Mount Lorette (22 Apr 2023) 8 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 22, 2023 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Bald Eagle | 4 | 50 | 136 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 13 | 13 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 9 | 20 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Swainson’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 0 | 29 | 30 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 3 | 5 |
| Golden Eagle | 2 | 329 | 1768 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Merlin | 0 | 6 | 7 |
| Gyrfalcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 4 | 6 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Unknown Eagle | 1 | 12 | 22 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Total: | 8 | 473 | 2026 |
| Observation start time: | 05:45:00 |
| Observation end time: | 16:30:00 |
| Total observation time: | 10.75 hours |
| Official Counter | Blake Weis |
| Observers: | Lynn Macintosh |
Visitors:
27 visitors stopped to talk. 2 stayed for a bit to watch for migrants.
Weather:
At the start of observation it was -4C, and low clouds hung to the south and west which sent light flurries into the valley. The east ridges were also partially obscured at the beginning of the day. The snow and low cloud cleared quickly giving way to a mostly sunny day with a high of 6. Ground wind was light in the morning, and in the afternoon sustained winds were between 10 and 20 km/h with some gusts over 30. The direction was usually from SW-WSW but occasionally it swung around to the north. Ridge wind was from the WSW all day, light to moderate in the morning then growing strong in the afternoon. As is customary on the final day of the count when migration is slow, observation was concluded early at 5:30 PM after the site was packed up.
Raptor Observations:
The count for the day consisted of 2 Golden Eagles (1 sub-adult, 1 unaged), 1 unaged Cooper’s Hawk, 4 Bald Eagles (1 adult, 2 undifferentiated sub-adults, 1 sub-adult 1), and 1 unidentified eagle. Migrants were generally high using variable flight paths. Some were soaring and gliding up the east side of the valley though both the western and eastern ridges saw a little use. They moved sporadically in the late morning and early afternoon. The first was recorded at 9:54 AM and the last at 2:33 PM. Resident raptors included at least one of the local Golden Eagle pair, two adult red-tailed hawks, and one adult Northern Goshawk displaying.
Non-raptor Observations:
Canada Goose 1 American Wigeon 2 Flying with Mallards Mallard 7 Ruffed Grouse 3 Drumming Belted Kingfisher 1 Hairy Woodpecker 1 Pileated Woodpecker 1 Canada Jay 2 Common Raven 9 Black-capped Chickadee 2 Mountain Chickadee 3 Boreal Chickadee 4 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet 2 Red-breasted Nuthatch 3 American Dipper 1 European Starling 5 Varied Thrush 3 American Robin 20 Bohemian Waxwing 45 American Pipit 3 White-winged Crossbill 2 Pine Siskin 5 Dark-eyed Junco 7
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 Dunkadoo – [Project Details]
Mount Lorette (21 Apr 2023) 22 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 21, 2023 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Bald Eagle | 2 | 46 | 132 |
| Northern Harrier | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 4 | 13 | 13 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 9 | 20 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Swainson’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 5 | 29 | 30 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 3 | 5 |
| Golden Eagle | 5 | 327 | 1766 |
| American Kestrel | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| Merlin | 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Gyrfalcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 1 | 4 | 6 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 11 | 21 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Total: | 22 | 465 | 2018 |
| Observation start time: | 06:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 18:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 11.75 hours |
| Official Counter | Graeme Dunlop |
| Observers: |
Visitors:
None
Weather:
The temperature at 0700 was -3C, the high was 2C at 1500 and it was -1C at 1900. Winds were light or moderate N to NE. Ridge winds looked to be light to moderate N to NW. Cloud cover was initially 100% stratus and stratocumulus throughout the morning, this began to break at 1300 and reduced to about 60% cumulus and stratocumulus through much of the afternoon and evening. Steady light and occasionally moderate snow fell continuously until about 1330. Surrounding ridges were obscured all day but there was a large patch of blue sky above the valley from early afternoon.
Raptor Observations:
By noon I was considering abandoning the count. With continuous snowfall and a strengthening northerly wind I was struggling to stay warm so decided to head back to the car and wait. I was reluctant to head home as I had seen a few smaller raptors flying through the snow. No sooner had I arrived back at the car than the snow stopped and the sky started to brighten. I decided to head to the excellent overlook on the Village Rim Trail at Kananaskis Village. This location is around 3km south of Hay meadow and provided shelter from the north wind and overlooked the sunnier part of the valley. From here I saw 5 Golden Eagles between 1415 and 1510, all flapping and gliding quite low, NE from the direction of the Wedge towards the Fisher Range. The count was 22 raptors of 8 species comprising 2 Bald Eagles (1a, 1sa), 1 adult male Northern Harrier, 4 Sharp-shinned Hawks (2a, 2u), 1 adult Coopers Hawk, 5 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks, 5 Golden Eagles (2a, 3u), 1 female American Kestrel, 2 female columbarius Merlins and 1 unidentified accipiter. No migrants were seen after 1530 so I ended the count at 1900. Resident birds were Northern Goshawk, twice seen carrying what appeared to be squirrels towards the nest area, and 2 pairs of Red-tailed Hawks. Shortly after arriving at the Kananaskis Village site, I saw the resident Golden Eagle soaring overhead and performing a display flight. I scanned the sky to the south to see if his display flight was a response to the presence of a neighboring pair and I did see them soaring far to the south. I often see this pair around the interestingly shaped and named ridge called Spoon Needle, SW of Galatea trailhead, and have observed this neighbouring pair and the local pair soaring together, at what is presumably their territorial boundary around Mt Kidd summit, on several occasions over the years. The 3 eagles slowly converged and flew together for a while. They were joined by a fourth eagle, which approached from the south east, and all 4 birds soared together somewhere over the south end of Kananaskis golf course before slowly drifting back the way they came. I kept my telescope on the 4th bird as he glided and displayed, heading south eastward up Evan Thomas Creek towards Fisher Peak. This is the first time I have observed what appears be the marking of a triple territorial boundary.
Non-raptor Observations:
Other birds were 9 Canada Geese, 7 Mallards, 4 Common Goldeneye, 2 Barrow’s Goldeneye, 13 Common Merganser, 1 Common Loon, 5 Sandhill Cranes, 1 Mourning Dove, 1 drumming Ruffed Grouse, 1 Downy Woodpecker, 3 Northern Flickers, 5 American Crows, 6 Common Ravens, 6 Black-capped Chickadees, 2 Mountain Chickadees, 2 Boreal Chickadees, 2 Red-breasted Nuthatches, 5 Golden-crowned Kinglets, 1 pair of Mountain Bluebirds, 100+ American Robins, 2 singing Varied Thrushes, 2 large flocks of Bohemian Waxwings (one numbering about 45 and the other with more than 60), 22 European Starlings, 3 Pine Siskins, 2 White-winged Crossbills, 1 Common Redpoll, 2 Evening Grosbeaks. I had the briefest glimpse of what I am fairly sure was 2 male Yellow-rumped Warblers. I saw some interesting birds on the drive home to Cochrane: 9 Red-tailed Hawks, 7 Bald Eagles, 2 American Kestrels, 1 Cooper’s Hawk, 2 Ospreys, 1 Prairie Falcon and 1 Gyrfalcon!
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 Dunkadoo – [Project Details]
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.
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 Dunkadoo – [Project Details]
Mount Lorette (18 Apr 2023) 3 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 18, 2023 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 42 | 128 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 9 | 9 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 1 | 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 | 316 | 1755 |
| 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 | 0 | 10 | 20 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Total: | 3 | 430 | 1983 |
| Observation start time: | 06:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 19:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 12.63 hours |
| Official Counter | Caroline Lambert |
| Observers: | Lynette MacCulloch |
Visitors:
A group of 16 hikers came by early in the morning, but few people were seen after that. Only six more stopped to talk. Perhaps the gloomy weather and threat of rain deterred people from coming out.
Weather:
The temperature started out cool at -7C, rose to a high of 4C, and was 3C at time of departure. Cloud coverage started out as 80% cirrostratus and gradually thickened and lowered as it became thin 100% altostratus, leaving the sky flat and grey most of the day, often with the sun visible through it. Late in the day the clouds lowered some more and began to obscure the ridges. Some sort of precipitation was forecast during the day, but none materialized. Ground winds were light and variable. Ridge winds appeared low in the morning but grew stronger during the day, allowing the local birds to move around without too much powered flight.
Raptor Observations:
Only two migrant Golden Eagles were seen (1sa, 1j), both mid-morning, using powered flight to make their way slowly to the north along the west side of the valley. Around noon a Cooper’s Hawk flew along the same path, and that was it for migrants.
There were several non-migrant Golden Eagles seen – two on the west ridge, and two on the east ridge. These were seen at various times of the day, sometimes displaying, sometimes perched high on the ridge, sometimes flying off somewhere (but not in a migration direction). All four were seen in a short period of time, so it is thought the ones on the east ridge are a different pair from those on the west ridge. A light adult Red-tailed Hawk was seen several times during the day hovering over Skogan Pass. An adult Bald Eagle appeared to be hunting near Patrick. Goshawks were seen twice – once flying low up the river with a prey item.
Non-raptor Observations:
After the weak sun had had enough time to defrost the meadow, the meadow was alive with passerines. 17 robins were counted at one point. Initially there was just a pair of Mountain Bluebirds, but by late in the morning they were joined by four more, for a total of two males and four females. The non-raptor list is: Canada Goose 5, Mallard 4, Common Merganser 2, Ruffed Grouse 1, Hairy Woodpecker 1, Northern Flicker 1, Common Raven 9, Black-capped Chickadee 2, Mountain Chickadee 1, Red-breasted Nuthatch 2, American Dipper 1, European Starling 1, Mountain Bluebird 6, Varied Thrush 1, American Robin 17, American Pipit 1, White-winged Crossbill 5, 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]
Count data submitted via Dunkadoo – [Project Details]
Mount Lorette (17 Apr 2023) 10 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 17, 2023 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bald Eagle | 1 | 42 | 128 |
| Northern Harrier | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 2 | 9 | 9 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 9 | 20 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Swainson’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 4 | 23 | 24 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 3 | 5 |
| Golden Eagle | 2 | 314 | 1753 |
| 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 | 0 | 10 | 20 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Total: | 10 | 427 | 1980 |
| Observation start time: | 05:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 20:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 14.5 hours |
| Official Counter | Lori Anderson |
| Observers: | Rick Robb |
Visitors:
Six people stopped by the site.
Weather:
At Dawn, the sky was almost cloudless and snow crystals filled the air, blown in from the snow clouds over the SW side of the valley. There was a thin layer of powder on the trail and much more was to come throughout the morning. A wind warning was in effect and the snow plumes on the ridges confirmed the very strong winds. At one point, a large snow tornado swirled on the Olympic Summit and another formed upriver. At ground level, the winds were also strong all day with gusts over 30 km/h, and even toppled over a heavy metal chair. Both ridge and ground winds blew from the SW. After 9:00 it started snowing intermittently until about 15:00 with a few very intense squalls, and it wasnât until 18:00 that the valley had clear skies and finally allowed passage for two Golden Eagles. The temperature went up and down all day between 0 and 4 degrees.
Raptor Observations:
Most of the few migrants seen today flew high over the center of the valley, but later after the snow storms passed, they used the eastern ridges. A very funny thing happened today. We were observing one of the resident Golden Eagles fly southward directly overhead and a Bald Eagle came into view heading northward passing it on the same path and at the same level as if it were a two-way highway. Migrant Raptors: 2 Golden Eagles (1a, 1u), 1 adult Bald Eagle, 4 Red-tailed Hawks (3 adults, 1 dark/intermediate adult), 1 Northern Harrier (adult female), 2 Sharp-shinned Hawks (2u). Non-migrant Raptors: Resident Golden Eagles were seen hunting a few times but not performing display behavior. Oddly, the resident Goshawks were neither seen nor heard the entire day. A light morph adult Red-tailed Hawk circled while hunting over the meadow and later another with the same characteristics was seen a few times kiting and soaring while hunting over Hummingbird plume. I think it might be the same one, and has set up shop in the area.
Non-raptor Observations:
Before the snowstorm, the morning meadow was teaming with activity and song. Northern flickers called out continuously for hours, Robins and Juncos sang and a pair of Mountain Bluebirds embellished the tree tops. + American Robins, 2 Hairy Woodpeckers, + Common Ravens, 2 Red-breasted Nuthatches, + Dark-eyed Juncos 4 Canada Geese, 2 Northern Flickers. 1 Common Goldeneye, 4 Mallards, 1 Pileated Woodpecker, 1 Ruffed Grouse (tracks). Very frisky Red Squirrels.
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 Dunkadoo – [Project Details]
