May 25 [Day 87] (Piitaistakis Ridge) The temperature only varied from 9C to 11C and upslope conditions with E to ENE winds persisted until noon when showers started moving from the NW which recurred sporadically throughout the afternoon. After 1700 winds changed to S but despite the changes in wind direction the wind never exceed 15 km/h. Cloud cover was 10% altostratus to 0900 after which thick stratocumulus cloud moved slowly from the north and we experienced 80-100% cloud cover for the rest of the day. Non-migratory and resident Osprey, Bald Eagle, Cooper’s Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Golden Eagle (still occasionally displaying) and Prairie Falcon were in evidence, but the only migrant was a subadult Golden Eagle that glided low over our heads at 1745. It was a perfect way to end the spring 2009 season. At 1055 a flock of 45 Canada Geese, most showing extensive moult flew high to the east over the ridge, and at 1440 6 American White Pelicans flew very high to the north well to the E of the ridge. Three Cedar Waxwings were first occurrences for the season and the final total bird count was 17,638 birds of 95 species. 12.5 hours (993.4) GOEA 1 (2737) TOTAL 1 (3837)
May summary Only one full day (May 18) was lost to unfavourable weather and we spent a total of 24 days (296.9 hours) in the field, the last 15 days being spent on the ridge. The days and hours are 26.3% and 26.74% higher than last year’s effort respectively. During this time we recorded 417 migrant raptors of 17 species with the total being 23% higher than last May’s count. The relative lateness of this years movement meant that most species occurred in higher numbers than last year’s May count: Osprey 13 (+85.7%), Bald Eagle 23 (+9.52%), Northern Harrier 22 (+175%), Sharp-shinned Hawk 89 (+7.23%), Broad-winged Hawk 8 (+60%), Swainson’s Hawk 6 (+500%), Red-tailed Hawk 66 (+120%), Ferruginous Hawk 6 (+500%), Rough-legged Hawk 1 (not recorded in May last year), Golden Eagle 126 (+13.51%), American Kestrel 6 (+100%) and Peregrine Falcon 3 (+ 50%). The count of 2 Merlins was the same as last year, while only Turkey Vulture 4 (-20%), Cooper’s Hawk 15 (-28.6%), Northern Goshawk 18 (-33.3%) and Prairie Falcon 2 (-60%) occurred in numbers lower than last year’s May count. Compared to last year the season’s combined species count was 367 birds (- 8.73%) lower than last year with most of the deficit resulting from a Golden Eagle Count that was 244 birds (-8.19%) lower than last year. The decline in the number of Golden Eagles on our spring counts continues.

FINAL COUNT (February 15 to May 25)
(Percentage variance from spring 2008 Piitaistakis-South Livingstone count in parenthesis)
[Percentage variance from average complete counts at Mount Lorette 1993-2007 in square brackets]

DAYS 87 (+3.57) [+8.84]
HOURS 993.4 (+1.83) [+14.98]

TURKEY VULTURE (TUVU) 6 (-25) [+592.3]
OSPREY (OSPR) 23 (+9.52) [+19.7]
BALD EAGLE (BAEA) 439 (-3.1) [+99.55]
NORTHERN HARRIER (NOHA) 37 (+32.1) [+280.1]
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (SSHA) 126 (-36) [+82.08]
COOPER’S HAWK (COHA) 19 (-51) [+2.89]
NORTHERN GOSHAWK (NOGO) 113 (-18) [+251.7]
Accipiter sp. (UA) 4 (-50) [+42.86]
BROAD-WINGED HAWK (BWHA) 8 (+14.3) [+361.5]
SWAINSON’S HAWK (SWHA) 7 (+250) [+854.5]
RED-TAILED HAWK (RTHA) 213 (-6.2) [+357.1]
FERRUGINOUS HAWK (FEHA) 11 (0) [+1550]
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (RLHA) 26 (+62.5) [+32.2]
Buteo sp. (UB) 2 (-50) [+20]
GOLDEN EAGLE (GOEA) 2737 (-8.19) [-15.19]
Eagle sp. (UE) 2 (-78) [+20]
AMERICAN KESTREL (AMKE) 7 (+75) [+1.94]
MERLIN (MERL) 24 (+33.3) [+127.8]
GYRFALCON (GYRF) 5 (0) [+212.5]
PEREGRINE FALCON (PEFA) 8 (+33.3) [+249.9]
PRAIRIE FALCON (PRFA) 15 (-12) [+324.5]
Falco sp. (UF) 3 (+200) [+275]
Unidentified Raptor (UU) 1 (-67) [-34.8]

TOTAL 3837 (-8.73) [+3.92]

Principal Observers: Peter Sherrington (77 days), Vance Mattson (4 days), Bill Wilson (3 days) and Doug and Teresa Dolman (2 days), with assistance from Keith McClary (39 days), Denise Coccioloni-Amatto (27 days), Phil Nicholas (20 days), Raymond Toal (14 days), Nel Van Kamer (10 days), Doug and Teresa Dolmen (8 days), Peter Sherrington (8 days), Pat Lucas (3 days), Rob Domenech (2 days), Fred Tilley (2 days), Paul Vandervelde (2 days), Karola Michalsky (2 days), Dawn Hall (1 day), Vance Mattson (1 day), Richard Ellis (1 day), Chris and Trish Hunt (1 day), David Thomas (1 day) and Michael Woertman (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 until the snow melted sufficiently to allow us to watch from the ridge top, and to Denise Coccioloni-Amatto and Nel Van Kamer who generously provided pre-prepared dinners that allowed me more time to sleep than would have otherwise been the case.

May 24 [Day 86] (Piitaistakis Ridge) The temperature rose to 14C at 1200 from a low at 0800 of 8.5C, but fell to 8C at 1400 as light rain and hail fell between 1325 and 1425 and subsequently rose again to 11C for the rest of the day. Cloud cover ranged from 100-30% mainly altocumulus and cirrus with towering cumulus developing between 1300 and 1430 which appeared to presage a thunderstorm that didn’t materialise. Winds were S light until 1400 when they became moderate NE-E gusting to 35 km/h for the rest of the day, although the upper flow appeared to remain southerly. Raptor movement was sporadic with 8 birds moving between 0818 and 1720, of which 3 were juvenile Golden Eagles. Of note were an un-aged Turkey Vulture at 1555, a juvenile light morph Swainson’s Hawk at 0957 and a juvenile light morph Ferruginous Hawk at 1133 that brought the season’s total to 11, equaling last spring’s count. A Cassin’s Finch singing near the parking area was a first spring record, 2 Fox Sparrows singing near the site represented a new species for the count and 2 Dusky Flycatchers singing by the access trail in the evening were a first record for the season and the 93rd species recorded this spring so far. Tomorrow will be the last day of the spring 2009 count. 12.83 hours (980.9) TUVU 1 (6), NOHA 1 (37), SWHA 1 (7), RTHA 1 (213), FEHA 1 (11), GOEA 3 (2736) TOTAL 8 (3836)

May 23 [Day 85] (Piitaistakis Ridge) (Doug and Teresa Dolman) Doug and Teresa allowed me to attend the RMERF Board meeting near Calgary and afterwards I joined them and Keith on the ridge at 1600. It was another pleasant day with the temperature reaching 14.5C and mainly light upslope winds that varied from SE to ENE. Upper winds also appeared to be light as smoke from a controlled burn to the west rose vertically in the air. Cloud cover was mainly altocumulus, less than 10% to noon but then increased throughout the afternoon to 70% with towering cumulus threatening rain after 1700 which mercifully did not materialise. It was again a good and varied late season raptor movement with 17 birds of 9 species moving between 1135 (an un-aged Northern Harrier) and a juvenile light morph Swainson’s Hawk at 1810. The season’s 4th and 5th Turkey Vultures came through at 1143 (a young bird) and 1423 (an adult) respectively, and the 2 Ospreys seen at 1236 brought the season’s total to a record 26 birds. Sharp-shined Hawk movement seems to have run out of steam again with only 1 juvenile bird moving, and the 2 Swainson’s Hawks brought the total to a new seasonal high for the site of 6 birds. All 4 Golden Eagles (2 subadults and 2 juveniles) moved between 1605 and 1657. No new bird species were seen today but a male Rufous Hummingbird at 1820 was a first for the ridge this season, and a Hoary Elfin butterfly seen on the trail to the ridge was the first seen this year. 10.25 hours (968.1) TUVU 2 (5), OSPR 2 (23), BAEA 1 (439), NOHA 2 (36), SSHA 1 (126), COHA 1 (19), SWHA 2 (6), RTHA 2 (212), GOEA 4 (2733) TOTAL 17 (3828)

May 22 [Day 84] (Piitaistakis Ridge) Winds were easterly all day varying from NE to SE and never exceeded 22 km/h, the temperature ranged from 3C to 9C and cloud cover was 10-70% cumulus with cirrus developing after 1900. Despite the upslope winds we recorded 20 migrant raptors of 7 species between1055 and 1824, which is again a good movement for this late in the season. Seven of the migrants were Golden Eagles (1 subadult and 6 juveniles) and the juvenile light morph Broad-winged Hawk at 1241 set a new spring record of 8 at the site for the species. It was also a remarkable day for sightings of water birds. At 1026 a flock of 20 American White Pelicans flew high to the west through the Crowsnest Pass and at 1039 the season’s first Common Loon flew high to the east above the Crowsnest Valley. The season’s second Sandhill Crane soared high above the ridge at 1139 and finally disappeared into a thick cumulus cloud, and at 1416 a flock of 38 Canada Geese flew high to the east above the ridge. Two adult Herring Gulls soaring above the ridge at 1508 were a first record of the species for May and at 1710 a Great Blue Heron soared high above the ridge before flapping off to the ENE providing just the 3rd record of the species for the site. The season’s first Western White was the first butterfly seen on the ridge for nearly a week. Because of the continuing movement of raptors I now plan to finish the count on May 25. 12.67 hours (957.8) BAEA 2 (438), NOHA 1 (34), SSHA 5 (125), NOGO 3 (113), BWHA 1 (8), RTHA 1 (210), GOEA 7 (2729) TOTAL 20 (3811)

May 21 [Day 83] (Piitaistakis Ridge) Finally a pleasant day on the ridge! The temperature rose to 9C from a low of -0.5C, winds were WNW to W generally between 20 and 40 km/h and cloud cover was 10-70% cumulus and cirrus providing both plenty of sunshine and excellent observing conditions. And there was plenty to look at as raptors took advantage of the near ideal conditions with 45 birds of 10 species moving between 1019 and 1842 with each hour between 1000 and 1800 yielding between 4 and 8 birds. Birds whose numbers had been hitherto conspicuously lower than last year lead the charge with a season high 19 Sharp-shinned Hawks (all juveniles) and 11 Red-tailed Hawks (9 juveniles and 2 birds of unknown age). All 3 harriers were juveniles and the 5 Golden Eagles comprised 1 subadult and 4 juvenile birds. The less common raptors at the site were well represented including a juvenile light morph Broad-winged Hawk, a light morph Swainson’s Hawk of unknown age, 2 juvenile Ferruginous Hawks, and an adult tundrius Peregrine Falcon. A juvenile female Prairie Falcon at 1739 was also considered to be a migrant. Nearly all the birds passed close to the observation point allowing examination of the plumage types under perfect lighting conditions. Tomorrow was scheduled to be the last day of the count but now I shall try to keep it going for a few more days. Nothing fails like success! A Lincoln’s Sparrow seen on the climb to the site was a first spring record for the count and only the second record overall. 12.5 hours (945.2) BAEA 1 (436), NOHA 3 (33), SSHA 19 (120), BWHA 1 (7), SWHA 1 (4), RTHA 11 (209), FEHA 2 (10), GOEA 5 (2722), PEFA 1 (8), PRFA 1 (15) TOTAL 45 (3791)

May 20 [Day 82] (Piitaistakis Ridge) There was 2.5 cm of fresh snow on the ridge and it was 0C at 0800. The temperature twice fell to -1C during subsequent snow periods and reached a high of 5C at 1400. Winds were W-WNW all day generally gusting 30-40 km/h but reached 70 km/h during snow squalls that regularly moved east over the site from the Continental Divide, some lasting for up to an hour. Cloud cover was 60-100% mainly cumulus and stratocumulus and ridges were obscured during periods of snow. It was yet another pleasant spring day but there was good raptor movement for this late in the season with 13 migrants of 7 species recorded between a juvenile Sharp-shinned Hawk at 0844 and a juvenile Northern Harrier at 1803. Most birds occurred soon after snow squalls moved off to the east. At 1202 a juvenile Sharp-shinned Hawk, a juvenile Cooper’s Hawk and 2 adult Broad-winged Hawks (one dark and one light morph) soared together over the ridge before gliding north and soon after a juvenile Northern Goshawk and a juvenile Golden Eagle followed them north. At 1651 the 100th Sharp-shinned Hawk of the season moved north followed 8 minutes later by number 101 but we are still well short of last year’s total of 196. New species for the season were 7 Red Crossbills, and 2 Swainson’s Thrushes which looked like they regretted leaving Cost Rica! 12.67 hours (932.7) NOHA 1 (30), SSHA 6 (101), COHA 1 (18), NOGO 1 (110), BWHA 2 (6), RTHA 1 (198), GOEA 1 (2717) TOTAL 13 (3746)

May 19 [Day 81] (Piitaistakis Ridge) Early morning fog and light rain began to clear at 0800 and the day’s high temperature was 8.5C at 1000-1100. More rain at 1130 dropped the temperature to 4C and it slowly climbed again to 7.5C at 1600 before snow at 1820 reduced the temperature to 2C by 1900. Winds were strong WSW to W all day, gusting to 76 km/h in the morning and diminishing slightly to gusts of 60 km/h in the afternoon, and apart from a brief clearing to 30% at 1600, cloud cover was generally 70-100% cumulus and stratocumulus all day. In short it was yet another unpleasant day on the ridge. Raptor movement was sparse with 6 birds moving between 1002 and 1645. All birds were juveniles including a dark morph Broad-winged Hawk and a dark morph “Harlan’s” Red-tailed Hawk. 11 hours (920) NOGO 1 (109), BWHA 1 (4), RTHA 3 (197), GOEA 1 (2716) TOTAL 6 (3733)

May 18 [No observation] As I drove north to the site the Livingstone Range was clear. At 0700 the ridge was still clear so I climbed to the site but at 0800 cloud enveloped the ridge and at 0900 it had thickened, the temperature was 0C, the wind was SE gusting 20 km/h and light rain had started, so I descended again. The ridge remained shrouded all day.

May 17 [Day 80] (Piitaistakis Ridge) It was another warm day with the temperature already 8.5C at 0800 and reaching 16C after 1600, but the heat resulted from strong WNW-W winds all day that peaked at 105 km/h at 1300 and only slightly moderated to 50-70 km/h in the afternoon. Cloud cover was 70-100% altostratus, cirrus and lenticular cloud all day producing hazy sunshine and good observing conditions. Normally, strong winds favour movement of the larger raptors but today 10 of the 15 migrants were juvenile Sharp-shinned Hawks, which is the second highest daily count this season, and there was also an unidentified accipiter. The other migrants were an Osprey (bringing the season’s total to 21, the same as last spring’s count), an adult light morph Broad-winged Hawk, a juvenile Golden Eagle and a female American Kestrel. As yesterday, the only migrant passerine species was Grey-crowned Rosy-Finch with 165 moving north along the ridge. The highlight of the day (and probably of the season), however, was a small Chaetura swift that flew low to the north along the western edge of the ridge at 1325 just 25 m away in perfect light. The bird was a uniform dark brown colour showing absolutely no contrast between the throat and the rest of its body, its wings were significantly longer than those of a Vaux’s Swift and its wing-beat somewhat slower than that species: in fact it was reminiscent of a small, dark brown version of a Black Swift. The bird was almost certainly a Chimney Swift which, I believe, is not on the provincial list and was listed in 2007 by COSEWIC as a threatened species. It is interesting that the bird arrives back in its Manitoba breeding grounds in mid-May which is consistent with its occurrence as a vagrant here today. A small, dark swift flying high to the SE of the site at 1840 was probably the same bird. Also remarkable was the first spring occurrence of a Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel which we first recorded at the site last fall, strongly suggesting that this prairie species successfully hibernated at an altitude of 1900 m! 12.75 hours (909) OSPR 1 (1), SSHA 10 (95), UA 1 (4), BWHA 1 (3), GOEA 1 (2715), AMKE 1 (7) TOTAL 15 (3727)

May 16 [Day 79] (Piitaistakis Ridge) It was a pleasantly warm day with the temperature reaching 13C from a low of 3.5C, but WNW-W winds all day were mainly strong gusting to 66 km/h in the morning and 70-80 km/h after 1700. Cloud cover was mainly 70-100% altostratus, lenticular, cirrus and altocumulus giving hazy sunshine all day and providing an excellent backdrop to observe often high flying migrant raptors. It was a good late-season movement with 25 birds of 9 species moving between 0828 and 1859 with 11 of the birds occurring between 1400 and 1600. All the birds were immature and all were juveniles with the exception of single subadult Bald and Golden Eagles. The only apparent passerine migrants were 120 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches that moved along the ridge in 4 flocks, and Steller’s Jay, Mountain Bluebird, Vesper Sparrow and Brewer’s Blackbird were recorded on the ridge for the first time this season. 12.75 hours (896.2) OSPR 1 (20), BAEA 3 (435), NOHA 1 (29), SSHA 3 (85), COHA 2 (17), NOGO 2 (108), RTHA 6 (194), GOEA 6 (2714), MERL 1 (24) TOTAL 25 (3712)

May 15 [Day 78] (Piitaistakis Ridge) There was 5 cm of fresh snow on the ridge but it had melted by mid afternoon as the temperature rose to 7C from a low of -2C. Winds were W-WNW all day averaging 20-30 km/h in the morning and strengthening to 35-50 km/h by the late afternoon, and cloud cover was 10-90% cumulus giving excellent observation conditions. Raptor migration was again slow with 10 birds moving between 0949 and 1757 which included the season’s 3rd Swainson’s Hawk at 1157 (a dark morph adult) and 3rd Turkey Vulture at 1319 (an adult). The 3 Golden Eagles comprised 1 subadult and 2 juveniles, and the 2 Sharp-shinned Hawks were both juveniles, but accipiter movement still continues to be slow. 12.67 hours (883.5) TUVU 1 (3), BAEA 1 (432), SSHA 2 (82), UA 1, SWHA 1 (3), GOEA 3 (2708), MERL 1 (23) TOTAL 10 (3687)

May 14 [Day 77] (Piitaistakis Ridge and Valley View sites) Snow persisted until 1000 when it eased to light rain at which point I climbed to the ridge only to see the snow return. At 1200 I left the ridge and watched from the Valley View site in the afternoon which is just as well as a thunderstorm developed around 1715 bringing heavy rain, hail and sleet. Temperatures ranged from -2C to 11C, and winds were light N-NW to1300 after which winds shifted to light to moderate SW. Ridges were largely obscured to1300 and again after 1730. Only 1 migrant raptor was seen, an adult Peregrine Falcon at 1506, bringing the season’s total to 7 which is one more than last year and a new high for spring RMERF counts. 11.25 hours (870.8) PEFA 1 (7) TOTAL 1 (3677)

May 13 [Day 76] (Piitaistakis Ridge site) Widespread early morning fog cleared from the ridges by 0830 but it only started to dissipate east of the ridge at 1300. The temperature only reached 6C from a low of -2C and winds were W all day gradually increasing into the afternoon peaking after 1700 at 90-100 km/h. Cloud cover was 50-80% cumulus until 1400 after which thin cirrostratus developed above the cumulus giving hazy sunshine for the rest of the day. Raptor movement was again slow with 10 birds migrating between 1144 and 1631 after which the very high winds seemed to impede further movement. The 7 Golden Eagles comprised 2 subadults and 5 juveniles, and the other migrants were 2 Ospreys and a juvenile Northern Goshawk. At 1021 a Great Blue Heron soared west of the ridge, crossed the ridge to the south of the site and flew high to the north, east of the ridge and above the fog for only the second record of the species for the site. A flock of 60 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches at 1557 contained an albino bird that stood out conspicuously from its dark companions as they wheeled overhead. 12.5 hours (859.6) OSPR 2 (19), NOGO 1 (106), GOEA 7 (2705) TOTAL 10 (3676)

May 12 [Day 75] (Piitaistakis Ridge site) Heavy wet snow at 0700 followed by light rain had me starting the day at the Valley View site, but by 1000 the Livingstone Ridge was clear so I climbed to the ridge site up a very slippery trail. The temperature on the ridge ranged from 3C to 7.5C before quickly falling after 1500 to 0.5C by1900. Winds were WNW-W gusting to 55km/h until 1830 when they changed to N bringing light snow by 1900, and cloud cover was 100-60% cumulus, stratocumulus, altostratus and cirrus. Raptor movement was very slow and comprised a subadult Golden Eagle at 1348, a juvenile Northern Goshawk at 1534, a juvenile Prairie Falcon at 1744 and a juvenile Golden Eagle at 1801, and even the resident Red-tailed Hawks and Golden Eagles were virtually absent. Songbirds were also scarce with the exception of a single flock of 30 American Pipits. 12.5 hours (847.1) NOGO 1 (105), GOEA 2 (2698), PRFA 1 (14) TOTAL 4 (3666)

May 11 [Day 74] (Piitaistakis Ridge site) (Vance Mattson) Vance made the first ascent to the ridge this season and apart from a few sections where the snow is still deep the trail is in reasonable condition. The temperature reached 7C from a low of 2C and winds were WNW gradually increasing from 25-50 km/h in the morning to 40-60 km/h in the afternoon. Cloud cover was 100% altostratus and cumulus until noon after which it thinned to 70-80% cumulus, altostratus and cirrus. The first migrant raptor was the day’s only Sharp-shinned Hawk at 1025 and the first Golden Eagle, a juvenile, was not seen until 1226 when it made a steep stoop on a Columbian Ground Squirrel just south of the site, missed and perched on the ground for a few minutes before continuing north. With the exception of 2 juvenile light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks the only other migrants were a further 9 Golden Eagles, all of which were juveniles with the exception of a single subadult. 12.16 hours (834.6) SSHA 1 (80), RTHA 2 (188), GOEA 10 (2696) TOTAL 13 (3662)

May 10 [Day 73] (Valley View site) It was -2C at 0700 under cloudless skies, but the temperature rose to a high of 15.5C at 1800. Ground winds were generally light SW-W until 1800 after which they occasionally gusted to 23 km/h and ridge winds were mainly W light to moderate all day. After 1000 cumulus cloud began to develop and reached 80% at 1700 but subsequently thinned again to 20% at 1900. After 1000 observing conditions were excellent. It was again a good raptor movement for this late in the season with a total of 40 birds seen: the last 3 days have yielded 124 migrants. The first migrant was a juvenile Golden Eagle at 0836 but most movement occurred between 1306 and 1551 when 28 birds were recorded including 14 between 1500 and 1600. After 1600 things slowed down again and the last bird was a juvenile Golden Eagle at 1904. The 10 Red-tailed Hawks was the highest daily count since April 12 and included 7 juvenile birds and an adult dark-morph “Harlan’s Hawk”; the 12 Golden Eagles comprised 1 subadult and 11 juveniles and an adult light morph Broad-winged Hawk was only the second for the season. A single Vaux’s Swift flying low over me to the south at 1413 was the first record of the species at the count, and a female Western Tanager at 0820 was a first spring record for the site. A single very worn Satyr Comma at 1455 was just the 4th butterfly species recorded so far this season. Starting tomorrow we shall conduct the count from the Piitaistakis Ridge site as the access road to the parking area is now clear of snow and there are no longer thunderstorms in the forecast.13 hours (822.4) BAEA 4 (431), NOHA 2 (28), SSHA 9 (79), COHA 2 (15), BWHA 1 (2), RTHA 10 (186), GOEA 12 (2686) TOTAL 40 (3649)

May 9 [Day 72] (Valley View site) (Bill Wilson) The temperature reached a high of 10C from a low of -1C, ground winds were very variable and generally light and ridge winds were also mainly light. Cloud cover was 30-80% cumulus until noon after which it was 90-100% stratus and cumulus as periods of rain and hail developed in mid afternoon with the ridges partially obscured, and rain again developed after 1915 as a thunderstorm moved in from the WNW. It was another day of good raptor movement for May, with the first of 37 migrants, a juvenile Golden Eagle, moving at 0855, and with the exception of a period of rain from 1300 to 1440 there was steady movement throughout until the last juvenile Golden Eagle was logged at 1850. Maximum movement was 9 birds from 1100-1200 and again from 1800 to 1900. The 5 Northern Harriers (all adults: 1 male and 4 females) was the highest daily count so far, the 10 Golden Eagles comprised 3 subadults, 5 juveniles and 2 birds of unknown age, and a light morph Rough-legged Hawk at 1246 was the first seen in May at the site. The latest record of the species on a RMERF count, however, was May 16 at Mount Lorette. A male Brown-headed Cowbird was the first for the season and 7 days earlier than last year’s first occurrence, and a female Spruce Grouse was the first recorded on a spring count here. 13.33 hours (809.4) OSPR 1 (17), BAEA 1 (427), NOHA 5 (26), SSHA 3 (70), COHA 3 (13), NOGO 4 (104), RTHA 6 (176), RLHA 1 (26), GOEA 10 (2674), UE 1 (2) AMKE 1 (6), UF (large) 1 (3) TOTAL 37 (3609)

May 8 [Day 71] (Valley View site) The temperature reached 9C from a low of 1C, ground winds were variable to WSW increasing from 10 km/h at 0700 to 45 km/h at 1600, and ridge winds were WNW moderate becoming moderate to strong after 1300. Cloud cover was 20-50% mainly cumulus up to 1530 giving excellent observing conditions, but after 1530 the clouds thickened and darkened and at 1735 the site was hit by a thunderstorm bringing hail, sleet and finally wet snow as the temperature fell to 2C at 1900. Raptor movement started fairly early with a Cooper’s Hawk at 0918 and by 1200 14 migrants had moved north. Movement continued to be strong all afternoon and the final total of 47 birds of 12 species was the highest since April 18 and is the second highest daily May count at the site. The count included 6 Bald Eagles (4 subadults and 2 juveniles) and 13 Golden Eagles (2 subadults and 11 juveniles), 9 Red-tailed Hawks (including an adult dark morph Harlan’s Hawk which was the last bird of the day moving north at sleet started falling at 1736), the season’s 8th Ferruginous Hawk (an adult light morph) and the season’s 1st Broad-winged Hawk, an adult light morph, at 1730. This is now the second consecutive year that we have recorded all 18 species of Alberta diurnal raptor during the spring count. If this was not enough, the highlight of the day was a tight flock of about 80 American Golden Plovers that flew to the west at 1655 passing across the face of Turtle Mountain where it was clear that the entire underparts, including the undertail coverts, were black. The flock often wheeled in unison as a large black dot or comma in the sky and at one time suddenly burst apart before quickly reassembling as a tight group a few seconds later. The species is rare in the mountains and the flock was probably diverted to the west by developing thunderstorms over the prairies to the east. It is a new species for the count and is the 154th bird species recorded so far. 12.25 hours (796.1) OSPR 2 (16), BAEA 6 (426), NOHA 1 (21), SSHA 6 (67), COHA 2 (10), NOGO 3 (100), BWHA 1 (1), RTHA 9 (170), FEHA 1 (8), GOEA 13 (2664), AMKE 2 (5), UF (large) 1 TOTAL 47 (3572)

May 7 [Day 70] (Valley View site) Another gloomy day with 100% stratus and cumulus cloud cover all day, usually light W to variable ground winds, moderate W ridge winds and temperatures that ranged from 2C to 7C. Sleet and light rain persisted until 0945 and resumed at 1600 and by 1830 all ridges were obscured. Only 3 migrant raptors were seen: an Osprey at 1051, a juvenile Red-tailed Hawk at 1255 and a subadult Golden Eagle at 1714. A Vesper Sparrow singing at 0650 was the season’s first and occurred on the same date as last year. 11.5 hours (783.8) OSPR 1 (14), RTHA 1 (161), GOEA 1 (2651) TOTAL 3 (3525)

May 6 [Day 69] (Valley View site) The temperature ranged from 4C to 11C, ground winds were generally W-WSW gusting 30-40 km/h in the afternoon, and ridge winds were W generally moderate and only occasionally strong. Morning cloud cover was 70-100% altostratus and cumulus giving rather gloomy conditions, but after 1300 the cover broke to 30-60% mainly altocumulus giving excellent observing conditions. The day’s first migrant raptor was an adult Cooper’s Hawk at 0856, and the second bird did not appear until 1256 but subsequent movement was fairly steady and the total of 26 birds of 9 species was the highest count in10 days. The count included 14 Golden Eagles (2 subadults and 12 juveniles), the 2nd Swainson’s Hawk of the season at 1313 (an adult light morph) and the 7th Ferruginous Hawk at 1810 (also an adult light morph), and the last bird of the day was a subadult Golden Eagle at 1846. First records of Yellow-rumped (Audubon’s) Warbler and Brewer’s Blackbird were 1 and 2 days later respectively than last year’s first occurrences. 12.75 (772.3) BAEA 2 (420), NOHA 1 (20), SSHA 1 (61), COHA 1 (8), NOGO 1 (97), SWHA 1 (2), RTHA 4 (160), FEHA 1 (7), GOEA 14 (2650) TOTAL 26 (3522)

May 5 [Day 68] (Valley View site) It was a very windy day with ground winds W-WSW gusting to 70 km/h in mid afternoon and ridge winds strong W all day. Periodically squalls moved from the west producing rain and sleet showers, with one extended period of wet snow and sleet from 1300 to 1350 when all ridges were obscured, but there were also sunny periods when the cloud cover reduced to 60% cumulus. The temperature ranged from 6C to 11C so observation was not too uncomfortable, but there was little to look at as only 3 migrant raptors were recorded including a juvenile Golden Eagle at 1054. At 1806 the resident pair of Golden Eagles copulated just below the Livingstone Ridge, the first time that this has been observed this season. 12.5 hours (759.6) SSHA 1 (60), NOGO 1 (96), GOEA 1 (2636) TOTAL 3 (3496)

May 4 [Day 67] (Valley View site) The temperature reached 12C from a low of 4.5C, ground winds were generally W to SW gusting 40 km/h in the morning, moderating to 15-20 km/h in the afternoon and becoming light after 2000; ridge winds were W moderate to strong in the morning becoming moderate in the afternoon. Cloud cover for most of the day was 20-60% cumulus with cirrostratus developing after 1800 that thickened and reached 100% after 1900. Migration and observation conditions appeared to be ideal all day but the first raptor migrants, 2 juvenile Golden Eagles, did not appear until 1429 and by 1900 only 5 more migrants had been seen. At 1904, however, Golden Eagles began to move with 6 seen before 2000 and 4 more moving after 2000 with the last recorded at 2016. The 15 Golden Eagles comprised 3 subadults and 12 juveniles, and the total is the highest count for the species since April 26. 13.5 hours (741.1) NOHA 1 (19), SSHA 1 (59), GOEA 15 (2635) TOTAL 17 (3493)

May 3 [Day 66] (Valley View site) The temperature ranged from 6C to 13.5C, ground winds were variable to SW gusting to 40 km/h in the afternoon and ridge winds were W moderate to strong all day. Cloud cover ranged from 60-100% altostratus, cumulus, cirrostratus and cirrus giving good observation conditions all day. It was another slow day of raptor migration with the first bird, a Sharp-shinned Hawk, at 1012 and the last, an American Kestrel at 1854. The 6 Golden Eagles moved between 1351 and 1746 and comprised 1 subadult and 5 juveniles, and one of the resident birds made a single brief appearance at 1809. 12.33 (733.6) NOHA 2 (18), SSHA 2 (58), RTHA 2 (156), GOEA 6 (2620), AMKE 2 (3) TOTAL 14 (3476)

May 2 [Day 65] (Valley View site) The temperature rose to a welcome 14C from a low of -2C and most of the valley-bottom snow has now melted. There is still a lot higher up, but I am hopeful that we shall eventually get to the ridge before the end of the count! Ground winds were variable and generally light and only occasionally gusted up to18 km/h, while the upper winds were S moderate all day. The sky was essentially cloudless until 1400 when up to 90% cirrus cloud moved from the south giving welcome relief to very sore eyes. For the first time in a while we had some movement before noon with the first migrant, an Osprey, seen at 0945 and thereafter movement was slow but fairly steady until 1919 when the last bird, a Cooper’s Hawk, went north. For the first time this season we had a reasonable movement of Sharp-shinned Hawks (14, of which 8 were adults and 6 of unknown age), and all the migratory Red-tailed Hawks were dark morphs: 1 calurus juvenile, 2 harlani adults and 1 of unknown race and age. An adult Peregrine Falcon at 1624 was the 6th of the season equaling last year’s count total. No migratory eagles were seen, and one of the resident pair of Golden Eagles was only seen on a couple of occasions, each time low-intensity displaying, perhaps suggesting that nesting may have begun. A male Red-winged Blackbird flying north at 0756 was, surprisingly, the first record of the species on either spring or fall counts here, and a single Greater Sandhill Crane moving slowly and vocally north above the valley at 1325 was only the second spring record for the site and the first for May. 12.5 hours (721.2) OSPR 2 (13), SSHA 14 (56), COHA 2 (7), UA 1 (2), RTHA 4 (154), PEFA 1 (6) TOTAL 24 (3462)

May 1 [Day 64] (Valley View site) It was -5.5C with 1 cm of fresh snow at 0700, but by 1600 the temperature had risen to 10C under sunny skies. Ground winds were very light until noon after which they were SW gusting to 20 km/h until 1800 after which they again became very light. Upper winds were light to moderate N until 1000 after which they were light to moderate NW, and cloud cover was cumulus peaking at 60% at 1200 after which it quickly cleared and it was essentially cloudless after 1400 making the detection of migratory raptors challenging. The first migrant raptor, an Osprey, was not seen until 1250 after which movement was slow until 1840 when the last Sharp-shinned Hawk of the day flew north. The 8 migrant species included the season’s 6th Ferruginous Hawk, a light morph of undetermined age at 1630, and 3 juvenile Golden Eagles. 12.25 hours (708.7) OSPR 1 (11), BAEA 2 (418), NOHA 1 (16), SSHA 5 (42), COHA 1 (5), UA 1 (1), RTHA 3 (150), GOEA 3 (2614) TOTAL 18 (3438)

April 30 [Day 63] (Valley View site) The temperature ranged from -7C to 7.5C with variable light ground winds and upper winds that varied from E to W to N and which were also mainly light. Cloud cover ranged from 100% to 70% cumulus, altostratus and cirrus clouds allowing hazy sunshine all day. The only migrant raptor seen before 1500 was an adult male columbarius Merlin that perched for a couple of minutes before flying north at 1016. The other 16 migrants moved after 1509 and included 8 Golden Eagles (1 subadult and 7 juveniles), 2 adult Cooper’s Hawks (only the 3rd and 4th of the season), a male American Kestrel (the first ever seen at the site in April), and the last bird of the day at 1853 was an adult light morph Swainson’s Hawk, the first of the season. There was a significant songbird movement after 1700 including a flock of 160 American Robins and 500 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches that flew north in 3 flocks, and 5 American Pipits were the first seen at the site in April. 12.5 hours (696.5) BAEA 2 (416), SSHA 2 (37), COHA 2 (4), SWHA 1 (1), GOEA 8 (2611), AMKE 1 (1) MERL 1 (22) TOTAL 17 (3420)
April Summary Four full days were lost because of poor weather and a further 4 days were somewhat shortened because of weather. The 26 days spent in the field during April was the same as last year but the 304.7 hours was 6.1% less. During the month we counted a total of 797 migrant raptors of 17 species which is 34.24% lower than last April’s count with most of the deficit resulting from low counts of Sharp-shinned Hawks (30, -73.2%), Cooper’s Hawks (4, -76.5%), Red-tailed Hawks (132, -23.3%) and Golden Eagles (347, -46.29%). Other counts lower than last April’s count were Turkey Vulture (2, -33.3%), Northern Harrier (15, -21.1%), Northern Goshawk (47, -4.1%), Ferruginous Hawk (4, -55.6%), Peregrine Falcon (3, -25%) and Prairie Falcon (2, -75%), and no Broad-winged Hawks were counted this year compared with 2 last April. By contrast Bald Eagles (163, +34.7%), Rough-legged Hawks (9, +80%), Merlins (17, +30.8%) and Gyrfalcons (4, +33.3%) occurred in higher numbers than last year, while the single Swainson’s Hawk was the same as last year and an American Kestrel was the first counted in April. Compared to April 30, 2008 this year’s combined species count to date is 445 birds fewer, while the Golden Eagle count is 169 birds fewer.

April 29 [Day 62] (Valley View site) I arrived back at the site at 1045 and found 25 cm of fresh snow on the ground. The ridges were almost clear but light snow persisted until 1400 and ground winds were mainly NE 5 to 10 gusting 15 km/h until 1900 when it became calm. Ridge winds were NE moderate until 1500 after which they were E moderate to light and light after 1700. Cloud cover was 100% stratus and cumulus until 1900 when the clouds began to break up. Probably as the result of the generally light NE winds raptor movement was very slow with Ospreys at 1409 and 1628, and a subadult Golden Eagle at 1520 being the only migrants recorded. 8.5 hours (684) OSPR 2 (10), GOEA 1 (2603) TOTAL 3 (3403)

April 27, 28 [No observation] An intense weather system over Montana produced two days of almost continuous heavy snow completely occluding all ridges.

April 26 [Day 61] (Valley View site) Snow was forecast for this morning so I was looking forward to sleeping in but no such luck! There was 8 cm of fresh snow at the site and very light snow persisted until 0920 after which the ridges completely cleared. The temperature reached 6C from a low of -4C, ground winds were variable and light and the upper flow was E light until 1330 when it reversed to W light to moderate. Cloud cover was generally 100% stratus and cumulus occasionally thinning to 70%. At 1745 light snow began as a system moved slowly from the north and by 1830 the ridges were obscured. The first migrant raptor, again an adult Northern Goshawk, didn’t appear until 1202 but subsequent movement was steady and the day’s total of 43 was the highest count since April 18. Because of the light winds few birds were seen over the Livingstone Ridge and most moved above the valley after first soaring high to the south of us. The total of 8 Bald Eagles (2 adults, 3 subadults, 2 juveniles and 1 bird of unknown age) was the highest since April 9, and the 3 Ospreys and 6 Sharp-shinned Hawks were both highest counts for this season. A juvenile light morph Ferruginous Hawk at 1617 was the 5th record of the species so far, and a Rough-legged Hawk at 1317 equals last year for the latest record of the species at the site. The 16 Golden Eagles comprised 3 adults, 3 subadults, 8 juveniles and 2 birds of undetermined age. A Purple Finch heard singing near the site early in the morning was a new spring record for the site. 11.25 hours (675.5) OSPR 3 (8), BAEA 8 (414), SSHA 6 (35), NOGO 3 (95), RTHA 4 (147), FEHA 1 (5), RLHA 1 (25), UB 1 (2), GOEA 16 (2602) TOTAL 43 (3400)

April 25 [Day 60] (Valley View site) (Bill Wilson) The temperature reached 5C from a low of 0C; ground winds were variable and generally light while ridge winds were W light to moderate. Cloud cover was 100% stratus and cumulus all day, with light snow falling to 0820, followed by flurries and periods of light snow for much of the day. After 1500 moderate snow developed with the ridges gradually becoming obscured. The day’s first migrant raptor was an adult Northern Goshawk at 0946 and the last bird was also a goshawk which was the 9th of the day, the highest count this month. In between movement was fairly steady and included 6 Golden Eagles (2 adults and 4 juveniles) and 2 columbarius Merlins. The total of 27 migrant raptors was gratifying considering that the area was under a heavy snowfall warning for the whole day. 9 hours (664.2) SSHA 4 (29), NOGO 9 (92), RTHA 5 (143), GOEA 6 (2586), MERL 2 (21), UU 1 (2) TOTAL 27 (3357)

April 24 [Day 59] (Valley View site) I arrived at the site at 1100 and found 15 cm of fresh snow and 0C, but the day was mainly sunny with 20-90% cumulus cloud cover and the temperature rose by mid afternoon to 4C. Ground winds were mainly SW gusting to 35 km/h until 1600 after which they became light, but ridge winds were NW-WNW moderate to strong all day. The first migrant raptor was a juvenile Golden Eagle at 1138 but movement was initially slow with only 6 migrants seen before 1500. Between 1500 and 1700 we recorded 18 of the day’s 29 migrants including 12 of 17 Golden Eagles before movement again slowed with the last Golden Eagle moving north at 2013. The highlight of the day was the season’s 5th Gyrfalcon, an adult grey morph bird, that was first seen soaring with and being mobbed by a resident Prairie Falcon at 1623. Both birds moved north and when due east of us the tables were turned as the Gyrfalcon aggressively pursued the Prairie Falcon driving it back south. I had never seen these two species soaring together before and their size and shape difference was very striking: the Gyrfalcon was obviously female and the Prairie Falcon male. The 2 Merlins (adult male and female columbarius) brought the count total to19, one more than last spring’s count. Three of the day’s migrant Red-tailed Hawks were adult dark morph “Harlan’s”, and after only 1 adult Golden Eagle had been counted during the last week 6 came through today along with 1 subadult and 10 juveniles. The most remarkable of the day’s records, however, was a Mourning Cloak butterfly flying high to the north at 1208 when the air temperature was still only 1.5C: the radiant heat from the strong sunshine was obviously sufficient to get it moving. 9.5 hours (655.2) BAEA 3 (406), SSHA 1 (25), RTHA 5 (138), GOEA 17 (2580), MERL 2 (19), GYRF 1 (5) TOTAL 29 (3330)

April 23 [No observation] Yesterday’s afternoon rain turned to snow by evening and heavy wet snow fell until around 1500 when it quickly cleared. A moderate N wind and a temperature of -10C, however, did not tempt me to abandon working on my tax return and it’s unlikely that I missed any migrant raptors.

April 22 [Day 58] (Valley View site) The temperature was 10C at 0700, rose to 15C at 1100 and rapidly fell to 7C at 1400. Ground winds were W-SW gusting 40-50 km/h until 1400 when they dropped to 10-20 km/h and ridge winds were W-WNW moderate to strong all day. Cloud cover was only 5% at 0700 but quickly increased to 100% altostratus and cumulus at 1100 then thickened to stratocumulus after 1200 with light rain starting which became persistent after 1340. The day’s first migrants were the season’s first 2 Turkey Vultures, both adults, at 0852, with the 3rd bird, an adult female Northern Harrier moving at 1020. There followed a light but varied raptor movement up to 1329 when the last bird of the day, an adult male Northern Harrier, moved north in the steadily increasing rain. 9.25 hours (645.7) TUVU 2 (2), OSPR 2 (5), BAEA 2 (403), NOHA 3 (15), NOGO 1 (83), RTHA 1 (133) GOEA 3 (2563) TOTAL 14 (3301)

April 21 [Day 57] (Valley View site) The temperature was already 11C at 0700 and reached a season-high 21C at 1600. Ground winds were W-SW all day gusting 15-25 km/h in the morning and steadily increasing to 50 km/h after 1830, and ridge winds were W moderate to strong all day. An arch of thick altocumulus cloud provided a gloomy morning to1000, but it broke up giving 30-60% mainly altostratus and cirrus cover before thicker altostratus moved slowly from the north after 1630 giving up to 90% cloud cover. The day’s first migrant raptor was the season’s second Cooper’s Hawk at 1158 and subsequently movement was slow but persistent up to 2023 when the last Golden Eagle went north. The highest hourly count was 6 from 1300-1400. The 7 Bald Eagles comprised 1 subadult and 6 juveniles while the 10 Golden Eagles were 1 adult, 2 subadults and 7 juveniles. One of the 4 migrant Red-tailed Hawks was an adult intermediate morph “Harlan’s Hawk”. First records of Red-naped Sapsucker, Brown Creeper and Ruby-crowned Kinglet brought the season’s bird species total to 61. A Mourning Cloak was the 3rd butterfly species and individual of the season, the previous 2 being a Milbert’s Tortoiseshell on April 11 and a Green Comma on April 17. The rarity of butterflies despite several days of warm weather suggests that the exceptionally long cold winter has taken a toll on species that over-winter as adults. 13.83 hours (636.5) OSPR 1 (3), BAEA 7 (401), NOHA 3 (12), SSHA 1 (24), COHA 1 (2), NOGO 1 (82), RTHA 4 (132), GOEA 10 (2560) TOTAL 28 (3287)

April 20 [Day 56] (Valley View site) The temperature reached a season-high 18.5C from a low of 8C and ground winds were generally WSW to W gusting 40 km/h decreasing to 10-15 km/h after 1700. Ridge winds were WNW moderate to strong all day, and cloud cover was 40-80% altocumulus, altostratus and cirrus all day providing an excellent viewing backdrop. Unfortunately there was nothing to be seen until 1336 when a Rough-legged Hawk moved north, and movement remained sporadic until 1734 when the last bird of the day, an adult Sharp-shinned Hawk, was seen: seven of the day’s 15 migrants occurred between 1400 and 1500. The 8 migrant Golden Eagles comprised 2 subadults and 6 juveniles and, unlike yesterday, the resident pair was conspicuous after 1500 with the male displaying vigorously on several occasions. 12.25 hours BAEA 1 (394), NOHA 1 (9), SSHA 2 (23), NOGO 1 (81), RTHA 1 (128), RLHA 1 (24), GOEA 8 (2550) TOTAL 15 (3259)

April 19 [Day 55] (Valley View site) The temperature reached 14C at 1500 from a low of -1C and ground winds were generally W-SW light to 1100 then gusted 30 km/h to 1200 and gusted 40-60 km/h in the afternoon. Ridge winds were W moderate to strong becoming WNW after 1900, and cloud cover was 30-90% altocumulus, altostratus, cirrus and cumulus usually giving good observation conditions. The first raptor migrant was the day’s only Northern Goshawk at 1021 followed by a subadult Golden Eagle at 1029, but by 1420 only 2 further birds had been recorded. The pace then increased somewhat with 4 birds in the next hour and became positively vigorous between 1500 and 1600 when 15 of the day’s 34 birds passed. The pace then slackened again with the last bird, a juvenile Golden Eagle seen at 1931. Most of the movement was above the valley with relatively few birds following the ridge. A juvenile grey morph Gyrfalcon at 1420 was the 4th of the season, one of the 9 migratory Red-tailed Hawks was an adult dark morph “Harlan’s”, and the 18 Golden Eagles comprised 5 subadults and 13 juveniles. Neither of the resident Golden Eagles was seen today. 13.16 hours (610.4) BAEA 1 (393), NOHA 1 (8), SSHA 3 (21), NOGO 1 (80), RTHA 9 (127), GOEA 18 (2542), GYRF (1 (4) TOTAL 34 (3244)

April 18 [Day 54] (Valley View site) (Vance Mattson) The temperature ranged from 1C to 11C, ground winds were generally SW-W gusting 30-50 km/h until 2000 when they became light and ridge winds were W moderate to strong all day. Cloud cover was 10-90% thin altostratus, cirrus and cumulus giving excellent observation conditions. It was the highest combined species count for 6 days with 51 birds of 11 species moving. The first bird, an adult Northern Goshawk, occurred at 0932 and movement was then fairly steady for the rest of the day with the last Golden Eagle gliding high to the north at 2040 and the last bird of the day, a juvenile Bald Eagle, still moving north at 2045, the latest bird ever at the site. The season’s first Osprey was recorded at 1051, one day later than last year, and both Northern Harrier (3) and Sharp-shinned Hawk (4) had their best day so far, although Cooper’s Hawks are still conspicuously absent. An adult light morph Ferruginous Hawk at 1105 was the season’s 4th and an adult Peregrine Falcon at 1059 was the 5th. The total of 21 Golden Eagles comprised 5 subadults, 15 juveniles and one bird of undetermined age, and the resident pair was observed copulating high on Morin Peak at 1922. 13.08 hours (597.3) OSPR 2 (2), BAEA 7 (392), NOHA 3 (7), SSHA 4 (18), NOGO 3 (79), RTHA 6 (118), FEHA 1 (4), RLHA 2 (23), GOEA 21 (2524), MERL 1 (17), PEFA 1 (5) TOTAL 51 (3210)

April 17 [Day 53] (Valley View site) The temperature reached 14C from a low of 1C, and ground winds were generally light and variable to1335 when they became W-WSW gusting 30-50 km/h until 1800 after which they became generally light again. Ridge winds were W moderate to strong all day, and cloud cover was 20-100% cirrus and cirrostratus until 1400 when thick altostratus quickly developed as a Chinook arch which persisted until late in the day. Once again raptor movement was slow and sporadic with the first migrant, a Red-tailed Hawk appearing at 0941, but by 1500 only 3 birds had been seen. The first Golden Eagle didn’t move until 1554 and only 6 further were seen, the flight comprising 3 subadults and 4 juveniles. A little variety was added by the late movement of a Rough-legged Hawk and an adult male Northern Harrier, and the last bird was the day’s second subadult Bald Eagle at 1937. The Golden Eagle counted at 1629 was the 2500th of the season, 9 days later than the mark was reached last year, and the count for the species is now 154 fewer than at this time last year. A male American Three-toed Woodpecker was the first recorded on a spring count here. 13 hours (584.2) BAEA 2 (385), NOHA 1 (4), RTHA 2 (112), RLHA 1 (21), GOEA 7 (2503) TOTAL 13 (3159)

April 16 [Day 52] (Valley View site) A cloudless sky allowed the starting temperature to fall to -5C, but it eventually rose to a high of 10.5C. The first traces of cumulus cloud appeared at 0900 and by 1100 cumulus cover was 80% after which it gradually dwindled becoming cloudless again after 1800. Both ground and ridge winds were mainly light all day, the ridge winds being E until 1330 and then W, but in each case the clouds were hardly moving. It was another slow day for raptor movement with the first migrant, a Rough-legged Hawk, not seen until 1131. Eight of the day’s 19 birds occurred between 1500 and 1600 but subsequently only 4 more birds were seen with the last, an adult Bald Eagle, moving north at 1810. At 1746 a flock of 6 high soaring adult California Gulls contained a single adult Herring Gull, the first to be seen on a spring count here, and at 1914 another flock of 20 California Gulls soared high above the Livingstone Ridge before moving off to the east. 12.33 hours (571.2) BAEA 5 (383), NOGO 1 (76), RTHA 4 (110), RLHA 1 (20), GOEA 6 (2496), MERL 2 (16) TOTAL 19 (3146)

April 15 [Day 51] (Valley View site) There was steady snow until noon when it eased and the ridges began to clear. I arrived at the site at 1300 and snow flurries and light snow continued until 1700, although the ridges were more or less clear. The temperature reached 5C and winds were NE gusting to 25 km/h changing to NW after 1800. Despite the conditions there was a sporadic raptor movement between 1440 and 1759, with most birds quickly losing height after soaring. At 1625 3 apparently resident adult Golden Eagles soared together over the valley for several minutes with no agonistic behaviour before gliding together to the south. 6.33 hours (558.8) BAEA 1 (378), SSHA 2 (14), RTHA 4 (106), GOEA 3 (2490), UF 1 (1) TOTAL 11 (3127)

April 14 [Day 50] (Valley View site) The day started promisingly with 5-10% cumulus cloud, a temperature of -2.5C and moderate NW ridge winds. After 1000 cloud rapidly built up and snow moved from the north at 1100 and by 1115 all ridges were obscured. Winds for the rest of the day were light to moderate NE to N with extended periods of wet snow and snow pellets and some periods of clearing, with the temperature rising to a high of 3C. All the day’s migrant raptors moved between 1009 and 1206 and included 2 adult female Northern Harriers and 9 Red-tailed Hawks, one of which was an adult dark morph harlani. Despite occasional clearing in the afternoon no further movement happened, and as yet another wall of snow moved down from the NE at 1800 I gave up. 11.16 hours (552.5) NOHA 2 (3), NOGO 1 (75), RTHA 9 (102), GOEA 1 (2487) TOTAL 13 (3116)

April 13 [Day 49] (Valley View site) (Vance Mattson) It was the coolest day in 8 days with the temperature reaching a high of 6C from a low of 0C and returning to 0C at 2000. Ground winds were mainly W gusting to 40 km/h in mid afternoon, but dropping to less than 10 km/h after 1900. Ridge winds were W strong until 1900 when they dropped to light-moderate, and cloud cover was 30-70% cumulus and altostratus giving good observation conditions apart from 100% low stratus producing heavy wet snow before 0900, and a few light flurries in the afternoon. Raptor movement was slow and sporadic starting with 2 Golden Eagles at 0930, with a highest hourly count of only 5 between 1900 and 2000, including 4 Red-tailed Hawks, one of which appeared to have had most of its tail shot away. The last bird of the day was a juvenile Golden Eagle still gliding north at 2027, by far the latest bird this season. All 8 Red-tailed Hawks were adult light morph calurus and the 15 Golden Eagles comprised 4 adults and 11 juveniles. 12.58 hours (541.4) BAEA 1 (377), SSHA 1 (12), RTHA 8 (93), GOEA 15 (2486) TOTAL 25 (3103)
Mount Lorette (Joel Duncan) The temperature also ranged from 0-6C with strong SW ridge winds dropping in the evening and 50-100% stratus, cumulus, stratocumulus and cirrus cloud cover. The day saw 3 periods of snow showers and the mountains to the south and west were obscured for most of the day. No migrant raptors were seen, but Joel recorded the first American Pipit of the season. This concludes the Mount Lorette comparative count, which has been conducted on 41 of 44 possible days between March 01 and April 13. Both the Golden Eagle and combined species count are by far the lowest ever recorded during this period in 17 years of counting at the Mount Lorette site. Final count: 41 days (458.67 hours) BAEA 75, SSHA 6, COHA 5, NOGO 7, RTHA 6, RLHA 3, GOEA 872, MERL 1, PEFA 1, UA 2, UB 1, UE 4, UF 1 TOTAL 984

April 12 [Day 48] (Valley View site) It was an uncomfortable day of viewing with ground winds generally SW all day gusting to 60 km/h in the morning and 40 km/h in the afternoon with a temperature high of 8.5C and a low of 2C. Ridge winds were W-WSW strong to moderate all day and cloud cover ranged from 20-100% cumulus, altocumulus and lenticular providing mainly sunny conditions and excellent detection conditions. Despite yesterday’s late movement the first migrant, a Red-tailed Hawk, was not seen until 1104, but it was quickly followed by several more initially moving to the west presumably to get lift into the strong winds, before settling to the usual movement to the north along the Livingstone Ridge. The final Red-tailed Hawk count of 34 was the highest ever for a RMERF spring count, the previous highest being 24 here on April 26 last year. The flight included 25 adult light morph calurus birds, 3 adult dark morph calurus and 2 adult dark morph harlani, and the last bird of the day at 1850 was also a Red-tail. Golden Eagle movement was fairly steady between 1205 and 1844 with the 32 birds counted comprising 9 adults, 11 subadults, 9 juveniles and 3 birds of undetermined age. An adult male Northern Harrier at 1320 was the first for the season, and a Gyrfalcon soaring high with a Red-tailed Hawk at 1125 was the season’s third. 12.5 hours (528.8) BAEA 5 (376), NOHA 1 (1), RTHA 34 (85), GOEA 32 (2471), MERL 2 (14), GYRF 1 (3) TOTAL 75 (3078)
Mount Lorette (Bill Wilson) At Lorette the temperature ranged from -1C to 11C with morning ground winds W 5-10 km/h in the morning and S gusting to 30 km/h in the afternoon. Ridge winds were generally W moderate to strong all day and cloud cover was 60-80% cumulus to 1400 after which up to 100% altostratus developed. Unfortunately, between 1100 and 1500 the sky behind Mount Lorette and the Fisher Range to the N and E respectively was completely cloudless which added to the challenge of detecting high-flying migrants. A good number were detected, however, with a total of 51 Golden Eagles counted between 0946 and 1930 which comprised 18 adults, 9 subadults, 18 juveniles and 6 birds of undetermined age, which compares well with yesterday’s flight at P-SL. Maximum movement was 15 from 1500 to 1600, with 14 of these birds moving between 1503 and 1529. Tomorrow will be the last day of the Lorette comparison count.14 hours (446.2) BAEA 3 (75), GOEA 51 (872) TOTAL 54 (984)

April 11 [Day 47] (Valley View site) The temperature ranged from -2 to a season-equaling high of 14.5C between 1400 and 1600, then falling rapidly to 6C at 2000 as a small system moved through in the late afternoon occluding the Continental Divide to the west. Ground winds were mainly W to SW light in the morning and gusting to 30 km/h in the afternoon, and ridge winds were moderate W to 1700 when they shifted to moderate NW. It was cloudless at 0700 but cumulus cirrus and lenticular cloud progressively thickening to 90-100% altostratus and stratocumulus cloud after 1800. The first migrant raptor was an adult Bald Eagle at 1022 and subsequent movement was slow and sporadic like that of the last couple of days until 1730 when the pace increased significantly with the passage of 42 of the day’s 69 migrants, the last of which went north at 1954. The 46 Golden Eagles counted (22 adults, 11 subadults and 13 juveniles) was the highest total since March 31, and a couple of adult Peregrine Falcons were also among the evening rush. The Golden Eagle at 1921 was the 3000th migrant raptor of the season, the mark being reached 5 days later than last year. 13.25 hours (516.3) BAEA 7 (371), SSHA 2 (11), NOGO 5 (74), RTHA 7 (51), GOEA 46 (2439), PEFA 2 (4) TOTAL 69 (3003)
Mount Lorette (Cliff Hansen) The temperature reached 13C at 1400 from a low of -5C, surface winds were W-SW light in the morning and gusting 20 km/h in the afternoon, and ridge winds were moderate to strong SW all day. It was cloudless to 1000, the cumulus, cirrus and altostratus cover progressively increased to 100% stratus at 1900 with light rain and partial occlusion of the ridges. Only 4 migrant raptors were recorded between 1200 and 1807, the lone Golden Eagle at 1736 being a juvenile. 12.5 hours (432.2) COHA 1 (5), UA 1 (2) RTHA 1 (6) GOEA 1 (821) TOTAL 4 (930)

April 10 [Day 46] (Valley View site) It was yet another warm sunny day with the temperature rising to 13C from a low of 2C. Ground winds were mainly SW gusting to 30 km/h in the afternoon and ridge winds were W moderate all day. Cloud cover ranged from 10-100% thin altostratus, cirrostratus and cirrus generally providing good observing conditions. It was another slow day of raptor movement although birds moved throughout the period 1030 to1756. All 7 Red-tailed Hawks were adult light morph calurus and moved between 1525 and 1756, and the 11 Golden Eagles comprised 5 adults, 4 subadults and 2 juveniles. After a movement of 98 Bald Eagles in the last 6 days not one was seen today. Not only is raptor movement slow but no new songbirds have appeared in several days, although wintering birds have dwindled rapidly. 12.33 hours (503) NOGO 3 (69), RTHA 7 (44), GOEA 11 (2393), MERL 1 (12) TOTAL 22 (2934)
Mount Lorette (George Halmazna) Weather conditions were similar with the temperature ranging from 2C to 12C, cloud cover of 20-80% mainly cirrus and cumulus and probably light to moderate SW ridge winds. The only migrant raptor seen was an adult Bald Eagle at 1432, but a total of 31 bird species was recorded including the season’s first Ruby-crowned Kinglet. 13 hours (419.7) BAEA 1 (72) TOTAL 1 (926)

April 9 [Day 45] (Valley View site) It was another warm day with a high of 14C and a low of 4C, ground winds were mainly SW gusting to 25 km/h and ridge winds were moderate WSW all day. Cloud cover was a 60-90% mixture of altostratus, altocumulus, cirrus, cumulus and lenticular providing mainly hazy sunshine and excellent observing conditions. Although raptor movement was better than it was yesterday, the 27 birds counted is still below what would be expected for this time of year. The first raptor was a juvenile Golden Eagle at 1042 and movement peaked at 8 birds between 1500 and 1600 with only 2 more birds recorded after 1600, the last being a subadult Bald Eagle at 1806. Conditions for migration were excellent all day so the reason for the relative lack of birds lies elsewhere. The 11 Bald Eagles comprised 6 adults, 2 subadults and 3 juveniles, while all but one of the 9 Golden Eagles were juveniles, the other being an adult. The resident Golden Eagle situation continues to be confusing with 3 adults performing low-intensity displays together at 1815 while a fourth adult displayed about a kilometre to the south. 12.33 hours (490.7) BAEA 11 (364), NOGO 3 (66), RLHA 3 (37), GOEA 9 (2382), MERL 1 (11) TOTAL 27 (2912)
Mount Lorette (Cliff Hansen) The temperature rose to 12C from 4C, surface winds were light W to variable until noon, gusting to 30 km/h in the afternoon before becoming light again after 1700. Ridge winds were light to 1100 then moderate to 1700 when they were strong for an hour before diminishing again. Cloud cover was 20-80% altocumulus, cirrus and cumulus. The first migrant raptor was an adult Bald Eagle at 1051 followed by a long raptor-less period broken at 1702 when 5 eagles (1 Bald and 4 Golden) were seen soaring together over the Fisher Range. Eleven of the day’s 17 migrants moved between 1700 and 1800, and the last bird, an adult Golden Eagle, was recorded at 1927. At 1830 a Tree Swallow feeding over the Hay Meadow cut a clear swath through a swarm of moths that were highlighted by sun breaking through snow clouds to the west. 11.25 hours (406.7) BAEA 3 (71), NOGO 1 (7), GOEA 13 (820) TOTAL 17 (925)

April 8 [Day 44] (Valley View site) The temperature reached 11.5C from a low of -1C and was still 9C at 1900. Both the ground and ridge winds were generally light W to 1300 and subsequently SE to E. Cloud cover was 70-100% altostratus, altocumulus and cirrus giving excellent observation conditions, although there was very little to observe with only 11 migrants counted between 1038 and the season’s first Cooper’s Hawk 1757. Even the resident Golden Eagles which have been very conspicuous over the last couple of weeks were only seen a couple of times, and no display was seen. The relative lack of migrants did not dampen the enthusiasm of a second class of students from Isabelle Seton School in Blairmore. 12.33 hours (478.4) BAEA 6 (353), COHA 1 (1), NOGO 2 (63), RTHA 1 (34), GOEA 1 (2373) TOTAL 11 (2885)
Mount Lorette (Jim Davis) The temperature ranged from -4C to 11C, ridge winds were S in the morning then SE light after noon, and cloud cover was 10% to 1000 and then 40-80% altostratus, cirrostratus and cumulus. Birds moved between 1130 and 1600, and half the 10 migrants counted were Golden Eagles (3 adults, 1 subadult and 1 juvenile). 12 hours (395.4) BAEA 1 (68), SSHA 1 (6), COHA 2 (4), UB 1 (1), GOEA 5 (808) TOTAL 10 (908)

April 7 [Day 43] (Valley View site) It was the warmest day so far with the temperature reaching 14.5C from a low of -1C. Ridge winds were W moderate until 1700 after which they became light, and cloud cover was initially 90% thin altostratus and cirrostratus gradually diminishing to 0% after 1700. The general dynamic was similar to that of yesterday with birds moving sporadically with prolonged periods with no movement. Birds moved from 1037 to 1752 after which migration ceased, with calm conditions and a cloudless sky. The 16 Golden Eagles comprised 4 adults, 5 subadults and 7 juvenile birds, and the resident pair was seen copulating high on the ridge at 1800. One of the 5 Red-tailed Hawks was an adult dark morph “Harlan’s Hawk”. At 1847 a late subadult Golden Eagle was seen displaying on a couple of occasions during the evening near the ridge-top observation site. A visiting grade 7 science class from Isabelle Seton School in Blairmore saw displaying and migrating Golden Eagles and other raptors and greatly enjoyed the sunny day, as we enjoyed their visit. 12.25 hours (466) BAEA 12 (347), SSHA 1 (9), NOGO 4 (61), RTHA 5 (33), GOEA 16 (2372), MERL 1 (10) TOTAL 39 (2874)
Mount Lorette (Jim Davis) The temperature ranged from -5C to 13C under sunny skies with only 10-20% altostratus and cirrostratus cloud cover, and ridge winds were SW light to moderate. The first Golden Eagle appeared at 0934 and maximum movement was 2 Bald Eagles and 3 Golden Eagles between 1700 and 1800, with the last Bald Eagle moving at 1839. A pair of Mountain Bluebirds was the first for the season, and 3 Northern Shrikes frequented the Hay Meadow adjacent to the site. 12.5 hours (383.4) BAEA 4 (67), COHA 1 (2), RTHA 2 (5), GOEA 8 (802) TOTAL 15 (898)

April 6 [Day 42] (Valley View site) The temperature was already 3C at 0700 and reached a season high 13C at 1500. Ground winds were very variable in the morning before settling down to W-SW gusting to 40 km/h in the afternoon, and ridge winds were W strong to moderate all day. A Chinook arch to the east dissipated after 1000 and 70-90% altostratus and cirrus cloud gradually diminished to 0% at 1800. Raptor movement was very sporadic between 0955 and 1825, with the exception of Bald Eagles with 23 birds moving between 1222 and 1809: the last 3 days have yielded 79 birds. Immature Bald Eagles are now occurring in numbers similar to adults with today’s flight comprising 12 adults, 6 subadults and 5 juveniles. Golden Eagle movement was disappointing with only 12 birds (4 adults, 5 subadults and 3 juveniles) seen, and of these 5 occurred between 1000 and 1100 and another 4 from 1700 to 1800. The resident Golden Eagles were again active displaying and at one time 3 adults were seen displaying simultaneously (albeit one was distant from the other two) suggesting that birds from adjacent home ranges may be vying for the same space. 12.5 hours (453.8) BAEA 23 (335), NOGO 2 (57), RTHA 1 (28), GOEA 12 (2356), MERL 1 (9), PRFA 2 (13), UU 1 (1) TOTAL 43 (2835)
Mount Lorette (Cliff Hansen and Joel Duncan) Joel had car problems so Cliff observed from 0930 and was relieved by Joel at 1200. The temperature ranged from 4C to 11C, cloud cover was around 20% Chinook arch to the east and cirrus all day, and ridge winds were strong SW all day. All raptor movement was confined to the period 1201 to 1330 and comprised 5 Golden Eagles and the first Merlin for the site this season. 10.75 (370.9) GOEA 5 (794), MERL 1 (1) TOTAL 6 (883)

April 5 [Day 41] (Valley View site) Finally a spring-like day! The temperature rose to 11C from a low of -8C, ground winds were variable to SW/WSW light in the morning but gusting to 30 km/h in the afternoon and ridge winds were generally W light in the morning but strengthening in mid afternoon before moderating again in the evening. The sky was cloudless until 0900 when thin cirrus began to develop that gradually spread to 90% at 1900 and thickened by late afternoon providing excellent observing conditions. Early morning movement was slow with only 2 Golden Eagles passing before 1100. The pace subsequently quickened although there were a number of periods without birds, but it was only after 1800 that there was concerted movement with 30 of the day’s 81 migrants occurring, the last going north at 1957. The counts of 8 Red-tailed Hawks (all calurus) and 3 Merlins (all columbarius) were the highest yet this season, and the 30 Bald Eagles is the second highest count after the 35 on March 21. For the first time immature Golden Eagles (17, 51.5%: 10 subadults and 7 juveniles) outnumbered adults (16), and other highlights included a stunningly white adult Ferruginous Hawk and a very pale grey morph adult Gyrfalcon. The 9 species of migrant raptors equals the season high, and a non-migrant Prairie Falcon was also seen. The resident pair of Red-tailed Hawks comprises a light and rufous morph as last year (the same birds?) and attempted copulation was seen at 1630. The resident pair of Golden Eagles was conspicuous all day, on occasion displaying together, and in the afternoon they were joined by a non-migrant juvenile bird which at 1642 engaged in a prolonged high-intensity display with one of the adult birds. The first Tree Swallow of the year appeared at 1127, 3 day’s later than last year’s first occurrence. 13.33 hours (441.3) BAEA 30 (312), SSHA 1 (8), NOGO 2 (54), RTHA 8 (27), FEHA 1 (3), RLHA 2 (19), GOEA 33 (2344), MERL 3 (8), GYRF 1 (2) TOTAL 81 (2792)
Mount Lorette (Bill Wilson) The temperature ranged from -10C to 10C , ridge winds were W to SW moderate, diminishing in the afternoon, and cloud cover was 70-100% cirrus and cirrostratus for most of the day except for 1300-1500 when it fell to 10-20%, but generally observing conditions were good. The first migrant, a Golden Eagle, was seen at 1049 but by 1300 only 1 more bird had moved. The rate then gradually increased with maximum passage of 10 birds from 1900 to 2000, with the last Golden Eagle moving at 1955. The count of 16 Bald Eagles was by far the highest this season, and 50% of the 32 Golden Eagles seen were immature (7 subadults and 9 juveniles), gratifyingly similar to the P-SL totals. 13.83 hours (360.2) BAEA 16 (63), NOGO 1 (6), RLHA 1 (3), GOEA 32 (789) TOTAL 50 (877)

April 4 [Day 40] (Valley View site) Light snow continued until 1000 and the ridges didn’t fully clear until the early afternoon. The temperature rose to 4C from a low of -6C, ground winds were variable and light while the winds at ridge level were also light to possibly moderate SE to 1100 then SW to 1600 and finally E for the rest of the day. Cloud cover of 80-100% stratus and cumulus to 1400 gave way to progressively diminishing cumulus which essentially disappeared after 1830. The light winds meant that most birds moved to the west of the Livingstone Ridge, soaring high to the south of us before gliding high to the north above the valley. The day’s first migrant raptor, an adult Northern Goshawk, was not seen until 1140 and by 1600 only 7 migrants had been recorded. After 1600, however, movement significantly increased with the next 4 hours yielding 18, 18 10 and 7 migrants respectively with the last bird, a Red-tailed Hawk gliding slowly to the N at 1952. Movement was generally slow with eagles sometimes soaring for as much as 11 minutes before gliding to the north: at 1657 8 Bald Eagles soared together, and the day’s total of 27 (17 adults, 7 subadults and 2 juveniles) is the second highest this season. The 27 Golden Eagles counted included a season high 37% immature birds (8 subadults and 2 juveniles), and all 5 migrant Buteos were dark morphs: 3 adult Red-tailed Hawks, 1 adult Ferruginous Hawk and 1 Rough-legged Hawk. The clear and relatively warm afternoon weather produced a varied passerine movement for the first time in a while and the day’s total bird species count reached 30 for the first time this season. 13.08 hours (428) BAEA 26 (282), NOGO 2 (52), RTHA 3 (19), FEHA 1 (2), RLHA 1 (17), GOEA 27 (2311) TOTAL 60 (2711)
Mount Lorette (Doug Pedersen) The temperature ranged from -10C to 4C, ground winds were light and ridge winds were SW moderate to strong. Skies were cloudless to 1100 then 30-60% cumulus developed for the rest of the day giving excellent observing conditions. Only 2 birds moved before noon: a Bald Eagle and the season’s first Cooper’s Hawk, and the first of the day’s 47 Golden Eagles did not appear until 1308 with the last recorded at 1947. The 3 Red-tailed Hawks were also the first seen at the site this season and the 5 Bald Eagles is the highest daily count so far. 13.42 hours (346.3) BAEA 5 (47), COHA 1 (1), RTHA 3 (3), GOEA 47 (757) TOTAL 56 (827)

April 3 [No observation] Snow all day (4cm fresh) with light to moderate SE winds and ridges substantially obscured all day. I went to the site for a couple of hours in mid afternoon when the cloud appeared to be lifting but it didn’t!
Mount Lorette (George Halmazna) The temperature ranged from -8C to 1.5C and winds were initially light E, switching to N in the afternoon. Cloud formed over the ridges by late morning and stayed there for the rest of the day and there were snow flurries throughout much of the afternoon. The sun was visible through the clouds all day giving the prospect of a clearing that never came. The day’s only migrant raptor was a juvenile Bald Eagle. 13 hours (332.9) BAEA 1 (42) TOTAL 1 (771)

April 2 [Day 39] (Valley View site) (Vance Mattson) The temperature ranged from -6C to 4C with light W to variable ground winds which were probably light to moderate on the ridge. Cloud cover was 70-90% altostratus, altocumulus and lenticular cloud until 1100, after which it was 100% stratus with some imbedded cumulus. Periods of snow, flurries and sleet occurred after 1300, with the ridges becoming variably obscured. I took the early shift from 0700 to 0830 and had 2 adult Bald Eagles move north at 0720: the earliest migrants of the season so far. Vance took over at 0830 and didn’t see another migrant until 1103 when a Golden Eagle moved north and movement was then sporadic with the highest hour being 1500-1600 when 5 Golden Eagles passed. The day’s last bird was a Golden Eagle at 1611. 11.33 hours (414.9) BAEA 3 (256), UB 1 (1), GOEA 12 (2284) TOTAL 16 (2651)
Mount Lorette (Cliff Hansen) The temperature reached 2C from a low of -10C and ridge winds were light SW in the morning becoming moderate in the afternoon. Cloud cover was 40-90% cumulus and cirrus becoming 100% stratus after 1500 producing light flurries and partially obscuring the Fisher Range. The first 2 migrant Golden Eagles did not appear until 1212 and the movement peaked between 1300 and 1400 with the passage of 2 Bald Eagles and 10 Golden Eagles. Movement thereafter became sporadic as the clouds lowered, with the last bird flapping low towards the NW at 1743. 12.5 hours (319.9) BAEA 4 (41), GOEA 21 (710) TOTAL 25 (770)

April 1 [Day 38] (Valley View site) There was 4 cm of fresh snow on the ground and the early temperature was -8C with light NE ground winds and light to moderate WSW ridge winds, and with 90% altostratus and cumulus cloud cover clearing to 20% at 0800 prospects looked good. However, this proved to be a cruel April Fools joke as snow started at 0910 and it continued to snow intermittently for the rest of the day with the ridges being variably occluded and often when they were clear snow made observation difficult. The temperature rose to 1C and afternoon winds were SW moderate to strong. Raptor movement was exceptionally sporadic with 9 of the day’s 12 migrants moving in a relatively clear period between 1320 and 1540 and the last bird was an unidentified eagle that disappeared into the snow at 1823. The highlight of the day was a single flock of 57 Trumpeter Swans, including 2 conspicuously dark juvenile birds, flying high over the Livingstone Range towards the east at 1102. 11.75 hours (403.5) NOGO 2 (50), RTHA 1 (16), GOEA 8 (2272), UE 1 (1) TOTAL 12 (2635)
Mount Lorette (Cliff Hansen) The weather was very changeable with mountains to the west and south obscured all day. The temperature rose to 0C from a low of -6C, ridge winds were SW moderate to strong and cloud cover was cumulus, altocumulus and stratus ranging from 20% early in the day to 100% for much of the rest of the day. It snowed between 1100 and 1400 with everything obscured, but the eastern ridges partially cleared in the afternoon although flurries persisted for the rest of the day. The first migrant, an adult Bald Eagle, did not appear until 1458 and the reminder of the day’s 17 migrants, 13 Golden Eagles and 3 more Bald Eagles, all moved between 1616 and 1911 with most seen 1700 to 1800 (7 Golden Eagles and 1 Bald Eagle). 11.75 hours (307.4) BAEA 4 (37), GOEA 13 (689) TOTAL 17 (745)

March 31 [Day 37] (Valley View site) The temperature ranged from -2C to 7C and ground winds were very variable in the morning becoming westerly in the afternoon gusting 25-30 km/h. Ridge winds were W moderate until 1400 when they moved to NW, and cloud cover was a mixture of cumulus, altostratus, lenticular and cirrus ranging from 50 to 100% and usually providing good viewing conditions. At 1800 dark stratus cloud started moving from the north and at 1830 a cold front passed quickly reducing the temperature to -1C with N winds bringing heavy snow that completely obscured everything. Raptor movement started fairly early with a Bald Eagle moving at 0742 followed by 2 Golden Eagles before 0800, but movement was generally fairly slow and sporadic until after 1400 when the next 2 hours produced 16 migrants each. The day saw movement of a season high 9 species of raptor including the first Gyrfalcon (a grey morph adult) at 1159, the first Ferruginous Hawk (a light morph adult) at 1747, a season high 5 Red-tailed Hawks (all light morph calurus adults) and the second highest Northern Goshawk count of 9 birds (all adults). Of the 56 Golden Eagles recorded, 25% were immature birds: 9 subadults and 5 juveniles. The last Golden Eagle of the day came through at 1804 after which time the black clouds to the north would have given clear notice to the birds that further progress to the north was inadvisable. 12 hours (391.8) BAEA 9 (253), SSHA 2 (7), NOGO 9 (48), RTHA 5 (15), FEHA 1 (1), RLHA 1 (16), GOEA 56 (2264), GYRF 1 (10, PRFA 1 (11) TOTAL 85 (2623)
March Summary During the month we lost a RMERF record 5 complete days to inclement weather and a further 4 days were curtailed (2 severely) because of weather, so the number of days (26) and hours (282) were 10.3% and 11.7% below last year’s numbers respectively. Despite this the combined species count of 2488 was only 72 (-2.8%) below last year’s count and the Golden Eagle count of 2200 was actually 11 more than last March (+0.5%). The main reason for the lower combined species count was relatively low counts for Bald Eagle (190, -27.5%), Northern Goshawk (48, -20.7%) and Red-tailed Hawk (15, -40%). Sharp-shinned Hawk (7, +600%), Rough-legged Hawk (11, +57.1%), Merlin (5, +66.7%) and Prairie Falcon 10 (+233%) were all higher than last year, while Peregrine Falcon (2) was recorded for the first time in March at the site. Single Ferruginous Hawk and Gyrfalcon were the same as last year, while single Northern Harrier, Cooper’s Hawk and American Kestrel recorded last year were not seen this March.

Mount Lorette (Cliff Hansen) Conditions were very similar to those at P-SL with a temperature range of -2C to 7C, moderate to strong SW ridge winds and 60-100% cumulus, altostratus and cirrus cloud cover giving excellent observing conditions. The cold front hit the site at 1700 bringing snow and obscuring all ridges. The similarity in the weather unfortunately did not extend to the raptor movement as only 5 migrants were seen, including the first 2 Sharp-shinned Hawks of the season. 11.75 hours (295.7) BAEA 1 (33), SSHA 2 (2), GOEA 2 (676) TOTAL 5 (728)

March 30 [Day 36] (Valley View site) Temperatures ranged from -10C to a high of 5C at 1400, ground winds were N to SW gusting to 60 km/h around noon and diminishing to 20-25 km/h in the afternoon and ridge winds were WNW-W moderate to strong all day. Cloud cover was 40-80% cumulus, altostratus, cirrus and altocumulus to 1430, after which the cloud thickened to 100% altostratus and cumulus for the rest of the day. Raptor movement was steady all day between the first Golden Eagle at 0850 and the last 4 Bald Eagles at 1925 with the highest hourly count of 20 birds (2 Bald Eagles, 17 Golden Eagles and a Merlin) between 1300 and 1400. The only Buteo of the day was an adult dark morph Harlan’s Hawk at 1738, and the season’s second Peregrine Falcon flew high to the north at 1044. 12.75 hours (379.8) BAEA 11 (244), NOGO 5 (39), RTHA 1 (10), GOEA 97 (2208), MERL 1 (5), PEFA 1 (2), PRFA 2 (10) TOTAL 118 (2538)
Mount Lorette (George Halmazna) The temperature reached 1C from a low of -11C, ridge winds were SW moderate to strong all day and Chinook-type cloud cover ranged from 30-100%. All but one of the day’s 47 migrant raptors were Golden Eagles with most of the movement occurring in the mid afternoon and the last bird was at 1805. 13 hours (283.9) BAEA 1 (32), GOEA 46 (674) TOTAL 47 (723)

March 29 [Day 35] (Valley View site) It snowed heavily until 1540, and I arrived at the site at 1525 to find 12cm of fresh snow and all ridges obscured. Soon after the snow stopped all ridges cleared quickly and by 1900 there was a 50% cumulus and cirrus cloud cover. Unfortunately, winds were fairly light
NE then E and so not conducive to raptor movement, and the 2 Golden Eagles that did go north were very low and flapping most of the way. With the barometric pressure rising quickly, tomorrow promises a better day. 3.5 hours (367) GOEA 2 (2111) TOTAL 2 (2420)
Mount Lorette [No observation] Snow all day and although it stopped in the early evening the ridges didn’t clear.

March 28 [Day 34] (Valley View site) The day started with an un-forecasted 5 cm of fresh snow on the ground but the ridges had almost cleared by 0740. At 0810, however, everything was obscured and snow persisted to 1215 after which the ridges were clear by 1300 for the rest of the day, with the exception of a wet snow squall from 1635-55 and later brief flurries. The temperature ranged from -3C to 6C and winds were mainly light at ground level all day and light to moderate westerly on the ridges. Cloud cover was 100-80% mainly stratus and cumulus all day. Once the ridges cleared the first migratory Golden Eagle did not appear until 1417 but the rest of that hour yielded another 16 migrants. Movement, mainly of Golden Eagles, slowed over the next 2 hours but picked up again after the mid afternoon snow finished at 1655 with a further 29 migrants moving, the last being a juvenile Bald Eagle at 1901. A heavy snowfall warning has been issued for overnight and tomorrow so I might be able to catch up on some sleep. 12.16 hours (363.5) BAEA 3 (233), NOGO 2 (34), RTHA 1 (9), GOEA 48 (2109), TOTAL 54 (2418)
Mount Lorette (Bill Wilson) The snow at Mount Lorette fell only until 0800 and the rest of the day was clear with the temperature reaching a high of 5.5C from a low of -6.5C at 0640. Winds at the ridges were W light to moderate and cloud cover was generally 80-100% cumulus and stratus, although it briefly thinned to 30% cumulus at 1000. The first migrant raptor, a Golden Eagle, did not move until 1401 and when the last Golden Eagle was seen at 1932 only 12 eagles (4 Bald and 8 Golden) had been counted. The highlight of the day, however, was the season’s first Peregrine Falcon at 1908. 13.58 hours (270.9) BAEA 4 (31), GOEA 8 (628), PEFA 1 (1) TOTAL 13 (676)

March 27 [Day 33] (Valley View site) Temperatures ranged from -3C to 4.5C, but it felt considerable cooler with ground winds N-NW gusting 50 km/h to 1330 then W-WSW gusting 60 km/h until 1800 when they moderated somewhat. Ridge winds were WNW strong to moderate all day, and cloud cover ranged from 30-100% mainly cumulus and altostratus giving good to excellent observation conditions. The day’s first migrant raptor was a Golden Eagle at 0751 but raptor movement was generally sporadic and slow throughout the day with maximum passage of only 12 birds (1700-1800) although migration conditions appeared to be ideal. It is probable that adverse weather conditions to the south is disrupting the flow. Despite the slowness we had a number of seasonal firsts including a female/juvenile Richardson’s Merlin at 1055, an adult dark morph Harlan’s Red-tailed hawk at 1723 and the last bird of the day at 1912 was an adult Peregrine Falcon, the first to be seen in March at the site. At 1150 the resident pair of Golden Eagles was seen to copulate for the first time this season and were otherwise busy displaying and chasing out the intrusive second male. Resident Prairie Falcons were also conspicuous including one hunting within a flock of 200 Grey-crowned rosy-Finches from which it appeared to emerge empty-taloned. A couple of flocks of Canada Geese flew high to the east as did a flock of 13 Trumpeter Swans at 1138. 12.5 hours (351.4) BAEA 8 (230), NOGO 3 (32), RTHA 3 (8), RLHA 3 (15), GOEA 49 (2061), MERL 1 (4), PEFA 1 (1) TOTAL 68 (2364)
Mount Lorette (Michael Woertman) The temperature ranged from -1C to 3C, ridge winds were SW moderate to strong all day and cloud cover was 40-70% cumulus providing a reasonable backdrop. Birds moved between 0755 and 1759 with many of the day’s 43 Golden Eagles being detected for the first time over Mount Lorette or Mount McGillivray, well to the NW. Maximum passage was 9 birds between 1500 and 1600. 12.67 hours (257.3) BAEA 3 (27), SSHA 1 (3) GOEA 43 (620), TOTAL 47 (663)

March 26 [Day 32] (Valley View site) Clear skies allowed the temperature to fall to -18C at 0715, but clear skies all day also provided the sunshine that allowed the temperature to rise to 2C. Winds were initially NNE and relatively light, but changed to SW after 1500 gusting to 40 km/h and huge plumes of snow combing off the Livingstone Range indicated strong ridge-level winds. The cold temperatures and adverse winds meant that the first migrant Golden Eagle did not appear until 1134 and then movement was fairly steady peaking at 25 from 1300 to 1400 and again at 24 from 1800 to 1900 with the last Golden Eagles at the relatively early time of 1907. The Golden Eagle at 1834 was the 2000th of the season and occurred at almost exactly the same time as the 2000th bird last year. Fifteen percent of the Golden Eagles were immature: 5 subadults and 10 juveniles. The resident pair of Golden Eagles was conspicuous with the male displaying on several occasions, but there was no sign of the third “resident” adult. Yesterday at 1707, however, I saw an adult Golden Eagle fly south that was missing a couple of primary feathers: probably the loser in last Tuesday’s fight! At 1414 the season’s first gull flew high to the north above the ridge closely pursued by what appeared to be a dark-morph jaeger: there are very few spring jaeger records in Alberta. 12.42 hours (338.9) BAEA 15 (222), NOGO 2 (29), RTHA 2 (5), GOEA 103 (2012) TOTAL 122 (2296)
Mount Lorette (Cliff Hansen) Conditions were very similar with the temperature ranging from -16C to 3C, cloudless skies alleviated only by aircraft contrails and ridge winds strong SW. Movement also started late with the first bird, a Bald Eagle, not moving until 1248 and the first Golden Eagle not until 1410, but movement was then fairly steady until the last Golden Eagle flew to the NW at 1842. Birds were often flying high away from the ridge and were hard to detect in the blue sky. 12.5 hours (244.7) BAEA 2 (24), GOEA 42 (577) TOTAL 44 (616)

March 25 [Day 31] (Valley View site) It snowed steadily until around 1515 when the mountains quickly cleared but winds remained moderate NE to NNE and no migrant raptors were seen. The barometric pressure rose 11 hPa between 0730 and 1900 promising a much better day tomorrow. It was on this date in 1993 that I counted a total of 849 Golden Eagles at Mount Lorette which remains the highest ever spring count for the species: those were the days! 3.5 hours (326.5) No migrant raptors.
Mount Lorette (Cliff Hansen) At Lorette snow persisted until around 1600 before clearing and ridge winds were also moderate to strong NE to NNE, but Cliff did record 4 migrant Golden Eagles between 1842 and 1935. 5.67 hours (532) GOEA 4 (535) TOTAL 4 (572)

March 24 [Day 30] (Valley View site) With the exception of 0900 to 1000 when it snowed, the ridges were clear all day and the temperature ranged from-3C to 5C. Ridge winds were W light to moderate in the morning becoming WNW moderate at 1100, and W moderate to strong after 1700, and cloud cover was 80-100% cumulus and altostratus giving hazy sunshine for most of the day. Raptor movement started early with the first Golden Eagle at 0739 with 4 more and a Bald Eagle before 0800, and by 0900 41 migrants had passed to the north. After the hour of snow when nothing moved, migration resumed at 1008 and was thereafter steady until the last 2 Golden Eagles went north at 1957, 12 hours and 18 minutes after the day’s first bird and peak movement was 48 birds between 1400 and 1500. Both the Golden Eagle total of 335 and the combined species total of 364 are new spring high counts for the site and the Golden Eagle total is the highest daily RMERF site count since the 358 counted at Mount Lorette on March 21 2004. The 12 Northern Goshawks are also the highest daily spring count ever at the site. For the past week we have again been seeing 3 adult (1 female 2 male) resident Golden Eagles apparently happily coexisting as they appeared to do last year. Today these birds were particularly conspicuous with both males on occasion displaying simultaneously at the same location. At 1410 the 3 were gliding south above the Piitaistakis ridge when the 2 males grasped talons for a couple of seconds and all 3 birds briefly interacted before continuing to fly together to the south. At 1945 the 3 birds were again soaring close together and interacting about 200m above the valley just to the east of me when again the 2 males clasped each other’s talons, but this time they did not let go and fell spinning down into the Gold Creek gorge all the time pecking at each other and beating each other with their wings, falling out of my sight behind the trees to the east. The female circled over where they had fallen for about 3 minutes, but neither male bird reappeared and she finally flew off. A Varied Thrush sang briefly at 0820 as did a Barred Owl at 1324, and a couple of high-flying Trumpeter Swans called at 1538: all were first records for the season. Non-raptor migrants included 165 Bohemian Waxwings, 720 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches and 16 White-winged Crossbills. It was quite a good day! 13 hours (323 hours) BAEA 12 (207), SSHA 1 (5), NOGO 12 (27), RTHA 1 (3), GOEA 335 (1919), MERL 2 (3), PRFA 1 (8) TOTAL 364 (2174)
Mount Lorette (Brian McBride) The temperature ranged from -6C to 4C, ridge winds were moderate SW all day and cloud cover was altostratus and cumulus varying from 50% to 100%. The only migrant raptors recorded were 96 Golden Eagles that moved between 1125 and 1840, with 26 of the birds occurring between 1700 and 1800. 12 hours (226.5) GOEA 96 (531) TOTAL 96 (568)

March 23 [Day 29] (Valley View site) It snowed all morning and I arrived at 1155 when all ridges were still obscured. Steady snow continued until 1400 and light flurries persisted to 1600. The cloud lifted somewhat at 1500 although the ridge tops never fully cleared and lowered again after 1830. The temperature ranged from 0C to 4C and winds were light SW. An adult Bald Eagle flapped low to the north at 1601 and between 1609 and 1722 17 Golden Eagles flapped to the north occasionally soaring below the cloud base, and then the movement stopped as suddenly as it started. A couple of days ago Bob Pisko attempted to access the ridge-top site. He had to walk the upper 1.5 km of the access road and was turned back just 200m above the parking area by thigh-deep soft snow. It is obviously going to be a few more weeks before we can get up there. 7.25 hours (310) BAEA 1 (195), GOEA 17 (1574) TOTAL 18 (1810)
Mount Lorette (Brian McBride) Snow persisted until noon and the Fisher Range only cleared at 1230. Winds were light and the temperature rose to 3C from a low of 0C. The first Golden Eagle appeared flapping low to the NW at 1338 and the last moved at 1857 with maximum movement of 15 between 1600 and 1700. Lift was poor throughout and no birds reached the ridge top. 9.5 hours (214.5) BAEA 4 (22), SSHA 1 (2), NOGO 1 (5), GOEA 45 (435) TOTAL 51 (472)

March 22 [No observation] Snow all day with moderate SE winds: all ridges obscured. It was the same situation at Mount Lorette.

March 21 [Day 28] (Valley View site) It was another delightful day with the temperature reaching a season high 12.5C from a low of 4C, with mainly SW ground winds gusting to 40 km/h at 0900 then diminishing to almost calm conditions after 1600. Ridge winds were WNW moderate to strong to 1600, and then west mainly light after 1600, and cloud conditions were a mixture of mainly thin altostratus, cirrus and cumulus producing an excellent observation backdrop. The cloud thickened and lowered quickly after 1800 and rain began at 1845 becoming fairly heavy at 1915 at which point I left. Raptor movement started at 0839 and became progressively stronger with a dip in numbers only from 1300 to 1400 when15 birds passed. Birds glided high and fast along the Livingstone Range until 1630 when the wind died and birds then resorted to slow soaring flight with spectacular kettles of Bald and Golden Eagles forming over the ridges. The day’s maximum passage was 48 birds between 1700 and 1800 which comprised 10 Bald Eagles and 37 Golden Eagles and the day’s only Sharp-shinned Hawk which proved to be the day’s last migrant at 1755. Everything then closed down for the rest of the day. The total of 35 Bald Eagles is the highest daily spring count for the site and the 204 Golden Eagles is the second highest behind yesterday’s count. For the first time this season the Golden Eagle count included 8% immature birds: 11 subadults and 6 juveniles, and the total of 8 migrant raptor species is the highest recorded so far this season. Of the non-raptor migrants the most spectacular was a line of 25 Tundra Swans flying high to the east over the Livingstone Range against a blue sky at 1050. 12 hours (302.7) BAEA 35 (194), SSHA 1 (4), NOGO 2 (15), RTHA 1 (2), RLHA 3 (12), GOEA 204 (1557), MERL 1 (1), PRFA 1 (7) TOTAL 248 (1792)
Mount Lorette (Cliff Hansen) Until 1500 conditions were very similar to those at Piitaistakis-South Livingstone with the temperature climbing to 10C from a low of 0C, strong SW ridge winds and a 5-10% cirrus and cumulus cloud cover. After 1500 the winds shifted to NE, the temperature fell to 2C at 1900 and the cloud thickened to 100% and lowered, partially obscuring the Fisher Range for most of the afternoon. Raptor migration started quite promisingly with the first Golden Eagle seen at 0904 and 6 birds moving before 1000. When the day’s last 2 Golden Eagles were recorded at 1327, however, the day’s count was a disappointing 13 birds. 11.75 hours (205) GOEA 12 (390), UE 1 (4) TOTAL 13 (421)

March 20 [Day 27] (Valley View site) For the first day of spring it actually felt spring-like (for the morning at least) with the temperature rising to 9.5C from a low of 0C, light ground winds (to 1140), moderate to strong WNW ridge winds and 10-80% cumulus cloud cover generally giving good observation conditions. At 1140 the ground winds suddenly hit SW 70 km/h and remained fairly strong for the rest of the day quickly dispelling the illusion that spring had actually arrived. As there was late movement yesterday evening I started watching at 0715 assuming an early start to the migration but the first Golden Eagle didn’t appear until 0936 and by noon I had only seen 8 migrant raptors. At 1218, however, Golden Eagles started gliding very high above the Piitaistakis Ridge and movement was thereafter strong and continuous until the last Golden Eagle glided high to the north just after 2000, the latest yet. Maximum movement was 48 raptors from 1800 to 1900 and a further 24 birds moved after 1900. The Golden Eagle total of 252 is the highest ever daily spring total at the site and the first over 200, while the combined species total of 275 is also a new high. Three migrant Prairie Falcons is also a new daily high for the site, and the first Red-tailed Hawk of the season at 1557 was 2 days later than last year’s first occurrence. It was a good way to celebrate the 17th anniversary of seeing the first Golden Eagles at Mount Lorette in 1992. 12.91 hours (290.7) BAEA 14 (159), SSHA 1 (3), NOGO 3 (13), RTHA 1 (1), RLHA 1 (9), GOEA 252 (1353), PRFA 3 (6) TOTAL 275 (1544)
Mount Lorette (Brian McBride) It was also a warm day with moderate SW ridge winds and 10-20% cumulus cloud cover which was fortunately mainly over the Fisher Range making detection of high-flying eagles possible. Brian counted a total of 102 Golden Eagles between 1029 and 1908, 24 of which moved between 1700 and 1800. Both the Golden Eagle total and the combined species total of 106 are season highs, but are well below the numbers expected at this time of year. 11.33 hours (193.3) BAEA 4 (18), GOEA 102 (378) TOTAL 106 (408)