Mount Lorette (28 Oct 2025) 6 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 28, 2025 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 55 | 59 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 167 | 197 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 0 | 11 | 15 |
| American Goshawk | 0 | 14 | 20 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Swainson’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 0 | 21 | 43 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 17 | 17 |
| Golden Eagle | 6 | 1927 | 2069 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 0 | 9 | 14 |
| Gyrfalcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipitrine | 0 | 5 | 11 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 5 | 6 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 8 | 14 |
| Total: | 6 | 2245 | 2490 |
| Observation start time: | 08:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 17:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 9 hours |
| Official Counter | Caroline Lambert |
| Observers: | Alan Hingston, Neil Denton |
Visitors:
There were few hikers on the trail today. About 5 people stopped to ask about the count. Many thanks to Alan Hingston for helping spot for several hours.
Weather:
The temperature started at -5C, rose to +5C, and was +3C at the end of the day. The day started with clear blue skies, and that persisted until about 1500 when cirrostratus clouds moved in from the west. The clouds gradually became flat, textureless, steel-grey altostratus clouds that covered the entire sky. Ground winds were mostly calm, occasionally gusting up to 20kph. Ridge winds were from the southwest, ranging from 20kph to about 60kph by the end of the day.
Raptor Observations:
A couple of Golden Eagles around noon gave hope for a day of more normal movement than we’ve had in the last few days, but it was not to be. Another Golden Eagle was seen around 1530, and then three appeared as the day was being wrapped up, giving a total of 6 (1a, 1sa, 1ui, 3u). All were flying low along the east ridge, sometimes going below ridge level. No other migrant raptors were seen.
One Bald Eagle was spotted flying up the river and was not considered a migrant.
Non-raptor Observations:
Ravens were again abundant over the east ridge, with 10 being seen circling together over the bumps. Small groups of Canada Geese flew by, totalling about 15. A Ruffed Grouse was heard drumming. A loon flew by high up early in the day, and later a juvenile gull of unknown species (possibly American Herring Gull) was seen heading south. Two Belted Kingfishers chased each other up river, and later a female came to sit on a perch across the river. An adult Northern Shrike made several appearances. An American Dipper was heard and seen briefly as it flew down the river. A Red-breasted Nuthatch, a couple of Mountain Chickadees, a pair of Canada Jays, and about 75 Bohemian Waxwings rounded out the day’s non-raptor species.
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 (27 Oct 2025) 29 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 27, 2025 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Bald Eagle | 3 | 55 | 59 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 167 | 197 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 0 | 11 | 15 |
| American Goshawk | 0 | 14 | 20 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Swainson’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 0 | 21 | 43 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 17 | 17 |
| Golden Eagle | 26 | 1921 | 2063 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 0 | 9 | 14 |
| Gyrfalcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipitrine | 0 | 5 | 11 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 5 | 6 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 8 | 14 |
| Total: | 29 | 2239 | 2484 |
| Observation start time: | 08:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 17:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 9 hours |
| Official Counter | Dan Parliament |
| Observers: | Dana Guenette, Glenn Webber |
Visitors:
We had five visitors at the site. Special thanks to Yumi and Alan who spent the greater part of the afternoon assisting in spotting and aging the raptors.
Weather:
The temperature fluctuated between zero to a high of +3 C and declining to + 2 C at the close. The ground winds were variable from WSW to SW to West to SW. The base ground winds were 6-11 km/hr with periodic gusts to 25 km/hr. The ridge winds were assessed at NNW to NW at Medium (11-40 km/hr). The high winds were initially SW at 40 with gusts to 70 km/hr and declining in the late afternoon to 20-30 with gusts to 50 km/hr.
Raptor Observations:
The migration flight consisted of 29 birds of two species. The breakdown was 26 Golden Eagles (18 adults, and 8 unaged), and 3 Bald Eagles (3 adults). The flight was very high, mostly 2 binocular FOVs above the east ridges. The eagles were mostly in side profile and aging was difficult as this required following the route across Patrick and the Bumps and waiting for the bird to bank to provide aging details. A resident Bald Eagle was observed at 1440 hrs (MDT) hunting at the base of Mt Lorette.
Non-raptor Observations:
The Common Ravens were active along the East ridge and rising to harass the migrants. Other observations were 2 Boreal Chickadee, 2 Red-breasted Nuthatch, 9 American Robins, 30 Pine Siskins 2 Northern Flickers, 1 Clarke’s Nutcracker, 1 Northern Shrike and 26 Common Ravens.
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 (26 Oct 2025) 13 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 26, 2025 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Bald Eagle | 2 | 52 | 56 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 167 | 197 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 0 | 11 | 15 |
| American Goshawk | 0 | 14 | 20 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Swainson’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 1 | 21 | 43 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 17 | 17 |
| Golden Eagle | 9 | 1895 | 2037 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 0 | 9 | 14 |
| Gyrfalcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipitrine | 0 | 5 | 11 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 5 | 6 |
| Unknown Raptor | 1 | 8 | 14 |
| Total: | 13 | 2210 | 2455 |
| Observation start time: | 08:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 17:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 9 hours |
| Official Counter | Cameron Harvey |
| Observers: | Allison Zukewich |
Visitors:
17 visitors stopped and asked about the count. Several took us up on the offer to help spot for at least a few minutes with provided binoculars.
Weather:
Gusty winds and intermittent snow squalls would be a good summary of today’s weather. The temperature started out at 4C and rose to a high of 6C before falling down to 3C at the end of the count. The sky was mostly cloudy with low cumulus clouds for most of the day, sometimes becoming close to overcast. Several snow squalls blew through the valley, at time obscuring the ridges. Surface winds were generally from the SW and were gusty, ranging from almost calm to 40 km/h. Of particular note were the high ridge winds which, during the count, ranged from 62-109 km/h sustained and 97-140 km/h gusts.
Raptor Observations:
Migrant raptors included: 9 Golden Eagles (4a, 1sa, 4u), 2 Bald Eagles (1a, 1 sa), 1 Red-tailed Hawk and 1 unidentified small raptor. All Golden Eagles were seen before 13:22 MDT. All eagles were seen on the East ridge and the flight path was high with several eagles being seen 2-3 bino FOVs over the bumps. All migrant raptors were tucked in a glide without stopping to soar; however, lighting conditions allowed for the aging of eagles if they were spotted over, or before, the bumps. Eagles that were first seen further down the ridge went unaged.
The only non-migrating raptor seen was a Sharp-shinned Hawk that was travelling north up the valley.
Non-raptor Observations:
Non-raptors included: 2 Black-capped chickadee, 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet, 7 Common Ravens, 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 2 Clark’s Nutcracker, 1 American Dipper and 17 Common Mergansers who gave us a flyover while moving swiftly southward.
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 (25 Oct 2025) 11 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 25, 2025 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 50 | 54 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 1 | 167 | 197 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 0 | 11 | 15 |
| American Goshawk | 0 | 14 | 20 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Swainson’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 1 | 20 | 42 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 2 | 17 | 17 |
| Golden Eagle | 7 | 1886 | 2028 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 0 | 9 | 14 |
| Gyrfalcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipitrine | 0 | 5 | 11 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 5 | 6 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 7 | 13 |
| Total: | 11 | 2197 | 2442 |
| Observation start time: | 08:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 17:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 9 hours |
| Official Counter | Blake Weis |
| Observers: | Lynn Macintosh |
Visitors:
44 people stopped to ask about the count, and 8 stopped to watch for migrants. Special thanks to Morgan and Colin for staying for a few hours and helping to spot birds, feel free to come back any time!
Weather:
The temperature was 2 C at the start of the count, it briefly reached a high of 10 around 4 PM, then fell to 9 before the end. The sky was nearly clear in the morning, but cloud cover increased gradually throughout the afternoon until it was nearly 100% cumulus, altocumulus and cirrus. Ground wind was from the S-WSW, usually light, with the occasional gusts close to 20 km/h. Ridge wind was from the S-SW with variable speed. The Nakiska Ridgetop weather station gave readings as high as 38 gusting to 77 in the morning, and as light as 11 with no gusts in the evening.
Raptor Observations:
When the first two Golden Eagles passed between 10:45 and 11 AM we had some hope that would be the start of a decent movement of eagles, but, unfortunately, that was not to be. The count for the day was 7 Golden Eagles (1a, 2j, 1sa, 1ui, 2u), 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1 Red-tailed Hawk, and 2 Rough-legged Hawks. 1 Rough-legged Hawk used the western ridges, and the rest of the migrants were on the east. Local raptors included a Goshawk that harassed the migrating Red-tailed Hawk, and a Bald Eagle flying around over the river.
Non-raptor Observations:
Other birds observed were 1 American Three-toed Woodpecker, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 1 Clark’s Nutcracker, 10 Common Ravens, 2 Black-capped Chickadees, 6 Golden-crowned Kinglets, 3 Red-breasted Nuthatches, 1 Brown Creeper, 1 Lapland Longspur, 2 White-crowned Sparrows and 1 Harris’s Sparrow.
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 (24 Oct 2025) 8 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 24, 2025 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Bald Eagle | 4 | 50 | 54 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 166 | 196 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 0 | 11 | 15 |
| American Goshawk | 0 | 14 | 20 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Swainson’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 0 | 19 | 41 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 15 | 15 |
| Golden Eagle | 4 | 1879 | 2021 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 0 | 9 | 14 |
| Gyrfalcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipitrine | 0 | 5 | 11 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 5 | 6 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 7 | 13 |
| Total: | 8 | 2186 | 2431 |
| Observation start time: | 08:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 17:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 9 hours |
| Official Counter | Graeme Dunlop |
| Observers: | Jim She, Sonya Pollock |
Visitors:
22 visitors stopped to ask about the eagles. 3 people helped scan the empty skies with binoculars.
Weather:
A sunny and quite warm day. The temperature at 0900 was 9C, the high at 1400 was 15C and it was 10C at 1800. Ground winds were SSW-SW all day, initially light but increasing to moderate by late morning. Ridge winds were S to SW, 66km/h to 110km/h all day apart from a brief lull late morning with gusts up to 135km/h. Cloud cover was 10% initially, increasing to 40% late morning before decreasing back to 10% by late afternoon. Mostly cirrus and cirrostratus with some small cumulus clouds. For about an hour in the early afternoon two long rotor clouds streamed out from the ridges near Mt Allan like a pair of giant snow-plumes indicating just how turbulent the atmospheric conditions were. Observing conditions were good to excellent throughout.
Raptor Observations:
The days count was 4 unaged Golden Eagles and 4 adult Bald Eagles. The severe crosswinds/headwinds likely made conditions too unfavourable even for eagles. The first Golden Eagle was seen just after 1400 gliding high over the Fisher Range, yawing like a Turkey Vulture and being blown around like a leaf, something I have never seen an eagle do before! The last 3 Golden Eagles appeared just before 1700, also high over the Fisher Range.
Non-raptor Observations:
The skies were generally quiet but there was a few passerines flying in the morning. Unfortunately most were too distant for me to confidently identify. 1 American Robin, 14 Common Ravens, 1 Downy Woodpecker, 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet, 1 Mountain Chickadee, 4 Clark’s Nutcrackers, 2 White-crowned Sparrows and 1 gull sp.
Report submitted by ()
Mount Lorette information may be found at: eaglewatch.ca
More information at hawkcount.org: [Site Profile] [Day Summary] [Month Summary]
