October 30 [Day 39] (Bill Wilson, assisted by Brian McBride) It was a warm day with a starting temperature of 7C which rose to an unseasonal high of 10C at 1300-1500 and was still 6C at 1830. Ground winds were WSW 5-15 km/h to 0900 then 10-20 gusting 30 km/h for the rest of the day with a highest gust of 43 km/h, while ridge winds were strong SW all day regularly gusting over 100 km/h with a maximum gust of 157 km/h at 0800. Cloud cover was 10-30% cumulus to 1400 then variable 40-100% stratus, cumulus and altostratus for the rest of the day. The western ridges were 30-50% obscured between 1000-1100 with very light rain at the site, which increased throughout the afternoon to 90% with light rain persisting after 1500. A total of 21 raptors migrated between 0844 and 1701 with most birds moving very high above the eastern valley to the west of the Fisher Range ridge, with the highest hourly count of 6 birds (1 Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1 Northern Goshawk and 4 Golden Eagles) between 1300 and 1400. The flight comprised 2 Bald Eagles (1a,1j), 1 unaged Sharp-shinned Hawk, 2 Northern Goshawks (1a,1u), 15 Golden Eagles (10a,5u) and an unidentified eagle that was the first bird of the day. Other bird species recorded included 6 unidentified white-headed gulls flying south, 20 Bohemian Waxwings, 6 Pine Grosbeaks and 30 White-winged Crossbills.

10.5 hours (448.36) BAEA 2 (97), SSHA 1 (109), NOGO 2 (35), GOEA 15 (3299), UE 1 (2) TOTAL 21 (3662)

The adventures of “Elaine” (Golden Eagle #78453) As predicted Elaine finished the day of October 29 about 60 km ENE of the northern end of Flathead Lake in the Lewis Range of northern Montana, having covered about 300 km that day. It will be interesting to see if she now slows down as she approaches southern Montana where she wintered earlier in the year, or whether she will continue farther south.