Mount Lorette (04 Nov 2023) 17 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 04, 2023 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Bald Eagle | 2 | 7 | 91 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 0 | 138 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| American Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 33 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Swainson’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 0 | 0 | 24 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| Golden Eagle | 15 | 62 | 2966 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| Gyrfalcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 0 | 45 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| Total: | 17 | 69 | 3390 |
| Observation start time: | 08:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 16:45:00 |
| Total observation time: | 8.75 hours |
| Official Counter | Blake Weis |
| Observers: | Lynn Macintosh |
Visitors:
18 Visitors stopped to talk and 3 stayed for a bit to help spot eagles.
Weather:
The temperature was 1 C at the beginning of observation, it rose to a high of 7 then fell to 6 at the end of the day. Ground wind varied between SW and NW, with a sustained speed usually around 10 km/h though a few gusts approached 40. Ridge wind was from the SW and strong with gusts up to 96. Cloud cover was 70-100%. A few low clouds clung to Mts. Kidd and Bogart which always seemed ready to bring rain or snow into the valley but never did.
Raptor Observations:
The count consisted of 15 Golden Eagles (6a, 1sa, 1ui, 7u) and 2 Bald Eagles (1a, 1sa1/2). All the migrants used the eastern ridges and often gained much height kiting into the wind but usually weren’t able to maintain it for very long. They often resisted ageing by staying tucked up in a glide as they cruised along the Fisher Range. 8 migrants passing between noon and 1 pm gave us hope that movement would pick up in the afternoon. It was not to be, as only 4 more were seen after 1 pm. One resident American Goshawk was heard calling near the site in the morning and at least one adult Bald Eagle was seen flying up and down the river.
Non-raptor Observations:
2 Trumpeter/Tundra Swans, 1 American Three-toed Woodpecker, 3 Canada Jays, 18 Common Ravens, 2 Black-capped Chickadees, 3 Mountain Chickadees, 3 Boreal Chickadees, 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet, 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch, 1 Brown Creeper, 2 American Dippers, 50 Bohemian Waxwings, 1 Pine Grosbeak, 2 Common Redpolls, and 1 White-winged Crossbill
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 (03 Nov 2023) 26 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 03, 2023 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 5 | 89 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 0 | 138 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| American Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 33 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Swainson’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 0 | 0 | 24 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| Golden Eagle | 26 | 47 | 2951 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| Gyrfalcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 0 | 45 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| Total: | 26 | 52 | 3373 |
| Observation start time: | 08:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 17:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 8.75 hours |
| Official Counter | Caroline Lambert |
| Observers: | Ruth Morrow |
Visitors:
About 5 people stopped to chat.
Weather:
The milder weather of today was quite welcome, warm enough to melt much of the snow that had fallen recently. The starting temperature was +2C, then it reached a high of 5C before falling to 4C by the end of the day. Ground winds were mostly calm with some strong gusts from the southwest, while ridge winds were initially very strong (81-99 kph in the morning), but decreased to moderately strong for the afternoon. There was not much sun due to thick cumulus clouds that looked threatening for much of the day, touching the top of the west ridge but staying above the east ridge. Towards the end of the day a few raindrops materialized.
Raptor Observations:
The only migrant raptors seen were 26 Golden Eagles (8a, 2sa, 1ui, 15u). A few used the west ridge, where they had to run the gauntlet of a large number of ravens (25 seen at one time), but most made good use of the strong ridge winds and sailed by high above the east ridge. The lack of sunlight and no soaring made aging challenging.
The only other raptor seen was an adult Bald Eagle which perched in a tree by the river for a while.
Non-raptor Observations:
Other birds were: Canada Goose 22, Larus sp. 2, Northern Shrike 1, Canada Jay 2, Common Raven 30, Mountain Chickadee 1, Boreal Chickadee 1, Golden-crowned Kinglet 1, Bohemian Waxwing 50, Pine Grosbeak 2
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 (02 Nov 2023) Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 02, 2023 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 5 | 89 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 0 | 138 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| American Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 33 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Swainson’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 0 | 0 | 24 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 21 | 2925 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| Gyrfalcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 0 | 45 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| Total: | 0 | 26 | 3347 |
| Observation start time: | 08:30:00 |
| Observation end time: | 10:30:00 |
| Total observation time: | 0.5 hours |
| Official Counter | Neil Denton |
| Observers: |
Visitors:
None
Weather:
Low Nimbo-stratus cloud at start of day, on or below the ridge lines. During the two hours we were present, the clouds continued to lower into the valley floor.
Raptor Observations:
No possibility of raptors being spotted, identified or aged.
We called off the day at 10:30am.
Non-raptor Observations:
1 Northern Shrike 2 American Dipper 3 Common Raven 1 Black-capped Chickadee 1 Brown Creeper 1 Pine Grosbeak 1 Gray-crowned Rosy Finch 1 Common Redpoll
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 (01 Nov 2023) 26 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 01, 2023 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Bald Eagle | 5 | 5 | 89 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 0 | 138 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| American Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 33 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Swainson’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 0 | 0 | 24 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| Golden Eagle | 21 | 21 | 2925 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| Gyrfalcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 0 | 45 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| Total: | 26 | 26 | 3347 |
| Observation start time: | 08:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 17:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 9 hours |
| Official Counter | Annie Finch |
| Observers: | Lynette MacCulloch |
Visitors:
12 people stopped in to chat about the count, including a lovely family visiting from Tahiti who took full advantage of the excellent snowman-making conditions.
Weather:
The morning started out at -4°C, rose to +3°C by 3:00 pm, and fell to 2°C by 6:00 pm. Cirrus clouds dominated the aerial narrative once again, dissipating and building above the valley rather than transiting as usual. The ridges remained unobscured throughout the day. Light conditions were favourable for aging until we lost light after 5:00 pm. Ground winds were mild all day from a general south-westerly direction. Ridge winds were 20-30 km/h from the SW/WSW with gusts in the afternoon up to 44 km/h. Though some eagles found the lift necessary to soar and glide above ridge level, many used powered flight for supplemental or primary propulsion. Overall, the flight speed of the eagles was notably slow.
Raptor Observations:
Migrant Eagles The first two eagles of the day were observed over the western ridges after 1:00 pm; two of the last were spotted over Mt. Collembola after 5:00 pm. All others used the eastern ridges and the east side of the valley. 21 Golden Eagles: 12a, 1ui, 8u 5 Bald Eagles: 3a, 1sa1/2, 1j
Other Raptors No other migrant raptors were observed.
Non-migrant Raptors An American Goshawk was calling from the western slopes of the valley when I arrived at the parking lot in the morning.
Non-raptor Observations:
I was greeted just out of the parking lot by a chiclet flock (3 chickadee sp. + 1 kinglet sp.). The lone local Common Redpoll made numerous passes over the site through the day calling somewhat frantically. Two Canada Jays stopped in to chat about the count while two others observed the proceedings from a distance. Two American Dippers frequented the riffles next to the site, occasionally chasing each other up and down the channel. Many Common Ravens played in the air currents above the ridges and in many cases drew our attention to the migrating eagles they were harassing up there. 1 American Goshawk 1 Hairy Woodpecker 1 Northern Shrike 4 Canada Jay 1 Black-billed Magpie 9 Common Raven 3 Black-capped Chickadee 11 Mountain Chickadee 6 Boreal Chickadee 2 Golden-crowned Kinglet 3 Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 Brown Creeper 2 American Dipper 2 Pine Grosbeak 1 Common Redpoll 1 Red Crossbill 1 Dark-eyed Junco
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 (31 Oct 2023) 23 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 31, 2023 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Osprey | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| Bald Eagle | 2 | 82 | 84 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 7 | 8 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 108 | 138 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 0 | 7 | 8 |
| American Goshawk | 0 | 29 | 33 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| Swainson’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 0 | 19 | 24 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 12 | 12 |
| Golden Eagle | 21 | 2747 | 2904 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 0 | 10 | 14 |
| Gyrfalcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 27 | 45 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 8 | 9 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 9 | 14 |
| Total: | 23 | 3072 | 3321 |
| Observation start time: | 08:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 17:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 8.92 hours |
| Official Counter | Caroline Lambert |
| Observers: | Dan Parliament, James Bannon, Theresa Gawron |
Visitors:
One person stopped to ask about the count, and two others showed up with binoculars and helped spot – thanks Yumi and Dave!
Weather:
The temperature started at -10C, rose to +2C, and was -3C at the end of the day. Ridge winds were low from the southwest, only occasionally strong enough to blow snow off the west ridge. Ground winds were light most of the day, but enough to offset what little warmth came from the sun. The only clouds were cirrus, constantly changing in shape and coverage throughout the day.
Raptor Observations:
With the light ridge winds, most of the migrating raptors were making slow and laborious progress. Several of the eagles were seen using powered flight to cross the west side of the valley. The first few seen on the east side needed to use powered flight, but a few later in the day found enough uplift to glide and soar above the east ridge. Of the migrants, 21 were Golden Eagles (13a, 1j, 7u), and two were Bald Eagles (1a, 1j).
Early in the day a subadult Bald Eagle was perched on a tree by the river, and later two adult Bald Eagles flew north down the river. The local adult American Goshawk was seen hunting over Hummingbird Plume, and the juvenile was seen briefly as it disappeared into the nearby forest.
Non-raptor Observations:
Other birds seen were two gulls heading west (possible Herring Gulls), the usual 2 Canada Jays, 1 Black-billed Magpie, about 15 ravens (frequently harassing the migrating eagles), 1 Black-capped Chickadee, 1 Mountain Chickadee, 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet, the American Dipper, about 25 Bohemian Waxwings, a couple of Pine Grosbeaks across the river, 1 lonely Common Redpoll, and a couple of slate-coloured Dark-eyed Juncos.
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]
