May 17 [Day 82] This was the warmest day yet with a high of 23.5C from a low of 14C. Light westerly winds prevailed until 1100 when they progressively increased in velocity and changed to WNW after 1400: by the end of the day they were gusting to 45 km/h. Cloud cover was 60-90% mainly altostratus and cirrus all day. Apart from a juvenile Northern Goshawk at 0824 all the raptor movement was after 1300, and with the exception of 2 subadult Golden Eagles all the migrants were juvenile birds. I was greeted at the site this morning by 9 Bighorn rams, and before the wind increased the day was delightful. Vesper Sparrows were singing for the first time and male Townsend’s Solitaires were in splendid voice during prolonged aerial displays with two birds performing side-by-side on occasion. At least 4 Brown-headed Cowbirds flew high to the west over the ridge during the morning, but the most unusual bird was a male Belted Kingfisher that also flew high to the west at 0935: both species were new for the ridge top. Tomorrow will be the last day of the 2008 spring count. 12.5 hours (952.3) SSHA 2 (188), NOGO 3 (136), RTHA 2 (221), GOEA 5 (2976) TOTAL 12 (4176)