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)