February 17 [Day 2] (Valley View site) It was quite a pleasant day for February with the temperature rising to 2C from an early morning low of -12C and an excellent observation cloud cover of 100% cirrostratus until after 1600 when 80-90% altostratus and cirrus developed. Ground winds were variable and light in the morning, becoming mainly WSW to W in the afternoon gusting to 25 km/h. The first migrant raptor seen this season was a late subadult Golden Eagle that moved north at 1225, followed by 3 adult birds over the next hour. The first Bald Eagle of the season was an adult at 1436 quickly followed by a juvenile 4 minutes later. The following hour saw the passage of only one adult Golden Eagle but 1600-1700 was the most productive hour with 3 more adult Bald Eagles and an adult Golden Eagle, while the last bird of the day was an adult Bald Eagle at 1710. The day’s total of 12 migrant raptors was the earliest double-figure count ever on an RMERF spring count. The resident Golden Eagle pair was seen together at 1436, and a non-migrant juvenile spent about 20 minutes hunting the ridge before finally heading south. A Northern Pygmy-Owl singing briefly at 0916 rounded out the day’s raptors. 10.5 hours (18.5) BAEA 6 (6), GOEA 6 (6) TOTAL 12 (12)