Had the drone strikes started when he Obama received the Nobel? It was awarded October 9, 2009, and he had only taken office that January. I recall the drone strikes (possibly incorrectly) being a second term controversy, not a first 9 months controversy.
Obama did more drone strikes in his first year (563) than Bush did his entire term.
I can't find the specific months, but it's unlikely it was all done in the last quarter. He also authorized the first drone strike on an American.