October 16 [Day 26] (George Halmazna) The temperature was 7C at 1730, which equaled the high for the day, the low was 4C at 0900 before it again climbed to 7C at 1100 and was 5C at 1730. Ground winds were SSW calm to light with occasional gusts to 15 km/h, and ridge winds appeared to be moderate-strong SSW-W changing to NW after 1100 and calm after 1500. It had rained until around 0600 and cloud cover was initially 90% stratus and cumulus that continued to produce rain and flurries to the west, and cloud cover remained thick all day. The ridges were 100% obscured until 1100 after which they mainly cleared. The first raptor seen was a probable resident adult Northern Goshawk that perched and called east of the river at 0823 and the first migrant was a Golden Eagle at 0907. When 29 Golden Eagles were recorded between 1000 and 1100 it looked that another big day was in prospect, but the rest of the day only produced a further 21 birds and the last Golden Eagle was seen at 1318. Birds moved over the eastern part of the valley as the Fisher Range ridge was still obscured, and lift appeared to be poor. All the 57 migrants seen were Golden Eagles and comprised 45 adults, 2 subadults, 9 juveniles and 1 unaged bird. Other birds seen included 4 Ruby-crowned Kinglets, 2 American Pipits, 25 Bohemian Waxwings, 2 Dark-eyed Juncos, 9 White-winged Crossbills and 42 Pine Siskins. It appears that the Black Bear that has been in the same place on the lower slopes of the northern end of the Fisher Range for about a month, has an injured right front paw: it generally moves very slowly with a heavy limp. George had previously witnessed a “bluff’ confrontation between the bear and a Grizzly Bear in the same area, and speculates that a subsequent, unobserved, clash may have resulted in the injured paw.

10 hours (288.76) GOEA 57 (1740) TOTAL 57 (1932)