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)