October 17 [Day 26] (George Halmazna to 1500, then Alan Hingston and Cliff Hansen) A stable high pressure system continued to produce above average temperatures with a high today of 9C at 1400 from a low of -1C at 0700, that fell to 1C at 1900. Ground winds were mainly light S-SW which briefly gusted to 40 km/h around noon, while ridge winds were moderate SW with a maximum gust of 62 km/h at 1400. Cloud cover was initially 100% altostratus which thinned rapidly in the afternoon to 5% cumulus, and after 1400 the sky to the east was cloudless which made detection of birds more difficult. It was yet again a day of strong Golden Eagle movement with 167 birds (143a,4sa,18j,2u) moving steadily between 0803 and 1858 with a highest hourly count of 26 between 0900 and 1000. There was also a good scattering of other raptors comprising 5 Bald Eagles (4a and 1 undifferentiated immature), 2 Northern Goshawks (1a,1j), 1 Rough-legged Hawk, 1 adult male columbarius Merlin, the season's first Gyrfalcon (a white morph bird), and 1 unaged Peregrine Falcon, the 10^th of the season.

Other birds were scarce, but another Northern Shrike appeared in the meadow and a pair of Great Horned Owls duetted persistently in the evening. We extend our best wishes for a quick recovery to George who had to leave the site in mid afternoon after having felt unwell for much of the day.

11.42 hours (302.9) BAEA 5 (48), NOGO 2 (29), RLHA 1 (20), GOEA 167 (2403), MERL 1 (4), GYRF 1 (1), PEFA 1 (10) TOTAL 178 (2648)