October 22 [Day 31] (Cliff Hansen, assisted by Anita Walker and Kevin Barker). The day's high temperature was 9.5C at 0800, while the low occurred an hour later with 2C recorded at 0900! Subsequently it fluctuated reaching 8C at 1100 and was 3C at 1850. Ground winds were mainly light SW but were 5-10 gusting 15 km/h at 1100 and 1200, while ridge winds were SW-SSW mainly moderate but gusted to 76 km/h in late morning and 75 km/h in mid-afternoon. Initial cloud cover was 40% cumulus which quickly increased to 100% variably cumulus, stratocumulus and altostratus to 1700 after which it reduced to 80-90%. Light rain developed around 1400 and persisted as showers for the rest of the day, with the western ridges 30-100% obscured after 1300 and the eastern ridges clouded over after 1200 reaching 100% obscured between 1300 and 1500 after which cloud drape reduced to 10-20%. Ten Golden Eagles were recorded between 0911 and 1000, but only 2 were seen between 1000 and 1500. There was, however, a fairly strong movement late in the day as the eastern ridges cleared with 17 Golden Eagles migrating between 1700 and 1835. The thick cloud cover and rain resulted in a high number of unaged birds with the Golden Eagle total of 35 comprising 9 adults, 1 subadult, 1 juvenile and 24 unaged birds. Other migrant raptors seen were 8 Sharp-shinned Hawks (2a,6u), the highest total for 12 days, and 1 undifferentiated Red-tailed Hawk. Other birds included 20 Mallard flying south in a ragged flock, 17 Common Mergansers flying north in a tight flock, a single flock of American Robins flying south at 1441 and a single calling Pine Grosbeak which was the first for the season.

11.71 hours (359.61) SSHA 8 (85), RTHA 1 (26), GOEA 35 (2800) TOTAL 44 (3079)

Piitaistakis-South Livingstone: Frank site (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Raymond Toal and David Thomas) The temperature high was 9C at 1000 which fell to 7C at 1100 and to 4C at 1200 as rain and largely melted hail developed after 1135 which persisted for most of the rest of the day. Ground winds were variable SW-NNE generally light but occasionally gusted to 12-15 km/h and ridge winds appeared to be mainly moderate although several high-flying eagles were being buffeted on occasion suggesting periodic stronger winds. Cloud cover was 100% altocumulus quickly becoming stratocumulus and cumulus only broken briefly around 1100 by up to 20% of blue sky patches. After 1140 all ridges became largely obscured with the southern Livingstone ridge periodically clearing, but the higher peaks to the north remained in cloud for the rest of the day. There was a good movement of 36 Golden Eagles between 1014 and 1133 with most birds moving very high above the Livingstone Ridge, but subsequent movement became very sporadic and the final count when I packed up at 1540 was only 53 Golden Eagles and 1 subadult Bald Eagle, which was the last bird of the day and the only reasonably low-flying one. Most of the Golden Eagles appeared to be adults, but the thick cloud cover, rain and high flight made confident aging almost impossible in most cases. Between 1109 and 1133 several Golden Eagles glided high from the Livingstone Ridge to the west, possibly to roost on Bluff Mountain to sit out the rapidly approaching rain front. The resident pair of Golden Eagles appeared on a few occasions, and at 1231 one of them displayed just west of the Livingstone Ridge.

5.67 hours BAEA 1, GOEA 54 TOTAL 55