Thursday, November 10, 2011

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.

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