Visitors:
Only one group of 8 hikers stopped to chat.

Weather:
It was a cool morning, but after the sun appeared over the ridge, it warmed up quickly. Although the temperature didn’t get higher than 5C, after starting at -7C, it was comfortably warm all day because there were no clouds and no ground wind. After the sun went behind the west ridge, the temperature dropped quickly to -2C. Ridge winds were light from the southwest, not exceeding 20kph (at least up to 1400 when the Nakiska weather station went offline).

Raptor Observations:
With such light winds at ridge level, and forecast to be that way all day, expectation of seeing many eagles today was low. Contrary to that expectation, 57 Golden Eagles (44a, 6sa, 3j, 2ui, 2u) thought this was the perfect day to fly down the Fisher Range. The first Golden Eagle was seen just after 1300, with a total of 15 in that hour. In mid afternoon there was a lull, making us think that perhaps the movement was done for the day, but, again our expectations were wrong, as there were 16 in the penultimate hour, and 24 in the last hour. The movement didn’t stop until there was no sunlight lighting up east ridge, at sunset. Most of the eagles were first spotted soaring over Mt Lorette, but with such little wind they couldn’t sustain their height over the valley, and most came into the face of Patrick below ridge level. However, in spite of the light wind, once the eagles had soared enough to get above Patrick, most were able to glide along the east ridge without any more soaring or flapping. Most of the Golden Eagles were adults.
Besides the Golden Eagles, there were five Bald Eagles heading south, all adults.
Early in the day an immature Bald Eagle was seen flying up the river, and later two adult Bald Eagles spent some time flying together on the east side of the valley.

Non-raptor Observations:
The walk in from the parking lot was unusually busy with birds this morning, starting with a flock of Bohemian Waxwings flying over, and several groups of Redpolls chattering away in the spruce trees. Near them were a couple of Mountain Chickadees, a Boreal Chickadee, a couple of Red-breasted Nuthatches, and a couple of White-winged Crossbills. More Redpolls and Bohemian Waxwings were seen at the site, along with the Belted Kingfisher, a couple of Black-capped Chickadees, and a Northern Shrike. One Ruffed Grouse was drumming all day. Flying south was a flock of 18 Canada Geese, and flock of Snow Geese.

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]