April 30 [Day 69] (Valley View site) I arrived on site at 1055 when there was only 5% cumulus cloud cover and all ridges were clear. The temperature was 5.5% which rose to 11C at 1400 and was still 9.5C at 1900 which substantially melted the snowfall of the 28th. Ground winds were mainly NW-NE gusting on occasion to 17 km/h, ridge winds were moderate NW all day and the cumulus cloud cover reached 70% between 1400 and 1730 before reducing to 40% at the end of the day. Despite the clear conditions 4 Golden Eagles, 2 subadults and 2 juveniles, moved north between 1457 and 1838. 8.5 hours (799.2) GOEA 4 (2097) TOTAL 4 (2797)

April summary We spent 26 days at the site during the month which is the same as the last 2 years, and 302 hours which is 4% below the 2008-9 average. The combined species count of 496, however, is 50.42% below average and only Turkey Vulture 5 (+100%), Cooper’s Hawk 12 (+14.3%) and Rough-legged Hawk 12 (+71.4%) exceeded the average of the previous two years. All other species recorded below average counts: Osprey 4 (-66.7%), Bald Eagle 61 (-57%), Northern Harrier 10 (-41.2%), Sharp-shinned Hawk 35 (-50.7%), Northern Goshawk 17 (-64.6%), Broad-winged Hawk 0 (-100%), Swainson’s Hawk 0 (-100%), Red-tailed Hawk 70 (-53.9%), Ferruginous Hawk 2 (-69.2%), Golden Eagle 258 (-48%), American Kestrel 0 (-100%), Merlin 6 (-60%), Gyrfalcon 1 (-71.4%), Peregrine Falcon 0 (-100%) and Prairie Falcon 1 (-80%).

April 28 and 29 No observation. Winter storm conditions prevailed on April 27 with around 15 cm of wet snow falling with strong N winds. Snow finished early on April 29, but N winds persisted and the ridges remained obscured all day. At 1405, however, David McIntyre observed 2 adult Turkey Vultures in Frank flying low to the north towards the Valley View site. TUVU 2 (5) TOTAL 2 (2793)

April 27 [Day 68] (Valley View site) It was a gloomy day with 100% stratus and cumulus cloud cover until 1900 after which it broke slightly reducing to 80% at 1900. The temperature ranged from 2C to 11C at 1800, ground winds were mainly light WSW-SSW and ridge winds were moderate SW all day. Light rain fell between 1210 and 1400. An adult Sharp-shinned Hawk flew north at 1217 and an Osprey at 1652, then between 1706 and 1714 2 juvenile Bald Eagles and 3 Golden Eagles moved slowly north along the Livingstone Ridge which the prospect of more to come, but they proved to be the last of the day. New birds for the season were a Great Blue Heron [#64] that flew high to the south at 1238 and a Chipping Sparrow [#65] at 1420. 12 hours (790.7) OSPR 1 (4), BAEA 2 (376), SSHA 1 (376), GOEA 3 (2039) TOTAL 7 (2791)

April 26 [Day 67] (Valley View site) (Dawn Hall to 1200) The temperature reached a high of 12C at 1600 from a low of -4C at 0700, and it was still 10.5C at 1900. Ground winds were mainly light and variable and ridge winds were light to moderate W for most of the day. It was cloudless with some light valley fog until 1000 after which a mixture of cumulus, cirrostratus and cirrus cloud gradually increased reaching 100% after 1400 thinning to 40-80% between 1600 and 1730. The clear conditions produced some raptor movement but it was very slow with 13 birds moving between 0947 and 1649, with 4 of the birds occurring after 1600. The flight comprised the season’s 3rd adult Turkey Vulture, 1 late subadult Bald Eagle, 3 Sharp-shinned Hawks (1a,2u), 1 juvenile Cooper’s Hawk, 1 unidentified small Accipiter, 1 juvenile light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk and 5 Golden Eagles (1a,1sa,2j,1u). A white-crowned Sparrow was the 63rd species of the season. 12.5 hours (778.7) TUVU 1 (3), BAEA 1 (374), SSHA 3 (41), COHA 1 (12), UA 1 (6), RTHA 1 (96), GOEA 5 (2090) TOTAL 13 (2784)

April 25 [Day 66] (Valley View site) (Bill Wilson) The temperature was 0.5C at 0610 and rose to a high of 9C at 1400 falling by several degrees in the afternoon as rain and snow showers periodically developed. Ground winds were principally SW gusting to 20 km/h and cloud cover was mainly 90-100% cumulus and altostratus, with the ridges becoming partially obscured after 1500. Once again the conditions were not conducive to raptor movement and the only migrants recorded were a female or juvenile Northern Harrier at 1119 and an unaged Northern Goshawk at 1135. 13.33 hours (766.2) NOHA 1 (12), NOGO 1 (81) TOTAL 2 (2771)

April 24 [Day 65] (Valley View site) (Bill Wilson) The temperature rose to 7C at 1200 and 1500 from a morning low of 1.5C, but fell to 1C at 1300 during one of the day’s several periods of snow flurries. Ground winds were mainly SW gusting to 50 km/h in mid afternoon, ridge winds were W moderate to strong all day and cloud cover was 90-100% cumulus and stratus, with the ridges periodically obscured during periods of snow. The only raptor migrants were juvenile Golden Eagles at 1455 and 1656 and a subadult Golden Eagle at 1738, and the only new species for the season was a Savannah Sparrow [species # 62] 13.58 hours (752.9) GOEA 3 (2085) TOTAL 3 (2769)

April 23 [Day 64] (Valley View site) Heavy wet snow fell to 1030 and there was 10-15 cm of fresh snow on the ground when I arrived at the site at 1130. The temperature at 1130 was 4C but it quickly rose to a high of 11.5C as the cumulus cloud cover reduced from 70% to 0C after 1800 and by the end of the day most of the snow had melted under sunny skies. Ground winds were variable and mainly light but occasionally gusted to 15-20 km/h and ridge winds were moderate WNW. There was a fairly strong raptor movement of 27 birds between 1311 and 1626 but subsequently only 3 more migrants were seen between 1754 and 1825. The flight comprised 1 adult (or possibly late subadult) Turkey Vulture, 1 adult Bald Eagle, 1 juvenile Northern Harrier, 2 adult Sharp-shinned Hawks, 3 adult Cooper’s Hawks, 10 light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks (9a,1j), 11 Golden Eagles (1a,3sa,7j) and 1 Prairie Falcon. Twenty-seven Tundra Swans flying above the freshly snow covered Livingstone Ridge at 1158 made a splendid sight, and the first Black Bear of the season was a brown adult that was rather conspicuous on an open patch of fresh snow on an adjacent hilltop. Tomorrow I am flying to Grande Prairie to give a talk at the annual Trumpeter Swan Festival and Bill Wilson will be at the site for the next two days. 7.75 hours (739.3) TUVU 1 (2), BAEA 1 (373), NOHA 1 (11), SSHA 2 (38), COHA 3 (11), RTHA 10 (95), GOEA 11 (2082), PRFA 1 (12) TOTAL 30 (2766)

April 22 [Day 63] (Valley View site) The temperature reached a high of 19C at 1200 from a low of 4.5C and was 14C at 1600 but fell rapidly to 8C at 1700 as a disturbance brought steady rain that started at 1645. Ground winds were variable and generally light only occasionally gusting to 15 km/h and ridge winds became light SSW after 1300. Cloud cover was 10-60% cirrus and altocumulus until noon after which cumulus and stratocumulus cloud moved from the SW and thickened to 100% after 1400. Raptor migration was very sparse with only 6 birds moving, 3 of which were seen between 1152 and 1155, and the last bird of the day, a Red-tailed Hawk, moved north at 1626 shortly before the rain started. No new bird species were recorded but a single Brown Elfin was a new butterfly species for the season. 10.25 (731.5) SSHA 2 (36), COHA 1 (8), RTHA 2 (85), MERL 1 (9) TOTAL 6 (2736)

April 21 [Day 62] (Valley View site) For the second straight day the temperature reached 20C at 1700 from a low of 1.5C, and at 1900 it was still 17.5C. Ground winds were E to variable and mainly light, and ridge winds were probably light E although cloudless skies throughout the day made assessment of the upper winds difficult. Yet again raptor movement was slow with only 13 birds moving between 1010 and 1819, although there was good variety with 9 species of migrant recorded including the season’s first Turkey Vulture, an adult bird at 1618 [species #60]. Other migrants were 1 Osprey, 2 Bald Eagles (1a,1sa), 1 adult male Northern Harrier, 1 adult Cooper’s Hawk, 1 adult Northern Goshawk, 1 adult dark morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk, 2 Rough-legged Hawks (1 light, 1 dark) and 3 Golden Eagles (1sa,2j). There was also a good variety of other birds giving a season high count of 35 species (but only 96 individuals) including the season’s first Vaux’s Swift that flew low to the south almost overhead at 1634 for the first April record at the site and the 61st bird species of the season. 12.25 (721.3) TUVU 1 (1), OSPR 1 (3), BAEA 2 (372), NOHA 1 (10), COHA 1 (7), NOGO 1 (80), RTHA 1 (83), RLHA 2 (38), GOEA 3 (2071) TOTAL 13 (2730)

April 20 [Day 61] (Valley View site) The temperature of 20C between 1600 and 1700 equaled the season’s high, rising from 3C and remaining at 17C at 1900. Ground winds were variable and generally light, ridge winds were SE light to moderate and cloud cover was 0% to 1330 after which it was 30-50% cumulus providing good viewing conditions. Once again raptor movement was thin with only 10 birds moving between 1040 and 1729, and even resident birds were hard to find. The flight comprised 1 Osprey, 2 Sharp-shinned Hawks (1a,1u), 2 Cooper’s Hawks (1a,1u), 2 Northern Goshawks (1a,1j), 1 Red-tailed Hawk and 2 Golden Eagles (1j,1u). The only new season record was 4 Pine Siskins [#59] flying by at 1405, while 21 Tundra Swans flying east at 1119 was the latest record ever at the site. 12.25 (709) OSPR 1 (2), SSHA 2 (34), COHA 2 (6), NOGO 2 (79), RTHA 1 (82), GOEA 2 (2068) TOTAL 10 (2717)

April 19 [Day 60] (Valley View site) The temperature rose to 18C at 1700 from a low of 1C and it was still 16C at 1900, ground winds were calm to light variable all day, ridge winds appeared to be light E, and cloud cover, after a cloudless start, was 30-80% cumulus and cirrus giving excellent observing conditions. The day’s first migrant, not seen until 1211, was the season’s first Osprey [species # 57] whose arrival is coincident with the average return date at the site. Only 8 other migrants were seen comprising single Bald Eagle (juvenile), Northern Harrier (adult male), Sharp-shinned Hawk (adult), Northern Goshawk (juvenile) and Red-tailed Hawk (adult light morph), and 3 Golden Eagles (2 subadults and 1 juvenile). A displaying resident Cooper’s Hawk was seen for the first time which joins pairs of Northern Goshawk, Golden Eagle and Prairie Falcon and 3 or 4 pairs of Red-tailed Hawk as local breeding species. Two female Purple Finches provided the 58th bird species of the season and for the first time two Barred Owls were heard singing on a couple of occasions. 12.25 hours (696.8) OSPR 1 (1), BAEA 1 (370), NOHA 1 (9), SSHA 1 (32), NOGO 1 (7), RTHA 1 (81), GOEA 3 (2066) TOTAL 9 (2707)

April 18 [Day 59] (Valley View site) (Denise Cocciolone-Amatto to 1200) It was another warm day with the temperature reaching 17C between 1500 and 1630 from a low of 7C and remained at 13.5 at 1900. Ground winds ranged from NW to SW gusting to 35 km/h around midday and becoming light after 1800, and ridge winds were W moderate to strong to 1700 after which they became light NW. Cloud cover ranged from 30-90% mainly cirrus in the morning with thickening cumulus cloud developing in the afternoon. A total of 30 raptors migrated between 0804 and1906 with peak movement of 7 birds between 1400 and 1500, and 1500 and 1600, with the flight comprising 4 Bald Eagles (3a,1sa), 3 Northern Harriers (1 adult male, 1 adult female and 1 juvenile), 1 adult Sharp-shinned Hawk, 2 adult Northern Goshawks, 6 calurus Red-tailed Hawks (5 light (4a,1u) and 1 dark adult), 2 Rough-legged Hawks (1 light, 1 dark), 11 Golden Eagles (2a,4sa,5j) and the season’s first Gyrfalcon, an adult grey morph bird at 1213 [species #56]. A female Cassin’s Finch at the site at 0905 was the 55th bird species of the season. 12.67 hours (684.5) BAEA 4 (369), NOHA 3 (8), SSHA 1 (31), NOGO 2 (76), RTHA 6 (80), RLHA 2 (36), GOEA 11 (2063), GYRF 1 (1) TOTAL 30 (2698)

April 17 [Day 58] (Valley View site) (Bill Wilson) A temperature of 20C at 1500 was the highest so far this season, rising from 0.5C at 0620 and remaining at 11.5C at 2030. Ground winds were variable and light until 2000 when they gusted to 20 km/h from the WSW, and ridge winds were probably SW-W light all day. Cloud cover ranged from 30-100%, cirrus and altostratus to 1300 after which cumulus cloud predominated, all of which provided excellent viewing conditions. A total of 59 raptors migrated between 0919 and 1841 which is the second highest daily total so far this month. Because of the relatively calm conditions birds moved across a fairly broad front with a peak movement of 18 birds between 1100 and 1200. The flight comprised 9 Bald Eagles (3a,3sa,3j), a season high 12 Sharp-shinned Hawks (2a,1j,9u), a season high 3 Cooper’s Hawks (1a,1j,1u), 4 Northern Goshawks (1a,1j,2u), 2 unidentified accipiters, 8 Red-tailed Hawks that included 3 dark morph calurus adults and the season’s first “Krider’s Hawk”, 1 dark morph Rough-legged Hawk, 18 Golden Eagles (5a,5sa,5j,3u) and 2 Merlins (1 female/juvenile richardsonii and 1 of unknown subspecies, sex and age). Two Ruby-crowned Kinglets, a female Yellow-rumped [Myrtle] Warbler (the earliest ever record of the species at the site) and a male House Finch were all new for the year [species #52-54]. 14.33 hours (671.9) BAEA 9 (365) SSHA 12 (30), COHA 3 (4), NOGO 4 (74), UA 2 (5), RTHA 8 (74), RLHA 1 (34), GOEA 18 (2052), MERL 2 (8) TOTAL 59 (2668)

April 16[Day 57] (Valley View site) The temperature reached a season high 19.5C at 1600 from a low of -3C, and was still 13C at 1940. Ground winds were calm to light WSW-SW to 1400 after which they occasionally gusted to 26 km/h becoming calm to light again after 1800, and ridge winds were W light to moderate to 1500 after which they became moderate to possibly strong at times. Cloud cover was initially 50% altocumulus quickly decreasing and becoming cloudless between 0900 and 1230, after which mainly cirrus and cirrostratus developed reaching 100% after 1900. The day’s first migrant raptor was a light morph Rough-legged Hawk at 0917 but by 1700 only 10 birds had been tallied including a short burst of 4 Golden Eagles between 1241 and 1254. Eighteen birds moved after 1500, however, providing a total of 28 migrants that comprised 3 Bald Eagles (2sa,1j), 3 adult Sharp-shinned Hawks, 2 Northern Goshawks (1a,1j), 7 adult calurus Red-tailed Hawks (6 light, 1 dark), 2 Rough-legged Hawks (1 light, 1 dark) and 11 Golden Eagles (4sa,7j). A flock of around 25 Snow Geese flying high to the west over Bluff Mountain at 1715 [species #51] were the first spring record for the site, and the warm weather provide flying conditions for 3 species of butterfly: Morning Cloak, Milbert’s Tortoiseshell and Green Comma. 12.67 hours (657.5) BAEA 3 (356), SSHA 3 (18), NOGO 2 (70), RTHA 7 (66), RLHA 2 (33), GOEA 11 (2034) TOTAL 28 (2609)

April 15 [Day 56] (Valley View site) It was a very pleasant day with an initial temperature of -1C rising to a high of 14C at 1400 and dropping to 7C at 1900. Ground winds were calm to light variable occasionally gusting to 15 km/h and ridge winds were generally light W to 1400 and E subsequently although the mainly 100% cirrostratus, cirrus and altocumulus cloud cover made assessment of the upper winds difficult. It appeared that the light winds were going to produce yet another poor day of raptor migration with only 3 birds recorded before 1600 and the first not moving until 1315, but after 1600 another 31 birds were seen of which 10 moved after 1900, the last bird of the day being the season’s first Cooper’s Hawk [species #50] at 1932. The combined species count of 34 birds was the 4th highest of the month so far and comprised 8 Bald Eagles (5a, 2 sa and 1 undifferentiated immature bird), a season high 7 Sharp-shinned Hawks (6a,1u), 1 adult Cooper’s Hawk, 6 calurus Red-tailed Hawks (5 light morphs (4a,1u) and 1 adult rufous morph), 2 light Rough-legged Hawks, 9 Golden Eagles (2a,6sa,1u) and 1 adult male richardsonii Merlin. An influx of 6 Red-naped Sapsuckers (5 males and 1 female) was the first new seasonal species at the site since April 2 [species #49] and a single Tree Swallow was the first since the exceptionally early record of March 20. A CBC television news crew was at the site to interview me about the steady decline of Golden Eagle counts over the last 14 years, and it will be aired on the National news broadcast of Wednesday April 21 at 2200. It was of course predictable that birds only started to move after they had left the site today! 12.58 hours (644.9) BAEA 8 (353), SSHA 7 (15), COHA 1 (1), RTHA 6 (59), RLHA 2 (31), GOEA 9 (2023), MERL 1 (6) TOTAL 34 (2581)

Mount Lorette [Day 46] (Alan Hingston, Cliff Hansen and Joel Duncan) It was beautiful weather for the last day of the Lorette comparison count with the temperature reaching 14C between 1400 and 1800, variable light ground winds occasionally gusting to 15 km/h and light to moderate ridge winds which were hard to assess as cloud cover ranged from 0% to 20% cirrostratus and cirrus. A total of 5 raptors migrated between 1312 and 1630 comprising 2 adult Bald Eagles, the season’s first Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1 light morph adult calurus Red-tailed Hawk and 1 juvenile Golden Eagle. A Tree Swallow was the first seen at the site this season. 12 hours (519) BAEA 2 (88), SSHA 1 (1), RTHA 1 (14), GOEA 1 (1160) TOTAL 5 (1312) The provisional final count for the 46 day (519 hour) count is BAEA 88, NOHA 1, SSHA 1, NOGO 21, RTHA 14, RLHA 7, GOEA 1160, MERL 1, GYRF 1, PRFA 1, UA 1, UB, 3, UE 12, UU 1 TOTAL 1312.

April 14 [Day 55] (Valley View site) The ridges started to quickly clear after 1100 and I was at the site at 1245 where there was 10-15 cm of fresh snow on the ground but the temperature had already risen to 9C, reached 12C at 1800 and was still 11C at 1900 by which time most of the snow had melted. Ground winds were calm to light variable very occasionally gusting to 20 km/h, ridge winds were NW light to moderate and cloud cover was 100% altostratus with minor cumulus giving very hazy sunshine. Raptor movement was very slow and sporadic with only 5 birds, 2 adult Bald Eagles, 1 light adult Red-tailed Hawk and 2 Golden Eagles (1sa,1j) moving between 1315 and 1831. A few Columbian Ground Squirrels were seen and heard for the first time this season. 6.45 hours (632.3) BAEA 2 (345), RTHA 1 (53), GOEA 2 (2014) TOTAL 5 (2547)

Mount Lorette [Day 45] (Alan Hingston) The temperature reached a high of 14C at 1700 from a low of -4C and was still 10C at 1930, ground winds were calm to light variable in the morning and NNE 10 gusting 15 km/h in the afternoon, ridge winds were light, S in the morning and N-NW in the afternoon, and cloud cover was 100% cirrostratus in the morning diminishing to 60% altocumulus and cirrus in the afternoon giving good observing conditions all day. Ridges were clear all day, and the light winds resulted in each of the day’s 5 migrant Golden Eagles (2a,1sa,1u) taking completely different routes to the north between 1342 and 1537. 12 hours (507) GOEA 5 (1159) TOTAL 5 (1307)

April 13 No observation. Light snow and flurries turning to steady snow by late afternoon, with the ridges obscured all day.

Mount Lorette [Day 44] (Alan Hingston) Unlike P-SL the ridges were clear all day and there was no snow, although smoke from a controlled burn to the south hung in the valley until noon. The temperature rose to a high of 5C from -8C and was still 2C at 1900, ground winds were E-SE in the morning and NE in the afternoon generally light but occasionally gusting to 15 km/h, and ridge winds were light to moderate W all day. It was cloudless at the start but cirrus and then cirrostratus cloud quickly formed reaching 100% after 1100. Not surprising considering the snow to the south there was little sign of raptor movement which comprised only an adult Golden Eagle at 1238 flying slowly to the north over the western peaks, and a juvenile Bald Eagle flying to the north above the valley at 1633. 12 hours (495) BAEA 1 (86), GOEA 1 (1154) TOTAL 2 (1302)

April 12 No observation. Snow, low overcast and all obscured all day.

Mount Lorette [Day 43] (Cliff Hansen, Alan Hingston) Cliff arrived at the site at 1130 when the temperature was 0C and the ridge tops were all obscured. Alan arrived at 1400 and watched to 1900 but the ridges remained obscured with N-NE winds 20 gusting 30 km/h and a brief temperature high of 2C. At 1750 an adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk that soared low over the eastern flank of Mount Allan before slowly gliding to the north below the cloud base was believed to be a migrant. 7.5 hours (483) RTHA 1 (13) TOTAL 1 (1300)

April 11 [Day 54] (Valley View site) (Denise Cocciolone-Amatto 1100-1300) A phone call in the morning established that the previous day’s forecast was hopelessly wrong and that the ridges were in fact clear and it was sunny. Denise managed to get to the site at 1100 and I drove the 200 km from Calgary and arrived at 1300. The temperature at 1100 was -2C and rose to 3.5C between 1400 and 1500, falling to 1C at 1800, ground winds were variable SE to SW gusting to 22 km/h and ridge winds were moderate SSW to 1400 after which they switched to light to moderate upslope (SE-E). There were a few very light snow flurries in the afternoon, but steady light snow started at 1830 and become moderate at 1840 which obscured all the ridges: the long- forecast snow had finally arrived! Despite numerous sightings of resident Northern Goshawks, Red-tailed Hawks (3 pairs), Golden Eagles and Prairie Falcons, and apparently fairly reasonable weather conditions, not one migrant raptor was recorded! 7.67 hours (625.5) No migrant raptors (2542)

Mount Lorette [Day 42] (Bill Wilson) The temperature was -12C at 0645 and rose to highs of 2C at 1400 and again at 1630 before falling to -2C at 2030. Ground winds varied between SW and ESE 0-10 occasionally gusting 20 km/h, ridge winds were light SW becoming S after 1700, and cloud cover was altostratus with minor cumulus in the morning and early afternoon, changing to altostratus then stratus with minor cumulus that produced snow flurries late in the day. There was a fairly steady movement of raptors between 1026 and 1956, probably reflecting yesterday’s afternoon movement at P-SL, with most of the birds moving across the western peaks until 1600 when the movement switched to the Fisher Range to the east. The flight comprised 3 Bald Eagles (2j,1u), a season high 5 Red-tailed Hawks (4 adult calurus (3 light, 1 dark) and 1 undifferentiated dark morph bird), 1 light Rough-legged Hawk, 21 Golden Eagles (8a,4sa,6j,3u) and 1 unidentified eagle. 13.75 hours (475.5) BAEA 3 (85), RTHA 5 (12), RLHA 1 (7), GOEA 21 (1153), UE 1 (12) TOTAL 31 (1299)

April 10 [Day 53] (Valley View site) Under a cloudless sky the temperature dropped to -9C at 0700, but rose to 5.5C between 1500 and 1630. Ground winds were mainly light SW to 1400 after which they gusted to 15-20 km/h becoming light again after 1800, and ridge winds were probably light to moderate W-SW although the lack of cloud made them difficult to define. Thin cirrostratus cloud began to develop at 1800 and reached 1005 by 1900. The first migrant raptor, a Golden Eagle, did not appear until 1258 and by 1500 only 6 birds had been recorded and it seemed that yet another poor day’s migration was in the offing. After 1500, however, the pace picked up and when the last Golden Eagle flew north at 1911 40 migrant raptors had been counted, the highest total since April 1. The Golden Eagle total of 28 was the highest for six days and comprised 2 adults, 9 subadults and 17 juvenile birds, which is the highest percentage of juveniles so far and indicates that we are well advanced in the migration of the species, although today we only recorded the 2000th bird of the season at 1703 a number that was reached on March 22 in 2008 and on March 26 last year. It appears that the Golden Eagle count is going to be very low this year. Other migrants were 6 Bald Eagles (3a,3sa), 1 adult female Northern Harrier, 1 adult Sharp-shinned Hawk (the first this month!), and 4 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks. As snow was forecast for the area tomorrow I left for Calgary for a much needed break immediately after finishing the count. 12.5 hours (617.9) BAEA 6 (343), NOHA 1 (5), SSHA 1 (8), RTHA 4 (52), GOEA 28 (2010)

Mount Lorette [Day 41] (Jim Davis) The temperature rose to a high of 4C at 1400 from a low of -9C, ground winds were W 5-10 gusting 20 km/g becoming light after 1500, and ridge winds were W probably moderate, although the lack of cloud often made it hard to assess. A total of 16 migrant raptors occurred between 1035 and 1707, comprising 4 adult Bald Eagles, 1 adult Northern Goshawk, 10 Golden Eagles (5a,4j,1u) and the season’s first Merlin, an adult male of the race columbarius. Half of the migrant raptors and 7 of the Golden Eagles moved across Mount Allan to the west of the Hay Meadow site. Five Purple Finches, some of which were singing, were a first record for the site this year. 12.25 hours (461.7) BAEA 4 (82), NOGO 1 (21), GOEA 10 (1132), MERL 1 (1) TOTAL 16 (1268)

April 9 [Day 52] (Valley View site) It was a cool day with the temperature only briefly reaching 1C at 1400 from a low of -5C, ground winds were WNW to SW gusting 40-60 km/h in the afternoon and ridge winds were W moderate to strong. Cloud cover was 30-90% cumulus and altocumulus until 1500 after which it became 100% stratus with periods of snow resulting in periodic obscuring of the ridges. It was yet another day of poor raptor movement with snow generally persisting to the south even when the ridges were clear. Only 5 birds moved between 0828 and 1706: 1 adult Bald Eagle, 1 adult male Northern Harrier and 3 adult Golden Eagles, although non-migrant Northern Goshawk, Red-tailed Hawks, Golden Eagles and Prairie Falcons were fairly conspicuous during non-snowy periods. 11.25 hours (605.4) BAEA 1 (337), NOHA 1 (4), GOEA 3 (1984) TOTAL 5 (2502)

Mount Lorette [Day 40] (Jim Davis, Cliff Hansen after 1400) The temperature rose to 4C at 1300 from a low of -5C but quickly fell to 0C as light snow began to fall at 1300 becoming steady snow after 1500 which obscured all ridges for the rest of the day. Ground winds were light SW in the morning gusting to 30 km/h by mid-afternoon, and ridge winds were moderate to strong SW. A total of 7 birds moved between 0957 and 1318, 4 of which were recorded between 1000 and 1100, the flight comprising 1 late subadult Bald Eagle, 1 adult Northern Goshawk and 5 Golden Eagles (4a,1u). 10.75 (449.5) BAEA 1 (78), NOGO 1 (20), GOEA 5 (1122) TOTAL 7 (1252)

April 8 [Day 51] (Valley View site) At 0700 it was calm with steady wet snow falling but after 0800 SW winds developed becoming increasingly strong reaching gusts of 90 km/h at 1800. Depending on the temperature, rain, snow or flurries persisted until 1800 and cloud cover was 100% mainly stratus to 1600 after which it periodically thinned to 70-80% cumulus, stratocumulus and altocumulus and even provided some periods of sunshine. The temperature started at 1C and rose to 6C at 1000 after which it steadily fell dropping as low as -2C during snow storms that periodically swept down from the west. The only migrant raptor seen was a light morph Rough-legged Hawk at 1554, and even when the Livingstone Ridge was clear after 1600 snow to the south prevented any further movement. 11.25 hours (594.1) RLHA 1 (29) TOTAL 1 (2497)

Mount Lorette [Day 39] (Joel Duncan) Joel Started the day at the Hay Meadow site but snow and obscured ridges at 1100 had him moving to the Lusk Creek site where the ridges remained clear until snow moved in at 1300 at which point he terminated the count. The temperature at Hay Meadow ranged from -1C to 2C, and winds were strong SW to W all day. Not surprisingly no migrant raptors were seen but a male Brown-headed Cowbird at Hay Meadow was the earliest ever recorded at the site by 10 days. 5.5 hours (438.7) No migrant raptors (1245)

April 7 [Day 50] (Valley View site) It was another high wind day with mainly W-SW winds gusting 50-60 and occasionally 70 km/h, with strong WNW ridge winds all day. The temperature rose to 8C from a low of 0C and cloud cover was 60-100% altostratus, lenticular, altocumulus, cumulus and cirrus giving an excellent observation background. Raptor movement was again thin with only 9 birds moving between 1017 and 1646, including 1 juvenile Bald Eagle and 5 Golden Eagles: 3 adults, 1 subadult and 1 juvenile. 12.25 (582.9) BAEA 1 (336), NOGO 1 (68), RTHA 2 (48), GOEA 5 (1981) TOTAL 9 (2496)

Mount Lorette [Day 38] (Ron Dutcher, and Cliff Hansen after 1400) The temperature reached 5C at 1500 from a low of 1C, surface winds were W becoming SW at 1500, 10-20 gusting 30 km/h, ridge winds were strong W all day and cloud cover was 80-100% stratocumulus, cumulus and lenticular. Only 6 migrants were recorded between 0927 and 1812: 1 late subadult Bald Eagle and 5 Golden Eagles (3a,1j,1u) 12 hours (433.2) BAEA 1 (77), GOEA 5 (1117) TOTAL 6 (1245)

April 6 [Day 49] (Valley View site) The temperature rose to 7C at 1700 from a low of -0.5C, ground winds were N-WNW gusting 20 km/h until 1330 after which they were SW gusting 25 km/h becoming light after 1900, and ridge winds were WNW moderate to strong all day. Cloud cover was 100% altostratus and cumulus until 1600 when the cloud began to clear from the west diminishing to 40% at 1800 and allowing some very welcome sunshine. Raptor movement started with an adult Golden Eagle gliding north at 0752, but I had to wait until 1028 for the second after which movement was fairly slow but steady until 1832 when a juvenile Golden Eagle glided north along the Livingstone Ridge after first soaring very high above the ridge. The day’s flight comprised 3 adult Bald Eagles, 5 light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks (4a,1u), 15 Golden Eagles (7a,6sa,2j) and the season’s first richardsonii Merlin: an adult male. Two resident pairs of Red-tailed Hawks were conspicuous hunting and displaying all day, the pair closest to the site comprising a rufous morph male and a light morph female which is the same combination (and may well be the same birds) as in the last two springs. 12.5 hours (570.6) BAEA 3 (336), RTHA 5 (46), GOEA 15 (1976), MERL 1 (5) TOTAL 24 (2487)

Mount Lorette [Day 37] (Cliff Hansen and Ron Dutcher after 1330) The temperature reached 5C at 1700 from a low of -2C, ground winds were W 5-10 km/h gusting to 20 km/h in the afternoon, and switching to S after 1530, ridge winds were moderate W all day, and cloud cover was initially 100% altostratus and altocumulus becoming cumulus in the afternoon and diminishing to 20% by the end of the day. Ron described observing conditions as “wonderful” but probably in the sense of “I wonder where the migrant raptors are” as both observers failed to record any! 12.25 hours (421.2) No migrant raptors (1239)

April 5 [Day 48] (Valley View site) Ground winds were variable and light all day, ridge winds were light to moderate W, cloud cover was mainly 100% altostratus and altocumulus and the temperature reached 9C at 1300 from a low of -7C. Despite what appeared to be reasonable migration and observing conditions, only 4 migrant raptors were seen: 1 juvenile Bald Eagle, 1 adult light morph Red-tailed Hawk and 2 Golden Eagles (1a,1sa) that moved between 1106 and 1534. 11.5 hours (558.1) BAEA 1 (332), RTHA 1 (41), GOEA 2 (1961) TOTAL 4 (2463)

Mount Lorette [Day 36] (Jim Davis) Weather condition were almost identical with the temperature reaching a high of 10C at 1400 from a low of -9C, ground winds were light W and ridge winds light to moderate SW all day, and cloud cover was altostratus and altocumulus thickening to 80% in the afternoon. Raptor migration, however, was much better and probably represented birds that passed P-SL yesterday afternoon, with 14 of the day’s 22 Golden Eagles (10a,3sa,3j,6u) moving across Mount Allan to the west of the site. Two Adult Bald Eagles and an adult light morph Red-tailed Hawk completed the count of 25 birds, most of which moved in the morning and early afternoon, with none recorded after 1700 as snow developed south of the site. An unusual interaction in the afternoon saw a resident adult Golden Eagle perched on a crag near Olympic Summit on Mount Allan flushed by a passing Grey Wolf, the eagle returning to its perch after the wolf had gone. 12.42 hours (409) BAEA 2 (76), RTHA 1 (7), GOEA 22 (1112) TOTAL 25 (1239)

April 4 [Day 47] (Valley View site) The temperature rose from a low of -3.5C to 5C at 1400 and was 2C at 1900, ground winds were mainly SW gusting to 35 km/h and ridge winds were WNW-NW strong to moderate, becoming moderate after 1700. Cloud cover ranged from 80 down to 30% mainly cumulus and very thin cirrostratus giving generally good to excellent observing conditions. A total of 36 raptors of only 3 species migrated between 1050 and 1757 with 27 of the birds moving between 1300 and 1700, the flight comprising 2 adult Northern Goshawks, 5 adult Red-tailed Hawks (3 light calurus, 2 dark harlani) and 29 Golden Eagles (16a,9sa,4j). Around 0830 5 species of woodpecker were present simultaneously near the site: a male American Three-toed Woodpecker was drumming on a snag to the south on which a pair of Downy Woodpeckers was also perched, a female Hairy Woodpecker was feeding on a tree to the east, and to the north a Pileated Woodpecker was calling while two male Northern [Red-shafted] Flickers were bickering in a grove of aspens. 12 hours (546.6) NOGO 2 (67), RTHA 5 (40) GOEA 29 (1959) TOTAL 36 (2459)

Mount Lorette [Day 35] (Bill Wilson) The temperature rose to 3C from a low of -6C and by 2000 had fallen again to -4C, ground winds were SW-W 5-10 gusting 20 km/h and ridge winds were moderate W all day. Cloud cover was 90-5% mainly cumulus with some thin cirrus developed in the morning. The first Golden Eagle of the day appeared at 0906 but the second did not move until 1352 which was followed by 17 more eagles, 8 of which (1 adult Bald Eagle and 7 Golden Eagles), were seen between 1700 and 1800, with the last Golden Eagle flying NW at 1907. The Golden Eagle count comprised 7 adults, 4 subadults, 3 juveniles and 3 birds of unknown age. 14.33 hours (396.6) BAEA 1 (74), GOEA 17 (1090), UE 1 (11) TOTAL 19 (1214)

April 3 [Day 46] (Valley View site) The day was characterised by high winds which at ground level were WSW-SW gusting 40-60 km/h for most of the day and peaked at 70 km/h between 1150 and 1230, while ridge winds were W becoming strong after 0900 and probably reaching 100 km/h at times. The temperature rose to a high of 4C at 1500 from a low of -2C, and cloud cover was mainly 100% stratocumulus and cumulus until 1600 when it began to break up, diminishing to 70-80% cumulus and altocumulus by late afternoon. Light snow fell to 1020 partially obscuring the ridges, but subsequently they were perfectly clear all day. The very high winds, as they usually do, proved inimical to raptor movement with only 8 birds moving between 1004 and 1654, 6 of which were Golden Eagles (3a,2sa,1j). 12.25 hours UA 1 (3), RTHA 1 (35), GOEA 6 (1930) TOTAL 8 (2423)

Mount Lorette [Day 34] (Jim Davis) Conditions were even worse at Mount Lorette where the temperature ranged from -3C to 1C, ground and ridge winds were
strong SW all day and cloud cover was 100% stratus which lowered over the Fisher Range around 1030 at which point Jim decamped to the Lusk Creek site where the highest foothills ridge remained below cloud base although the winds were just as fierce. Two Golden Eagles moved at 0944 before the cloud descended
and at Lusk Creek during clear periods another 10 Golden Eagles, a Northern Goshawk and the season’s first Prairie Falcon moved north. The 12 Golden Eagles comprised 7 adults, 2 subadults and 3 birds of unknown age. 12.17 hours (382.2) NOGO 1 (19), GOEA 12 (1073), PRFA 1 (1) TOTAL 14 (1195)

April 2 [Day 45] (Valley View site) The temperature reached 4C at 1400 from a low of -2C, ground winds were W-SW gusting to 25 km/h and ridge winds were W all day, generally moderate but moderate to strong between 0930 and 1430. Cloud cover was 70-100% cumulus and cirrostratus to 1400 after which it became thick stratus and cumulus giving gloomy light conditions for the rest of the day. Moderate snow fell between 0800 and 0850 during which time the ridges were obscured, but otherwise they remained clear. Raptor movement was steady but slow between 1024 and 1918 with only 24 birds of 4 species passing: 1 adult Bald Eagle, 1 adult male Northern Harrier, 5 light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks and 17 Golden Eagles (8a,7sa,2j). It appeared that the mountains to the south were periodically obscured throughout the day producing the slow, sporadic movement. The season’s first Northern Shrike [species #48] perched on a snag just south of the site from which it persistently called for nearly 30 minutes. 12.5 hours (522.4) BAEA 1 (331), NOHA 1 (3), RTHA 5 (34), GOEA 17 (1924) TOTAL 24 (2415)

Mount Lorette [Day 33] (Cliff Hansen) Lorette experienced similar weather with a temperature high of 4C at 1700 from a low of -4C, SW ground winds mainly 5-10 km/h but gusting to 20 km/h between 1300 and 1800 and strong SW ridge winds becoming moderate after 1600. Cloud cover was initially 10-30% cumulus with cirrus developing after 1000 and subsequently thickening reaching 100% altostratus, altocumulus and cumulus after 1600. Raptor movement was also slow with only 9 birds recorded: 1 juvenile Bald Eagle, 1 juvenile Northern Goshawk and 7 Golden Eagles (2a,1j,4u). After soaring together and interacting for the best part of an hour, at 1642 the resident pair of Bald Eagles locked talons and fell vertically disappearing behind trees to the north of the site: by far the highlight of an otherwise slow day. A pair of Northern Shovelers on the river was a first record for the season. 12 hours (370.1) BAEA 1 (73), NOGO 1 (18), GOEA 7 (1061) TOTAL 9 (1181)

April 1 [Day 44] (Valley View site) It was a sunny day with the temperature rising to 6C at 1700 from a low of -4.5C although mainly SW winds gusting 15-30 km/h after 1100 made it feel much cooler. Ridge winds were moderate WNW to noon after which they were W, and cloud cover was 10-60% cumulus which at times made detection of high flying raptors a challenge. With seemingly ideal migration conditions I was expecting an early start but I had to wait nearly 4.5 hours for the first migrant, a Rough-legged Hawk at 1124, but thereafter movement was both steady and varied with the last of the day’s 92 migrant raptors, a Golden Eagle, gliding high to the north at 1911. The combined species total of 92 is the second highest April daily count ever at the site and the Golden Eagle total of 68 is the 3rd highest for the month. For the first time this season immature Golden Eagles (36: 27 subadults and 9 juveniles) outnumbered adult birds (32), and Bald Eagles also moved strongly (15: 8a,4sa and 3 undifferentiated immature birds). The highlights of the day, however, were 2 adult Ferruginous Hawks: a light morph at 1233 and a dark morph at 1320, both of which soared high against a pure blue sky, and one of the day’s 3 Red-tailed Hawks was an adult dark morph “Harlan’s Hawk” 12.67 hours (509.9) BAEA 15 (330), NOGO 1 (65), RTHA 3 (29), FEHA 2 (3), RLHA 2 (28), GOEA 68 (1907), MERL 1 (4) TOTAL 92 (2391)

Mount Lorette [Day 32] (Joel Duncan) The temperature rose to 3C at 1500 from a low of -9C and was -2C at 1930, ground winds were light in the morning becoming SW 10-20 gusting 30 km/h in the afternoon and ridge winds were SW moderate, then strong after 1400 and again moderate after 1800. Cloud cover was initially 50% cumulus decreasing to 30% by 1500 then increasing to 70% cirrostratus and cumulus by the end of the day. Despite the apparently good migration and observing conditions, raptor migration was disappointing with only 8 Bald Eagles (6a,2sa) and 3 Golden Eagles (2a,1u) and an unidentified eagle moving between 1016 and 1758. 11 hours (358.1) BAEA 8 (72), GOEA 3 (1054), UE 1 (11) TOTAL 12 (1172)