October 11 [Day 44] North-west to WNW winds gusting to 60 km/h in the morning gave way to westerly winds gusting to 45 km/h in the afternoon giving ideal migration conditions, and a sky of altostratus, cumulus and lenticular cloud and bright sunshine for much of the day provided ideal viewing conditions. Raptors started moving at 0826 and didn’t stop until the last Bald Eagle went south at 1902, and the combined species total of 518 is the highest so far this season. A year ago on this date we counted 514 birds which proved to be the highest count of the season. Bald Eagle (30), Northern Goshawk (8) and Golden Eagle (437) were all season-high counts with the highest hourly count for the latter species (58) being between 1800 and 1900: the birds just kept coming! For the first time this season there was some concerted finch movement including 29 Grey-crowned Rosy Finches and 53 Common Redpolls, and more surprisingly our 3rd female Purple Finch of the season (seen by Teresa) and a very late male Cassin’s Finch. Even more surprising and spectacular in the late afternoon sunshine was a flock of 18 Snow Geese flying high to the south above the mountains at 1736. 12.25 hours (490.1) BAEA 30 (116), NOHA 1 (48), SSHA 36 (867), COHA 2 (170), NOGO 8 (46), RTHA 1 (168), GOEA 437 (2163), PRFA 1 (13), UU 2 (5) TOTAL 518 (3782)