Today I scrambled to get out to Misty Ridge after the forecast changed promising rain ending early & clearing skies from the west with winds NW20-40. This sounded like a promising day for some raptor movement. Arrived at the site around 10:30 AM to clearing skies from the SW and winds W 15km/h. The morning was still a little hazy due to overnight rain and 4C. The only birds observed was a flock of 25+ Redpolls until the winds & temperature increased. Around 1:30PM the first raptor, a Rough-legged Hawk, appeared over the valley approx. 1km to the north. Soon 3 more including a dk. morph joined in all soaring in a thermal. A quick scan to the NW found an imm. Golden Eagle coming straight towards me with the sun glinting off the golden crown. It turned back to the east before reaching me however I was able to get a scope on it briefly. Before long a second one came gliding over the building with wings tucked back and traveling fast. Approx. 40 minutes later a third Golden Eagle imm. was sighted above the east ridge with some ravens. The markings looked similar to the the first bird however due to losing sight of the first one behind trees I was unsure if it was same bird. The time difference would suggest otherwise but that may be wishful thinking. 2 seperate adult Bald Eagles where observed over the valley to the north with one going back north & the other west. All the action for the day was over in about an hour. The drive across country back to Westlock produced a Merlin and another Bald Eagle west of Dapp flap flying NW across open country. The day was a success even without the 40km/h winds!
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