October 21 [Day 30] (Bill Wilson, assisted by Cliff Hansen and Jim Davis) For the first time this season the temperature failed to rise above freezing, reaching a high of -2.5C at 1500 from a morning low of -5.5C, and falling to 4C at the end of the day. Ground winds were very light NNW to 1000, then NNW (or occasionally NNE) 5-10 with a maximum gust of 19 km/h until late afternoon when they dropped to 2-5 km/h. Ridge winds were moderate-strong SSW all day, becoming lighter in the late afternoon. There was 4 cm of fresh snow on the ground first thing in the morning, and cloud cover was 100% stratus that obscured all the ridges until 1000. Clearing began after 1000 and for the rest of the day cloud cover was 20-80% cumulus with occasional development of cirrus and stratus giving generally good observing conditions. The western ridges remained 70-100% obscured for the rest of the day, the eastern route was completely clear at 1300 and 1400, but was variably obscured 30-90% for the rest of the day. Very light snow flurries were experienced in the mid to late afternoon. Despite these less than ideal conditions there was a reasonable raptor movement of 102 birds of 7 species, including 86 Golden Eagles (67a,1sa,9j,9u) all of which moved high near the top of the Fisher Range, or above the ridge after soaring, especially between 1400 and 1700. The first bird of the day was a Rough-legged Hawk that flapped low to the south before perching at 0802, but the first Golden Eagle did not go through until 1132. Movement gradually increased with 71 of the day's 102 birds being recorded between 1400 and 1700. The last bird of the day was a Golden Eagle at 1736 that happened to be the 2000^th bird of the season. Other raptors recorded were 1 juvenile Bald Eagle, 1 unaged Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1 adult Northern Goshawk, 1 adult dark morph harlani Red-tailed Hawk and a season-high 11 Rough-legged Hawks (7 light and 4 dark morphs). The raptor of the day, however, was an juvenile light morph Broad-winged Hawk that moved through between 1600 and 1700, which was the first record of the species this season. The sudden onset of winter conditions also resulted in a spectacular southern movement of waterfowl including 129 Canada Geese (largest flock 65), 55 Greater White-fronted Geese in a single flock (a species that is very rare in the mountains), 235 Mallards (largest flock 160) and 110 Common Mergansers (largest flock 60). A total of 26 American Robins also flew to the south in low numbers throughout the day. On a day of remarkable bird sightings, however, the strangest was a Black-and-White Warbler that was both a new species for the area and very late. It was found by Jim Davis as it foraged for food on the ground in willow shrub fringing the Hay Meadow, and was subsequently photographed by Cliff. With cold and snowy conditions forecast for the next couple of days its survival prospects are probably not high.

11.25 hours (331.51) BAEA 1 (51), SSHA 1 (59), NOGO 1 (20), BWHA 1 (1), RTHA 1 (22), RLHA 11 (32), GOEA 86 (2000) TOTAL 102 (2223)

The further adventures of “Elaine” Today Elaine moved just under 100 km to the SE and is presently just outside Banff National park about 60 km NE of Lake Louise. She appears to be presently moving though the foothills, probably because of low cloud in the Front Ranges to the west.