September 30 [Day 34] Vance was the principal observer until noon to allow Barbara and myself to take possession of our new house in Beaver Mines. Winds in the morning were W 60-70 km/h moderating to 20 km/h at noon, with the temperature crawling up from -1C to 1C. Winds remained around 20 km/h until 1700 when they again freshened up to 40 km/h, and the temperature reached a high of 5C before falling again to 2C with light snow flurries after 1800. Raptor movement was fairly strong up to 1500, and dominated by Golden Eagles, but after mid afternoon the flow slackened considerably as the clouds darkened, suggesting poor weather to the north blocking the flow. No Buteos were recorded, but the 2 Peregrine Falcons made it 6 days in a row that we have recorded the species.
During the month of September we spent 27 days (308 hours) in the field losing 3 complete days to weather (-6.9% and -5.4% compared to 2006 respectively). The combined species total of 1827 for the month was -4.3% lower than last year. Eight species had counts exceeding those of September 2006: Osprey 12 (+9.1%), Bald Eagle (+48%), Broad-winged Hawk 11 (+22.2%), Ferruginous Hawk 3 (cf 0), Golden Eagle 750 (+33%), American Kestrel 30 (+20%), Peregrine Falcon 27 (+145%) and Prairie Falcon (+66.7%). Eight species had counts less than those of September 2007: Northern Harrier 43 (-33%), Sharp-shinned Hawk 546 (-28%), Cooper’s Hawk 141 (-10%), Northern Goshawk (24 (-25%), Swainson’s Hawk 1 (-50%), Red-tailed Hawk 134 (-23%), Rough-legged Hawk 1 (-50%) and Merlin 6 (-71%). 11.5 hours (377.52) BAEA 1 (41), SSHA 13 (560), COHA 2 (154), UA 2 (52), GOEA 96 (753), MERL 1 (8), PEFA 2 (27) TOTAL 117 (1902)

September 29 [Day 33] Today was the first Crowsnest Pass Eagle Festival and it was greeted by steady snow until late morning, and the mountain ridges remained obscured until 1530. Despite the weather a group of RMERF members were on the ridge just after noon and were joined by many others until 22 of us were enjoying the just above freezing temperatures and the west winds that gradually increased to over 30 km/h. We were rewarded by the first ever Short-eared Owl at the site, and 85th species for the season, which migrated south along the ridge at 1434, and even before the Livingstone range to the north had cleared a male American Kestrel and a Sharp-shinned Hawk had made their way south. When the mountains finally cleared there was a small movement of accipiters and a single juvenile Golden Eagle and, late in the day, the now expected Peregrine Falcon. There were enough non-raptor species around to make it interesting, the views were spectacular as ever and despite the weather a splendid time was had by all. 6.75 hours (366.02) SSHA 3 (547), COHA 3 (152), GOEA 1 (657), AMKE 1 (37), PEFA 1 (25) TOTAL 9 (1785)

September 28 [Day 32] A warm start to the day with the temperature at 8C at 0700 with a WSW wind at 30 km/h increasing to 60 km/h by early afternoon. Cloud cover ranged from 70-100% and, despite squalls in the area, the mountains remained clear all day. At 1800 a probable cold front passed bringing a brief shower and quickly reducing the temperature from a high of 11C to 5C. Raptor movement carried on where it had left off yesterday with 35 birds moving before 1100, but it progressively became slower and more sporadic suggesting poor weather interrupting the flow to the north, and the last bird was seen at 1756. Highlights were the first Rough-legged Hawk of the season (a juvenile light morph female) at 0932, one day earlier than last year, two more Peregrine Falcons (both adults) and an Osprey carrying a large trout that was about two-thirds of its body length indicating a size of 50-60 cm. The ridge was almost devoid of songbirds in the morning, but a few turned up later including the first American Tree Sparrows (2) and the second Steller’s Jay and Bohemian Waxwing (2) records of the season. 12.5 hours (359.27) OSPR 1 (14), BAEA 1 (40), NOHA 1 (46), SSHA 11 (544), COHA 1 (149), NOGO 3 (26), RTHA 1 (152), RLHA 1 (1), GOEA 65 (656), PEFA 2 (24) TOTAL 87 (1776)

September 27 [Day 31] It was relatively calm (<30 km/h) before noon, but in the afternoon the westerly winds picked up gusting at times to 60 km/h. The cloud cover was perfect for observation all day with variable combinations of thin cirrus, cumulus and altocumulus cloud providing a perfect backdrop for flying raptors. The combined species total of 204 was the highest so far, as was the Golden Eagle count of 591. Movement started at 0808 when an adult female columbarius Merlin moved along the ridge pushing a wave of fleeing songbirds ahead of it, and finished at 1914 when the last Golden Eagle of the day moved south against a fantastic sunset. The pace of the movement was remarkably consistent with the hourly counts between 1000 and 1800 being 21, 22, 21, 22, 25, 20, 24 and 29. Five of the 10 Red-tailed Hawks were adult dark morph “Harlan’s”. The relatively calm conditions in the early morning combined with a clear night with a full moon produced the best songbird movement for a couple of weeks including 42 Red-breasted Nuthatches (including a single flock of 16 flying south), 1 White-breasted Nuthatch, 34 Golden-crowned Kinglets, 50 Ruby-crowned Kinglets, 79 American Robins, 15 Yellow-rumped Warblers and 55 Dark-eyed Juncos of 4 different subspecies. In fact a single flock contained all the regularly occurring Alberta forms: hyemalis, cismontanus, montanus and mearnsi. Two Blue Jays flying high to the south along the ridge were the first for the season, and a male American Three-toed Woodpecker was the first seen migrating along the ridge, although I had a feeding bird at a lower elevation last year. The flow of songbirds stopped abruptly at 1000 just in time for the raptor movement to get underway: it was a very busy day! 12.75 hours (346.77) OSPR 1 (13), BAEA 5 (39), NOHA 1 (45), SSHA 36 (533), COHA 2 (148), RTHA 10 (151), GOEA 146 (591), MERL 1 (7), PEFA 2 (22) TOTAL 204 (1689)

September 26 [Day 30] Winds were strong WSW in the morning gusting to 70 km/h diminishing to 50 km/h in the afternoon and to 20 km/h by 1900. In compensation the temperature rose to 11C from a low of 4C, and once the Chinook Arch to the east dissipated after 1000 the day was sunny with variable amounts of cumulus cloud. Again movement was steady for most of the day, peaking at 31 birds between 1200 and 1300 and gradually diminishing after 1600. The only falcon today was a juvenile male Peregrine that scythed across the sky at 1640. Once again American Robins (126) dominated the songbird movement, but a surprise was a noisy flock of 35 Black-billed Magpies moving south at1714. 12.58 hours (334.02) OSPR 1 (12), BAEA 4 (34), NOHA 1 (44), SSHA 40 (497), COHA 9 (146), NOGO 2 (23), RTHA 10 (141), GOEA 57 (445), PEFA 1 (20) TOTAL 125 (1485)

September 25 [Day 29] A good day for observation with 40% to 90% cumulus and altostratus cloud cover and steady west winds 30-40 gusting 55 km/h. The temperature climbed to 7C from a low of 2C and a few light rain showers in the afternoon were very brief. The combined species raptor count of 144 was the highest for the season and movement was steady all day between 0758 and 1850 with peak movement of 33 birds between 1500 and 1600. Season high counts were achieved for Bald Eagle (6), Golden Eagle (100) and, most remarkably, Peregrine Falcon (11) which is a daily record for any RMERF count. Last year the entire South Livingstone count produced only 6 birds! Nearly all the peregrines flew low overhead and one had a bird in its talons. I left the site thinking that I had only 99 Golden Eagles and was disappointed that a late shower had prevented our reaching the three-figure level, but a recount in the evening produced the extra bird. American Robins (58) again dominated the passerine movement, leavened with a few passage Yellow-rumped Warblers (3), Red-breasted Nuthatches (5) and Varied Thrushes (2), and a single male “Pink-sided” Junco amongst other species. 12.75 hours (321.44) BAEA 6 (30), SSHA 12 (457), COHA 3 (137), UA 1 (50), RTHA 6 (131), GOEA 100 (388), AMKE 2 (36), MERL 3 (6), PEFA 11 (19) TOTAL 144 (1360)

September 24 [Day 28] The day dawned cloudless and cool (-1C) with 3 cm of fresh snow at the site. Cumulus cloud built up rapidly after 1100, and then decreased almost as rapidly after 1400 as the WNW to W winds increased from moderate to strong, finally gusting to 60 km/h after 1800 when the temperature finally made it to 5C. Raptor movement was very slow to start with only 7 birds passing before noon, but then got steadily stronger with 22 birds moving between 1800 and 1900 and, for the first time this season, 3 birds after 1900. Both Bald Eagle (5) and Golden Eagle (88) were the highest counts to date and eagle movement became stronger as the wind increased in the afternoon, whereas the accipiters moved earlier when the winds were lighter. Non-raptor movement was relatively light but included 84 American Robins and a late sapsucker. 12.67 hours (308.69) BAEA 5 (24), NOHA 1 (43), SSHA 18 (445), COHA 3 (134), NOGO 1 (21), UA 1 (49), RTHA 7 (125), GOEA 88 (288), PRFA 2 (11) TOTAL 126 (1216)

September 23 [NO OBSERVATION] Rain all day falling as snow on the observation ridge which was enveloped in cloud all day. The forecast for the coming week is good and I expect the main Golden Eagle movement to start in the next few days.

September 22 [Day 27] The day started inauspiciously with rain to 0930 and all peaks obscured, but it then quickly cleared and further rain held off until 1800. Winds were generally moderate westerly apart from a spell around noon when they gusted to 60 km/h, and the temperature rose to 8C from a low of 3C. Cloud cover was mainly cumulus from 70-100% giving good observation conditions although dark clouds in the late afternoon made it almost impossible to age the smaller migrants. The total count was similar to that of yesterday although the composition was totally different, with the flight dominated today by small Accipiters. The 14 Red-tailed Hawks was the highest total so far this season and included 6 “Harlan’s Hawks”. Compared with this date last year the combined species and Golden Eagle counts are 311 and 125 higher respectively than in 2006. American Robins again dominated a rather thin songbird movement, but there was also a steady flow of small flocks of Mountain Bluebirds flying south in the morning. A visiting group from the Alberta Wilderness Association swelled the number of observers to 27, the highest so far this season. 11.67 hours (296.02) BAEA 2 (19), SSHA 45 (427), COHA 10 (131), RTHA 14 (118), GOEA 19 (200), AMKE 1 (34), MERL 1 (3), PRFA 1 (9) TOTAL 93 (1090)

September 21 [Day 26] The day was characterized by strong westerly winds gusting in the morning to 100 km/h and diminishing in the afternoon to 50-60 km/h. As the morning temperatures ranged from 0C to 3C it made observation somewhat uncomfortable, but the temperature rose to 7C in the afternoon, and the high-wind cloud cover made afternoon viewing somewhat more pleasant. Raptors moved fairly steadily between 0839 and 1845 and we counted the highest totals so far for Bald Eagle (4), Golden Eagle (63: more than twice the previous high), Peregrine Falcon (4: the highest single-day count ever at the site with all the birds moving after 1550) and Prairie Falcon (3). The high winds obviously did not favour Accipiter movement with only a scattering of birds throughout the day. The high winds didn’t deter American Robin migration with a season high 134 moving south, including a single flock of 77 at 0750. 12.25 hours (284.35) OSPR 2 (11), BAEA 4 (17), NOHA 1 (42), SSHA 3 (382), COHA 3 (121), NOGO 1 (20), RTHA 5 (104), GOEA 63 (181), PEFA 4 (8), PRFA 3 (8), UU 1 (2) TOTAL 90 (997)

September 20 [Day 25] The day started with 6 cm of fresh snow on the ground, 2C, W-NW and winds gusting 60 km/h, but with all the ridges with the exception of the Continental Divide ranges clear. By 1000, however, all peaks were again obscured, at 1015 snow redeveloped and we left the ridge around noon. Around 1530 it showed signs of clearing and at 1600 I again climbed to the observation site where the temperature was still 2C but the winds had dropped to 30-35 km/h, still with 100% cumulus/altostratus cloud cover. The cloud never fully left the peaks of the Livingstone Range to the north, but by 1930 the cloud cover had rapidly cleared to 60%. Only one Golden Eagle moved south in the morning before the weather closed in, but between 1657 and 1819 a further 11 Golden Eagles, 2 Bald Eagles a Cooper’s Hawk and an adult dark morph “Harlan’s” Red-tailed Hawk moved high to the south just west of the ridge. The prospect for a significant movement tomorrow is good. Not surprisingly very few passerines were found on the ridge, but late in the day a single Common Redpoll perched near the site for the 80th bird species to be recorded this season. The snow provided good tracking conditions for the first time and included Bobcat tracks at the site, but the mammal of the day was a summer pelage Long-tailed Weasel at the site, spectacular against the fresh snow. It was the first seen there although I have seen its tracks before, but it was a first ever sighting for Elly and Arnie Weisbrot who are spending a few days observing at the site before following the eagles south for the winter. 8.25 hours (272.1) BAEA 2 (13), COHA 1 (118), RTHA 1 (99), GOEA 12 (118) TOTAL 16 (907)

September 19 [NO OBSERVATION] It snowed until the early afternoon and the Livingstone Range remained enveloped in cloud for the rest of the day.

September 18 [Day 24] Light upslope winds (E-NE) prevailed all day and the morning started at 2C with all mountains clear and 70% cirrus cloud cover. By 0930 the Livingstone Range to the north was again enveloped in cloud which persisted to 1300 when it again cleared allowing the best movement of the day for the next 1.5 hours. At 1430 a broad band of precipitation could be seen to the north which effectively stopped migration, and at 1625 it reached the ridge bringing a mix of hail and rain that reduced the temperature to 1C from 5C by 1700. Early raptor movement was dominated by accipiters, but 3 Golden Eagles, one first subadult and 2 juveniles, moved between1334 and 1410 were almost certainly the 3 birds that failed to get lift yesterday. At 1422 the first Swainson’s Hawk of the season soared high to the north before finally disappearing into the base of a towering cumulus cloud. This is only the third record at the site of a species that is common just a few tens of kilometres to the east. Passerine movement was again dominated by kinglets, Yellow-rumped Warblers and robins and included a couple of Wilson’s Warblers. The Northern Pygmy-Owl which has now been around for the last 10 days sang repeated in the middle of the afternoon but could not be persuaded to show itself. 10 hours (263.86) NOHA 1 (41), SSHA 11 (379), COHA 3 (117), NOGO 1 (19), UA 2 (48), SWHA 1 (1), GOEA 3 (106) TOTAL 22 (891)

September 17 [Day 23] It rained from 0615 to 0715, but then cleared providing a sunny morning with 40% cumulus cloud with cloud lifting off most peaks. At 1055 everything changed as the wind shifted from west to east immediately bringing low stratus cloud that obscured all ridges, reduced the temperature to 4C and brought rain and hail showers. Although the cloud eventually rose above the observation ridge the peaks remained shrouded for the rest of the day. At 1025 3 immature Golden Eagles (2 juveniles and a first subadult) attempted to soar above Ent Ridge to the north, but gave up after failing to get lift and returned to roost. It looked as if the migration would start at any time when the ceiling fell in, and the only migrants to pass the site for the rest of the day were 3 Sharp-shinned Hawks. The sunny part of the morning saw fairly large mixed flocks of mainly kinglets, robins and juncos, but after the wind shifted to east birds essentially disappeared. A single Common Loon flying south in the gloom and a Pileated Woodpecker were both first records for the season. 9 hours (253.85) SSHA 3 (368) TOTAL 3 (869)

September 16 [Day 22] Finally some cloud with up to 70% cirrus and cumulus in the middle of the day but the last two hours were again essentially cloudless. The wind was strong from the west all day gusting at times to 65 km/h and rarely dropping below 40 km/h, and the temperature reached 17.5 from a low of 11C. There was dense smoke haze until 1000 but after it cleared the day was mainly sunny and viewing conditions were good. Raptor movement was slow but steady for much of the day with 25 of the day’s 72 migrants passing between 1400 and 1600. For the first time this season Golden Eagle was the most common migrant, the total of 29 being the highest count so far. An adult male Northern Harrier was the first of the season. Since 2006 we have counted 116 harriers and this is only the fourth adult male we have counted. Compared to this time last year we have counted 291 more raptors and 83 more Golden Eagles: in fact the only previous year in which Golden Eagles have moved this early was 2000. Despite the wind, passerine movement was steady through much of the day and included our first Varied Thrush of the season and a fairly late adult Brewer’s Sparrow. 12 hours (244.85) OSPR 2 (9), BAEA 3 (11), NOHA 1 (40), SSHA 21 (365), COHA 7 (114), UA 2 (46), RTHA 7 (98), GOEA 29 (103), TOTAL 72 (866)

September 15 [Day 21] Once again the entire day was cloudless with the wind from W to NW gusting to 45 km/h, and the temperature reaching 21C from a low of 12C. Today it was Bill Wilson (on his first visit to the site) and Keith doing a great job of finding birds which today were mainly west of the ridge when they weren’t directly overhead. Between us we found a season-high 140 migrant raptors of 10 species plus a non migrant Prairie Falcon. Season high counts were Sharp-shinned Hawk (71), Red-tailed Hawk (11, including an adult intermediate morph “Harlan’s Hawk”), Golden Eagle (24: 2 adults, 6 subadults and 16 juveniles) and Peregrine Falcon (2 adults). Birds moved steadily between 0831 and 1813 with no real gaps in the movement. Passerine movement was again fairly quiet with Red-breasted Nuthatches conspicuously scarce for the first time this month. 12.17 hours (232.85) BAEA 1 (8), NOHA 1 (39), SSHA 71 (344), COHA 15 (107), NOGO 1 (18), UA 11 (44), BWHA 1 (13), RTHA 11 (91), GOEA 24 (74), AMKE 1 (33), PEFA 2 (4), UU 1 (1) TOTAL 140 (794)

September 14 [Day 20] Blue-out conditions prevailed all day with not even a trace of cloud. Winds were unvarying westerly and generally below 15 km/h and the temperature reached 20.5C from a low of 9C. Today it was Denise helping me stare into the empyrean and between us we tallied 52 migrants (and probably missed the odd one too). Movement began early with a Northern Harrier at 0742, and the first two Golden Eagle migrants were the earliest yet this season (0929 and 1036). The highlight of the day was 4 Broad-winged Hawks, the last of which was our first dark-morph adult which was almost hit by a westward flying helicopter at 1656: the bird was quite violently rocked by the rotor wash. Passerine movement was again quite subdued but included the first gambelii White-crowned Sparrows of the season, and a couple of Cassin’s Finches singing early in the morning were a delight. 11.67 hours (220.68) OSPR 1 (7), NOHA 2 (38), SSHA 21 (273), COHA 9 (92), NOGO 3 (17), UA 5 (33), BWHA 4 (12), RTHA 3 (80), GOEA 4 (50) TOTAL 52 (654)

September 13 [Day 19] There was essentially a cloudless sky all day with only traces of cumulus cloud between 1000 and 1500. The clear sky allowed the temperature to drop below freezing (-1C) for the first time this season but by 1400 it briefly reached 11C. Winds were light (<15 km/h) all day, initially from the west, then E to ENE after 1600. Because of the conditions raptor movement occurred both to the east and west, as well as over the ridge and the blue sky made detection challenging, although with the help of Vance, making his first visit to the site this year, we managed to amass the first three-figure count of the season: 114 migrants. Seasonal high counts were made of Sharp-shinned Hawk (53), Broad-winged Hawk (2: both juveniles) and Golden Eagle (20), the first significant movement for this species. The 10 Red-tailed Hawks equaled the season high and included 3 “Harlan’s Hawks” one of which was a juvenile intermediate morph. For the first time a significant number of adult accipiters were moving: 10 adult Sharp-shinned Hawks and 9 adult Cooper’s Hawks. A juvenile Northern Harrier narrowly avoided becoming a meal itself when it just avoided a stoop by the resident juvenile Golden Eagle at 1710. After yesterday’s weather, passerine movement was predictably light, but included the first Pine Grosbeak and Bohemian Waxwing of the season, perched on adjacent trees just after 0900, and our first ever Harris’ Sparrow skulking under a krummholtz Douglas Fir at 1825, the 75th bird species of the season. 12.08 hours (209.01) OSPR 1 (6), NOHA 4 (36), SSHA 53 (252), COHA 16 (83), UA 6 (28), BWHA 2 (8), RTHA 10 (77), FEHA 1 (4), GOEA 20 (46), AMKE 1 (32) TOTAL 114 (602)

September 12 [NO OBSERVATION] Welcome rain fell until around 1330 and the Livingstone Range remained enveloped in cloud for the rest of the day allowing me a day of (relative) rest.

September 11 [Day 18] The weather today was almost a rerun of yesterday’s but without any cloud, with the whole day being a “blue-out” making observation challenging. The temperature rose to 21C from a low of 10C and winds were generally 20-40 km/h from the WNW or W. The first migrant, a Prairie Falcon, came through a minute earlier than yesterday’s first bird, and movement was steady until 1500 when the flow suddenly slackened with no apparent change in conditions. The movement was again dominated by juvenile accipiters with a good variety of other raptors to keep it interesting. Early migrants moved close overhead giving stunning views of the birds against the azure sky. Passerine movement was again dominated by Red-breasted Nuthatches (78) with the largest single flock flying south being12 birds. First occurrences for the season were a rather late Yellow Warbler, a Black-capped Chickadee and a Steller’s Jay, while a Swainson’s Thrush was only the second record for the site. A Black-backed Woodpecker flying south at 1031 was a new species for the site, although I suspect that an unidentified woodpecker flying south yesterday morning was also this species. 11.75 hours (196.93) NOHA 3 (32), SSHA 27 (199), COHA 6 (67), NOGO 1 (14), UA 2 (22), BWHA 1 (6), RTHA 1 (67), GOEA 5 (26), AMKE 2 (31), PRFA 1 (5) TOTAL 49 (488)

September 10 [Day 17] It was a beautiful day from the start with 70-100% cirrus cloud cover giving diffuse sunshine all day. Winds were initially WNW gusting to 30 km/h, but after 1400 backed to W and rarely reached 20 km/h as the temperature climbed to 18C from a low of 8C. The cirrus backdrop was ideal for finding and identifying migrating raptors and movement was steady between 1054 and 1726 with 73 migrants of 11 species being the second highest and highest totals for the season respectively. Sharp-shinned Hawk (40) and American Kestrel (6) were the highest counts so far, but the adult Peregrine Falcon at 1210 was the highlight. The total count to date of 439 is 2 less than on the same date last year. Passerine movement was also strong and included 49 Red-breasted Nuthatches and the first White-breasted Nuthatch of the year seen by Teresa. Pine Siskins (56) also moved in significant numbers for the first time. Northern Pocket Gopher mounds are common on the east side of the ridge where the soil is thicker, but today we had the unusual sight of an animal pushing soil out from a burrow in bright sunshine just after 1300: the species is normally nocturnal. 11.67 hours (185.18) BAEA 1 (7), NOHA 2 (29), SSHA 40 (172), COHA 10 (61), NOGO 1 (13), UA 3 (20), BWHA 1 (5), RTHA 5 (66), GOEA 2 (21), AMKE 6 (29), PEFA 1 (2), PRFA 1 (4) TOTAL 73 (439)

September 9 [Day 16] It was another calm, cool (2C) cloudless start to the day with fresh snow on the peaks of the Livingstone and High Rock Ranges. Winds settled from the west after noon generally 20-30 occasionally gusting 37 km/h, but cloud cover remained thin at best all day and despite the sunshine the temperature only reached 12C. Because of the morning calm, the first raptor was not seen until 1119 and apart from the occasional Sharp-shinned Hawk movement was slow until 1325 to1417 when there was a burst of birds including 5 migrant Golden Eagles, the highest total so far this season. Unfortunately the momentum was not sustained and the balance of the day only saw the passage of 1 or 2 migrants an hour. The most entertaining migrant of the day was a juvenile Northern Goshawk that put up a perched flock of around 30 American Robins leaving them behind like a turbulent wake: luckily for them it was not hunting. Non-raptor movement was fairly strong, notably Red-breasted Nuthatches (32) and Ruby-crowned Kinglets (38) and American Robins (64). More northerly forms are now beginning to move through with the first cismontanus “Slate-coloured” Junco today, pure “Yellow-shafted” Flickers and intergrade oriantha/gambelii White-crowned Sparrows. The bird of the day, however, was one of the last seen as we were descending. Just south of the site Keith noticed a very small bird that I just had enough time to identify before it melted away into the fescue grasses. It was Grasshopper Sparrow, the first for the site and probably a new species for the Crowsnest Pass area. 11.67 hours (173.51) NOHA 1(27), SSHA 17 (132), COHA 1 (51), UA 3 (17), RTHA 2 (61), GOEA 5 (19), AMKE 1 (23) TOTAL 32 (366)

September 8 [Day 15] The day started cloudless at 0C with fresh snow on the high peaks to the west and south, and with light variable winds that persisted to 1300. High cloud quickly developed after 0800, and valley fog persisted to the west until the early afternoon. At 1300 the winds shifted to northerly bringing progressively thickening and darkening cumulus that, unlike yesterday, brought only brief hail and rain showers but reduced the temperature from a high of 8.5C to 4C and sunshine again by 1800. The first migrant raptor, a juvenile Golden Eagle, did not come through until 1306 and movement remained thin thereafter. Three of the 7 Red-tailed Hawks were “Harlan’s” including a juvenile bird that soared low overhead in perfect light, as did two non-migratory juvenile Northern Goshawks, a male and female, that vigorously sparred with each other for several minutes. The first bird of the day was a late flying Great Horned Owl, the first of the season, and one of the first birds I saw on the ridge was a Northern Pygmy-Owl being mobbed by kinglets and Yellow-rumped Warblers. Passerine movement was, however, only sporadic probably as a result of yesterday’s violent weather. A feeding adult Black Bear to the east of the ridge was only a couple of hundred metres away from the first Moose of the season. 11.67 hours (161.84) SSHA 2 (115), RTHA 7 (59), GOEA 1 (14) TOTAL 10 (334)

September 7 [Day 14] The morning was overcast with altostratus and altocumulus cloud, and generally light NW winds. The temperature reached 10C at noon from a low of 6C, and then dropped as winds strengthened and shifted to ENE, and dark cumulus clouds rapidly developed. Light rain showers started at 1400 becoming steady rain at 1450. By 1530 the temperature had fallen to 2C, the now heavy rain was mixed with sleet and a particularly loud thunder clap overhead convinced me that it was not unreasonable to get off the ridge as quickly as possible. There was some steady raptor movement before the weather deteriorated including the first “Harlan’s” Red-tailed Hawk of the season and the third Ferruginous Hawk, a light morph adult. After a very quiet first two hours, small waves of passerines started moving south along the ridge, the highlight being an adult female Cape May Warbler representing the second record for the site: the first was an adult male on September 7 last year. 9 hours (150.17) NOHA 2 (26), SSHA 5 (113), RTHA 4 (52), FEHA 1 (3), GOEA 1 (13), AMKE 2 (22) TOTAL 15 (324)

September 6 [Day 13] The day started with light southerly winds and 5C, with low stratus cloud obscuring all ridges until 0900 when the cloud rapidly lifted producing generally sunny skies that raised the temperature to 18C. After noon the winds backed to the west occasionally gusting to 30 km/h and after 1500 dropped to less than 10 km/h. At 1535 a cold front passed bringing NE winds gusting to 35 km/h and the temperature dropped 10C in as many minutes. Dark cumulus clouds threatened rain but by 1800 they had largely cleared and the sun reappeared although the temperature remained at 5C. Despite this confusing weather pattern, raptor movement was steady if not as strong as yesterday between 1100 and 1700, and was again dominated by Sharp-shinned Hawks. The first Canada Geese of the season was a flock of 14 flying high to the east at 1006. Passerine movement was sparse with the exception of Clark’s Nutcrackers that moved south in significant numbers with flocks of 48, 22 and 20 at 0952, 1050 and 1442 respectively. Also notable was the second Cassin’s Vireo of the season and our first ever Swainson’s Thrush that perched atop a fir tree, quite unlike it’s skulking Grey-cheeked cousin of a week ago. 11.67 hours (141.17) BAEA 1 (6), NOHA 2 (24), SSHA 20 (108), COHA 5 (50), RTHA 4 (48), GOEA 3 (12), AMKE 2 (20), PRFA 1 (3) TOTAL 38 (309)

September 5 [Day 12] The first 2 hours were unusually calm, but after 0900 west winds gusting to 37 km/h kicked in, changing to NW late in the day. Cirrus cloud cover persisted all day averaging 30% in the morning but dwindled to 5% at 1300. Mercifully more cirrus moved from the NW in the afternoon restoring excellent viewing conditions, and the temperature reached 21C from a start at 10C. Raptor movement began with the passage of an Osprey at 0948 and was steady all day until the last Sharp-shinned Hawk moved at 1834. The all species total of 95 was not matched last year until September 23, and all species seen established or equaled the season’s high count. Movement is still mainly of juvenile birds and only 4 adults were identified today. The 4 kestrels counted yesterday were all males and today the 4 birds seen were all females (segregated migration?). There was a good variety of songbirds moving early in the morning, again dominated by Yellow-rumped Warblers (91) along with the occasional Orange-crowned, Townsend’s, MacGillivray’s and Wilson’s Warbler, but for the first time kinglets and nuthatches were fairly scarce. A dapper looking juvenile Clay-coloured Sparrow in a small flock of scruffy juvenile Chipping Sparrows was a first for the site, and Black-billed Magpies made their first appearance for the season. 12.17 hours (129.4) OSPR 3 (5), NOHA 11 (22), SSHA 36 (88), COHA 18 (45), NOGO 7 (10), UA 4 (14), BWHA 1 (4), RTHA 8 (44), GOEA 3 (9), AMKE 4 (18) TOTAL 95 (271)

September 4 [Day 11] Winds were WNW gusting to 50 km/h until 1600 when they backed to W and moderated to less than 30 km/h. It was again warm with temperatures ranging from 15 to 22C, and altostratus and cumulus cloud cover varied from 20-90% causing observation difficulties with high-flying birds at the lower end of the range. The first migrant raptor was not seen until 1108 and the last moved at 1834, the latest yet this season. The combined species total of 53 was the highest of the season, with the main movement between 1200 and 1600. Most birds were moving high and all but one were west of the ridge. The total included season high counts for Northern Harrier, Cooper’s Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk and American Kestrel and equaled the high for Sharp-shinned Hawk. Season high counts were also established for Red-breasted Nuthatch (32) and Yellow-rumped Warbler (85) with steady southward flow over most of the day, and a single Evening Grosbeak flying south with robins was the 60th species of the season and a new species for the site. 12.33 hours (117.33) NOHA 6 (11), SSHA 16 (52), COHA 9 (27), UA 6, BWHA 1 (3), RTHA 10 (36), GOEA 1 (6), AMKE 4 (14) TOTAL 53 (176)

September 3 [Day 10] Again the wind was mainly westerly all day with slightly less velocity than yesterday. The temperature rose to a season high 22.5C and again cirrus, cirrostratus and minor cumulus cloud made viewing pleasant. The passage of 2 American Kestrels and a Sharp-shinned Hawk before 0810 gave promise of a good day, but the fourth migrant didn’t appear until 1232. After 1300 the pace picked up and especially between 1500 and 1700, when 15 birds moved, there was the first sign of a concerted migration. The total of 26 is the highest so far this season and the highlight of the day was our second (un-aged) Ferruginous Hawk. American Pipits (15) and Grey-crowned Rosy Finches (13) moved significantly for the first time and a third House Wren for the season migrated south along the ridge in company with Yellow-rumped Warblers and Red-breasted Nuthatches at 1310. A single Parry’s Townsendia flowering north of the site was (I think) surprisingly late. 11.08 hours (105) SSHA 16 (36), COHA 3 (18), RTHA 3 (26), FEHA 1 (2), AMKE 2 (10), PRFA 1 (2) TOTAL 26 (123)

September 2 [Day 9] Winds were consistently from the west all day generally between 30 and 40 km/k, but gusting to 56 km/h in the early morning. The temperature ranged from 12 to 20.5C and variable cirrus and cumulus cloud cover again provided excellent viewing conditions. Once again, however, significant movement failed to materialize and the only raptor highlight was our first Peregrine Falcon of the season: a juvenile. Non-raptor highlights were our first hummingbird for the site seen by my son Mark as it was flying about 1 metre over my head (which I totally failed to see!) and another House Wren very close to the site. A Downy Woodpecker and a Ruffed Grouse brought the season’s bird species total to 58. A black, probably 3 or 4 year old Black Bear feeding close to the site at 0750 made for a good start to the day, but it was not seen again. 11.75 hours (92.92) SSHA 5 (20), COHA 1 (15), RTHA 2 (23), PEFA 1 (1) TOTAL 9 (97)

September 1 [Day 8] Winds at ridge level at 0800 were WSW to W gusting to 65km/h and remained strong until noon after which they gradually diminished and by 1500 were generally below 10km/h or even calm for brief periods. At 1710 the wind suddenly came from the E bringing the first smoke haze of the season. Temperatures ranged from 10C to 17.5C, and variable amounts of cumulus and cirrus cloud made for excellent viewing conditions. The morning was almost devoid of birds of any kind, but raptors started moving sporadically in the afternoon with most moment between 1600 and 1700 just before the wind shifted. The highlight of the day was a Northern Pygmy-Owl that perched at the site for about 5 minutes at 1615: the bird had a russet-brown back that contrasted strongly with its grey head appearing to be transitional between “Rocky Mountain” and “Coastal” forms of the species. Passerine movement was generally thin but included our first Cedar Waxwing of the season (a flock of one!) and 2 Barn Swallows moving south. 11.75 hours (81.17) BAEA 1 (5), NOHA 2 (5), SSHA 1 (15), COHA 1 (14), NOGO 1 (3), UA 3 (4), RTHA 3 (21), GOEA 2 (5), AMKE 1 (8) TOTAL 15 (88)