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)