Mount Lorette (19 Apr 2023) 4 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 19, 2023 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bald Eagle | 1 | 43 | 129 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 9 | 9 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 0 | 5 | 5 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 9 | 20 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Swainson’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 0 | 23 | 24 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 3 | 5 |
| Golden Eagle | 2 | 318 | 1757 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Merlin | 0 | 4 | 5 |
| Gyrfalcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 3 | 5 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Unknown Eagle | 1 | 11 | 21 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Total: | 4 | 434 | 1987 |
| Observation start time: | 06:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 16:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 10 hours |
| Official Counter | Annie Finch |
| Observers: | Rick Robb |
Visitors:
Nine people stopped by and chatted about the count.
Weather:
The morning was full of hope. Snow squalls traded off with blue sky at roughly even intervals for most of the day. The temperature rose from 0C to a high of 4C before falling to 2C at the end of the count. Conditions were generally favourable for identification, though a few eagles melted into the clouds before we would have liked. Ground winds were low, variable, and confusing. While most squalls approached from the northeast up the course of the Kananaskis River, the snow itself hit us from the west. Ground winds between squalls were generally SSW. Radar indicated the storms were coming in from the northeast. Unfortunately, the pockets of clear sky were moving the wrong direction for migrating raptors. After 10 hours of observation and with no change apparent on Radar or at the site, the count was concluded early.
Raptor Observations:
2 Golden Eagles (1 subadult, 1 undifferentiated immature), 1 Bald Eagle (1 adult), 1 unidentified eagle. No hawks appeared.
A resident Golden Eagle escorted a subadult Golden out of the valley in the morning. A subadult Bald Eagle flew south low over our heads accompanied by 4 ducks; it was unclear which team was the aggressor. Neither goshawks nor red-tails made themselves known.
Non-raptor Observations:
The passerine highlight of the day was an Oregon-looking Dark-eyed Junco who, while perched atop a small spruce, appeared to sneeze. The periods of snow were not without their diversions. During the first extended squall we played an absorbing game of ‘Count the Pipits’ as a small flock of American Pipits took turns impersonating rocks along the riverbank (the pipits won the game). Robins and Bluebirds dominated the meadow when it was warmed by the sun. At least two Pileated Woodpeckers drummed and called from opposite sides of the meadow. A Ruffed Grouse drummed from the forest as well.
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Mount Lorette information may be found at: eaglewatch.ca
More information at hawkcount.org: [Site Profile] [Day Summary] [Month Summary]
Count data submitted via Dunkadoo – [Project Details]
