February 28 [Day 13] (Valley View site) (Doug and Teresa Dolman and Denise Cocciolone-Amatto) It was another warm day with the temperature rising to 8C from a low of -1C, and it was still 4.5C at 1800. Ground winds were mainly SW up to 20 km/h, becoming light or calm after 1700, ridge winds appeared to be W moderate also becoming light after 1700, and it was cloudless until 1600 after which 10-30% ephemeral cirrus cloud developed. A total of 30 migrant raptors moved between 1101 and 1708, which is the highest February single-day count ever at the site. The flight comprised 14 adult Bald Eagles, the season’s first Sharp-shinned Hawk [bird species # 26] at 1146, which is the earliest ever at the site and17 days earlier than the previous earliest record, 14 Golden Eagles (11a,1sa,2j) which is the highest February count ever at the site, and a single Prairie Falcon. Maximum movement was 9 birds between 1400 and 1500, and 7 birds between 1500 and 1600. Two Rock Pigeons soaring over the Piitaistakis Ridge at 0948 were new for February and the 25th bird species recorded this season, and a Northern Pygmy-Owl persistently sang close to the site after 1645. 11.16 hours (142.3 hours) BAEA 14 (75), SSHA 1 (1), GOEA 14 (56), PRFA 1 (2) TOTAL 30 (150)
February summary Despite poor weather during the early part of the count we spent 13 days (142.3 hours) in the field during the month, the days and hours being 23.8% and 37.6% above 2008-09 average respectively. The combined species count of 150 is a new high count for the month and 31.58% above average, and new monthly high counts were established for Bald Eagle (75, +33.9%), Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 (new for the month), Northern Goshawk (7, +180%), Rough-legged Hawk (9, +100%) and Prairie Falcon (2, +100%). The Golden Eagle total of 56 was 13.13% above average and was 8 fewer than last year’s record February count. Gyrfalcon, which was recorded in 2008, was not seen during February this year.

February 27 [Day 12] (Valley View site) (Bill Wilson) It was the warmest day so far this season with the temperature reaching 9C at 1300 from a morning low of 4C, and it was still 5C at 1800. Ground winds were very variable, mainly light to mid afternoon and strengthening to 25 km/h after 1600 and ridge and upper winds were moderate W all day. Cloud cover was 100% cumulus and altostratus to noon, thinning to 50-90% with development of cirrus cloud in the afternoon. Raptor movement got off to a brisk start with 2 Bald Eagles, 2 Northern Goshawks and a Golden Eagle moving between 0942 and 1000. Subsequent movement, however, was persistent but sparse with no further hourly count exceeding 2 birds and the last bird, a Bald Eagle, went north at 1710. The 5 Bald Eagles and 2 goshawks seen were all adults while the 8 Golden Eagles comprised 5 adults, 1 subadult and 2 juveniles. 11.16 hours (131.2) BAEA 5 (61), NOGO 2 (7), GOEA 8 (42) TOTAL 15 (120)

February 26 [Day 11] (Valley View site) The temperature rose to a season high 7C at 1400 from a low of -2C and was still 3C at 1800. Ground winds were generally light and mainly SW except at 1000 when they gusted to 25 km/h, and ridge winds were moderate W all day. Cloud cover was a beautiful mixture of 20-100% lenticular, altocumulus and cirrus providing excellent observation conditions all day. Conditions appeared ideal for raptor migration but the first bird, an adult Golden Eagle, did not appear until 1159 and by 1600 only 10 migrants had been logged. Between 1600 and 1700, however, 11 birds moved, 4 more between 1700 and 1800 and for the first time this season, 2 Golden Eagles after 1800 with the last going north at 1804. The total of 27 migrant raptors is the highest ever February count at the site, as is the total of 5 Rough-legged Hawks that moved between 1608 and 1745. The 12 Bald Eagles comprised 10 adults, 1 subadult and 1 juvenile, while the 9 Golden Eagles were 8 adults and 1 subadult. A European Starling flying high to the north at 1625 was the first for the season [#24] and a first February record, and the total of 20 bird species recorded today was the highest so far. Impressive was a count of 255 Common Ravens, most of which moved high to the W after 1600, presumably going to roost. 11 hours (120), BAEA 12 (56), NOGO 1 (5), RLHA 5 (9), GOEA 9 (34) TOTAL 27 (105)

February 25 [Day 10] (Valley View site) The temperature rose to 6C at 1500 from a low of -1C and fell to 2C at 1800. Ground winds were mainly NW in the morning and SW in the afternoon gusting to 30 km/h and becoming mainly light after 1400. Ridge winds were WNW moderate to strong all day, and cloud cover ranged from 40-80% cumulus, altocumulus and lenticular giving excellent observing conditions for much of the day. An adult Golden Eagle at 0958 was the earliest so far this season, but the second migrant, a subadult Bald Eagle, did not occur until 1205 after which movement was very sporadic and involved only single birds until 1713 when 2 adult Bald Eagles went N together and were the last migrants of the day. The flight comprised 9 Bald Eagles (6a,1sa,2j), a light morph Rough-legged Hawk, 3 adult Golden Eagles and the season’s first migratory Prairie Falcon at 1408. 11.25 hours (108.8) BAEA 9 (44), RLHA 1 (4), GOEA 3 (25), PRFA 1 (1) TOTAL 14 (78)

February 24 [Day 9] (Valley View site) It was A mostly gloomy day with 90-100% altostratus and altocumulus cloud forming a Chinook Arch which only began to break down after 1600 when the cloud cover reduced to 50-60% and allowed a few sunny periods followed by a spectacular sunset. The temperature ranged between 1C and 3C, but NW to N ground winds gusting to 30 km/h made it feel much cooler before the winds decreased and backed to more westerly after 1600. Ridge winds were W to WNW moderate to strong becoming moderate after 1600 and upper winds were strong W for most of the day. There were some very light snow flurries between 1230 and 1530 with the ridges to the south looking rather fuzzy during this period. Raptor migration was confined to 5 adult Golden Eagles that moved between 1213 and 1418, and a resident pair of Prairie Falcons crossed the valley towards the east at 1105. The last Golden Eagle of the day at 1418 was gliding high to the north above the Piitaistakis Ridge when it suddenly parachuted vertically down and hung in the wind less than a metre above a large full-curl ram Bighorn Sheep that was moving to the south in the snow on the ridge-top. The ram was visibly agitated by the close proximity of the eagle and after about 40 seconds of being harassed it reared high on its back legs and aimed a butt at the bird that was directly above it. At this the eagle quickly reassessed the situation, kited vertically up and continued its flight to the north. Two Canada Geese flying to the NE at 1728 were the first for the season [species # 23]. With rapid clearing after 1600 and rising barometric pressure tomorrow promises to be a much better day for raptor movement, but the little drama described above more than compensated for today’s thin trickle of birds. 11.16 (97.58) GOEA 5 (22) TOTAL 5 (64)

February 23 [Day 8] (Valley View site) The temperature rose to a high of 6C for the third consecutive day, from a low of -1C, and was still 2.5C at 1800. Ground winds were NW-W gusting to 50 km/h in the morning, diminishing to 15-20 km/h in the afternoon and becoming WNW to W after 1600. Ridge winds were strong WNW to NNW to 1400 and then became moderate to strong WNW to W, and the upper flow appeared to be strong W all day. It was cloudless until 1000 when cirrus cloud began to develop reaching 80% at 1300, and for the rest of the day there was a spectacular mixture of 30-100% lenticular, altocumulus and altostratus high-wing cloud that gave an excellent backdrop to locate and identify high-flying raptors. It was the most extended raptor movement seen so far this season with 10 birds of 4 species moving between a Golden Eagle at 1041 and 2 Golden Eagles at 1755, with 7 birds moving after 1700. The flight comprised 10 Bald Eagles (6 adults, 2 subadults and 2 juveniles), 2 adult Northern Goshawks, 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk and 6 adult Golden Eagles. The last 3 days have yielded 51 migrant raptors which is good movement for February. 11.08 hours (86.42) BAEA 10 (35), NOGO 2 (4), RLHA 1 (3), GOEA 6 (17) TOTAL 19 (59)

February 22 [Day 7] (Valley View site) The temperature rose to 6C from a low of -9.5C and was still 2C at 1800. Ground winds were light and mainly SW to 1100, increasing to moderate SW to 1500 after which the became mainly N gusting to 50 km/h. Ridge winds appeared to be WNW light to 1000, moderate to 1530 after which they became moderate to strong. Cloud cover was 5-40% very thin cirrostratus and cirrus with persistent condensation trails from over-flying aircraft that indicated that the high flow remained northerly. Raptor movement started spectacularly at 1302 with 4 adult Bald Eagles soaring together in front of the moon that was just rising above the ridge to the east, and they were followed rapidly by 5 more Bald Eagles (4 adults and a subadult), a Northern Goshawk and 5 Golden Eagles (3 adults and 2 juveniles) before the end of the hour. The movement was not sustained, however, and the next 2 hours produced only 3 more Bald Eagles (2 adults and 1 late subadult) and 2 adult Golden Eagles with the last moving at 1555, with the increasingly strong northerly winds appearing to slow and then stop the flow of birds. A northern Pygmy-Owl singing south of the site at 0940 was the first for the season and the 22nd bird species recorded so far. 11 hours (75.34) BAEA 12 (25), NOGO 1 (2), GOEA 7 (11) TOTAL 20 (40)

February 21 [Day 6] (Valley View site) The temperature ranged from -13C (the lowest so far this season) to 6C (the highest) at 1400, falling back to -2C at 1800. Ground winds were variable and light until 1400 when they became steady SW gusting to 18km/k, backing to NW after 1700. It was cloudless until 1500 after which up to 20% cirrus cloud developed so it was difficult to gauge the higher winds which were probably moderate W at ridge level between 1400 and 1700, while the high upper flow remained moderate N. The calm conditions meant that the first migrant Bald Eagle did not appear until 1252, but subsequent movement was fairly steady for the time of year as moderate westerly winds developed, with the last of the day’s 10 Bald Eagles moving north at 1724. At 1637 3 Bald Eagles, including the day’s only juvenile bird, soared over the Piitaistakis Ridge before gliding north together. The only other migrants were 2 Rough-legged Hawks at 1517 and 1628 equaling last year for the earliest record for a migrant bird at the site. No migrant Golden Eagles were seen but a resident adult and a resident juvenile were present, with the adult perching on the ridge for over an hour and only occasionally displaying. 11 hours (64.34) BAEA 10 (13), RLHA 2 (2) TOTAL 12 (20)

February 20 [Day 5] (Valley View site) The weather for most of the day was a rerun of that of yesterday with the temperature reaching -2C from a morning low of -7C, with ground winds generally light SW but occasionally reaching 16 km/h and moderate NNE upper winds. Light and occasionally moderate snow persisted until 1620 with the ridges partially obscured, with 90-100% stratocumulus and cumulus cloud cover to 1530 after which the cloud dissipated to 0% after 1700 which allowed the temperature to fall to -8C by 1800. The only raptor seen was a non-migratory Prairie Falcon at 1606 which was the first for the season [bird species #20], and Black-billed Magpie [#19] and a singing female Great Horned Owl [#21] at 1741 were also seasonal firsts. Early courtship food begging by a female Grey Jay from a male was observed at 0835, and a Barred Owl sang once at 1615. The weather now appears to be set fair for a number of days so we should finally start to see some more concerted raptor movement after what has been a slow start. 11 hours (53.34) No migrant raptors (8)

February 19 [Day 4] (Valley View site) It was one of those difficult days where the weather was never bad enough to call it a day, but never good enough to really expect raptor movement. The temperature ranged from -5C to -1C, ground winds were SW or SE generally less that 10 km/h and the upper flow was light to moderate N all day. Cloud cover was 100% stratus and cumulus diminishing to 90% after 1600, and light snow fell for most of the day with parts of the ridges periodically obscured. No migrant or resident raptors were observed, but a Townsend’s Solitaire at 1207 was the 18th bird species recorded so far this season. 10.25 hours (42.34) No migrant raptors (8)

February 18 [Day 3] (Valley View site) There was 12 cm of fresh snow on the ground after yesterday’s snowfall, and the temperature reached a high of 5C at 1300 from a low of -5.5C, falling to -3.5C at 1800 under cloudless skies. Ground winds were light all day, ridge winds were light NW becoming light to moderate after 1500, and cloud cover was mainly 50-80% cumulus and altocumulus giving excellent observing conditions, but rapidly cleared to 0% after 1700. The day’s first raptor was the season’s first Rough-legged Hawk moving south along the Livingstone Ridge at 0808, and the first migrant was an adult Bald Eagle moving north above Bluff Mountain at 1146. The resident Golden Eagle pair was conspicuous after 1150, being joined periodically by a juvenile bird which is probably their last year’s progeny, with the adult male displaying from time to time. At 1343 a migrant adult Golden Eagle soared with the resident pair before moving to the north and at 1441 an early subadult Golden Eagle glided north over Bluff Mountain. Two more adult Bald Eagles moved north at 1430 and 1628 after prolonged soaring in the warm, almost calm conditions. 10.67 hours (32.09) BAEA 3 (3), GOEA 2 (4) TOTAL 5 (8)

February 17 No observation. I was at the Valley View site at 0715, but with steady wet snow and all ridges obscured I didn’t stay long. The snow stopped by late afternoon and the ridges partially cleared but this early in the season there was little chance of raptor movement so I didn’t return to the site. At 1053 I was driving east along Highway 3 to Pincher Creek in heavy snow when I saw a large falcon perched on a post by the road. Assuming that it was probably a Gyrfalcon I turned back and as I approached it realised that it was an adult Peregrine Falcon (probably a female) showing all the characters of the subspecies tundrius: i.e. relatively thin and pointed malar marks, pure white upper breast “bleeding” into the relatively fine barring of the lower breast in a “V” and a fairly light blue-grey dorsal surface. It flew low to the south and disappeared into the snow leaving me to wonder what a bird of this race was doing so far north in mid February. This was, in fact the first falcon I had seen in the area this year, and I have heard of only a few sightings including a juvenile Gyrfalcon with a dead Mallard in its talons seen NE of Pincher Creek by Wilber Tripp on February 3. The most common raptor in the area this winter has been Rough- Legged Hawk which has been fairly widespread, including 4 or 5 near my home in Beaver Mines. More surprising was an adult dark morph Harlan’s Red-tailed Hawk which I observed near Beaver Mines on several occasions between January 5 and February 3, which was also well north of its normal wintering range. It is possible that this was the same bird recorded migrating south along the Livingstone Ridge, 20 km NW of Beaver Mines, on the very late date of December 7. An adult light morph calurus Red-tail was also in Beaver Mines on January 6. All the buteos appeared to disappear from the Beaver Mines area between February 3 and 5, and David McIntyre also noted that Rough-legged Hawks in the Rock Creek Valley to the east of the Piitaistakis site disappeared around the same time. Wintering adult Golden Eagles were seen fairly regularly in the Rock Creek Valley, with David McIntyre reporting a couple of juvenile birds seen for the first time there this winter on February 5, and an adult and a juvenile bird (presumably residents) were seen flying above the ridge during my visit to the Piitaistakis site on February 1. On February 8 David recorded 4 Golden Eagles (3 adults and 1 juvenile) moving north above the Rock Creek Valley, but whether they were residents, migrants or just wandering birds is uncertain. Seventeen Bald Eagles were counted on the Pincher Creek Christmas Bird Count, and by the second week of February they were being seen in low numbers throughout the area.

February 16 [Day 2] (Valley View site) The temperature rose from 1C to a high of 4C at 1300 and was still 3.5C at 1800. Ground winds were mainly NW gusting to 70 km/h at 1300 after which they moderated to 10-25 km/h. Ridge winds were strong to moderate WNW becoming moderate W after 1400, and cloud cover was 100% lenticular, altostratus and altocumulus to 1630 after which it thinned to 80% cumulus and altocumulus by 1800. The season’s first migrant raptor was an adult Golden Eagle moving north at1252, which is the earliest yet recorded at the site and the second earliest ever on a RMERF count. It was followed by an adult Northern Goshawk at 1258, also the earliest for the site, and a second adult Golden Eagle at 1322. A resident adult Golden Eagle was seen displaying between 1321 and 1634, and a second resident bird was seen at 1609. Other bird species were similar to those recorded yesterday, but today the Barred Owl sang strongly and persistently after 1748. 10.75 hours (21.42) NOGO 1 (1), GOEA 2 (2) TOTAL 3 (3)

February 15 [Day 1] (Valley View site) This is the 19th consecutive year of RMERF counts, the 18th consecutive year of full spring counts and the 3rd consecutive year of spring counts at Piitaistakis-South Livingstone. After over three weeks of spring-like weather in the area it was perhaps predictable that the first day of the count would see a change. It remained warm for the time of year with the temperature reaching 4C from a low of -1C, but light snow began just after 0900, became steady wet snow after 1100 and turned to rain or sleet between 1300 and 1625 when precipitation finally ceased. The ridges, which were clear until 1100, gradually become obscured by cloud reaching 100% by 1800. Both ground and ridge winds were light all day, with the ground winds never exceeding 6 km/h, and cloud cover was 100% stratus all day. Not surprisingly, no migrant or resident raptors were seen, although among the 13 bird species recorded were 4 that were new to the site in February: a Wild Turkey calling early in the morning, 2 Ruffed Grouse, a Barred Owl briefly calling at 1054 and a flock of 20 Pine Grosbeaks that were around all day. 12.67 hours: no migrant raptors.