The last two weeks of the season were surprisingly quiet at TLBO. As the weather got colder, snow started flying and smaller lakes freezing over fewer and fewer birds remained. The 16th was the last fairly busy migration day with over 300 swans, 130 Pine Grosbeaks and 500 redpolls, and on the following day just over 100 Pine Grosbeaks were counted again. A nice surprise that day was a flock of four White-winged Crossbills - our first sighting since August! Eight Golden Eagles were seen on both the 24th and the 29th while four Bald Eagles flew by on both the 26th and the 27th. Some of the late birds included an American Pipit on the 27th, a Yellow-rumped Warbler on the 28th and American Robin, Rusty Blackbird and Savannah Sparrow on the 29th. A juvenile Sabine's Gull on the 24th and again on the 27th was a real surprise while the juvenile Mew Gull that stayed until the 28th was a record late for the Territory. A few Snow Buntings and Lapland Longspurs were seen almost daily till the end of the season as was the long staying Glaucous Gull too.
juvenile Sabine's Gull on the 27th
The season 1st photographed, but 364th overall, Golden Eagle being harassed by a Common Raven.
Here are the season end numbers for the raptors seen in migration flight (in order of abundance):
Red-tailed Hawk - 1086
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 693
Northern Harrier - 687
Golden Eagle - 379
Rough-legged Hawk - 332
American Kestrel - 243
Bald Eagle - 77
Merlin - 66
Osprey - 60
Swainson's Hawk - 23
Peregrine Falcon - 20
Northern Goshawk - 19
Unidentifieds - 58
=3743
hatch-year White-crowned Sparrow
our regular Glaucous Gull
Snow Bunting lunching on the beach
The parting shot, morning of October 31st
TLBO would like to thank many individuals for their input for making the season a successful one. First Doug and Birgit for providing the BIC with an accommodation and Ted and Hollie for providing the volunteers with an accommodation, Ben and Ted for shared station managing (I did a little bit of that too ;)), Bernice for providing us with data sheets, Richard and Rory for the camping spots and looking after us, Abril for putting in astonishing 78 volunteer days (!), Cameron for all kinds of support (the trailer move was a grand move!!), and of course all the other volunteers and our financial supporters and SOYBO board. If I left anyone out, I apologize, it was unintentional. Thank you everyone!! We'll be back in 2012.
Jukka
Photos ©Jukka Jantunen
