September 30 [Day 11] (Cliff Hansen, assisted by Anita Walker) Warm weather returned with an initial temperature of 10.5C that rose to a high of 23.5 at 1500 and slowly fell to 16C at 1900. Ground winds were variable S-SW initially 5-10 km/h but gusted to 35 km/h between 1100 and 1500 after which they again became light, and ridge winds were SW-SSW moderate to strong gusting to 102 km/h at 1300. In the morning cloud cover was 40% altostratus that formed a Chinook arch over the Fisher Range to the east, that diminished to 20% as the arch slowly drifted east at 1300 after which it reduced to 10% by 1400. At 1900 90% cumulus, altocumulus and cirrus cloud suddenly developed that persisted for the rest of the day. The arch made high-flying birds easy to detect but aging was impossible in many cases as the birds were silhouetted against the altostratus cloud. It was a delightful day to be in the field but raptor movement was quite slow and sporadic with only a single Cooper's Hawk counted between 1300 and 1700. The day's flight was 28 birds that mainly glided high above the Fisher Range between 0900 and 1900 and which comprised 1 adult Bald Eagle, 1 adult female Northern Harrier, 1 juvenile Cooper's Hawk, 1 juvenile light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk, 23 Golden Eagles (7a,1sa,2j,13u) and 1 unaged American Kestrel. After 1700 the birds moved lower against the face of the Fisher Range, and the busiest hour of the day came between 1800 and 1900 when 7 birds (6 Golden Eagles and the Red-tailed Hawk) moved. Non raptors were relatively scarce but included a Northern Shrike, 5 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches and 115 Pine Siskins.

12.33 hours (134.57) BAEA 1 (11), NOHA 1 (2), COHA 1 (3), RTHA 1 (5), GOEA 23 (168), AMKE 1 (2) TOTAL 28 (227)

September 29 [Day 10] (Terry Waters, assisted by Julian Waters). The temperature reached a high of 18C between 1400 and 1700 from a low of -6C and was 14C at the end of the day. Ground winds were SW all day 5-10 gusting 15 km/h and ridge winds were mainly moderate SW-SSW with occasional gusts exceeding 40 km/h. Cloud cover was initially 100% cirrus that gradually dwindled to 10% by the end of the day. Raptor movement was very similar to that of yesterday with birds appearing at the northern end of the Fisher Range with none being seen over Mount Lorette. The flight was again dominate by Golden Eagles with 36 birds (24a,5sa,2j 5u) moving between 1108 and 1815 with peak movement of 9 birds between 1500 and 1600. The first bird of the day was an adult Cooper's Hawk at 1040 and 1 adult Bald Eagle, 1 adult Sharp-shinned Hawk and 1 adult Peregrine Falcon completed the day's count of 40 birds. A total of 111 Canada Geese flew high to the south with the largest flock comprising 45 birds, and 27 American Robins and 101 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches were the most common passerine migrants.

11 hours (122.24) BAEA 1 (10), SSHA 1 (25), COHA 1 (2), GOEA 36 (145), PEFA 1 (4) TOTAL 40 (199)

September 28 [Day 9] (Cliff Hansen, assisted by Kevin Barker) The cooling trend continued with the temperature reaching 11.5C at 1500 and 1600 from a morning low of 0C. Ground winds were SW-WSW all day, light to 1100 then gusting to 15-25 km/h to 1500 after which they again became light, while ridge winds were mainly moderate WSW-SW occasionally gusting to 50-60 km/h. Initial cloud cover was 40% cumulus that gradually dwindled throughout the day to 5% at 2000, generally giving good detection conditions although aging the birds was challenging in the morning. Today saw the first significant pulse of Golden Eagle movement with 70 birds (35a,4sa,16j,15u) moving between 0839 and 1941, which is by far the latest movement seen so far this season. Most birds appeared at the northern end of the Fisher Range and may have been moving to the SE from Heart Mountain; only one bird was seen over Mount Lorette. An adult male Northern Harrier and a light morph Rough-legged Hawk were first records for the season and other raptors counted were 2 adult Bald Eagles, 1 adult Sharp-shinned Hawk and a single small unidentified raptor. A total of 235 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches moved south in flocks of 20-50 birds throughout the day and a juvenile Northern Shrike was new for the season. Now that the movement is well underway there is a greater need for assistance in locating migrants and any help that you can give will be valuable. Please consider volunteering as a “Skysweeper” at the site, especially during the afternoon when movement is usually heaviest.

12.25 hours (111.24 hours) BAEA 2 (9), NOHA 1 (1), SSHA 1 (24), RLHA 1 (1), GOEA 70 (109), UU 1 (1) TOTAL 76 (159)

September 27 [Day 8] (George Halmazna) The temperature was 11C at 066 and fell to a low of 8.5C at 0900 before rising to a high of 13.5 C at 1400 and it was still 12C at 1800. Ground winds were initially calm and were then variable SW to SE gusting to 30 km/h before becoming mainly calm again after 1500. Ridge winds were mainly strong SW-SSW all day, gusting to 150 km/h until 1300, after which the became moderate to strong gusting to between 36 and 107 km/h. Cloud cover was 100% stratus, cumulus and cumulonimbus all day with rain and showers occurring throughout the day and wet snow falling at higher elevations to the south and west. Ridges were periodically obscured and peaks to the north mainly disappeared into cloud after 1630. Not surprisingly only 3 migrant raptors, 1 adult Bald Eagle and 2 unaged Sharp-shinned Hawks, were counted between 1049 and 1308. Three female or juvenile Harlequin Ducks were seen on the river, and the weather encouraged the southward movement of 2 Common Loons, 77 Pine Siskins, 15 juvenile Barn Swallows and 133 American Robins.

12 hours (98.99) BAEA 1 (7), SSHA 2 (23) TOTAL 3 (83)

September 26 [Day 7] (George Halmazna) The temperature reached a high of 16C between 1400 and 1530 from a low at 0700 of 7.5C, and it was 12C at 2000. Winds were moderate SW gusting to 40 km/h to 1600 after which they switched to SSE gusting to 20 km/h, while ridge winds were strong SW all day gusting to 204 km/h after 1500. Cloud cover was variable cumulus and altostratus with snow flurries after 1700 but the ridges remained clear all day. Only 1 migrant Golden Eagle, a juvenile, was seen that moved from Mount Lorette to the Fisher Range at 1613, but 8 Sharp-shinned Hawks (4a,3j,1u) moved mainly low above the valley between 1149 and 1742, and 2 unaged Peregrine Falcons and 1 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk completed the day's count of 12 birds. Migrant songbirds were dominated by 480 Pine Siskins, 4 Barn Swallows (2a,2j), and 2 Blue Jays that were the first for the season.

13.16 hours (86.99) SSHA 8 (21), RTHA 1 (4), GOEA 1 (39), PEFA 2 (3) TOTAL 12 (80)

September 25 [Day 6] (Jim Davis) The temperature at 0700 was 1C with frost on the ground but it rose to a high of 23C at 1500 and was still 17C at 1900. Ground winds were calm to noon after which they were SW 20-27 km/k increasing to almost 40 km/h after 1600, and ridge winds were mainly moderate becoming strong later in the afternoon. It was cloudless until 1130 when 50-70% mainly cumulus cloud developed bringing extended rain showers between 1140 and 1300 and 1700-1900, during which times the ridges remained clear. Heavy smoke from a controlled burn on Mount Nestor in the Spray Valley west of the site, however, obscured up to 20% of the west ridges between 1200 and 1300 and the Kananaskis Valley was filled with smoke until mid afternoon which made observing very uncomfortable. Despite this a season-high total of 23 migrants of 8 species was tallied between 1006 and 1835 when the first Peregrine Falcon of the season went south. Eight birds moved between 1400 and 1500, but Golden Eagle movement is still low with only 6 birds seen today. The flight comprised 1 adult Osprey (the first for the season), 4 Bald Eagles (3a,1j), 5 Sharp-shinned Hawks of unknown age, 2 Northern Goshawks (1a,1j), 3 light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks (2j,1u) (the first migrants of the season), 6 Golden Eagles (5a,1u), a male American Kestrel (first for the season) and a juvenile Peregrine Falcon. Non-raptor highlights were a Black Swift at 1413, 10 Grey-crowned Rosy-finches flying at 0834 and a flock of 24 Pine Siskins lead by an Evening Grosbeak flying south at 1002.

12.5 hours (73.83) OSPR 1 (1), BAEA 4 (6), SSHA 5 (13), NOGO 2 (3), RTHA 3 (3), GOEA 6 (38), AMKE 1 (1), PEFA 1 (1) TOTAL 23 (68)

September 24 [Day 5] (Bill Wilson) The warm weather continued with a temperature of 15C at 0700 that rose to 25C at 1200 and remained at 24C for most of the afternoon. Ground winds were S-W peaking at gusts of 30 km/h between 1300 and 1500, while ridge winds were strong SW-SSW all day with a peak gust of 186 km/h at 1500. With the exception of occasional single small clouds in the afternoon it was essentially cloudless all day. A total of 9 migrant Raptors moved between 0931 (a Sharp-shinned Hawk) and 1849 (the last of 4 Golden Eagles) with a maximum hourly count of 3 (2 Sharp-shinned Hawks and 1 Northern Goshawk) between 1700 and 1800. The flight comprised 4 Sharp-shinned Hawks (1a,1j,2u), 1 juvenile Northern Goshawk and 4 Golden Eagles (2a,1sa,1j). Other migrants included a flock of 40 California Gulls (37a,3j) soaring and drifting high to the south at 1718, 25 Red Crossbills, and 280 Pine Siskins flying south in flocks of 10-80 birds. Birds seen around the meadow included 6 Yellow-rumped Warblers and 87 American Robins.

13 hours (61.33) SSHA 4 (8), NOGO 1 (1), GOEA 4 (32) TOTAL 9 (45)

September 23 [Day 4] (George Halmazna) Strong downslope winds all day kept temperatures well above seasonal norms with 17C recorded at 1700 and a high of 24C at 1500. Surface winds were SW (occasionally SSW) all day gusting in excess of 60 km/h after 1500, while ridge winds were strong SW-SSW gusting to 202 km/h. Golden Eagle numbers continue to slowly increase with a season-high 10 birds (9a,1sa) recorded between 1527 and 1628. The first bird of the day was the season's first Cooper's Hawk, a juvenile, at 1018 and 2 unaged Sharp-shinned hawks completed the day's tally of 13 birds. There were good numbers of passerines including 7 Ruby-crowned Kinglets, 60 American Robins, 2 House Wrens, 3 Swamp Sparrows, 5 White-winged Crossbills and around 500 Pine Siskins. Mammals seen near the site included 37 Elk and 2 Grizzly Bears.

12.5 hours(48.33) SSHA 2 (4), COHA 1 (1) GOEA 10 (28) TOTAL 13 (36)

September 22 [Day 3] (Cliff Hansen assisted by Anita Walker) It was another warm day with a starting temperature of 14C that rose to 22C at 1600 and was still 17C at 1900. Ground winds were SW all day initially 5-20 gusting 30 km/h reaching 40-50 km/h by mid afternoon, and ridge winds were strong SW all day gusting to 200 km/h. Cloud cover was initially 100% altocumulus, cumulus and cirrus reducing to 60-90% cumulus and cirrus and finally only cumulus giving conditions that made detection of high-flying birds easy but aging them challenging. A total of 9 migrant raptors moved between 1006 and 1347 comprising 1 small unidentified Accipiter (either a Sharp-shinned or a Cooper's Hawk) and 8 Golden Eagles (2a, 1j, 5u), 5 of which moved between 1100 and 1200 and include 3 soaring together at 1135. Other bird records included a Northern Hawk-Owl calling near the site at at 1400, a single male Mountain Bluebird and a male Belted Kingfisher on the river, with no sign today of the female. 11.83hours (35.83) UA 1 (1), GOEA 8 (18) TOTAL 9 (23)

September 21 [Day 2] (Cliff Hansen)The temperature reached a high of 23C at 1500 from a morning low of -1C and was still 17C at 1900. Surface winds were initially light and variable becoming SW 10-20 gusting 25 km/h at 1100 and S gusting 35 km/h after 1700, and ridge winds were mainly moderate SW-SSW gusting over 60 km/h by late afternoon. Cloud cover was 10-40% altocumulus, lenticular and cumulus all day giving excellent observing conditions. The day's first migrant was an adult Sharp-shinned Hawk at 1106, and the first of 5 Golden Eagles passed at 1309 with the last seen at 1512. The final count comprised 1 adult Sharp-shinned Hawk and 5 Golden Eagles (1a, 2j, 2u) with all the eagles moving very high from Mount Lorette to the Fisher Range. Few passerines were see but included 3 Vesper Sparrows, but the non-raptor highlight was and intensive interaction between a male and a female Belted Kingfisher that spent 5 minutes pursuing and dive-bombing each other above the river: in the end only the female remained.

12 hours (24) SSHA 1 (2), GOEA 5 (10) TOTAL 6 (14)

Introduction This is the 20th 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 occurred 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. Unfortunately, this season we are again unable to conduct a count at the Piitaistakis-South Livingstone site but we will be doing reconnaissance counts there, to which the general public is invited, from a new site near the Frank Slide Interpretive Centre every weekend during the month of October. Details of access to the site (which does not entail a 300m climb!) are on our website. Again we are conducting an extended count at the Mount Lorette (Hay Meadow) site from September 20 to November 10. Cliff Hanson is 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 Kevin Barker) It was a chilly start to the count with a temperature of -4C at 0700 which fell to -5.5C at 0900 before rising to a high of 16C at 1600 and remained at 10C at 1900. Ground winds were calm to 0900 and were subsequently variable SSW-E for the rest of the day gusting to 20 km/h around 1500, while ridge winds reported from the Environment Canada weather station on the Nakiska Ridgetop on Mount Allan to the west of the site were light in the morning becoming SW-SSW gusting to 40 km/h by late afternoon. It was cloudless all day with only a trace of cumulus cloud developing well to the west after 1800. The season's first migrant raptor was an adult Bald Eagle at 1128 and the first 2 Golden Eagles moved at 1154. The last of the day's 5 Golden Eagles was seen at 1313 and the last raptor was an adult Sharp-shinned Hawk at 1749. The first day's count comprised 2 adult Bald Eagles, 1 adult Sharp-shinned Hawk and 5 Golden Eagles (3a,1j,1u). Passerines at the site included 1 Say's Phoebe, 12 Yellow-rumped Warblers, 1 American Pipit and 12 White-winged Crossbills; 22 Elk were in the Meadow with males were bugling in the early morning and Mourning Cloak butterflies were very common.

12 hours (12) BAEA 2 (2), SSHA 1 (1), GOEA 5 (5) TOTAL 8 (8)