September 18 [Day 24] This was the warmest day so far this season with the temperature ranging from 14C to 22.5C, but W winds gusting to 35 km/h in the afternoon ensured that we didn't get too hot. Cloud cover was 80-90% thick altostratus in the morning partially breaking up in the afternoon to altocumulus with some cirrus and cumulus producing difficult conditions in which to find, identify and age high flying birds. Deepening the morning gloom was persistent smoke haze which at least produced a spectacular sunrise and sunset. Yesterday afternoon's raptor shut-down persisted into this morning with only 2 migrants passing before noon, but thereafter movement was fairly steady with most birds flying very high and difficult to detect against a cloud cover that was either dazzling white altostratus or a cryptic pattern of altocumulus and blue sky patches. Thanks to the efforts of Teresa, Doug and Raymond we probably saw most of the birds that were moving today and we certainly didn't see any that we missed! Although Sharp-shinned Hawk (18) was again the most common species, it was not overwhelmingly so today, and generally there was a good variety of raptors moving. The highlight of the day was an adult Northern Goshawk and an adult dark morph Broad-winged Hawk gliding low overhead (which in itself was a highlight!) together at 1247. Because of the lighting conditions it was impossible to age many of the birds that appeared only as silhouettes. Passerine migration was relatively poor (only 9 Red-breasted Nuthatches for example) but it did included the 6th White-breasted Nuthatch of the season. 12.25 hours (268.42) OSPR 1 (7), NOHA 1 (22), SSHA 18 (578), COHA 11 (122), NOGO 5 (45), UA 4 (24), BWHA 1 (10), RTHA 10 (72), GOEA 12 (131), PRFA 1 (5), UU 5 (11) TOTAL 69 (1072)