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)