September 30 [Day 11] (Bill Wilson) The temperature was -1C at 0650 but rose to a high of 17C at 1500 and 1600, which was pleasant for the last day of September, and fell to 6C at 2000. Ground winds were variable all day, 2-10 km/h occasionally gusting to 17 km/h, and ridge winds were probably moderate WSW. Cloud cover was 80-100% cirrostratus and cumulus to 1400 after which it was mainly 10-20% altostratus, cirrus and cumulus which briefly thickened to 60% in mid-afternoon. The sky conditions were favourable to finding raptors, but many of the smaller birds were silhouettes and could not be aged. For the first time this season over a hundred migrant raptors were seen with 117 birds of a season high 10 species moving between 0825 (2 adult Golden Eagles) and 1925 (1 unaged Golden Eagle). The third and fourth eagles, however, were not seen until 1016 after which the flow of birds became steady and peaked between 1300 and 1400, during which time 25 of the 27 birds passing were Golden Eagles. All but a couple of birds appeared to be moving high from Mount Lorette to the northern end of the Fisher Range (where they were first observed), and soaring occurred at times throughout the day. The flight comprised 1 Osprey, 5 Bald Eagles (3a,2u), 2 unaged Northern Harriers, 1 unaged Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1 unaged Cooper's Hawk, 4 Northern Goshawks (1a,3u), 1 undifferentiated dark morph Red-tailed Hawk, a season high 99 Golden Eagles (49a,5sa,28j,17u), 1 unaged and unsexed columbarius Merlin, the season's first Peregrine Falcon (unaged) and 1 unidentified medium sized raptor (probably either a goshawk or a large falcon). Other birds were few but included a Great Horned Owl singing well to the north early in the morning, a Varied Thrush singing across the river, a female Belted Kingfisher and 2 Yellow-rumped Warblers.

13.16 hours (124.49) OSPR 1 (2), BAEA 5 (17), NOHA 2 (4), SSHA 1 (16), COHA 1 (4), NOGO 4 (6), RTHA 1 (11), GOEA 99 (273), MERL 1 (4), PEFA 1 (1) UU 1 (1) TOTAL 117 (342)

Piitaistakis-South Livingstone (David McIntyre) During a walk from their home south to HW 3 via Tallon Peak (which is just east of the southern end of the Livingstone ridge) David and his wife Monica observed a south-bound adult Turkey Vulture at around 1615. This is the first fall record of the species on the route, and equals the total seen in the fall in 20 years at Mount Lorette.

September 29 [Day 10] (Joel Duncan, assisted by Andrew Hart) The temperature was 3C at 0900, rose to a high of 18C at 1300 and was 14C at 1900. Ground winds were SW all day, generally 10-15 km/h with a maximum gust of 22 km/h at 1300, and ridges winds were assessed as moderate W-SW. An initial cloud cover of 80% altocumulus diminished to 30% between 1100 and 1500 after which 80% altostratus, cirrus and altocumulus developed which gradually diminished to 40% at the end of the day. Good observing conditions and 54 visitors to the site proved useful as birds moved very high from Mount Lorette to the Fisher Range in a steady stream between 1200 and 1851. Only one bird, a juvenile Golden Eagle soaring over Olympic Summit at 1617, was seen on the western route all day. The flight of 36 birds comprised 2 adult Bald Eagles, 1 unaged Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1 undifferentiated small Accipiter, 3 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks, 28 Golden Eagles (17a,1sa,3j,7u) and 1 undifferentiated eagle species. Non-raptor species were relatively scarce and included a juvenile gull (probably a California) flying high to the south, 2 Ruby-crowned Kinglets, 4 Yellow-rumped Warblers, 8 White-winged Crossbills, and the day ended with an American Dipper singing on the river.

10 hours (111.33) BAEA 2 (12), SSHA 1 (15), UA 1 (2), RTHA 3 (10), GOEA 28 (174), UE 1 (1) TOTAL 36 (225)

Piitaistakis-South Livingstone (Raymond Toal, Denise Cocciolone-Amatto) Observations were made from the Frank Slide site between 1400 and 1800 during which time 28 raptors were seen in excellent light moving along the Livingstone ridge. The count was 1 adult Bald Eagle, 1 unaged Northern Harrier, 2 unaged Sharp-shinned Hawks, 1 unaged Cooper's Hawk, 1 unaged Northern Goshawk, 22 Golden Eagles (11a,1sa,10j) and 1 undifferentiated eagle species. At one time a group of 1 subadult and 4 juvenile Golden Eagles moved through together, shortly after a single juvenile was seen that had several damaged primary feathers.  

September 28 [Day 9] (Terry Waters) The temperature reached a high of 23C at 1700 from a low of 0C at 0815 and was still 20C at 1845. It was calm to 1100 then SW for the rest of the day, 10-15 km/h gusting briefly to 30 km/h around 1500. It was cloudless to 1200 after which 20% cirrus developed that dwindled after 1300 and it was again cloudless by the end of the day. A grass/shrub fire burned at the base of Olympic Summit to the west of the site between 1200 and 1800, that was water-bombed by two helicopters, attacked by a ground crew, and two fixed-wing aircraft dropped fire retardants in the area. Smoke did not drift across the valley, however, suggesting that the ridge winds may have been from the E, and this is also suggested by the fact that all the 18 birds counted appeared from the east at the northern end of the Fisher Range and several of them disappeared to the east of the ridge as they moved to the SE. The raptors were recorded between 1115 and 1751 and the flight comprised 3 adult Bald Eagles, 1 unaged Sharp-shinned Hawk and 14 Golden Eagles (12a,1sa,1j), with 6 birds seen during each of the hourly periods 1100-1200 and 1300-1400. Songbirds seen included 12 American Robins, 1 Song Sparrow, 4 Red Crossbills, 22 White-winged Crossbills and 21 Pine Siskins.

10.5 hours (101.33) BAEA 3 (10), SSHA 1 (14), GOEA 14 (146) TOTAL 18 (189)

Piitaistakis-South Livingstone (Raymond Toal, Denise Cocciolone-Amatto and Merilyn Liddle) Observers watched from the Frank Slide site between 0945 and 1545 (6 hours) and recorded 18 migrant raptors: 2 Sharp-shinned Hawks, 15 Golden Eagles (6a,2sa,7j) and 1 unidentified eagle. Many of the birds were moving high above the Livingstone Ridge and it is probably that many small accipiters went unrecorded.

A note from Beaver Mines. There was no sign of the male Broad-billed Hummingbird today. The appearance of a large green hummingbird at a feeder at 1550, however, briefly quickened the pulse, but it proved to be an adult female Anna's Hummingbird. (Not a bad second prize, actually!)

September 27 [Day 8] (Cliff Hansen, assisted by Chris Hunt and Jill and Roderick Bhara) The temperature at 0730 was 4C, but under cloudless skies by 0900 it had dropped to -1.5C and was still -1C at 1000: the first sub-zero temperatures (but doubtless not the last!) recorded this season. As a result the grass and telescopes were rapidly covered in rime frost. Once the sun rose above the Fisher Range, however, the temperature rapidly rose and reached 21.5C at 1700 and was 19C at 1900, before rapidly falling to 11.5C at 1915 after the sun fell behind the mountains to the west. Ground winds were variable all day, less than 5 km/h to 1400 after which they were 5-10 km/h, and the ridge winds were probably also light. It was completely cloudless, with a light smoke haze, all day. Finding raptors in the clear skies was challenging to the observers, although the calm conditions resulted in relatively slow soaring flight and lift appeared to be poor for much of the day. Despite the conditions the day produced the highest count so far this season with a total of 92 raptors of 6 species that moved between 1049 and 1832. The flight comprised the season's first Osprey, 2 adult Bald Eagles, 2 Sharp-shinned Hawks (1a,1u), 1 unaged Cooper's Hawk, 1 dark morph red-tailed Hawk of unknown race and age and a season high 85 Golden Eagles (35a,10sa,30j,10u). Movement was initially slow with only 8 birds having been seen by 1400, but then thermal lift appeared to improve and the next 5 hours produced 18, 12, 7,15 and 17 Golden Eagles respectively with all movement ceasing immediately the sun disappeared behind the western ridges. Cliff photographed a Great Horned Owl on the path to the site in the early morning, but other birds were rather scarce and included 1 female or juvenile Harlequin Duck flying to the north overhead, 1 Red-naped Sapsucker, 1 American Dipper, 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler and 30 Red Crossbills.

12.5 hours(90.83) OSPR 1 (1), BAEA 2 (7), SSHA 2 (13), COHA 1 (3), RTHA 1 (7), GOEA 85 (132) TOTAL 92 (171)

A note from Beaver Mines. While driving back to Beaver Mines from Calgary on HW 507 at 1125 I observed 4 adult Ferruginous Hawks (3 light and 1 dark morph) soaring over the road, about 8 km east of Beaver Mines. This is the highest number of migrating Ferruginous Hawks I have seen in the area at one time. On a non-raptor note, at 1323 I observed at my house an adult male Broad-billed Hummingbird at close range. The bird was unmistakable: the size of an Anna's Hummingbird, overall dark green with the back iridescing to a brilliant metallic emerald green, the underparts darker, the tail broad and dark, the head with a small white spot behind the eye; but the really striking feature was the bird's bill which was fairly long and thick near its base, down-curved throughout its length and of a striking red colour with a black tip, the colour being reminiscent of that of an adult Caspian Tern. The bird was around for about a minute, probably attracted by a bright scarlet Begonia on my deck, and for about 20-30 seconds it perched on an aspen branch about 4-5 meters away and allowed close observation. I believe this is a first record for Alberta and may be only the second for Canada. I immediately filled and hung a couple of feeders but I didn't see the bird again after it had flown away towards the south. The bird's breeding range is essentially the Sierra Madre Occidental Mountains of Mexico with the northern part of the range just creeping into southernmost Arizona and SW New Mexico, and occasionally SW Texas. This is the 7^th hummingbird species I have recorded at my house in the last couple of months, the others being Ruby-throated, Black-chinned, Anna's, Costa's (a female: probably a second record for the province), Rufous and Calliope.

September 26 [Day 7] (Terry Waters) The disturbance of the previous day proved to be short-lived although the air remained cool with a starting temperature of 2C, a high of 15C at 1700, and 9C at 1830. It was calm to 1000 then ground winds were SW 5-10 km/h becoming NE at 1500. Ridge winds were probably moderate WSW. It was cloudless until 1300 (although valley fog obscured the western route until 1100 and the east was periodically obscured by fog patches), with up to 10% scattered cumulus developing for the rest of the day. It took some time for the migration to get going with the first migrant raptor, an adult Northern Goshawk, not seen until 1526, quickly followed by the first of the day's 10 Golden Eagles (6a, 1sa,3u) at 1535, the last of which passed at 1735. Also recorded in the total of 14 migrants were 2 adult Bald Eagles and an adult Sharp-shinned Hawk. Other birds included 1 Pileated Woodpecker, a Varied Thrush singing early in the morning, 4 Fox Sparrows feeding on the path to the site, 12 White-winged Crossbills and 46 Pine Siskins. Hundreds of Mourning Cloak butterflies flying high to the south above the valley were again, on occasion (but only temporarily), confused with eagles moving along the Fisher Range to the east!

10.25 hours (78.33) BAEA 2 (5), SSHA 1 (11), NOGO 1 (2), GOEA 10 (47) TOTAL 14 (79)

September 25 [Day 6] (Joel Duncan) The temperature was 2C at 0800 but fell to 1C at 0900 before reaching a high at 1300 of 14C. Ground winds were light NE to 12 km/h until 1313 when the passage of a cold front was announced by gusts of 30 km/h. Before this time cloud cover had been 10% cirrus to 1100 after which stratus moved in from the west reaching 70% by noon and 100% as the front arrived bringing rain to 1400, followed by intermittent showers with all ridges obscured by cloud at 1500 and finally, after 1615, a thunderstorm with steady, heavy rain and sleet. The site was abandoned at 1700 with both the observer (who had forgotten his rain gear) and the notes in a rather damp state. Before the weather deteriorated a few migrants went though with columbarius Merlins flying south at 1030 (an adult male) and 1115 (of unknown age and sex), and 2 Golden Eagles (1sa,1j) that soared over the Fisher Range before gliding south at 1123. The highlights of the non-raptors were 1 Palm Warbler, 2 Swamp Sparrows and a male Purple Finch (all of which are uncommon at the site), along with 75 American Robins, 17 Yellow-rumped Warblers, 9 Dark-eyed Juncos ( 5 cismontanus and 4 montanus), 8 Red Crossbills, 17 White-winged Crossbills ans 2 Pine Siskins. A stag Elk, bugling in the early morning, obviously impressed his harem of 10 does.

9 hours (68.08) GOEA 2 (37), MERL 2 (3) TOTAL 4 (66)

September 24 [Day 5] (George Halmazna, assisted by Michael Woertman) The temperature rose to a high of 22C at 1500 from a low of 0.5C at 0700, ground winds were generally calm to light W switching to NW at 1400 and dropping to 0-2 km/h at the end of the day, and ridge winds also appeared to be light. Skies were generally clear with 20% cirrus developing at 1100 and cumulus after 1600 that reached 50% at 1800. Smoke haze persisted all day and made observation difficult. Raptor movement only occurred between 1141 and 1412 during which time 7 migrants were recorded: 2 Sharp-shinned Hawks (1a,1j), 1 adult Cooper's Hawk and 4 Golden Eagles (2a,1sa,1j). Three of the birds occurred between 1141 and 1200. Other birds recorded included 10 Ruby-crowned Kinglets, 79 American Robins, 1 Varied Thrush, 1Yellow-rumped Warbler, 1 Savannah Sparrow, 3 Song Sparrows, 56 White-winged Crossbills and 22 Pine Siskins. The highlights of the day, however, was a Black Bear on the south flank of Olympic Summit to the west, and another Black Bear and a Grizzly Bear on the lower flanks of the north end of the Fisher Range to the east.

12.5 hours (59.08) SSHA 2 (10), COHA 1 (2), GOEA 4 (35) TOTAL 7 (61)

September 23 [Day 4] (Bill Wilson) The same weather pattern persisted with the temperature reaching 23C at 1700 from a low at 0700 of 1C, and was 18C at 1930. Ground winds were SSE-SE 0-2 gusting 6 km/h to 1400, shifted to NNE 2-6 gusting 15 km/h to 1800 then were NW 2-6 km/h for the rest of the day. Ridge winds appeared to be light SE in the morning becoming light W in the afternoon. Cloud cover was initially 100% altostratus thinning after 0900 to 30-50% cirrostratus that diminished to 10% at the end of the day. Sunny conditions prevailed all day and there was no trace of smoke. Lift was initially poor but improved as the day wore on, with all of the season-high total of 26 birds seen moving from Mount Lorette to the Fisher Range. The total comprised 1 adult male and 1 undifferentiated female/juvenile Northern Harriers, 8 Sharp-shinned Hawks (3j,4u), 1 unaged Northern Goshawk, 1 juvenile dark-morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk and a season-high 14 Golden Eagles (3a,7j,4u). Peak movement was 7 birds recorded between 1600 and 1700. Other birds included 8 migrating Canada Geese, 1 male Belted Kingfisher, 2 Ruby-crowned Kinglets, 112 migrating American Robins and 14 White-winged Crossbills. There was a steady flow of high-flying Mourning Cloak and Milbert's Tortoiseshell butterflies that on occasion made it appear that eagles were moving along the Fisher Range Ridge to the east!

12.5 hours (46.58) NOHA 2 (2), SSHA 8 (8), NOGO 1 (1), RTHA 1 (6), GOEA 14 (31) TOTAL 26 (54)

September 22 [Day 3] (Terry Waters, assisted by Rod Smith) It was another warm day with an initial temperature (0830) of 3C that rose to a high of 24C at 1500 and remained at 22C at 0630. Ground winds were calm to light SW to 1400, after which they switched to NE light occasionally gusting to 12 km/h. Cloud cover was initially 5% cirrus that increased to 15% at 1500 and 30% at the end of the day, with minor scattered cumulus clouds developing after 1600. A light smoke haze persisted all day. Most of the raptor movement was from Mount Lorette to the Fisher Range, but lift conditions appeared to be poor and most birds were relatively low. The day's first bird was an adult male columbarius Merlin that flew low to the south above the valley, and the last was an adult Golden Eagle at 1730. The flight of 13 birds comprised 2 adult Bald Eagles, 1 small Accipiter, 4 adult calurus Red-tailed Hawks (1 rufous and 3 light morphs), 5 Golden Eagles (4a,1u) and the Merlin. Seven of the birds (2 Bald Eagles, 3 Red-tailed Hawks and 2 Golden Eagles) moved between 1700 and 1730. Other birds seen included 2 Boreal Chickadees, 67 American Robins, 1 Dark-eyed Junco and 39 Pine Siskins.

10 hours (34.08) BAEA 2 (3), UA 1 (1), RTHA 4 (5), GOEA 5 (17), MERL 1 (1) TOTAL 13 (28)

September 21 [Day 2] (Joel Duncan, assisted by Cliff Hansen) The temperature low was 0.5C at 0900, but rapidly rose to 24C at 1500 and was still 20C at 1930. Ground winds were calm to 1000 and then N-NE light occasionally gusting to 15 km/h for the rest of the day. It was cloudless all day with smoke haze developing after 1400. Only 3 raptors were recorded: an adult Cooper's Hawk at 1118, an adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk at 1222 and the day's only Golden Eagle (an unaged bird) at 1507. By way of compensation there was a good variety of non-raptor species including 1 female Belted Kingfisher, 1 Northern (Yellow-shafted) Flicker, 3 Blue Jays, 1 Boreal Chickadee, 6 Red-breasted Nuthatches, 7 Ruby-crowned Kinglets, 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet, 50 American Robins, 15 Yellow-rumped Warblers, 2 Song Sparrows, 7 White-throated Sparrows (a species that is uncommon at the site, in two flocks of 4 and 3), 2 Dark-eyed Juncos, 4 White-winged and 5 Red Crossbills, and 2 Pine Siskins.

12 hours (24.08) COHA 1 (1), RTHA 1 (1), GOEA 1 (12) TOTAL 3 (15)

Introduction This is the 21^th consecutive season that RMERF has conducted at least one fall count in the Front Ranges of the Rocky Mountains. In 1992 an extensive reconnaissance count of 33 days was made at Mount Lorette and subsequently full counts (75 to 101 days) were conducted there up to 2005, with the exceptions of 1997 when a full count was conducted at Plateau Mountain, and 2002 when circumstances limited observations at Lorette to only 14 days. From 2006 to 2009 the principal observation site was moved to the Piitaistakis-South Livingstone ridge near the Crowsnest Pass, during which time daily comparative counts of around 40-45 days were conducted at Mount Lorette timed to coincide with the main movement of Golden Eagles. This season we are again conducting an extended count at the Mount Lorette (Hay Meadow) site from September 20 to November 15. Cliff Hanson is again organizing the count and welcomes visitors to the site. If you are interested in volunteering as a “Skysweeper” (no previous experience needed: just good eyes and binoculars) or as an Observer please contact Cliff at 403- 673-2422.

September 20 [Day 1] (Cliff Hansen, assisted by Heinz Unger and Chris Hunt) The count started at the end of one of the warmest summers in the area ever recorded. The weeks leading up to the count were dominated by a stable high pressure system that produced temperatures well above average, clear skies and light winds and these conditions prevailed on the first day of the fall 2012 count. The temperature at 0730 was 5C, rose to a high of 24.5C at 1600 and was still 16C at 1900. Ground winds were calm initially and remained light and variable for the rest of the day. Ridge winds were probably light, but unfortunately data from the Environment Canada weather station on Olympic Summit, situated west of the Hay Meadow site, were not available and it appears that the station is not currently operational. Cloud cover was up to 50% thin cirrus all day, (mainly to the west), and smoke haze, probably from forest fires in BC to the west, persisted throughout the day. The first migrant raptor of the count was seen at 1118 when a juvenile Bald Eagle flew low to the south up the valley, and the first Golden Eagle was an unaged bird at 1129. The total flight comprised 1 Bald Eagle and 11 Golden Eagles (2a,1sa,6j,2u), the last of which was recorded at 1755. The Golden Eagles were not seen over Mount Lorette, but seemed to coming from the north and were seen first over the northern end of the Fisher Range. An adult female columbarius Merlin seen at 1816 was considered to be a non-migrant. Other birds seen included 57 migrating American Robins, and 9 Canada Geese flying high to the south, and a family group of 1 female and 7 juvenile Harlequin Ducks on the river. A male Elk bugled early in the morning, and a fairly large bat flew above the meadow in the late afternoon. A number of butterfly species were on the wing dominated by 45 Mourning Cloaks, many of which were feeding on sap from sapsucker holes in aspen trees together with a Red Admiral, 3 commas (Polygonia sp.) and 2 Red-naped Sapsuckers.

12.08 hours (12.08) BAEA 1 (1), GOEA 11 (11) TOTAL 12 (12)