May 21 [Day 88] (Valley View site) Strong W winds continued to prevail so I decided to spend the last day of the count at the Valley View site where the temperature briefly reached a high of 9C at 1600 from a low of 1C at 0700. The ground winds were W-SW gusting 40-60 km/h for most of the day moderating slightly after 1500 but still occasionally gusting to 45 km/h in the late afternoon, and ridge winds were strong W all day. Cloud cover was 40-70% cumulus for much of the day giving excellent observing conditions, with cirrus and then altostratus cloud developing to 80% after 1800. Three migrant raptors went north, which is a satisfying number to finish on: a juvenile Sharp-shinned Hawk at 1246, a subadult Bald Eagle at 1540 and a juvenile Golden Eagle at 1637. I was pleased that I ended my counting career with a Golden Eagle just as it started with a single Golden Eagle seen at Mount Lorette at 1130 on March 20, 1992, for I have decided that this spring will be my last count. A female Red-winged Blackbird perched near the site at 0912 was the 86th species for the season and only the second time the species has occurred on a count here. Two more flocks of Canada Geese flew high to the east over the ridge today: 11 at 0944 and 16 at 1241. 12.5 hours (1015) BAEA 1 (396), SSHA 1 (82), GOEA 1 (2185) TOTAL 3 (3039)

May summary We spent 19 days in the field (13 at the Valley View site and 6 on the Piitaistakis Ridge) with 2 full days (May 5 and 6) lost to bad weather and 3 further days (May 3,4 and 8) significantly curtailed for the same reason. The number of days is 11.6% below the 2008-9 average and the number of hours (215.8) is 18.74% below average. The combined species total of 242 is 36% below average and only 6 species had counts that were above average: Osprey 16 (+60% and a new high count for the month), Broad-winged Hawk 13 (+100% and a new high count), Swainson’s Hawk 4 (+14.3%), Rough-legged Hawk 1 (+100% and equaling previous high monthly count), American Kestrel 5 (+11.1%), Merlin 2 (equaling the counts of the previous two years) and Peregrine Falcon 4 (+60%). All other species occurred mainly in significantly lower than average numbers: Turkey Vulture 2 (-55.6%), Bald Eagle 20 (-9.09%), Northern Harrier 8 (-46.7%), Sharp-shinned Hawk 40 (-53.5%), Cooper’s Hawk 5 (-72.2%), Northern Goshawk 3 (-86.7%), Red-tailed Hawk 25 (-47.9%), Ferruginous Hawk 2 (-42.9%), Golden Eagle 88 (-25.74%) and Prairie Falcon 2 (-42.9%).

Final Count (February 15 to May 21)
(Percentage variance from average spring 2008-2009 Piitaistakis-South Livingstone counts in parenthesis)

DAYS 88 (+2.9)
HOURS 1015 (+3.1)

TURKEY VULTURE (TUVU) 7 (=)
OSPREY (OSPR) 20 (-9.1)
BALD EAGLE (BAEA) 396 (-11)
NORTHERN HARRIER (NOHA) 20 (-38)
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (SSHA) 82 (-49)
COOPER’S HAWK (COHA) 17 (-41)
NORTHERN GOSHAWK (NOGO) 84 (-33)
Unidentified Accipiter (UA) 5 (=)
BROAD-WINGED HAWK (BWHA) 13 (+73.3)
SWAINSON’S HAWK (SWHA) 4 (-11)
RED-TAILED HAWK (RTHA) 121 (-45)
FERRUGINOUS HAWK (FEHA) 5 (-55)
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (RLHA) 39 (+85.7)
Unidentified Buteo (UB) 2 (-33)
GOLDEN EAGLE (GOEA) 2185 (-23.57)
Unidentified eagle (UE) 3 (-45)
AMERICAN KESTREL (AMKE) 5 (-9.1)
MERLIN (MERL) 11 (-48)
GYRFALCON (GYRF) 1 (-80)
PEREGRINE FALCON (PEFA) 4 (-43)
PRAIRIE FALCON (PRFA) 14 (-13)
Unidentified Falco (UF) 0 (-100)
Unidentified raptor (UU) 0 (-100)

TOTAL 3039 (-24.41)

Principal Observers: Peter Sherrington (73 days and 7 partial days), Bill Wilson (6 days), Denise Coccioloni-Amatto (1 day and 4 partial days), Doug and Teresa Dolman (1 day), and Dawn Hall (3 partial days), with assistance from Keith McClary (40 days), Nel Van Kamer (32 days), Denise Coccioloni-Amatto (32 days), David Thomas (24 days), Dawn Hall (8 days), Pat Lucas (3 days), Doug and Teresa Dolmen (2 days), Phil Nicholas (2 days), Jan Aikins (1 day), Karole Michalsky (1 day), Paul Vandervelde (1 day), Wilbert Tripp (1 day), Patricia Wagenaar (1 day), Jocelyn Thomas (1 day), Elizabeth Miles (1 day) and Bob Simons (1 day).

Acknowledgements: To the members and supporters of the Rocky Mountain Eagle Research Foundation for their continuing financial support, and to members of the Crowsnest Conservation Society for their support and many contributions to the success of the project. To Dale and Karen Paton who welcomed us to watch from their property near the base of the ridge (the “Valley View” site) until the snow finally melted sufficiently to allow us to watch from the ridge top, to Denise Coccioloni-Amatto, David and Jocelyn Thomas, Mary-Lou and Jennifer Campbell, and Chris McMurdo for their many dinner invitations and understanding of my indecently early departures in order to write and publish the daily blog, and to Nel Van Kamer who generously provided pre-prepared dinners that allowed me more time to sleep than would have otherwise been the case.

May 20 [Day 87] (Piitaistakis Ridge site) Strong W winds prevailed all day only rarely dropping below 40 km/h and gusting 50-70 km/h to 1800 when they were 60-70 gusting 90 km/h, diminishing to gusts of 80 km/h at 1900. The temperature was 1C to 2C to 1400 when it rose to 3.5C and then reached the day’s high of 5C from 1500 to1700 when a period of snow reduced the temperature back to 1C for the rest of the day. With the high winds it meant that wind-chill temperatures were below freezing for much of the day. Cloud cover was 100% altostratus and cumulus to 1400 after which the cloud broke to 60-70% cumulus, altostratus and altocumulus. Snow flurries that occasionally developed into brief periods of snow swept constantly down from the Continental Divide after 1245. Not surprising considering the weather, raptor migration was limited to subadult Golden Eagles gliding north at 1435 and 1448 and a juvenile doing the same at 1540. At 1136 what at first appeared in the distance to be high flying falcon surprisingly turned out to be the season’s first Mallard (a drake) [species #84] that flew high to the north above the ridge, and 3 minutes previously another “bachelor” flock of 15 Canada Geese had flown high to the east. At 1706, in the middle of one of the more enthusiastic snow flurries I found a Swainson’s Thrush [species #85] looking as if it regretted having left South America: I sympathized! Tomorrow will be the last day of the count, but where I shall be watching from will depend on the weather! 12.75 hours (1002.5) GOEA 3 (2184) TOTAL 3 (3036)

May 19 [Day 86] (Piitaistakis Ridge site) The strong winds that started late yesterday continued throughout today with W-WNW winds 35-50 gusting 60 km/h to noon, diminishing to gusts of 35-50 km/h in the afternoon. The winds made the starting temperature of 6C feel rather cool after several days of warm weather and the high was only 12.5C at 1600, but it felt warmer as 100% cumulus, altostratus and cirrus cloud gradually cleared to 5-30% cumulus and cirrus in the afternoon providing plenty of sunshine. Despite the good migrating and observing conditions only 7 migrant raptors occurred between 0907 and 1610: 1 adult Bald Eagle, 2 juvenile Sharp-shinned Hawks, 1 juvenile Cooper’s Hawk, 1 juvenile Red-tailed Hawk, 1 subadult Golden Eagle and 1 probable juvenile female Prairie Falcon. Because of the high winds other bird species were hard to find, but for the second day in a row a flock of Canada Geese flew high to the east above the ridge: 12 at 1259 yesterday and 35 at 1325 today. These flocks almost certainly comprise unmated male birds. 12.58 hours (989.8) BAEA 1 (395), SSHA 2 (81), COHA 1 (17), RTHA 1 (121), GOEA 1 (2181), PRFA 1 (14) TOTAL 7 (3033)

May 18 [Day 85] (Piitaistakis Ridge site) The temperature was 14.5C at 0800 and rose to the day’s high of 18C at 1300, winds to 1300 were often calm or variable and light, and cloud cover was 70-80% cumulus, altostratus and cirrus. At 1245 a dark cumulonimbus cloud rapidly developed to the SW and at 1312 a thunderstorm broke bringing steady rain that lasted until 1540. The storm appeared to be stationary overhead with continuous thunder and lightening for over 2 hours and although spectacular it was not exactly enjoyable! By 1520 the temperature had fallen to 8C but recovered to12-13C after 1700. At 1700 another thunderstorm developed to the SSE and for the next 1.5 hours it moved slowly north just E of the ridge saving me from a second soaking. To finish the day WNW winds developed gusting to 50 km/h at 1900 and the day ended in sunshine as the cloud cover rapidly cleared. Before the storm only 5 migrant raptors moved: a juvenile Northern Harrier, 2 juvenile Sharp-shinned Hawks, 1 juvenile Red-tailed Hawk and a juvenile Golden Eagle. After the storm ended a second juvenile Northern Harrier with a full crop glided low along the ridge to the north at 1640, and just as I was beginning to give up on the day a juvenile Peregrine Falcon flew low overhead to the north at 1837. A Warbling Vireo singing near the parking area in the evening was the 83rd bird species of the year. The bad weather gave me time to look at the flowering plants on the ridge. Just a few days after the snow had finally melted there were extensive carpets of Western Spring Beauty, Glacier Lilies and Prairie Anemone, common Wyoming Kittentails, Yellowstone Draba, Pretty Shootingstars and early Yellow Buttercups, one patch of Yellowbells and single flowering Moss Phlox and Nine-leaved Desert-Parsley. With a dwindling number of raptor migrants and with deteriorating weather conditions forecast for the weekend I am now planning to end the count on Friday May 21.12.75 hours NOHA 2 (20), SSHA 2 (79), RTHA 1 (120), GOEA 1 (2180), PEFA 1 (4) TOTAL 7 (3026)

May 17 [Day 84] (Piitaistakis Ridge site) The ridge was almost snow-free and the remaining drifts at the site disappeared as the temperature reached 20.5C at 1700 from a low of 13C and was 16.5C at 1900. Winds were generally calm or light SW-WSW except for 1645-1730 when the wind was WSW 20-25 gusting 30 km/h, and cloud cover was 70-100% cirrus, cirrostratus and cumulus all day giving hazy sunshine and excellent viewing conditions. Between 0800 and 1400 each hour yielded one migrant raptor, the first 3 being an immature male richardsonii Merlin and 2 female American Kestrels. No migrants were seen between 1321 and 1645 at which time an adult light morph Swainson’s Hawk moved north with a Sharp-shinned Hawk followed 3 minutes later by 2 juvenile light morph Ferruginous Hawks, which is the first record of the species since April 1st. The commonest migrant, however, remained Golden Eagle with 3 subadults and 2 juvenile birds moving between 1227 and the last migrant of the day at 1833. The total bird count was 26 species, which is a marked improvement over the 11 recorded 4 days ago, and included 2 Violet-green Swallows which is only the second record for the ridge. Three Western White butterflies were new for the season. 12.5 hours (964.4) SSHA 2 (77), SWHA 1 (4), FEHA 2 (5), GOEA 5 (2179), AMKE 2 (5), MERL 1 (11) TOTAL 13 (3019)

May 16 [Day 83] (Valley View site) It was another beautiful day with the temperature reaching a season high 22C at 1600 from a low of 5.5C: in fact the temperature remained above 20C from 1200 to 1730 and was still 18.5C at 1900. Ground winds were calm to 1030 and then mainly light W-WSW except between 1200 and 1430 when they occasionally gusted to 15-23 km/h, and ridge winds were WNW-W light to moderate. Cloud cover was a 60-100% mixture of cirrus, cirrostratus, cumulus and altocumulus giving hazy sunshine all day and yet again provided an excellent observation backdrop. There was a slow but steady migration of raptors with 12 birds of 8 species moving between 1151 and 1749 including the season’s 7th Turkey Vulture (an adult) and 3rd Swainson’s Hawk (a light morph adult). Other migrants were 1 subadult Bald Eagle, 1 juvenile Northern Harrier, 2 juvenile Sharp-shinned Hawks, 1 juvenile Cooper’s Hawk, 2 juvenile light morph Red-tailed Hawks and 3 Golden Eagles (1sa and 2j). Hunting and displaying resident Red-tailed Hawks were conspicuous through most of the day representing 3 or 4 pairs. The day’s second Golden Eagle at 1359 was the season’s 3000th migrant raptor, but we are heading for the lowest ever spring count at the site as the 2008 and 2009 totals were 4204 and 3837 respectively. A Calliope Hummingbird flying over at 1231 was the 82nd species of the season and a first spring record and a second unidentified hummingbird flew high overhead at 1805. Most remarkable was a small flock of 3 Common Redpolls at 0710 which is only the second record for the season (the other was 3 birds on March 8) and represents by far the latest ever record at the site. The exceptionally warm weather of the last three days appears to have significantly reduced the snow cover on the Piitaistakis Ridge, so I plan to return there to conduct the count tomorrow. 12.5 hours (951.9) TUVU 1 (7), BAEA 1 (394), NOHA 1 (18), SSHA 2 (75), COHA 1 (16), SWHA 1 (3), RTHA 2 (119), GOEA 3 (2174) TOTAL 12 (3006)

May 15 [Day 82] (Valley View site) The temperature reached a season high 21C at 1400 from a low of 3C and was still 18C at 1900, ground winds were calm to SW gusting 30-40 km/h between 1100 and 1430 but less than 20 km/h for the rest of the day and ridge winds were WNW moderate to strong to 1500 and moderate W thereafter. The sky was initially cloudless with cumulus and cirrus developing after 0900 thickening to 80% cumulus between 1500 and 1600 that produced very light scattered showers before reducing to 30-60% for the rest of the day once again providing excellent observing conditions. It was the best raptor movement for 4 days with a total of 22 birds moving steadily between 0930 and 1904, the flight comprising 3 Bald Eagles (1a,2sa), 1 adult female Northern Harrier, 3 Sharp-shinned Hawks (2j,1u), 1 juvenile Northern Goshawk, 3 light morph Broad-winged Hawks (1a,1j,1u), 6 juvenile light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks, 1 unidentified Buteo and 4 Golden Eagles (1a,1sa,2j). The total bird count was a season high 42 species which included first records [species #78-81] for Western Tanager, Cassin’s Vireo, Western Wood-Pewee (1st spring record for the site) and 2 Violet-Green Swallows (second spring record for the site). 12.33 hours (939.4) BAEA 3 (393), NOHA 1 (17), SSHA 3 (73), NOGO 1 (84), BWHA 3 (13), RTHA 6 (117), UB 1 (2), GOEA 4 (2171) TOTAL 22 (2994)

May 14 [Day 81] (Valley View site) It was much more pleasant looking up at the snow covered ridge from the valley floor where the temperature reached 19C at 1500 from a low of 5C and remained at 17C at 1900. Ground winds were calm to light variable in the morning and W-SW occasionally gusting to 25 km/h in the afternoon, and ridge winds were W-WNW light to moderate to noon and moderate thereafter. Cloud cover was initially 80% altocumulus and cirrus diminishing to 5% at 0900 but then increased to 50-80% cumulus for the rest of the day providing excellent observation conditions. The first migrant raptor was an Osprey at 0945 and thereafter birds moved sporadically throughout the day with 5 of the day’s 12 migrants occurring between 1813 and 1902. The flight comprised 1 Osprey, 1 subadult Bald Eagle, 1 juvenile Northern Harrier, 2 Sharp-shinned Hawks (1a,1u), 1 light morph Swainson’s Hawk of unknown age, 3 calurus Red-tailed Hawks (2 light morphs (1j,1u) and 1 adult dark morph) and 3 juvenile Golden Eagles. The total bird count was a season high 39 species and for the first time bird song was strong both in the morning and evening. A 1st summer-plumaged Trumpeter Swan flying high above the Piitaistakis Ridge at 1110 was the season’s 76th bird species and a first record for May, and a male American Goldfinch was species #77. At 0855 two female American Three-toed Woodpeckers alternately drummed on opposite sides of a snag and were occasionally very vocal while a male bird was perched some way away. Was this female competition for a nest site (and/or for the male)? Despite the warm conditions a Clouded Sulphur was the only butterfly seen on the wing, but in the afternoon Mollie brought us a beautiful large saturniid moth that she had found nearby that was probably a Glover’s Silk moth (Hyalophora columbia gloveri). 12.16 hours (927.1) OSPR 1 (20), BAEA 1 (390), NOHA 1 (16), SSHA 2 (70), SWHA 1 (2), RTHA 3 (111), GOEA 3 (2167) TOTAL 12 (2972)

May 13 [Day 80] (Piitaistakis Ridge site) It was another beautiful day with a temperature high of 12C helping to make a few small holes in the snow pack on the ridge. Winds were mainly W gusting to 30-35 km/h after 1630, but before then they were mainly light and even calm for extended periods. Cloud cover started at 10% cirrus and gradually thickened with cumulus developing, reaching 70-80% after 1400 and giving excellent observing backdrops. Despite the seemingly ideal migration and observing conditions only 2 migrant raptors were recorded: an unaged Sharp-shinned Hawk at 1330 and a subadult Golden Eagle at 1736, and resident raptors and even ravens were also hard to find. The first Red-disked Alpine butterfly of the season looked a little incongruous flying over an unbroken expanse of snow. I have decided to return to the Valley View site for a couple of days to give the snow a chance to melt a little more, and to assess whether the raptor migration might, in fact, be almost over for the season. 11.75 hours (914.9) SSHA 1 (68), GOEA 1 (2164) TOTAL 2 (2960)

May 12 [Day 79] (Piitaistakis Ridge site) It took me 1.67 hours to climb the 300m to the ridge top through thick crusted snow and found that there was still 40-50cm of compacted snow at the site with drifts several metres thick on the eastern side of the ridge. The day, however, was quite pleasant with the temperature reaching 9C at 1800 from a low (at 0900) of 2C, mainly W winds occasionally gusting to 28 km/h but usually light and even calm on occasion, and cloudless skies giving way after 1200 to scattered cumulus that gradually increased from 5% to 40% after 1800. Raptor movement was very slow with only 10 birds moving between 1242 and 1816: 3 Bald Eagles (2sa,1j), 3 Sharp-shinned Hawks (2a,1u), 1 adult light morph Broad-winged Hawk and 3 juvenile Golden Eagles, 2 of which moved north together at 1613. Despite the snow covered landscape there were a few species of non-raptor on the ridge including Townsend’s Solitaires performing their beautiful aerial song flight, and a displaying male Dusky Grouse. Six American Pipits near the parking area in the evening represented the 75th bird species seen this season. 12.75 hours (903.2) BAEA 3 (389), SSHA 3 (67), BWHA 1 (10), GOEA 3 (2163) TOTAL 10 (2958)

May 11 [Day 78] (Valley View site) It was another pleasant day with the temperature reaching 11.5C at 1400 from a low of -2C, calm to light variable ground winds and a gentle E upper flow to 1400, which became light indeterminate to 1600 and thereafter a gentle WNW flow. An initially cloudless sky gave way to 50-80% cumulus that briefly reached 100% stratocumulus and cumulus at 1300, and apart from a couple of very brief snow flurries the day was precipitation-free. There again was a reasonably strong and varied raptor movement for May with 28 birds of 8 species moving between 1054 and 1751, with most birds soaring for extended periods in the generally calm conditions. The flight was dominated by 8 juvenile Golden Eagles, and the 4 Ospreys brought the May total to a record 15 birds, 12 of which have moved in the last three days. Four more adult Broad-winged Hawks (3 light and 1 dark) brought the season’s and monthly count to a new site spring high of 9 birds, and other migrants were 5 Sharp-shinned Hawks (1a,1j,3u), 2 Cooper’s Hawks (1a,1u), 2 Red-tailed Hawks (1 juvenile light morph calurus and 1 undifferentiated dark morph bird), 1 unidentified dark morph Buteo, 1 female American Kestrel and 1 adult Peregrine Falcon. Other highlights of the daily season-high count of 36 bird species was the year’s first Brewer’s Blackbird (a male) flying high to the north at 1825, single Great Blue Herons flying high to the north at 1228 and 1510, and the season’s second Vaux’s Swift flying high at 1812. Starting tomorrow I plan to occupy the Piitaistakis Ridge site if the snow has sufficiently melted to allow access. 12.25 hours (890.4) OSPR 4 (19), SSHA 5 (64), COHA 2 (15), BWHA 4 (9), RTHA 2 (108), UB 1 (1), GOEA 8 (2160), AMKE 1 (3), PEFA 1 (3) TOTAL 28 (2948)

May 10 [Day 77] (Valley View site) It was a beautiful morning with a temperature of -4C at 0700, almost cloudless and calm, but at 0830 cumulus cloud started to spill over the Piitaistakis Ridge from the east and by 1000 all ridges were obscured with 100% stratocumulus cloud cover. The ridges began to clear around 1230 and were more or less clear by 1300. In the afternoon the temperature rose to 8.5C at 1600 with a cumulus cloud cover ranging from 60-80% allowing periods of sunshine, ground winds were light and variable while ridge winds were light to moderate ENE to ESE. The first migrant raptor, a subadult Golden Eagle disappeared into cloud at 1216 and by 1600 only 7 birds had been seen including the season’s first Broad-winged Hawk (an adult light morph) at 1343 [species #73] and the season’s second adult tundrius Peregrine Falcon at 1555. Between 1607 and 1654, however, there was a sudden spate of migrant raptors and the 17 birds seen was the highest hourly count since April 17, comprising 1 Osprey, 5 Sharp-shinned Hawks, 1 Cooper’s Hawk, 4 Broad-winged Hawks, 1 Red-tailed Hawk and 5 Golden Eagles. Subsequently only 4 more birds went north as hail and light rain showers developed, with the last bird being a juvenile Northern Harrier at 1851. The 8 Golden Eagles comprised 4 subadults and 4 juveniles, while the 5 Broad-winged Hawks was the highest spring single-day count for the site and included 2 dark-morph adult birds soaring together with an unaged light morph bird at 1640. 12.25 hours (978.2) OSPR 1 (15), BAEA 1 (386), NOHA 1 (15), SSHA 8 (59), COHA 1 (13), BWHA 5 (5), RTHA 1 (106), GOEA 8 (2152), AMKE 1 (2), PEFA 1 (2) TOTAL 28 (2920)

May 9 [Day 76] (Valley View site) At last, a pleasant day! The temperature ranged from -4C to a high of 11C at 1600, ground winds were calm to light SW-N except between 1100 and 1230 when they were SW gusting to 25 km/h, and ridge winds were WNW generally moderate. Cloud cover was initially 5% cumulus which gradually increased with development of towering cumulus in the afternoon reaching 100% at 1700, and the only precipitation was a heavy snow squall from 1650 to 1710 which briefly obscured the ridges, and hail from 1900 to 1925. A total of 66 migrant raptors of a season high 13 species was counted between 0925 and 1835, the count being the highest since April 1 and the highest ever for May at the site. The 7 Ospreys counted between 1021 and 1353 was the highest ever daily spring count at the site, the previous highest being 4 on April 26, 2008, the Sharp-shinned Hawk count of 9 birds (4a,1j,4u) was the highest since April 17, and the single Rough-legged Hawk (juvenile light morph female) equaled the latest ever record at the site in 2009. The 31 Golden Eagles (1a, 9sa,21j) was the highest count since April 1, and the highest ever May count at the site. Other migrant raptors were 1 adult Turkey Vulture, 4 Bald Eagles (1a,1sa,2j), 1 juvenile (probably female) Northern Harrier, 2 Northern Goshawks (1j,1u), the season’s first Swainson’s Hawk [species # 71] (adult light morph), 6 calurus Red-tailed Hawks (3 light morphs: 1a,1j,1u and 3 dark morphs: 2a,1j), the season’s first American Kestrel (female) [#72], 1 adult male richardsonii Merlin and 1 Prairie Falcon. One or two non-migratory adult Cooper’s Hawks were also observed giving a day’s count of 14 species of raptor, which is a spring record for the site. A flock of 8 Ring-billed Gulls flying high to the south at 1602 was the 69th species of the season and a first spring record for the species. It was a day worth waiting for. 12.5 hours (865.9) TUVU 1 (6), OSPR 7 (14), BAEA 4 (385), NOHA 1 (14), SSHA 9 (51), NOGO 2 (83), SWHA 1 (1), RTHA 6 (105), RLHA 1 (39), GOEA 31 (2144), AMKE 1 (1), MERL 1 (10), PRFA 1 (13) TOTAL 66 (2892)

May 8 [Day 75] (Valley View site) It was -5C at 0710 and rose to a high of 2C at 1100, ground winds were variable and calm to light, as were ridge winds, and cloud cover was initially 90% cirrus and altocumulus that quickly thickened to 100% cirrostratus and lowered to thick stratus after 1100. Light snow began falling at 1115 and (oh no, not again!!) became steady snow with all ridges obscured after 1135. Snow persisted throughout the day and I left the site at 1240 having failed to see any migrant raptors, although a male Brown-headed Cowbird [species #69] was a first for the season. 5.5 hours (853.4) No migrant raptors (2826)

May 7 [Day 74] (Valley View site) Light snow persisted in the early morning and I arrived at the site at 0855 as the ridges had just cleared. Temperatures ranged from 1C to 6C, ground winds were light and variable and often calm, while ridge winds were also light all day. Cloud cover was 70-80% cumulus and altocumulus giving occasional light flurries to 1200, then 100% stratocumulus to 1430 after which the cover progressively thinned to 10% cumulus at 1900. Once again raptor movement was slow with only 7 birds moving between an Osprey at1142 and the season’s first Peregrine Falcon (an adult tundrius bird; species # 68) at 1825. The other migrants were 2 Bald Eagles (1a, 1sa) and 3 Golden Eagles (2sa, 1j). 10.5 hours OSPR 1 (7), BAEA 2 (381), GOEA 3 (2113), PEFA 1 (1) TOTAL 7 (2826)

May 6 No observation possible. Snow all day which appeared to be abating in mid afternoon so I went to the site between 1355 and 1525 but the snow persisted with 15cm fresh on the ground, a temperature of 1C and SW winds 2-4 km/h.

May 5 No observation. Snow all day

May 4 [Day 73] (Valley View site) The temperature rose to 4C between 1100 and 1200 from a low of 0C and fell to 2C after 1300, ground winds were N-NE generally light, ridge winds were moderate N and cloud cover was 100% altostratus and cumulus until 1300 when it thickened to low overcast and the light snow that had persisted all day became steady wet snow obscuring all the ridges. I gave up at 1430 without having seen a migrant raptor. 7.5 hours (837.4) No migrant raptors (2819)

May 3 [Day 72] (Valley View site) The temperature rose to 6.5C at 1000 from a low of 4C, fell to 3.5C at 1100, rose to 5C at 1700 and was 1C at 1800. Ground winds were SW-WSW gusting to 30 km/h in the morning and to 40 km/h in the afternoon, and ridge winds were WNW moderate to strong to 1000 after which they were W strong. Cloud cover was 100% stratocumulus and cumulus becoming low overcast from 1045 to 1545 when light snow became steady wet snow and the site was abandoned between 1115 and 1620. From 1620 to 17450 cloud cover was 60-70% cumulus and mainly sunny, but snow redeveloped after 1745 and I gave up on the day at 1835 after having seen just 1 migrant raptor, an adult Bald Eagle at 1726 that was movo0ng north ahead of the approaching snow system. 6.5 hours (829.9) BAEA 1 (379) TOTAL 1 (2819)

May 2 [Day 71] (Valley View site) The temperature reached 10C at 1700 from a low of 2C, ground winds were mainly SW-WSW gusting 25-40 km/h after 1100 and reaching 60 km/h at 1725, and ridge winds were WNW moderate to strong all day. Cloud cover was 30-80% cumulus until 1600 after which stratocumulus, lenticular, cirrus and cirrostratus combined with cumulus reaching 100% at 1900. A total of 12 migrant raptors moved north between 1016 and 1545, with 5 of the birds occurring between 1400 and 1500. The flight comprised 1 Osprey, 1 adult Bald Eagle, 1 juvenile Northern Harrier, 2 light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks and 7 Golden Eagles (2sa,5j). A Vesper Sparrow at 0713 was the 67th bird species for the season. 12.25 hours (823.4) OSPR 1 (6), BAEA 1 (378), NOHA 1 (13), RTHA 2 (99), GOEA 7 (2110) TOTAL 12 (2818)

May 1 [Day 70] (Valley View site) The temperature rose to a high of 9C at 1400 and again at 1700 from a low of 0C and fell to 5C at 1900. Ground winds were variable gusting to 25 km/h between 1050 and 1215, but otherwise mainly light and ridge winds were light to moderate WNW becoming N after 1500. Cloud cover was initially 5-10% cumulus, which increased to 90-100% cumulus and stratocumulus after 1300 when flurries, showers and periods of hail and drizzle persisted for the rest of the day periodically partially obscuring the ridges. With pleasant weather and an Osprey moving north at 0946 it appeared that we might finally get a decent day’s raptor movement but only a further single Red-tailed Hawk migrated before 1400. A small movement of 6 Golden Eagles (1a,4sa,1j) occurred between 1410 and 1647 and an adult Bald Eagle soared high to the south with 3 Common Loons [bird species #66 for the season] at 1705 to complete the day’s count of 9 migrants. 12 hours (811.2) OSPR 1 (5), BAEA 1 (377), RTHA 1 (97), GOEA 6 (2103) TOTAL 9 (2806)