October 4 [Day 38] It was a spectacular start to the day with a vivid red sunrise reflected on the fresh snow cover of the Continental Divide to the west. Winds were light from the WNW then W until 1500 when they changed to easterly and quickly reduced the temperature to -1C from a high of 2C. Thin altostratus cloud gave way at 0900 to widely scattered cumulus and it appeared that lack of cloud was going to make observation difficult. After 1000, however, it rapidly clouded over from the west and from 1100-1145 it snowed steadily. It cleared in the early afternoon and allowed good raptor movement until 1530 when the wind shift brought increasing flurries and finally after 1800 steady wet snow accompanied by thunder. Conditions appeared to be good for early raptor movement but only a few Sharp-shinned Hawks came through before the late morning snow. As soon at the snow ceased birds began to flow, with 66 moving between 1200 and 1300 and 36 and 21 in the next two hours. Movement was largely east of the ridge with much soaring flight, although a number of eagles moved close to the western edge of the ridge giving splendid close-up views. For the first time the Golden Eagle flight was dominated by adult birds (82%). No raptors moved after 1530. Common Ravens reversed yesterday evening’s flight with 47 moving in two flocks to the south before 0730. There was early movement of 43 Canada Geese to the west, and at 1053 a line of 32 Canada Geese moving to the south east of the ridge trailed a lone Snow Goose, the first to be seen from the site. Passerine movement was again strong and included 31 Golden-crowned Kinglets, 25 Ruby-crowned Kinglets, 8 Townsend’s Solitaires, 84 American Robins, 2 European Starlings (just the second record for the site), 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler (the first for 6 days), 39 Dark-eyed Juncos (mainly “Slate-coloured” morphs), a second female Purple Finch for the site and 2 Common Redpolls, although compared to last year finches continue to be generally scarce. 11.5 hours (418.1) BAEA 4 (59), SSHA 25 (625), COHA 3 (162), RTHA 1 (158), RLHA 1 (3), UB 2 (2), GOEA 96 (980) TOTAL 132 (2236)