May 19 [Day 84] Drizzle and light rain began as I arrived at the parking area at 0915 and persisted to 1120, but the rest of the day provided almost ideal migration conditions. The wind, which was initially S-SE and light, progressively moved to SW and then W steadily increasing in velocity from 20 km/h at 1400 to 30 km/h at 1700 and 40 km/h at 1900; cloud cover after the rain stopped was 70-90% cumulus, altostratus and cirrus giving a perfect viewing backdrop, and the temperature rose to 16C from a starting temperature of 7C. The first raptor migrant, a juvenile Sharp-shinned Hawk, moved by at 1258 and subsequent movement was slow but steady and involved 7 species, with 3 additional non-migrant species seen (Northern Goshawk, Golden Eagle and Prairie Falcon). At 1415, the 2^nd Swainson’s Hawk of the season, a light morph adult, moved north above the ridge, and the last 2 birds of the day (and of the count) were an adult Peregrine Falcon at 1736 and a juvenile light morph Broad-winged Hawk at 1843. There were no migrant Golden Eagles and the resident pair was seen occasionally after 1700 with the male still gamely displaying. A Warbling Vireo singing at the parking area, two Chipping Sparrows on the ridge and a Barn Swallow flying over the ridge towards the west at 1535 were all seasonal firsts. The non-raptor highlight of the day, however, was a flock of 21 American White Pelicans soaring over the Crowsnest Valley south of the site at 1233 18 of which slowly made their way up the valley with much soaring finally disappearing behind Turtle Mountain at 1250. The other 3 glided back to the east. It was a good last day of the 2008 spring count! 10.5 hours (975.5) BAEA 1 (453), SSHA 1 (196), COHA 2 (39), BWHA 1 (7), SWHA 1 (2), RTHA 2 (227), PEFA 1 (6) TOTAL 9 (4204)

May summary (compared to 1994-2008 Mount Lorette count averages). We spent 19 days (234.3 hours) in the field during the month and most of the time was spent on the ridge. Four days were significantly affected by inclement weather. The days and hours are 35.7% and 48.5% above average respectively. The combined species count of 339 birds is the second highest RMERF May count (after the 460 at Mount Lorette in 1999) and is 141.1% above average. Seven species were new high May counts: Turkey Vulture 5 (+775%), Bald Eagle 21 (+124.4%), Northern Harrier 7 (+166.7%), Northern Goshawk 27 (+1412%), Broad-winged Hawk 5 (+288.9%), Red-tailed Hawk 30 (+233.3%), and Prairie Falcon 5 (+1067%). Most other species were above average: Osprey 7 (+38%), Sharp-shinned Hawk 83 (+148.8%), Cooper’s Hawk 21 (+177.4%), Swainson’s Hawk 1 (+27.3%), Ferruginous Hawk 1 (+133.3%), Golden Eagle 111 (+89.7%), Merlin 2 (+40%) and Peregrine Falcon 2 (+155%). The only species occurring in below average numbers are Rough-legged Hawk which was unrecorded in May for just the 3^rd time, American Kestrel 3 (-31.1%) and Gyrfalcon which has only been recorded in May once, in 1995.