Mount Lorette (04 Apr 2026) 21 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 04, 2026 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bald Eagle | 4 | 6 | 68 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| American Goshawk | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Swainson’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 2 | 6 | 14 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Golden Eagle | 12 | 24 | 1050 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Gyrfalcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipitrine | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 1 | 16 |
| Unknown Raptor | 1 | 2 | 6 |
| Total: | 21 | 44 | 1168 |
| Observation start time: | 08:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 17:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 9 hours |
| Official Counter | Blake Weis |
| Observers: | Jennifer Brand, Liam Mc Laughlin |
Visitors:
51 people stopped to talk. None stayed to look for migrants.
Weather:
The temperate was 0 at the start of observation, the high was 7, and it was 5 as we were leaving. Ridge wind was moderate to strong from the SW. Ground wind was also from the SW, occasionally gusting up to 20 km/h. Cloud cover was 40-80% cumulus and cirrus.
Raptor Observations:
It was another slow day for Golden Eagles despite what seemed to be decent conditions for migration. The count was 12 Golden Eagles (3 adults, 1 juvenile, 1 subadult, 4 undifferentiated immature, 3 unaged), 4 Bald Eagles (2 adults, 2 subadults), 1 Turkey Vulture, 2 Red-tailed Hawks, 1 Merlin, and 1 unidentified raptor. Movement was mostly on the western ridges and valley, but later in the day they were split between west and east. The most unusual bird of the day was the Turkey Vulture. Though TVs are the most abundant species at many sites, they are rarely counted at this location. Resident raptors were the Golden Eagle and Red-tailed Hawk pairs, a Bald Eagle, and an American Goshawk.
Non-raptor Observations:
Full list on eBird:
ebird.org/checklist/S317079358
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]
Mount Lorette (03 Apr 2026) 20 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 03, 2026 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bald Eagle | 1 | 2 | 64 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| American Goshawk | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Swainson’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 4 | 4 | 12 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Golden Eagle | 10 | 12 | 1038 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Gyrfalcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipitrine | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Eagle | 1 | 1 | 16 |
| Unknown Raptor | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| Total: | 20 | 23 | 1147 |
| Observation start time: | 08:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 18:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 9.75 hours |
| Official Counter | Caroline Lambert |
| Observers: | Michelle Hart, Tiina Moore |
Visitors:
Since it was a holiday the trail was quite busy. 60-70 people walked by, and about a dozen stopped to ask what we were doing, or to watch for a bit.
Weather:
It was mostly cloudy most of the day, with the sun occasionally breaking through the low clouds to warm us. The east ridge stayed clear all day but the higher parts the west ridge occasionally faded away. The temperature started at -3C and rose to +5C, ending the day at +3C. Ground winds were light, mostly from between west and south, while ridge winds also seemed light judging by the lack of blowing snow most of the time. When we did see snow plumes, it seemed that the wind was swinging from west to south. High winds were low from the northwest.
Raptor Observations:
It was a disappointing day for migrating Golden Eagles, with just 10 spotted (5a, 2ui, 3u), mostly high over the east ridge, with the first seen just before noon and the last at 16:45. A few needed to soar to gain altitude. However, the local Golden Eagles put on quite a show – at one point we had a Golden Eagle doing display dives over Old Baldy at the same time another one was doing display dives at the other end of the valley over Skogan Pass near Collembola. Were these rival eagles, or a pair marking the boundary of their territory? Later we saw two together doing display dives and playing around with each other over Nakiska.
Other migrating raptors were more plentiful – four adult Red-tailed Hawks, one adult Bald Eagle, one American Goshawk, one Sharp-shinned Hawk, one small accipitrine hawk, one unknown eagle, and one small unidentified raptor.
Besides the two local Golden Eagles, one Red-tailed Hawk and one Bald Eagle were considered to be not migrating.
Non-raptor Observations:
There did not seem to be as many non-raptor species as might be expected for the time of year. There is still snow cover everywhere, which might impact the species that like to forage in the meadow. These other birds were one Mallard, one Canada Goose, one Killdeer, one Hairy Woodpecker, a Northern Flicker, about seven Common Ravens, a Black-capped Chickadee, a couple of Mountain Chickadees, a couple of Varied Thrushes, about five American Robins, and about 25 Bohemian Waxwings.
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]
Mount Lorette (01 Apr 2026) 3 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 01, 2026 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bald Eagle | 1 | 1 | 63 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| American Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Swainson’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Golden Eagle | 2 | 2 | 1028 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Gyrfalcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipitrine | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Total: | 3 | 3 | 1127 |
| Observation start time: | 08:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 15:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 6.5 hours |
| Official Counter | Ethan Denton |
| Observers: | Peter Lloyd |
Visitors:
34 people walled, skiied, or snowshoed by. About half stopped to chat and 3 stayed to help watch for a period.
Weather:
Opening at -10�C, the day warmed quickly to a balmy 0�C. Ground level winds were largely nonexistent, but unfortunately so were ridge level winds. The day started heavily overcast, and by 13:30 the Western ridge was mostly lost to a low bank of clouds. It did not take long for the rest of the valley to follow, and by 14:30 it started to snow. The forecast suggested nothing was going to change, but we waited for another hour after that, just in case. At15:30, with clouds and falling snow seemingly entrenched, we called it a day.
Raptor Observations:
In the hours before we lost the ridgeline, 4 eagles were seen. One of these was a resident Bald Eagle. Of the other three, two were adult Golden Eagles and one was a very pretty subadult Bald Eagle. All three followed the Eastern ridge, though one of the Goldens ended up coming almost over the river.
Non-raptor Observations:
The highlight of the day was the Spotted Towhee’s continued presence. At least three Northern Flickers were seen, as well as about 30 Robins, a Varied Thrush, pairs each of Mallard and Canada Goose, and a Killdeer calling somewhere downstream.
Report submitted by Ethan Denton (ethan@suechick.com)
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]
Mount Lorette (31 Mar 2026) 13 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 31, 2026 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bald Eagle | 1 | 62 | 62 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| American Goshawk | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Swainson’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Golden Eagle | 11 | 1026 | 1026 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Gyrfalcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipitrine | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 15 | 15 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Total: | 13 | 1124 | 1124 |
| Observation start time: | 08:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 19:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 10.52 hours |
| Official Counter | Caroline Lambert |
| Observers: | Susan Wilberg |
Visitors:
Of the two dozen or so passers-by, only three people stopped to chat for any length of time.
Weather:
The temperature started out unusually cold for the end of March, at -14C. It rose to 0C and ended the day at -1C. With yesterday’s snow still looking fresh, all signs of spring had disappeared, except for a few intrepid catkins on the willows. The ground wind started out calm and was never very strong. Around the middle of the day it was from the north and northeast, but by midafternoon was from the west to southwest. Initially the sky was overcast with thin stratus clouds, which gradually gave way to a mix of cirrus and cumulus that allowed enough sun through to keep us warm until the sun went behind the west ridge. Judging by the snow blowing off the ridges, the ridge wind was initially calm and stayed that way most of the day. Occasional plumes were seen coming off the ridges by late afternoon, indicating a southwest wind.
Raptor Observations:
The first migrant raptor, a Golden Eagle, wasn’t seen until after noon, after that there was a slow trickle of one Golden Eagle per hour, until late in the day when five were seen between 1800 and 1900. A couple were seen on the west ridge, but the rest were mostly coming up from behind the east ridge and then kiting high above the ridge before turning to head towards Mt Lorette. The total was a disappointing 11 (6a, 3sa, 1ui, 1u). Other migrants were an adult Bald Eagle and an adult dark morph Red-tailed Hawk.
Non-migrants spotted were an intermediate morph adult Red-tailed Hawk and a Bald Eagle.
Non-raptor Observations:
Other birds were very quiet, not surprising given the unusually cold start to the day. Seen or heard were 3 Canada Geese, 1 Common Goldeneye, 2 Common Mergansers, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 1 Northern Flicker, about 8 Common Ravens, 2 Black-capped Chickadees, and 2 American Robins.
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]
Mount Lorette (30 Mar 2026) 21 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 30, 2026 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bald Eagle | 1 | 61 | 61 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| American Goshawk | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Swainson’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Golden Eagle | 19 | 1015 | 1015 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Gyrfalcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipitrine | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 15 | 15 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Total: | 21 | 1111 | 1111 |
| Observation start time: | 10:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 20:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 9.3 hours |
| Official Counter | Lori Anderson |
| Observers: | Neil Denton |
Visitors:
About 15 people stopped by to inquire about the count.
Weather:
The start of the count was delayed due to a snowstorm. We began at 11:00 a.m. with a temperature of -8�C. The sky was completely overcast, and snow fell. None of the ridges were visible at the outset, but as the day progressed, conditions gradually improved. The ridges began to clear, and by 2:00 p.m., they were fully visible. The temperature rose to a high of -3�C and measured -4�C by the end of the count. Ground winds were light, averaging around 5 km/h from the northwest until 3:00 p.m., when they shifted to the west. After 6:00 p.m., the winds returned to a north-northwest direction. The Nakiska weather station was once again not operational, so precise ridge wind measurements were unavailable. However, ridge winds appeared moderate to strong at times, inferred from visible plumes moving from the west. Cloud cover averaged approximately 60% and consisted primarily of cumulus and nimbostratus clouds.
Raptor Observations:
Raptor movement was observed primarily along a flight path that passed nearly straight overhead at times and high over the eastern ridges. Birds were located in the Mount Lorette area as well as over the Fisher Range. Flight behaviour was predominantly gliding. Most birds travelled past Mount Lorette and continued on towards Mount McGillivray. The final count for the day was 21 raptors, including 19 Golden Eagles (9 adults, 4 ui, 6 u), 1 subadult Bald Eagle, and 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk. A few other non-migrating raptors in the area included a Golden Eagle, a dark morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk, and a Northern Goshawk. We had the pleasure of observing the Goshawk fly a few metres in front of us along the river to the trees near the pumphouse, where it remained in plain sight for approximately 15 minutes.
Non-raptor Observations:
Needless to say, due to the snowstorm, there were not many small birds in the area. An American Dipper made a few flybys, and more than 50 American Robins flew overhead in small groups. One male White-winged Crossbill perched briefly at the top of a tree. A lone Canada Goose braved the snowy skies, and approximately seven Dark-eyed Juncos were observed in the area. In addition, three Mountain Chickadees, two Black-capped Chickadees, one Red-breasted Nuthatch, and a Northern Flicker were seen.
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]
