Mount Lorette (08 Apr 2024) 41 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 08, 2024 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 13 | 72 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 4 | 5 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| American Goshawk | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Swainson’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 3 | 13 | 16 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 3 | 7 |
| Golden Eagle | 38 | 160 | 1745 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Gyrfalcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 13 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total: | 41 | 198 | 1871 |
| Observation start time: | 06:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 17:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 11 hours |
| Official Counter | Graeme Dunlop |
| Observers: | Caroline Lambert, Rick Robb |
Visitors:
About 14 people stopped by to chat. There were 2 visitors who helped spot during the afternoon.
Weather:
The temperature was 0 C at the start of observation, it rose to +5 by the middle of the day, then fell to +4 as we were leaving. Ground wind was from the SW and light in the morning, increasing from late morning with gusts around 20 km/h. Ridge wind appeared to be moderate from the W-SW. Cloud cover was around 50% at dawn with a brief light snow flurry, mostly cumulus and stratocumulus, decreasing to 20% cumulus from mid morning to early afternoon, before increasing again to 70% cirrostratus, cumulus and stratocumulus by late afternoon with occasional light snow. Some western ridges were shrouded in cloud from mid afternoon. No eagles were seen after 4p.m. so the count was ended at 6p.m. with heavy looking snow clouds building to the south and west.
Raptor Observations:
After a promising early start with 12 Golden Eagles seen between 08:00 and 08:30, movement was a steady trickle of 1 to 3 eagles per hour until about 14:00 when movement picked up slightly until the last eagles were seen at 15:50. Birds in the morning and early afternoon were using both east and west ridges, soaring and gliding. Later birds were seen mostly gliding quite high and fast over the eastern ridges and across to Mt Lorette. Days total was 41 migrants including 38 Golden Eagles (15a, 2sa, 1juv, 20u) and 3 Red-tailed Hawks (1 adult intermediate, 2u). Non-migrants included the resident Golden Eagles, 1 Red-tailed Hawk and 1 American Goshawk.
Non-raptor Observations:
8 Canada Geese, 15 Gulls (sp), 1 American Three-toed Woodpecker, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 15 Common Ravens, 4 Chickadee sp., 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch, 2 Varied Thrushes, 100+ American Robins, 2 Mountain Bluebirds, 1 Northern Shrike, 5 Dark-eyed Junco
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Mount Lorette information may be found at: eaglewatch.ca
More information at hawkcount.org: [Site Profile] [Day Summary] [Month Summary]
Mount Lorette (07 Apr 2024) 73 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 07, 2024 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bald Eagle | 1 | 13 | 72 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 2 | 4 | 5 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| American Goshawk | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Swainson’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 1 | 10 | 13 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 3 | 7 |
| Golden Eagle | 66 | 122 | 1707 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Gyrfalcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 13 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total: | 73 | 157 | 1830 |
| Observation start time: | 09:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 18:45:00 |
| Total observation time: | 9.75 hours |
| Official Counter | Jessica Banas |
| Observers: | Allison Zukewich |
Visitors:
There were 4 visitors to the site, two that helped with the count for a short while. Overall the meadow was very quiet, despite the nice weather.
Weather:
It was a beautiful day, with partial cloud cover, but lots of bright sun and blue sky. For the first few hours the west ridges were entirely obscured by low cumulus clouds, but as the day went on they lifted – however there was snowfall on and off throughout the day on the west ridges only. The temperature started at 2C and rose to 6C in the late afternoon. The ground winds were quite low from W to SW throughout the day. The ridge winds were challenging to judge, but at the very end of the day blowing snow was seen on the West Ridges. In all, the weather was very unique each hour.
Raptor Observations:
With the interesting weather came an interesting selection of raptors. Many of the birds were soaring high, choosing paths down both the East and West Ridges. The local Golden Eagle was seen multiple times throughout the day harassing migrants on the West ridges. The largest challenge in aging was that when the ridge winds seemed low, many of the birds were seen just popping out briefly over the west ridge. In total for migrating goldens there were: 18a, 20sa, 8j, and 18u. Other migrating raptors included 1 Red-tailed hawk (western lm), 2 Northern Goshawks (2a), 1 Bald Eagle (2nd Year), 2 Sharp-Shinned Hawks (1a, 1j) and 1 Merlin (Taiga a). There were many local raptors seen today as well, two Golden Eagles (1a, 1sa), two adult Bald Eagles, and an adult Male Taiga Merlin that was seen sitting in a tree for over an hour close to the site. He kept the valley quiet of passerines for the duration of his visit.
Non-raptor Observations:
Other observations included: 1 American Crow, 4 Common Raven, 6 Black-Capped Chickadee, 1 Mountain Chickadee, 1 Golden-Crowned Kinglet, 4 American Robin, 3 Bohemian Waxwing, 2 Dark-eyed Junco.
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Mount Lorette information may be found at: eaglewatch.ca
More information at hawkcount.org: [Site Profile] [Day Summary] [Month Summary]
Mount Lorette (06 Apr 2024) 17 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 06, 2024 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bald Eagle | 7 | 12 | 71 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| American Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Swainson’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 2 | 9 | 12 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 2 | 3 | 7 |
| Golden Eagle | 6 | 56 | 1641 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Gyrfalcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 13 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total: | 17 | 84 | 1757 |
| Observation start time: | 11:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 19:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 7.08 hours |
| Official Counter | Blake Weis |
| Observers: | Lynn Macintosh |
Visitors:
16 visitors stopped to talk. None came to watch raptors.
Weather:
The start of the count was delayed because snow fell throughout the morning which obscured all ridges. It commenced at 12:40 PM as the snow stopped and the sky partially cleared. It was mostly cloudy but there were some sunny breaks in the afternoon. The west ridges remained 80% obscured by low cloud and the east 20-40% until the last hour of observation, when they almost fully cleared. Ground wind was light from variable directions, and ridge wind was light to moderate from the SSW. The temperature was 3 C at the start, the high was 5, and the low was 2.
Raptor Observations:
The count consisted of 6 Golden Eagles (5 adults, 1 unaged), 7 Bald Eagles (3 adults, 4 sub-adults), 2 Red-tailed Hawks and 2 Rough-legged Hawks. Migrants moved through in a slow trickle between 1:30 and 5:50 PM. They were flying low over the center and west side of the valley. Most of them stayed below the level of the clouds, but a few soared up higher between cloud layers, disappearing from view. Local raptors included an adult Golden Eagle that flew south down the west side of the valley, a Red-tailed Hawk hunting over Hummingbird Plume Hill, and a Merlin that was seen twice hunting in the meadow.
Non-raptor Observations:
Other birds included: 18 Snow Geese migrating over the Fisher Range, 2 Canada Geese, 1 American Three-toed Woodpecker, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 1 American Crow, 5 Common Ravens, 8 Chickadee sp., 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch, 1 Brown Creeper, 2 Varied Thrushes singing in the evening, 20 American Robins, 65 Bohemian Waxwings, and 1 Dark-eyed Junco (Male Oregon) A mink made an appearance swimming in the river near the site. 2 distant bighorn sheep were spotted. Some adult stoneflies have emerged.
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Mount Lorette information may be found at: eaglewatch.ca
More information at hawkcount.org: [Site Profile] [Day Summary] [Month Summary]
Mount Lorette (05 Apr 2024) 2 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 05, 2024 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 5 | 64 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| American Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Swainson’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 0 | 7 | 10 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| Golden Eagle | 2 | 50 | 1635 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Gyrfalcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 13 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total: | 2 | 67 | 1740 |
| Observation start time: | 09:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 14:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 4.5 hours |
| Official Counter | |
| Observers: | Michael Yeoman |
Visitors:
Five people stopped to chat about the count.
Weather:
The morning started out at -5°C and rose to 1°C by 3:00 pm when the count attempt was concluded. Ground winds were low and out of the NE all day. Falling snow delayed the start of the count. Cloud cover was significant throughout the day with the could ceiling below ridge level; the summit of Patrick made a few appearances but no birds seemed to notice. The count was concluded early due to low cloud obscuring the ridges and obstructing access to the valley.
Raptor Observations:
Migrant Eagles Two migrant Golden Eagles were observed, both along the east side of the valley below the low clouds.
Non-migrant Raptors The resident Golden Eagle pair made a few appearances to the west of the site around Olympic Summit. The resident American Goshawk pair were also spotted in the valley.
Non-raptor Observations:
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Mount Lorette information may be found at: eaglewatch.ca
More information at hawkcount.org: [Site Profile] [Day Summary] [Month Summary]
Mount Lorette (04 Apr 2024) Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 04, 2024 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 5 | 64 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| American Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Swainson’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 0 | 7 | 10 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 48 | 1633 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Gyrfalcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 13 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total: | 0 | 65 | 1738 |
(No count conducted today)
Weather:
No count was conducted today due to low clouds, snow all day long, and poor visibility.
Raptor Observations:
Non-raptor Observations:
Report submitted by ()
Mount Lorette information may be found at: eaglewatch.ca
More information at hawkcount.org: [Site Profile] [Day Summary] [Month Summary]
Mount Lorette (03 Apr 2024) 6 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 03, 2024 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 5 | 64 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| American Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Swainson’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 0 | 7 | 10 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| Golden Eagle | 5 | 48 | 1633 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Gyrfalcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 13 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total: | 6 | 65 | 1738 |
| Observation start time: | 10:30:00 |
| Observation end time: | 16:15:00 |
| Total observation time: | 4.75 hours |
| Official Counter | Dan Parliament |
| Observers: | Dan Parliament, Rick Robb |
Weather:
The weather for the day was rain/snow, with some mid day clearing. The observers spent the first two hours in the parking lot under heavy rain conditions. The rain subsided allowing the count to commence at 1130 (MDT). Rain/snow squalls were present for about 10-15 minutes every hour until the clouds descended to tree top level at 1615 hrs (MDT), resulting in termination of the day’s count. The temperatures ranged from +3C to +4 C. Ground winds were from the SE before switching to northerly at 1500 hrs (MDT). Ridge winds were from the South and assessed as medium (11-40 km/hr) to high (41-100 km/hr).
Raptor Observations:
There were five migrant Golden Eagles (Adults) and one Sharp-shinned Hawk (unaged). The resident adult Golden Eagle was observed hunting over Hummingbird Plume mid afternoon. A resident Bald Eagle was observed hunting over the valley.
Non-raptor Observations:
Trumpeter/Tundra Swan x 10, Mallard x 4, Ruffed Grouse x 1 (Drumming), Northern Shrike x 2, Common Raven x 6, Black-capped Chickadee x 2, Mountain Chickadee x 1, American Robin x 23 – (one large flock of 20 flying North), Bohemian Waxwing x 10, Dark-eyed Junco x 10
Report submitted by ()
Mount Lorette information may be found at: eaglewatch.ca
More information at hawkcount.org: [Site Profile] [Day Summary] [Month Summary]
Mount Lorette (02 Apr 2024) 12 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 02, 2024 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bald Eagle | 2 | 5 | 64 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| American Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Swainson’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 1 | 7 | 10 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| Golden Eagle | 8 | 43 | 1628 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Gyrfalcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 13 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total: | 12 | 59 | 1732 |
| Observation start time: | 06:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 19:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 11.5 hours |
| Official Counter | Caroline Lambert |
| Observers: | Lynette MacCulloch |
Visitors:
Seven people stopped to inquire about the count.
Weather:
The temperature started at 4C, rose to 11C, and had only dropped to 10C at the end of the count. Altostratus and cumulus clouds dominated the sky all day, ranging from 50% coverage to 90%. Some lenticular clouds were east of Lorette in the morning, but moved off to the east before noon. The cumulus clouds were moving very fast from the west. Ground winds started out light and variable, but by noon it was gusting to over 30 kph from the southwest, and built from there. The strongest gust recorded at the site was over 70 kph, up into the knock-the-humans-off-balance strength. The wind did not die down before departure. With such strong gusty wind at ground level, and clouds racing across the sky, the ridge winds were likely over 100 kph. We know from when the weather station on the top of Nakiska was working that the eagles do not seem to like flying in such conditions, and that seemed to be the case today with low numbers of migrants.
Raptor Observations:
The first Golden Eagle was not seen until after 2pm, and in the next four hours only seven more were seen (2a, 2sa, 4u), all flying very high and very fast from the east ridge to Lorette, most clearing Lorette by several binocular views. No migrants were seen on the west ridge. Two Bald Eagles (1sa3, 1wb1) were seen following the same route. Early in the day a juvenile Red-tailed Hawk was seen heading north.
Several non-migrant Golden Eagles (possibly multiple sightings of one or two individuals) were seen at times during the day, seemingly struggling with the gusty winds. One adult Red-tailed Hawk was hunting over Hummingbird Plume in the morning before the wind picked up, and there were two sightings of American Goshawks, also battling the wind.
Non-raptor Observations:
Non-raptors were plentiful in the morning: Canada Goose 2, Pileated Woodpecker 1, Northern Shrike 1, Common Raven 7, Black-capped Chickadee 3, Mountain Chickadee 2, Boreal Chickadee 1, Red-breasted Nuthatch 1, Brown Creeper 1, Varied Thrush 2, American Robin 8, Bohemian Waxwing 12, Dark-eyed Junco 4
Report submitted by ()
Mount Lorette information may be found at: eaglewatch.ca
More information at hawkcount.org: [Site Profile] [Day Summary] [Month Summary]
