November 13 [Day 53 (Bill Wilson) Once again there was only a small diurnal temperature range from -1C at 0700 to a high of 0C at 1000 and 1100 which slowly dropped to the day's low of -3C at 1645. Ground winds were WSW 0-10 gusting 20 km/h for most of the day, but gusted to 35 km/h in mid-morning, while ridge winds were moderate to strong SW-WSW gusting to 116 km/h in the morning, but only 33-60 km/h in the afternoon. Cloud cover was 80-100% cumulus and stratus for most of the day, thickening after 1500 and very light snow flurries were experienced throughout the day. The eastern ridges were 10-30% (and briefly 50%) draped by cloud after 1100 while the western ridges were 70-90% obscured after mid afternoon. The first migrant raptor was a juvenile Bald Eagle at 0845 and the last was an adult Bald Eagle at 1432 while in between 7 Golden Eagles (5a,1j,1u) were counted. Six of the day's 9 raptors occurred between 1332 and 1432. There was a fair variety of other birds in relatively low numbers including 1 adult Northern Shrike, 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet, 23 Bohemian Waxwings, 1 Red Crossbill and 1 White-winged Crossbill (which perched together), 11 Pine Grosbeaks and 35 Common Redpolls.

9.75 hours (574.77) BAEA 2 (136), GOEA 7 (3460) TOTAL 9 (3886)

The adventures of “Elaine” (Golden Eagle #78453) On November 12 Elaine was still in the same general area that she has been since November 7, east of the northern end of Canyon Ferry Lake, SE of Helena, Montana.

November 12 [Day 52] (Cliff Hansen) The ridges started clearing after 1000 when the temperature was 0C which rose to the day's high of 1C at 1100 and 1500 and was still 0.5C at the end of the day. Ground winds were S-SW, calm to 5 km/h initially before increasing to 7-15 km/h with a maximum gust of 50 km/h at 1500 after which it was 0-10 km/h gusting 25 km/h for the rest of the day. Ridge winds were moderate to strong SSW-WSW with a maximum gust of 122 km/h at 1500. At 1600 the field sheets were ripped from the clipboard by a wind gust and had to be retrieved from the Kananaskis River. Cloud cover was 100% altostratus, cumulus and altocumulus all day and light snow fell all afternoon. The ridges progressively became enveloped in cloud throughout the day with the west 90% and the east 50% obscured by the end. Not surprisingly, these conditions only yielded one migrant raptor, an unaged Golden Eagle at 1142, and non-raptor species were also scarce.

6.58 hours (565.02) GOEA 1 (3453) TOTAL 1 (3877)

November 11 [Day 51] (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Chris Hunt) The temperature was 5C at 0700 and rose to a high of 6C between 1000 and 1200, falling quickly to 0C at 1700 after a cold front passed in mid afternoon. Yesterday's strong SW-SSW winds persisted throughout the morning with ground wind gusts between 26 and 55 km/h, moderating in the afternoon with gusts to 20 km/h, while ridge winds were strong SW all day gusting between 128 and 178 km/h in the morning and 61-78 km/h in the afternoon. Cloud cover was 100% altostratus and cumulus all day giving gloomy conditions but a good observation background to the east and north. The cold front brought light snow between 1345 and 1730, and both the western and eastern ridges were substantially occluded between 1500 and 1620 after which they all quickly cleared. The only migrant raptors seen from the site were single juvenile Bald Eagles moving high above the Fisher Range at 1016 and 1209, but Chris Hunt reported a juvenile Golden Eagle flapping low towards the south over HW 40 at 1701 as he was leaving, a bird that could not be seen from the Hay Meadow site. Despite the strong winds there was a persistent movement of Common Redpolls (269) and White-winged Crossbills (28) towards the south throughout the morning, and other birds included 50 Bohemian Waxwings and 8 Pine Grosbeaks and an American Dipper that flew high to the west at 1452.

10.33 hours (558.44) BAEA 2 (134), GOEA 1 (3452) TOTAL 3 (3876)

The adventures of “Elaine” (Golden Eagle #78453) On November 10 Elaine was still in the same general area that she was on November 7.

November 10 [Day 50] (Cliff Hansen, assisted by Kevin Barker and Chris Hunt) Temperatures were well above seasonal average with 7C at 0800 rising to a high of 8C at 1100 and 1200, and it was still 6C at 1700. Ground winds were W in the morning, 5-15 gusting 25 km/h and SW in the afternoon 5-15 gusting 50 km/h, while ridge winds were strong SW all day gusting 107-146 km/h. Cloud cover was initially 70% cumulus and cirrus becoming 100% cumulus, altostratus and cirrus at 1100 which gradually diminished to 50% cumulus at 1500 before thickening again to 90% cumulus and altostratus at the end of the day: observing conditions were generally good. The tops of the high mountains to the west were obscured all day, with the cloud lowering after 1300 causing 40% obscuring of the western ridges. The day's first Golden Eagle moved at 0948 followed by a Rough-legged Hawk at 0935, but these two birds comprised the day's busiest hour and when the last bird went south at 1605 the total was just 5 birds: 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk, 3 adult Golden Eagles and 1 columbarius Merlin of unknown sex and age. The very high winds also proved to be inimical to passerine movement with just a few small finches noted.

9.42 hours RLHA 1 (41), GOEA 3 (3451), MERL 1 (5) TOTAL 5 (3873)

The adventures of “Elaine” (Golden Eagle #78453) On November 9 Elaine was still in the same area that she was on November 7.

November 9 [Day 49] (Cliff Hansen). The temperature was -11C at 0800 but rose to a high of 4C between 1300 and 1600 and was still 2.5C at 1700. Ground winds were calm to light SW to 1000 after which they were SW 5-10 km/h with a maximum gust of 35 km/h at 1700, while ridge winds were moderate SW to 1300 after which they became strong with a maximum gust of 155 km/h at 1600. Cloud cover was 10% cumulus, altostratus and lenticular to 1300 after which it increased to 20-30% cumulus and lenticular until 1600 when it again increased to 60% with an altostratus arch forming east of the Fisher Range. The western ridges were 10% obscured at 1400 and by 1700 they were 40% obscured, but observing conditions in the afternoon were generally good as all birds moved high above the Fisher Range to the east. There was a reasonably strong raptor movement for November with 24 birds migrating between 1214 and 1613, which is the the second highest count for the month so far. The flight comprised 4 Bald Eagles (2a,1j,1u), 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk, 18 Golden Eagles (14a,1sa,1j,2u) and 1 Prairie Falcon. Finches continued to move including 100 Common Redpolls, 1 Pine Siskin and 100+ undifferentiated small finches.

9.5 hours (538.69) BAEA 4 (132), RLHA 1 (40), GOEA 18 (3448), PRFA 1 (2) TOTAL 24 (3868)

November 8 [Day 48] (George Halmazna) There was very little temperature change throughout the day with a high of 1C at 1300 and a low of -1.5C at 1700. Ground winds were calm in the morning and light to moderate SW in the afternoon, while ridge winds were moderate SW-WSW all day gusting to 73 km/h at 1300. Cloud cover was 50% cumulus in the morning reducing to 10% between 1200 and 1500 after which it increased again to 50%. The raptor count was almost identical to yesterday's with 9 birds (1 late subadult Bald Eagle, 2 light morph Rough-legged Hawks and 6 Golden Eagles (2a,4j)) flying from Mount Lorette to the SE above the Fisher Range between 0839 and 1440. There was some passerine movement in the morning, including 146 Common Redpolls, but none were seen after 1300 when even ravens were absent.

10 hours (529.19) BAEA 1 (128), RLHA 2 (39), GOEA 6 (3430) TOTAL 9 (3844)

The adventures of “Elaine” (Golden Eagle #78453) On November 7 Elaine flew SE to Montana's Big Belt Mountains and on November 8 was about 25km E of the northern end of Canyon Ferry Lake, SE of Helena.

November 7 [Day 47] (Joel Duncan) The temperature reached a high of 0C at 1300 from a low of -6C and was -2C at 1730. Ground winds were W-SW all day 10-15 km/h gusting to 28 km/h and ridge winds were moderate SSW-WSW gusting to 66 km/h at 1300. Cloud cover was 90% altostratus with up to 10% cumulus all day. Raptor movement was confined to 1017 to 1317 when 1 undifferentiated immature Bald Eagle, 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk and 6 Golden Eagles (1sa,1j,4u) were recorded, with the eagles moving very high above the Fisher Range. Other birds included a female Bufflehead, 1 Northern Shrike, 65 Bohemian Waxwings, 2 American Tree Sparrows and 35 Common Redpolls.

10 hours (519.19) BAEA 1 (127), RLHA 1 (37), GOEA 6 (3424) TOTAL 8 (3835)

November 6 [Day 46] (Bill Wilson) (NOTE Change to Mountain Standard Time) The temperature at 0700 was a very chilly -15C, but it rose to a high of 0.5C at 1500 before falling to -4.5C at 1700. Ground winds were SE to variable 1-5 gusting 10 km/h all day, while ridge winds were light SSW-SW. Initial cloud cover was 80% altostratus that quickly reduced to 10% at 0900, increased again to 70% at 1100 before again diminishing leaving cloudless skies after 1400. A total of 23 raptors were recorded between 1120 and 1622, with 19 of these birds ( 6 Bald Eagles, 12 Golden Eagles and 1 Prairie Falcon) moving between 1433 and 1536. The flight comprised 9 Bald Eagles (5a,2sa,2j), 13 Golden Eagles (11a,1sa,1u) and 1 Prairie Falcon which, somewhat surprisingly, is the first of the season. The highlight of the non-raptor count was a very late first-winter Chipping Sparrow near the site, and other birds included 48 Canada Geese in 2 flocks (2 and 46!), 1 adult Northern Shrike, 20 Bohemian Waxwings, 3 Pine Grosbeaks and 85 Common Redpolls.

10.58 hours (509.19) BAEA 9 (126), GOEA 13 (3418), PRFA 1 (1) TOTAL 23 (3827)

November 5 [Day 45] (Jim Davis) The temperature reached a high of -1C at 1500 from a low of -8C and was down to -4C at 1810. Ground winds were calm to 1500 after which it was SW 8-11 km/h for the rest of the day, while ridge winds were also light SW and even occasionally calm. It was cloudless to 1500 after which it gradually increased to 20% altocumulus and cirrocumulus by 1800. Raptor movement started slowly with the first bird, a Northern Goshawk, not appearing until 1104 and the first Golden Eagles were not seen until 1341, Movement, however, steadily increased throughout the afternoon and peaked at 24 birds between 1600 and 1700, and by the time the last Golden Eagle went south at 1746 a total of 59 migrants of 7 species had been recorded, which is the highest count at the site since October 25. All the birds moved along the eastern route and were mainly picked up moving from Mount Lorette to the northern end of the Fisher Range. The count included a very late Osprey which was just the 3^rd of the season (the 2^nd being on October 3), is a first record for November and is by far the latest ever recorded at the site. Other migrants were 10 adult Bald Eagles, 2 unaged Cooper's Hawks, 1 unaged Northern Goshawk, 1 adult dark morph harlani Red-Tailed Hawk, 3 light morph Rough-legged Hawks and 41 Golden Eagles (13a,3sa,14j,11u) which is the highest count since October 31 which was also 41 birds. Today yet again demonstrates the importance of continuing even when when several days of low counts make it appear that migration is essentially over. Other birds seen included 1 American Robin, 10 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches, 20 White-winged Crossbills and 11 Common Redpolls.

7.5 hours (498.61) OSPR 1 (3), BAEA 10 (117), COHA 2 (33), NOGO 1 (37), RTHA 1 (28), RLHA 3 (36), GOEA 41 (3405) TOTAL 59 (3804)

November 4 [Day 44] (Terry Waters) It snowed all morning and began to clear around noon, and Terry arrived at the site at 1330 where there was 3cm of fresh snow on the ground. The temperature at 1330 was -6C, rose to -2C at 1600 and was -4C at 1830. Ground winds were light NNE all day as probably were the ridge winds, although the Nakiska Ridgetop weather station failed to provide data all day. Cloud cover was 100% stratus all morning with all ridges obscured reducing to 50% stratocumulus and cirrus at 1500, with the west 50% obscured, Mount Lorette in cloud and the Fisher Range draped all afternoon. Not surprisingly raptor movement was very sporadic and comprised 1 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk at 1525, 1 adult Golden Eagle at 1609, 1 adult Bald Eagle at 1645 and 1 unaged Sharp-shinned Hawk that flew to the south in a flock of 95 Canada Geese at 1815. A total of 300 Canada Geese flew south in 4 flocks, a Townsend's Solitaire was at the site and a probable adult male Black Bear was near the meadow at 1330.

5 hours (491.11) BAEA 1 (107), SSHA 1 (112), RTHA 1 (27), GOEA 1 (3364) TOTAL 4 (3745)

November 3 [Day 43] (Cliff Hansen) The temperature at 0830 was 5C which along with 5C at 1300 was the high for the day, the low being 3C for the rest of the morning and at the end of the day. Ground winds were SW 5-10 gusting 15 km/h all day, and ridge winds were moderate to strong SW gusting to 85 km/h at noon, but becoming light by late afternoon. Cloud cover was initially 20% cumulus and altostratus increasing to 90% at noon and the afternoon saw 50-90% cumulus and cirrus that gave good observing conditions despite the western ridges being hazy for much of the day. A total of 16 raptors migrated between 1037 and 1708 with a peak movement of 6 birds (1 Bald and 5 Golden Eagles) between 1600 and 1700, with all birds moving above the Fisher Range. The flight comprised 2 adult Bald Eagles, 1 unaged Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1 small indeterminate Accipiter and 12 Golden Eagles (7a,2j,3u). A few flocks of Canada Geese flew high to the south in late afternoon including a V of 60 at 1825, and finches included 150 Common Redpolls, 110 Pine Siskins and a total of 260 which could have been either or both. Twenty-five students from the Siksika (Blackfoot) Reserve visited the site in the afternoon, that unfortunately coincided with a lull in the day's movement.

10 hours (486.11) BAEA 2 (106), SSHA 1 (112), UA 1 (3), GOEA 12 (3363) TOTAL 16 (3741)

The adventures of “Elaine” (Golden Eagle #78453) Rob Domenech has informed me at Elaine is holding up in the Bob Marshall area just south of Hungry Horse Reservoir, possibly because she is feeding on ungulate gut piles left by hunters. He notes that she stayed in their Nora Ridge/Lincoln study area for about 10 days last fall before again moving south, and he expects her to pick up her southerly track in a week or so and find her way to last year's wintering area south of Livingstone, Montana and north of Yellowstone National Park.

November 2 [Day 42] (Cliff Hansen) The temperature reached a high of 7C at 1600 from a low of 2C and remained at 5.5C at 1830. Ground winds were mainly SW all day 5-15 km/h gusting to 35-40 km/h, while ridge winds were strong WSW-W gusting above 100 km/h throughout the day and peaking at 150 km/h at 1700. Cloud cover was 100% altostratus and altocumulus forming an arch after 1100, that thinned to 50% in the mid afternoon as the arch moved to the east, with 100% thin altostratus forming in the late afternoon. Despite excellent observation conditions only 3 migrant raptors were seen all day: 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk at 1526, 1 unaged Sharp-shinned Hawk at 1658 and 1 unaged Golden Eagle at 1701. Other birds were also thin but included 75 Common Redpolls, 55 Pine Siskins, and 2 first-winter Ring-billed Gulls that flew low to the south above the river.

10.25 hours (476.11) SSHA 1 (111), RLHA 1 (33), GOEA 1 (1701) TOTAL 3 (3725)

The adventures of “Elaine” (Golden Eagle #78453) By the end of November 1 Elaine was 25 km ESE of where she was on October 31, still in the Lewis Range, and appears to have lost the southward momentum that quickly carried her from the southern Yukon to northern Montana in about 4 days.

November 1 [Day 41] (Joel Duncan, assisted by Cliff Hansen) Unfortunately Joel couldn't make it to the site until 1100 when the temperature was 2C which rose to a high of 3C at 1500 and fell to -0.5 at 1830. Ground winds were W-SW mainly 5-15 km/h which gusted to 30 km/h in mid-afternoon, ridge winds were moderate SW gusting to 58 km/h at 1400, and it was essentially cloudless all day. The late start probably didn't result in too many birds being missed as the first Golden Eagle was not recorded until 1405, and when the last Bald Eagle was noted at 1715 a total of only 14 migrants had been tallied: 3 adult Bald Eagles, 1 adult Sharp-shinned Hawk and 10 Golden Eagles (2a,2sa,1j,5u). The highest hourly count was 6 Golden Eagles between 1400 and 1500, and all the birds were located over the Fisher Range, mainly gliding high but moving at ridge-top level late in the afternoon. Other birds noted included 1 Blue Jay, 50 Bohemian Waxwings, 1 American Tree Sparrow and a sudden influx of American Dippers with 6 present on the river near the site, probably brought lower by the onset of cooler weather.

7.5 hours (465.86) BAEA 3 (104), SSHA 1 (110), GOEA 10 (3350) TOTAL 14 (3722)

The adventures of “Elaine” (Golden Eagle #78453) Elaine appears to have moved back NNW along the Lewis Range and is now only 25 km SSE of where she roosted on October 29

October 31 [Day 40] (George Halmazna) The temperature reached a high of 4C at 1500 from a low of -3C at 1900, ground winds were generally light W-SW to 1000 after which they became moderate with a peak gust of 30 km/h at 1400 before becoming light again at the end of the day, while ridge winds were moderate to strong WSW-SW with a peak gust of 93 km/h at 1500. Initial cloud cover was 100% cumulus in the morning producing snow flurries, gradually clearing after 0900 to 20% at 1600 before increasing again to 50% cumulus with more flurries after 1700. The ridges remained clear with the exception of a two-hour period between 1200 and 1400 when the west was 50% obscured. Raptor migration was the strongest in 6 days with 46 birds moving between 0934 and 1531, with a high hourly count of 11 Golden Eagles between 1000 and 1100, with all birds moving at varying heights along the Fisher Range. The flight comprised 4 Bald Eagles (2a,2j), 1 adult Northern Goshawk and 44 Golden Eagles (37a,1sa,1j,2u). There was also a strong southward movement of passerines in the morning including 15 American Robins, 26 Pine Grosbeaks, 553 Common Redpolls and 33 Pine Siskins.

10 hours (458.36) BAEA 4 (101), NOGO 1 (36), GOEA 41 (3340) TOTAL 46 (3708)

October summary Observers spent 29 days (323.79 hours) at the site in October with only October 6 and 7 being lost to adverse weather (heavy rain). For the rest of the month conditions were generally favourable for raptor migration with temperatures in the main well above the seasonal norm. The number of days spent in the field was 4.02% below the average of the 14 complete and valid counts conducted between 1993 and 2010, but the hours were 1.7% above average. The combined species total of 3480 was 4.8% above average and was the 8^th highest count during the period and the highest since 2005. The Golden Eagle count of 3171 was 7.5% above average was also the 8^th highest and the highest since 2005. The Bald Eagle total of 90, on the other hand, was 46.3% below average probably as a result of the unseasonably warm weather keeping water bodies open well to the north providing continuing access of food and little incentive to move south. Warm weather may also explain the relatively low count of 31 Rough-legged Hawks (-30.7%), and the total of 33 Northern Goshawks was close to average (+2.9%). The other four species that moved in significant numbers, however, all showed totals that were significantly above average: Sharp-shinned Hawk 84 (+14.7%), Cooper's Hawk 28 (+218.9%), Red-tailed Hawk 21 (+75%) and Peregrine Falcon 6 (+110%).

The adventures of “Elaine” (Golden Eagle #78453) On November 30 Elaine moved another 80 km to the SSE along the Lewis Range and at the end of the day was about 75 km E of the southern end of Flathead Lake.