DAY 69 (April 30) A cloudless start to the day allowed the temperature to drop to -5.5C but it quickly warmed up to a high of 11C with sunshine for most of the day. Winds were generally moderate SW and As/Ci cloud gave way after 1100 to 40-80% Cu giving excellent observing conditions. Raptor movement was steady all day from 0959 to 1947 with a season-high 11 species recorded. Movement was on the western route until 1400, then mainly above the middle of the valley until 1700 after which they mainly were seen high over the eastern route. The highlight was a total of three Turkey Vultures (2a, 1j) [species # 91] which represented not only the highest ever daily count at the site but the highest seasonal count as well! There have only been a total of 9 birds seen previously at the site since 1993. The GOEA total was the highest since April 21 and the highest ever for the date, and included just 1 adult bird. A juvenile bird recorded at 1618 brought the species total to 2100 and the combined species total to 2500. The combined species total for May of 622 birds is 25.5% below the long-term average, but is the highest total since 2003. The 332 GOEA total is 45.1% below the monthly average, as were RLHA (15, -14%), OSPR (4, -32%) and NOHA 3 (-57%). Most species totals, however, were higher than average including RTHA (44, 52.9%), COHA (14, 48%), SSHA 50, 41.3%), BAEA (105, 14.7%), NOGO (16, 11.8%) and all 5 falcon species. The 26 days spent observing during the month (4 full days were lost to weather) was 10.3% below average, but the 336.39 hours was almost exactly average.
I tallied a total of 48 bird species today, the second highest for the season, including the first 4 White-crowned Sparrows [# 89], 4 days later than the long term average arrival date, and a female Rusty Blackbird [#90]. (14.25 hours: 839.7) TUVU 3 (3), OSPR 3 (4), BAEA 1 (206), SSHA 10 (50), COHA 5 (14), NOGO 1 (22), UA 3 (6), RTHA 2 (52), GOEA 27 (2117), AMKE 1 (5), PEFA 1 (2), PRFA 1 (4) TOTAL 58 (2528)

April 29 Steady wet snow fell all morning turning to rain in the afternoon, with the ridges obscured all day. NO OBSERVATION

DAY 68 (April 28) (Cliff Hansen, Ron Dutcher) The rain continued to around 1030 with the ridges obscured until after 0900, then it progressively cleared until after 1900 it was almost cloudless. The temperature rose to 12C from a low of 4C and SW-W winds gradually diminished throughout the day. Once again raptor movement was almost non-existent with only one juvenile GOEA moving at 1605. There was an influx of 16 Northern Shovelers at Lorette Ponds and a flock of 10 Savannah Sparrows in the Hay Meadow was the highest number so far this year. (12.66 hours: 825.4) BAEA 1 (205), SSHA 1 (40), GOEA 1 (2090) TOTAL 3 (2470)

DAY 67 (April 27) (Joel Duncan) Strong SW winds all day with 30% Ac/As cloud thickening after 1400 with light rain developing, becoming 100% with steady rain after 1600 and temperatures ranging from 7C to 12C. Raptor movement was limited to only 6 birds of 3 species, and the only other obvious migrants were a steady stream of Yellow-rumped Warblers moving north throughout the day. (11.83 hours: 812.8) BAEA 2 (204), COHA 1 (9), GOEA 3 (2089) TOTAL 6 (2467)

DAY 66 (April 26) Upper winds were moderate SW backing to strong W after 1200, with Cu and Ac cloud giving an excellent observation backdrop, and the temperature rose to 11C from -3C. Raptor movement was again slow and very sporadic including single SSHA, COHA and NOGO passing in a 3-minute period (moving in taxonomic order!) and a group of 3 juvenile GOEA just before 1900. An adult male Richardson’s MERL at 1504 brought the species total to 17 equaling the highest spring count for the site. A Barn Swallow [species # 88] flying over the site at 1055 was the earliest ever and 10 days earlier than average and it, or a second bird, was seen again at 1439. All four swallow species seen so far at the site have arrived significantly earlier than the 15-year average return date. Wilson’s Snipe were heard in winnowing display flight for the first time, and Yellow-rumped Warblers were singing although no females have been seen yet. (14 hours: 801) BAEA 1 (202), SSHA 1 (39), COHA 1 (8), NOGO 1 (21), GOEA 6 (2086), AMKE 1 (4), MERL 1 (17) TOTAL 12 (2461)

DAY 65 ( April 25) Ground winds were generally from the south gusting to 18 km/h and moderate SW aloft, with Cu and As cloud and a temperature high of 11C. Raptor movement was painfully slow with only 5 migrants in over 13 hours of observation, including 2 BAEA raising the total for the species over 200. A single male “Pink-sided Junco” (J.h.mearnsi) in a flock of 30 montanus juncos was an overshoot from the south, and a Yellow Pine Chipmunk was the first seen this year. The highlight of the day, however, was a flock of Grey-crowned Rosy Finches estimated at 800 birds that swept back and forth like a cloud of smoke above the Fisher Range before condensing into a tight ball from which they dropped in a thin column like grains of sand in an hour glass to land at the tree-line. (13.33 hours: 787) BAEA 2 (201), SSHA 1 (38), GOEA 1 (2080), AMKE 1 (3) TOTAL 5 (2449)

DAY 64 (April 24) Generally a gloomy day with 100 to 80 % cloud cover with only occasional sunny breaks in the afternoon. Winds increased in strength from the SW throughout the day and the temperature reached 13C before light rain started at 1600 becoming heavy after 1915 with all the ridges obscured. Raptor movement was also dull with only 10 migrants scattered throughout the day. A male Brown-headed Cowbird [# 86] was the second earliest ever and 10 days earlier than average, and a Pine Siskin [#87] called at the site in the afternoon. The overcast morning put a good number of birds down in the meadow including 40 American Robins, 30 Dark-eyed Juncos, 35 American Pipits and 3 Savannah Sparrows. The first Western Pine Elfin of the year turned up at the site just before the rain started (13 hours: 773.6) SSHA 1 (37), UA 1 (3), GOEA 5 (2079), MERL 2 (16), UU (4) TOTAL 10 (2444)

DAY 63 (April 23) Cliff’s morning shift again produced fine weather after a -4C start, with light variable winds and 0-30% Cu cloud. The winds were generally from the SW in the afternoon with Cu cloud gradually giving way to Ci then Cs late in the day, with a high of 14C. Despite the westerly winds most movement was on the western route with the first Golden Eagles seen over the Fisher Range only at 1811, which also proved to be the last eagles of the day. Of the 20 Golden Eagle migrants, only 2 were adults, with 5 subadults and 13 juveniles. The first Yellow-rumped Warbler of the year [# 85] was a male Myrtle-Audubon’s intergrade, and was 4 days later than average. Later in the afternoon 2 male Audubon’s Warblers perched with a male Myrtle Warbler at the site. For the first time this season butterflies were fairly numerous including a number of Green Commas for the first time, and Western Toads joined their voices to those of the Wood Frogs also for the first time. (14 hours: 760.6) SSHA 4 (36), COHA 1 (7), NOGO 1 (20), UA 1 (2), RTHA 5 (50), RLHA 2 (16), GOEA 20 (2074), AMKE 1 (2), MERL 1 (14), PRFA 1 (3) TOTAL 37 (2434)

DAY 62 (April 22) (Bill Wilson) It was generally a gloomy day with 80-100% overcast conditions, but the eastern route was clear after cloud lifted from Mount Lorette after 1000, although cloud lingered on the western route. Winds were light to moderate SW aloft and generally light in the valley and the temperature rose to 10C from a low of -2C. Raptor movement was slow but steady after 1013 but no birds moved after 1738. A male American Kestrel at 1642 was the first for the year [#84], 3 days later than the long-term average arrival date. (14.75 hours: 746.6) BAEA 1 (199), SSHA 2 (32), NOGO 3 (19), RTHA 4 (45), GOEA 20 (2054), AMKE 1 (1), MERL 1(13), UU 1 (3) TOTAL 33 (2397)

DAY 61 (April 21) The snow finally ended around midnight and the eastern route was clear by 0800. The wind was generally below 5 km/h until 1440 when light to moderate winds developed variably from SW to WNW, and the temperature rose to a welcome 8C. Occasional showers of hail or snow pellets finally ceased at 1310 and most of the day was sunny with the sky graced by 30-70% white Cu cloud giving excellent observing conditions. Nine species of raptor moved steadily for much of the day and the combined species total of 82 was the highest since March 26. The GOEA total of 47 was the highest ever for this date and comprised 5 adults, 13 subadults and 29 juvenile birds, and one of the 9 SSHA was a juvenile, the first seen this season. The birds moved across the width of the valley until the westerly winds shepherded the movement along the eastern route after 1500. Bird song was strong in the morning and a season-high count of 51 species included 5 new ones. A Townsend’s Solitaire [#79] was singing magnificently at the Ponds which also produced an American Coot [#80], equaling the second earliest occurrence of this less-than-annually occurring species, and a pair of Wood Ducks. A single singing Fox Sparrow (P.i.schistacea) [#81] on the river was 7 days later than average, a Savannah Sparrow [#82] was 3 days late, and a flock of 5 American Pipits [#83] in the Hay Meadow were 11 days later than average, although I may have heard one call in the snow last Thursday. (14 hours: 731.9) BAEA 6 (198), NOHA 1 (3), SSHA 9 (30), COHA 3 (6), NOGO 4 (16), UA 1 (1), RTHA 8 (41), RLHA 1 (14), GOEA 47 (2034), MERL 1 (12), UU 1 (2) TOTAL 82 (2364)

April 20 Snow continued all day with all peaks and ridges obscured. NO OBSERVATION

April 19 Cliff phoned from Exshaw just before noon to tell me that the mountains were beginning to reappear, and I arrived at the site at 1315 just as the last cloud was lifting from Mount McDougall leaving the whole of the eastern route clear. At 1415, however, the cloud blanket lowered again with no raptors having moved in the previous hour, and steady snow/sleet resumed for the rest of the day. With little prospect of migrant raptors I visited the Ponds and found a male Wood Duck [species #78], the first of the year and our 11th spring record involving 14 birds. This is the 4th consecutive spring the species has occurred and it is possible that it bred here last year. At the heronry I watched a male great Blue Heron landing beside its mate on a nest with its long crown plumes erected vertically above its head, the first time I have observed this spectacular display behaviour. NO OBSERVATION

April 18 No observation was possible with snow and sleet all day, north winds and all ridges obscured. I spent 3.25 hours in the area in the morning to see if the change in weather had put down any nocturnal migrants, but the meadow was empty of passerines and elsewhere they were hard to find. There were, however, 2 pairs of Great Blue Herons and a probable 5th bird at the heronry, a male Northern Pintail [#76] on the river and a pair of Hooded Mergansers [#77] at Lorette Ponds, both of which were new for the year (great weather for ducks!). An adult female Cooper’s Hawk flew low in the home range that a pair has occupied for the last several years and near which the male has been displaying for the last couple of days. NO OBSERVATION.

DAY 60 (April 17) A very pleasant day with a high of 11.5C, light to moderate S-SW winds and mainly Cu cloud cover giving excellent migration and observation conditions. The first migrant Golden Eagle was at 0948 but the second migrant raptor was not seen until 1404 and was the first Osprey of the season [species #75], one day earlier than average. Raptor movement was sporadic throughout the afternoon and evening, and again there was lots of evidence of resident birds including a displaying COHA, an apparent resident pair of columbarius MERL and a non-migrant PRFA for the 3rd straight day. The highlight non-migrant moment came at 0744 when a juvenile male NOGO closely pursued a female Mallard at the Ponds, but just failed to catch it. There were no other first bird occurrences, but a Red-naped Sapsucker was the second of the year, and a Brown Elfin butterfly was the first for the season. (14 hours: 717.9) OSPR 1 (1), BAEA 5 (192), SSHA 1 (21), RTHA 3 (33), GOEA 7 (1987), MERL 1 (11) TOTAL 18 (2282)

DAY 59 (April 16) Cliff finally got a pleasant Monday morning with increasing S-SW winds at ground level gusting above 40 km/h by late afternoon, and strong SW-SSW winds aloft all day producing various kinds of Chinook cloud types, with the temperature rising to 12C from a low of zero. Raptor movement was slow and sporadic for much of the day and the few GOEA that moved were all high over the eastern route. A resident male COHA was seen displaying for the first time at 1401 and resident/non-migratory GOEA, RTHA and PRFA were also present. No new species of bird were seen but a Red-winged Blackbird was the first for the month and a single Violet-green Swallow was at the site at 1635. Three Mule Deer on the highway at 2030 were the first we have seen in the valley this year. (13.83 hours) BAEA 2 (187), SSHA 4 (20), NOGO 1 (12), RTHA 1 (30), RLHA 1 (13), GOEA 5 (1980), MERL 2 (10) TOTAL 16 (2264)

DAY 58 (April 15) (Bill Wilson) Winds were generally light to light-moderate from the S in the valley and W aloft, temperatures ranged from -6C to 8C with 50-80% Cu cloud giving excellent viewing conditions until the sky completely cleared late in the day. The light winds resulted in early movement to the west over Mount Allan taking advantage of early-developing thermals where 23 GOEA moved between 1019 and 1140. There was then a gap until 1454-1600 when birds moved mainly over the valley, and then another lacuna until 1800 after which birds moved high on the eastern route along the Fisher Range, with the last gliding to the NW at 2026, the latest yet this season. The total of 49 GOEA was the highest daily count since March 28, and was the second highest count for the date just short of the count of 51 in 1993. There was only a handful of other raptors but other migrants included 2 Tundra Swans, 16 California Gulls and 5 Common Redpolls, and a White-breasted Nuthatch was the first for the year [species #74] and only the 9th seen here in the spring. (15 hours: 690) BAEA 3 (185), SSHA 1 (16), NOGO 1 (11), GOEA 49 (1975), MERL 1 (8) TOTAL 55 (2248)

DAY 57 (April 14) Down-slope wind conditions again, moderate SW to SSW aloft and light to moderate S-SSW at ground level, with temperatures rising to 13C and partial Cu cloud cover giving excellent observation conditions until 1800 when the ridges became partially obscured as showers developed. Despite these conditions there was no early movement with the first GOEA seen at 1015 and the second not until 1414. Between 1600 and 1800, however, there was a steady flow of GOEA high from the Fisher Range to Mount Lorette and on to the NW, but no other migrant species was seen, although a resident RTHA displayed at 1458, and enthusiastically mobbed the resident male GOEA at 1804. Of the total of 22 GOEA only 2 were adults, with 3 subadults, 13 juveniles and 4 of unknown age (resulting from heat-haze in mid-afternoon). This suggests that the adult migration is nearly over, and it appears that we are heading towards our lowest GOEA count ever. Ruby-crowned Kinglets were heard singing for the first time, one a few metres away from a singing Golden-crowned Kinglet, a single Violet-green Swallow flying north was the first swallow in a couple of days, and a high-flying flock of 16 California Gulls moved north along the Fisher Range just ahead of a developing squall at 1907. By 1900 at least 20 Wood Frogs were singing near the site. (13.25 hours: 675) GOEA 22 (1926) TOTAL 22 (2193)

DAY 56 (April 13) Chinook conditions prevailed all day with moderate to strong SW winds and temperatures rising to 10C from a low of 4C. Once again raptor migration was slow and sporadic and was over by mid-afternoon. Of the 10 GOEA recorded only 1 was an adult. There were also very few non-raptor species and song was almost non-existent: a flock of 30 Common Redpolls were the only passerine migrants noted. A single Wood Frog singing near the site at 1745 was the first heard this year. (14 hours: 661.8) BAEA 2 (182), NOHA 1 (2), RTHA 1 (29), GOEA 10 (1904) TOTAL 14 (2171)

DAY 55 (April 12) A cloudless sky produced a starting temperature of -9C, but strong sunshine all day allowed it to rise to 9C by 1700. Winds were light until noon, and then gusted to 25 km/h from the SW in the afternoon producing what should have been excellent migration conditions. As yesterday, however, there was only sporadic movement that was not improved by the appearance of some Cu cloud after 1700 so we were probably not missing birds earlier against the blue sky. The day did produce the first Peregrine Falcon [# 72] which interrupted its migration to make a splendid vertical hunting stoop of around 200 m to the valley floor, and the first Northern Harrier [#73], an adult male, which was 8 days later than the long-term average first occurrence. One of the resident goshawks was seen in display flight at 1336. The clear skies overnight led to an exodus of songbirds with few apparent arrivals and despite the warm sunny conditions the day was strangely quiet. (13.5 hours: 647.8) BAEA 6 (180), NOHA 1 (1), RTHA 2 (28), GOEA 5 (1894), PEFA 1 (1) TOTAL 15 (2157)

DAY 54 (April 11) At 0100 the sky was clear and a blanket of stars but by 0545 it was snowing again which persisted to 1000 (1cm fresh) and flurries continued to 1430. The temperature rose to 4C from a low of -2C, and winds were once again mainly from the N or NE gusting to 20 km/h after calm conditions prevailed while the snow was falling. I saw a total of 7 migrant raptor species but, unfortunately, a total of only 9 raptors and 3 of those came in a 12 minute period just after 1100! The 3 falcons were an adult male columbarius MERL, a male grey morph GYRF and an immature female PRFA. As soon as the snow finished a couple of Violet-green Swallows were feeding at the site and there were 5 more there at 1725, and a Northern Rough-winged Swallow flew to the south at 1802. Three Northern Shovelers (2m, 1f) [#70] and a male Lesser Scaup [#71] at the Ponds early in the morning were both the earliest ever records for the area by 3 days. At 0750 a Winter Wren was heard singing for the first time this season, beautiful as ever in the gently falling snow, but without the richness that will doubtless develop with practice. (12.75 hours: 634.3) BAEA 3 (174), RTHA 1 (26), RLHA 1 (12), GOEA 1 (1889), MERL 1 (7), GYRF 1 (3), PRFA 1 (2) TOTAL 9 (2142)

DAY 53 (April 10) Despite a dire forecast, at 0645 Lorette and the Fisher Range were clear but light snow started at 0700 and all ridges were obscured by 0810 and didn’t clear again. The wind was very light and temperatures ranged from 1C to 2.2C, and apart from not being able to see the mountains it was not unpleasant. There are now 3 Great Blue Herons back at the heronry, and the meadow yielded 11 Mountain Bluebirds, an American Robin flock that included a few females and an adult Northern Shrike, the young bird having appeared to have gone. (6 hours: 621.5) No migrant raptors.

DAY 52 (April 09) Winds were generally light S-SSW all day, with 100% cloud cover and temperatures from 1C to 11C. Upper winds were light to moderate SW to W and rain squalls from the west occluded the ridges for short periods. Once again raptor movement was steady but unspectacular and mainly along the Fisher Range with only the period 1400-1500 reaching 10 migrants. New non-raptor arrivals were Northern Rough-winged Swallow [#68] seen by Cliff at the Ponds, which is 16 days earlier than average and the earliest ever record for the area, and a single adult Herring Gull [#69] flying north along the Fisher Range. A Tree Swallow and 4 Violet-green Swallows flew above the site and a total of 326 Bohemian Waxwings was the largest to date. As an addendum to Day 45 (April 02) a photograph of a woodpecker taken by Cliff at 1013 proved to be that of a Red-naped Sapsucker [#67], 23 days earlier than average and our second-earliest ever record, the earliest being on March 28, 2004. (13.25 hours: 615.5) BAEA 1 (171), SSHA 2 (15), RTHA 1 (25), RLHA 2 (11), GOEA 29 (1888), MERL 1 (6) TOTAL 29 (2133)

DAY 51 (April 08) (Bill Wilson) A really spring-like day with the temperature rising from -1C to a season high of 17C, with cloudless skies for much of the day. Both the ground and upper winds were light to very light, initially from the NW and then from the W later in the day. Raptor movement was steady for much of the day, first to the west over Mount Allan, then down the middle of the valley and finally to the east over the Fisher Range. The blue-out conditions made high flying birds hard to detect and many GOEAs were only seen for the first time as they approached Mount Lorette to the north. The all-species total of 64 was the highest since March 26, the total of 17 BAEAs was the highest this year and 33 GOEA was the highest total since March 28 with the last bird moving at 2015, the latest bird so far this season. The young Northern Shrike spent its 4th day in the meadow where it was joined by a second bird apparently without animus. No new bird species arrived but 4 Pileated Woodpeckers flying together over the site in the afternoon was a highlight and the number of Tree Swallows present rose to 8. (14.53 hours: 602.3) BAEA 17 (170), SSHA 3 (13), NOGO 2 (10), RTHA 5 (24), RLHA 3 (9), GOEA 33 (1859), MERL 1 (5) TOTAL 64 (2097)

DAY 50 (April 07) Again most of the morning was calm with high St cloud burning off by noon leaving a cloudless afternoon and a temperature that climbed to 5.5C from a low of -7C. The morning was really spring-like for the first time with a significant influx of songbirds overnight including a flock of 80 bickering male American Robins, 3 Tree Swallows and 3 Violet-green Swallows, the first swallows since last weekend. The daily bird species count reached 40 for the first time this year although, oddly, no new species were recorded. The morning saw a steady if slow progression of a variety of raptors in the calm conditions, then at 1133 the winds instantly picked up from the NE then from the N gusting to 30 km/h and as yesterday almost everything stopped moving in the afternoon with the exception of a few BAEA and a single adult male MERL, the first of the subspecies richardsoni for the season. A single Milbert’s Tortoiseshell at the site was the 3^rd butterfly species of the year. (13.33 hours: 587.7) BAEA 11 (587.7), SSHA 4 (10), COHA 1 (3), RTHA 3 (19), RLHA 3 (6), GOEA 8 (1826), MERL 1 (4) TOTAL 31 (2033).

DAY 49 (April 06) The early morning was calm and -8C with the ridges still obscured and gloomy enough for the first Northern Saw-whet Owl of the season [#64] to be singing at 0744. The ridges cleared by 1000 with a hazy sun shining through high St cloud, but the winds remained light. Despite this, there was a steady movement of raptors across the whole width of the valley up to 1300 including 2 BAEA, the first 6 Sharp-shinned Hawks of the season [# 66], 1 NOGO, 1 RTHA (Harlan’s), 1 RLHA , 4 GOEA and a MERL. After 1300 NE winds increased in velocity up to 35 km/h becoming N after 1700, and although the temperature rose to 1C (the first time above zero this month) it was not much of a treat as the wind and high humidity made it feel more like -15C. The wind change brought an abrupt stop to the raptor movement with the exception of BAEA, with another 11 moving to the north along the Fisher Range, and a late male MERL at 1802 which proved to be the last raptor of the day. A Winter Wren SW of the Ponds was the first of the year [#65] and the 3rd earliest spring return, not counting a couple of years when birds were found in January. The 32 bird species recorded was a new season high and included the young shrike for a second day. A brown Snowshoe Hare was as conspicuous against the snow as a white one had been last week in the snow-free valley. (12.08 hours: 574.5) BAEA 13 (142), SSHA 6 (6), NOGO 1 (8), RTHA 1 (16), RLHA 1 (3), GOEA 4 (1818), MERL 2 (3) TOTAL 28 (2002)

DAY 48 (April 05) Winds were again out of the N to NE all day gusting to 18km/h, the temperature rose to a high of -3C from -7C, the ridges were completely obscured all day and there was light snow for much of the day. Remarkably there was some raptor movement between 1408 and 1534 with 9 BAEA, 1 COHA, 1 RTHA (Harlan’s), 1 RLHA and 3 GOEA moving slowly and generally low to the north down the valley, and a 4th GOEA flapped north at 1724. The birds are obviously eager to migrate and we should expect good movement once conditions improve. Again despite the conditions we recorded 29 bird species including a migrating flock of 35 Grey-crowned Rosy Finches [species # 63], 138 Bohemian Waxwings, our second Northern Shrike of the season (a first-winter bird), 2 California Gulls flying low to the north in steady snow and a Great Blue Heron at Lorette Ponds. Most of the small songbirds were again feeding mainly at the edges of open water, and a couple of flight feathers of a Varied Thrush on the blood-stained snow showed that a goshawk had also found a meal. (12.25 hours: 561.3) BAEA 9 (129), COHA 1 (2), RTHA 1 (15), RLHA 1 (2), GOEA 4 (1814) TOTAL 16 (1974)

DAY 47 (April 04) Again a cool (-17C), calm and clear morning, and again the winds increased after noon first from the NE then N finally gusting 35 km/h. As yesterday cloud cover increased throughout the day and most ridges were obscured by 1600. The calm morning followed by adverse winds made for poor migration conditions, but there was a steady movement for much of the day, with a few birds moving low down the valley even after the ridges had disappeared in cloud. The 5 RTHA included our first “Harlan’s Hawk” of the season (a dark morph adult), and our first Cooper’s Hawk [species #62] soaring with a BAEA and 2 GOEA at 1443, was 3 days later than average. The Hay Meadow looked like a mini Serengeti early in the morning with 108 Elk and 15 White-tailed Deer, while the afternoon saw 40 Bighorn Sheep on Olympic Summit (before the clouds descended), and in the evening a beaver was feeding in the river near the site. (12 hours: 549.1) BAEA 1 (120), COHA 1 (1), NOGO 1 (7), RTHA 5 (14), GOEA 17 (1810) TOTAL 25 (1958)

DAY 46 (April 03) The morning was a pleasant surprise with an almost cloudless sky, calm and -15C. In the afternoon, however, N to NE winds reestablished finally gusting to 25 km/h, and it progressively clouded over until after 1600 most of the ridges were again occluded and light snow persisted until 2015, when the ridges again cleared. Despite the conditions 14 BAEA and 8 GOEA moved, all on the eastern route and generally low and with much flapping flight, between 1220 and 1834, with most of the movement taking place during the snow period! Three pairs of Green-winged Teal on the river at Lorette Ponds were the first for the season [#60], as were a skein of 24 Trumpeter Swans flying high to the north and calling at 1906 [#61]. Most of the small songbirds seen during the day were feeding at the edge of open water, including a male Ruby-crowned Kinglet whose crest positively flamed against the snowy backdrop. A herd of 70 Elk that moved from the south into the Hay Meadow late in the day was the largest seen yet this season. (11.75 hours: 537.1) BAEA 14 (119), GOEA 8 (1793) TOTAL 22 (1933)

DAY 45 (April 2) (Cliff Hansen) Low cloud obscured the ridges all day again and the temperature climbed to -7C from a low of -10C with NE winds gusting to 15 km/h. The snow did more or less stop between 1130 and 1415 with an occasional faint trace of hazy sun during which period 4 BAEA flapped low to the north down the centre of the valley, and an adult rufous morph RTHA was perched at the ponds. A resident adult NOGO hunting by the river completed the raptor count, and 9 Bufflehead (7f, 2m) on the river at Lorette Ponds were the 59th species of the year. Cliff left at 1530 as the snow again became heavy with 12-13 cm fresh on the ground, but not before phoning me to let me know that my subsequent presence would be unlikely to add significantly to the day’s total. (6 hours: 525.3) BAEA 4 (105), RTHA 1 (9) TOTAL 5 (1911)

DAY 44 (April 1) (Bill Wilson) Snow all day with a NNE-NE wind gusting to 20 km/h, temperatures rising from -5.5C to -3.5C and ridges completely obscured provided sub-optimal migration conditions to which the raptors responded appropriately. Two Golden-crowned Kinglets [#58] associating with a Ruby-crowned Kinglet were new for the year, and 4 American Tree Sparrows were the most seen so far. The highlight of the day was a flock of 24 Tundra Swans that circled and called east of the site before disappearing in the snow towards the east. (10 hours: 519.31) No migrant raptors.

DAY 43 (March 31) Springtime in the Rockies with light to moderate snow for most of the day, temperatures ranging from 1C to -1.5C and N to NE winds gusting to 30km/h. The upper winds, however, were SW to W all day, but the ridges were enveloped in cloud for most of the day. A brief clearing of the clouds mid-valley in mid-afternoon led to a short-lived raptor movement down the valley, with birds getting some lift from thermals probably generated from the Nakiska Road 1 km to the south. A single RLHA was the first of the season [#57] and 12 days later than average. The snow put good numbers of Dark-eyed Juncos down in the meadow, and gave me time to have a good look at them: 108 montanus, 20 cismontanus and 1 hyemalis (the first for the season). During the month of March we spent the full 31 days in the field for the third consecutive year and the 385.3 hours was 23.6% above average. Despite this the total raptor count was only 1893, 30% below average and the first March count below 2000. Both Bald Eagles (91: -22.7%) and Golden Eagles (1782: -30.4%) were significantly below average, with the GOEA count being the lowest ever, even below that of the 1950 counted in 2002 when bitterly cold weather meant that significant movement did not start until March 18. (11.66 hours: 509.3) BAEA 3 (101), RLHA 1 (1), GOEA 5 (1785) TOTAL 8 (1906)