirrus, and once again observation conditions were excellent. Raptor movement was again strong with 61 birds moving between 0933 and 1626 with 35 of the birds moving between 1300 and 1500. The combined species count was the highest since November 9 while the 49 Bald Eagles (46 adults, 1 subadult and 2 juveniles) was the highest count of the season so far and equals the highest count ever at the site. The total of 10 Golden Eagles comprised 9 adults and 1 subadult, an adult Northern Goshawk was the first migrant since November 13 and an adult grey morph Gyrfalcon at 1532 was the 9th of the season which equals the high count for the species at the site. The Bald Eagle recorded at 1352 was the 7000th migrant raptor of the season, while that at 1404 was the 600th Bald Eagle of the season. 10.08 hours (1034.1) BAEA 49 (617), NOGO 1 (136), GOEA 10 (4255), GYRF 1 (9) TOTAL 61 (7028)

November 24 [Day 90] (Valley View site) It was another pleasant day with a temperature high of 4C between 1300 and 1515 rising from 0C between 0715 and 0900 and falling to 1C at 1700. Ground winds were variable and mainly light to 1600 when they became SW gusting to 35 km/h, and ridge winds were moderate WNW all day providing excellent lift. Cloud cover was 100% altostratus and cumulus to 1030 after which it thinned to 70-90% combinations of cumulus, altostratus, lenticular and cirrus. It was particularly spectacular after 1600 when large isolated lenticular clouds reflecting the orange light of the lowering sun contrasted with a deep blue sky with feathers of white cirrus. The clouds provided an excellent backdrop for detecting the 41 mainly high-flying raptors that moved sporadically above the Livingstone ridge between 0952 and 1634. This is the latest in the season that a daily count has exceeded 40 birds at the site. The flight comprised 24 Bald Eagles (18 adults, 1 subadult and 5 juveniles), 2 light morph Rough-legged Hawks and 15 Golden Eagles (13 adults, 1 subadult and 1 juvenile). The last 5 days have seen the passage of 189 raptors of which 115 have been Bald Eagles which is a strong movement for late November.10.08 hours (1024) BAEA 24 (568), RLHA 2 (77), GOEA 15 (4245) TOTAL 41 (6967)

November 23 [Day 89] (Valley View site) The temperature reached a high of 4.5C at 1200 from a low of -0.5C and fell throughout the afternoon to 0C at 1700. Ground winds varied between SW and NW gusting to 30 km/h and ridge winds were WNW moderate to 1000; moderate to strong to 1300 after which they were strong. Cloud cover was 70-90% cumulus, altocumulus and altostratus with only light snow flurries occurring in the morning. A total of 25 raptors migrated between 0755 (a Rough-legged Hawk) and 1633 (a juvenile Bald Eagle), with 13 of the birds moving between 1100 and 1300. Movement was sporadic with significant periods with no birds. The flight comprised 11 Bald Eagles (9 adults, 1 subadult and 1 juvenile), 2 Rough-legged Hawks and 12 Golden Eagles (10 adults and 2 juveniles). 10.16 hours (1013.9) BAEA 11 (544), RLHA 2 (75), GOEA 12 (4230) TOTAL 25 (6926)

November 22 [Day 88] (Valley View site) The temperature only ranged between -2C and -3C all day, ground winds were light varying from NE to SW and ridge winds were light to moderate W in the morning and moderate WNW in the afternoon. Cloud cover was 100% altostratus, cumulus and low stratus until 1600 when the cover thinned to 70-90% cumulus, altostratus and cirrus. Light snow fell continuously from 1000 to 1440 and the Livingstone Ridge was completely or partially obscured between 1030 and 1425. The early morning calm conditions saw a Rough-legged Hawk, a Golden Eagle and a Bald Eagle flap low to the south along the Livingstone ridge between 0826 and 0850. As ridge winds became moderate Bald Eagles glided high to the south at 0944 and 1004 and then movement was completely shut down as snow moved from the west and obscured the ridges. After the snow ceased and the ridges cleared a Bald Eagle went south at 1459 and then movement became fairly steady peaking at 9 birds between 1600 and 1700 with the last bird, the day’s third Rough-legged Hawk, recorded at 1646. Bald Eagles dominated the count with 15 adults, and only 3 adult Golden Eagles moved today. The Bald Eagle at 1636 was the 6900th migrant raptor of the season but we are still 926 birds (-12.81%) behind the site average cumulative count for this date. A flock of 20 Common Redpolls flying south just after 0900 was the largest recorded this season. 10.16 hours (1003.8) BAEA 15 (533), RLHA 3 (73), GOEA 3 (4218) TOTAL 21 (6901)

November 21 [Day 87] (Valley View site) Temperatures ranged from -2C to 1C, ground winds were SW-WNW gusting 15 km/h in the morning increasing to 30-50 km/h in the afternoon, and ridge winds were WNW all day, moderate to strong to 1330 and strong for the rest of the day. Cloud cover was 60-100% cumulus and stratocumulus giving good observation conditions except when occasional brief snow flurries moved from the SW. It was another strong late-season raptor movement with 44 birds migrating between 0839 and 1636 with 16 of the birds (8 Bald Eagles and 8 Golden Eagles) occurring between 1000 and 1100. The flight was dominated by 24 Golden Eagles (22 adults and 2 juveniles) which was the highest count since October 9. The first Bald Eagle of the day at 1006 was the 500th of the season with the day’s total of 19 comprising 15 adults and 4 juveniles, and the day’s only Rough-legged Hawk at 1407 was the 70th of the season. A male Northern [Red-shafted] Flicker at 1256 was the first since October 15 and was a first site record for November. 10.16 hours (993.62) BAEA 19 (518), RLHA 1 (70), GOEA 24 (4215) TOTAL 44 (6880)

November 20 [Day 86] (Valley View site) It was the most pleasant day for a while with the temperature rising to 9C between 1200 and 1530 from a low of 2C and was still 7C at 1700. The strong winds finally abated with ground winds WNW-SW only rising above 20 km/h after 1300 and peaking at 45 km/h at 1700, and ridge winds were mainly moderate W only becoming strong after 1500. Cloud cover was mainly altostratus, altocumulus and cirrus gradually increasing from 20% at 0710 to100% for most of the afternoon, which generally produced hazy sunshine and gave excellent observing conditions. A total of 58 raptors migrated between 0805 and 1620 which is the highest combined species count since November 9. The count of 46 Bald Eagles (37 adults, 2 subadults, 7 juveniles) was the highest so far this season and is the second highest ever at the site behind the 49 counted on November 17, 2006. All but one of the birds moved before 1448. The 10 Golden Eagles comprised 9 adults and 1 subadult, and the Prairie Falcon at 1024 was the first migrant of the species since October 1. Two adult Bald Eagles gliding high to the south together at 1121 had a brief altercation that resulted in one bird performing a complete 360 degree barrel-roll before they serenely continued their journey. 10.25 hours (983.46) BAEA 46 (499), RLHA 1 (69), GOEA 10 (4191), PRFA 1 (12) TOTAL 58 (6836)