Mount Lorette (06 Oct 2026) 39 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 06, 2026 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Bald Eagle | 1 | 9 | 19 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 16 | 44 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| American Goshawk | 0 | 2 | 14 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Swainson’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 0 | 3 | 15 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 1 | 4 | 7 |
| Golden Eagle | 37 | 331 | 597 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| Gyrfalcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Unknown Accipitrine | 0 | 2 | 7 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 2 | 7 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 4 | 8 |
| Total: | 39 | 377 | 743 |
| Observation start time: | 07:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 18:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 10.35 hours |
| Official Counter | Caroline Lambert |
| Observers: | Linda Hickey, Peter Christensen |
Visitors:
Numerous people came by the site, about 30 of which were told about the count. Thanks to Deanna for helping to spot at the end of the day.
Weather:
A chinook arch was visible to the east at the start of the day, with corresponding warm temperatures, high pressure, low humidity, and gusty winds. While the temperature started off at a relatively cool 5C, it rose rapidly to 16C and was 12C at the end of the day. A few tiny cumulus clouds appeared throughout the day, moving rapidly from the west, but most of the time the sky ranged from mostly cloudless to mostly covered with cirrus clouds. Ground winds were blustery, sometimes calm and sometimes gusting up to 20kph. Ridge winds were moderate, in the 30-40kph range from the southwest, with gusts up to 75kph.
Raptor Observations:
The weather conditions did not seem amenable to migrating eagles today, as our total of 37 Golden Eagles (9a, 10sa, 18u) was well below the average expected on this day of the season. Those that we saw were all gliding along the east ridge, most quite high up. Very few did any soaring, but nearly all of them were being buffeted by the wind.
The only other migrating raptors seen were a Rough-legged Hawk and an adult Bald Eagle.
Non-migrants were an adult Bald Eagle, an adult American Goshawk, and an adult Golden Eagle.
Non-raptor Observations:
A Steller’s Jay was an unusual sighting, and two Bohemian Waxwings perched on spruce trees were the first of the season. Other than those we had one Pileated Woodpecker, about 15 Common Ravens, three Black-backed Chickadees, 30 American Robins (all heading south), a couple of Pine Siskins, a couple of White-crowned Sparrows, and a Red Crossbill was heard in the parking lot.
Predictions:
Tomorrow may be similar to today, but things should pick up Thursday, and especially Friday, as a cold front approaches.
Report submitted by ()
Mount Lorette information may be found at: eaglewatch.ca
More information at hawkcount.org: [Site Profile] [Day Summary] [Month Summary]
Count data submitted via Trektellen.org – [Project Details]
