The South Livingstone Raptor Count for the fall migration of 2008 has now begun. First official day of counting began on 25th August 2008. Follow the daily movement of raptors on this blog updated daily by Peter Sherrington.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

October 15 [Day 50] The temperature ranged from -4C to 4C with light WNW-W winds to early afternoon then W winds gusting from 25 to 35 km/h for the rest of the day. Sky conditions were excellent for observation with 40-90% combinations of cirrus, cirrostratus, altostratus, altocumulus and lenticular cloud generally making birds easy to detect and to age. Just 8 birds moved before 1100 under light winds with the first appearing at 0910, but thereafter migration was continuous until the last Golden Eagle glided high to the south at 1840. Movement was again dominated by Golden Eagles that peaked at 69 birds between 1300 and 1400. The 269 birds counted comprised 185 adults, 14 subadults, 67 juveniles and 3 birds of unknown age, and the adult bird that passed at 1405 was the 3000th Golden Eagle of the season. Both Bald Eagle (7) and Northern Goshawk (10) equaled their highest counts for the season so far, and Sharp-shinned Hawks (26) continue to move in good numbers, with 1334 counted so far. Passerine migrants included 10 Red-breasted Nuthatches, 183 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches, 8 Red Crossbills, 33 White-winged Crossbills and 2 Pine Siskins. 11.67 hours (575.5) BAEA 7 (83), SSHA 26 (1334), NOGO 10 (121), RLHA 4 (25), GOEA 269 (3155), MERL 1 (24), PRFA 1 (12) TOTAL 318 (5376)

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