October 12 [Day 45] Today’s weather was the antithesis of yesterday’s: winds were light easterly all day (< 8 km/h) or calm, and 100% altostratus cloud for most of the day made observation challenging and many raptors went un-aged, especially late in the day. Temperatures ranged from 1C to 7C. Unlike yesterday raptors moved slowly, often after soaring for several minutes, and much of the movement was east of the ridge. Despite this, the combined species total for the day was 355, the second highest of the season, and there was strong movement of Bald Eagles (28), Sharp-shinned Hawks (102) and Golden Eagles (201). There was also a good movement of Rough-legged Hawks late in the day with 13 birds being the highest total so far this season. At 1730 all movement suddenly stopped and subsequently only 3 Bald Eagles came through together at 1836. Songbird movement was varied and included the first Brown Creeper of the season (and the first to be seen at the site) and the first Horned Larks, a flock of 25 flying along the ridge. Yesterday I was surprised by the occurrence of a Cassin’s Finch: today 22 flew over the site in a single flock! Other finch movement comprised 11 Grey-crowned Rosy Finches, 5 Pine Grosbeaks, 14 Red Crossbills, 66 Common Redpolls and a Pine Siskin. Other migrants included 61 American Robins and occasional kinglets, juncos and nuthatches and our latest ever Yellow-rumped Warblers (2). The Northern Pygmy-Owl which was again present at the site presumably found plenty to feed on. 12 hours (502.1) BAEA 28 (144), NOHA 1 (49), SSHA 102 (969), COHA 4 (174), NOGO 2 (48), RTHA 2 (170), RLHA 13 (18), GOEA 201 (2364) MERL 2 (18) TOTAL 355 (4137)