May 9 [Day 74] The day started with heavy wet snow falling with everything obscured, but it stopped at 0800 leaving 8.5cm fresh on the ground. I climbed to the ridge where the wind was NE-E gusting to 40 km/h and -4C which left a little to be desired in the comfort department, and light snow continued to 1310 after which there were periods of snow and flurries to 1810 with generally overcast skies. The clouds began to break by late afternoon, the wind dropped and by 1900 it was calm, sunny and the temperature had risen to 0C. Because of the conditions only three migrants were seen including a juvenile Golden Eagle at 1752 which I first saw soaring well to the south. It slowly glided northward towards me and soared high immediately to the south, then continued to glide to the north. Suddenly I was aware of the bird plummeting vertically to the ground in a hunting stoop just to the south of the site and by running to the edge of the hill I saw it perched on the ground empty-taloned where it was immediately mobbed by two resident ravens. The eagle raised its hackle feathers and looked splendidly fierce for a few seconds before flying to the west with the ravens in hot pursuit, where it soared again before gliding to the north. Meanwhile the Columbian Ground Squirrel that was the intended meal was giving its call note every couple of seconds for several minutes, either as an “all clear” signal or as a “where’s my clean underwear?” call. The most notable non-raptor sighting was 4 American Crows flying west at 1410, the first time in three field seasons that I have seen them above the ridge. 12.75 hours (853.2) BAEA 1 (444), GOEA 1 (2940), PRFA 1 (16) TOTAL 3 (4058)