Mount Lorette (06 Mar 2024) 17 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 06, 2024 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bald Eagle | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| American Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Swainson’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Golden Eagle | 13 | 13 | 13 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gyrfalcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total: | 17 | 17 | 17 |
| Observation start time: | 09:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 17:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 8 hours |
| Official Counter | Dan Parliament |
| Observers: | Kathleen O’Connor, Susan Wilberg |
Visitors:
4
Weather:
A beautiful blue sky day made for a great start for the observers for the opening day of the Spring, 2024 Golden Eagle migration monitoring program. The opening temperature was minus 17C, but quickly warmed to a high of minus 4, and dropping to minus 5 at 1700 hrs. The ground winds were SW at 0-5 km/hr for the entire day. Ridge winds were assessed as low to moderate, with only occasional spindrifts seen along the ridges.
Raptor Observations:
The raptor migration was entirely restricted to the East ridges, with the raptors generally gliding low over the ridges. Thirteen adult Golden Eagles and four adult Bald Eagles were observed for the day. The main group of 14 migrating raptors occurred between 1236 and 1255 hrs (Golden Eagle x 12; Bald Eagle x 2).
Non-raptor Observations:
Non-Raptor Species: Canada Jay x 1, Common Raven x 5, American Dipper x 1
Report submitted by ()
Mount Lorette information may be found at: eaglewatch.ca
More information at hawkcount.org: [Site Profile] [Day Summary] [Month Summary]
Mount Lorette (15 Nov 2023) 2 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 15, 2023 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Bald Eagle | 2 | 46 | 130 |
| 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 | 174 | 3078 |
| 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 | 1 | 10 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| Total: | 2 | 221 | 3542 |
| Observation start time: | 10:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 14:30:00 |
| Total observation time: | 4.5 hours |
| Official Counter | Annie Finch |
| Observers: | Rosemary Power |
Visitors:
Four people stopped to chat about the count.
Weather:
The morning started out at 0°C, rose to 2°C by noon, and had fallen to 1°C when we conclude the count at 2:30pm. Ground winds were gusty all day, ranging from light to 15 km/h. Ridge winds were moderate, gusting to over 70km/h in the morning, falling to 12km/h as the snow moved in. Cloud cover was complete all day with scattered cumulus clouds against a solid layer of altostratus. Snow fell around the valley all day, and the count was concluded early as it approached the site in the early afternoon.
Raptor Observations:
Migrant Eagles A slow day for eagles as is befitting for the last day of the fall count. The only two migrant eagles observed were adult Bald Eagles, one flying relatively low up the river and the other heading south over the west side of the valley.
Zero Golden Eagles 2 Bald Eagles: 2a
No other migrant raptors were observed.
Non-migrant Raptors An American Goshawk called in the morning from near the path. An American Goshawk also soared above the western valley in the afternoon, but was too backlit to age. An adult Bald Eagle flew north down the river in the early afternoon.
Non-raptor Observations:
The local Canada Jays looked on inquisitively as we dismantled our seasonal site installations. A lone Common Merganser seen diving in the crystal-clear waters of the Kananaskis River as we departed for the year provided a fitting conclusion to another successful count.
1 Common Merganser 2 Canada Jay 3 Common Raven 2 Black-capped Chickadee 1 Boreal Chickadee 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch 10 Bohemian Waxwing 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 (14 Nov 2023) 5 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 14, 2023 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Bald Eagle | 2 | 44 | 128 |
| 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 | 3 | 174 | 3078 |
| 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 | 1 | 10 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| Total: | 5 | 219 | 3540 |
| Observation start time: | 09:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 17:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 7.42 hours |
| Official Counter | Caroline Lambert |
| Observers: |
Visitors:
About a dozen people stopped to ask about the count.
Weather:
A couple of centimetres of fresh, wet snow was on the ground this morning, sticking to everything and resisting melting in the sun. It wasn’t so sticky at higher elevations as the west ridge was veiled most of the day in snow blowing off the ridges. The temperature started at -2C, rose to +1C and was -1C at the end of the day. Ground winds were blustery, mostly from the southwest, with periods of calm interspersed with gusts up to 40kph. Ridge winds were very strong in the morning, decreased to moderate around noon, then rose again in mid-afternoon with Nakiska reporting WSW wind at 98kph gusting to 131kph. The sky was an ever-changing mix of open blue sky with cumulus, altostratus, and cirrus clouds.
Raptor Observations:
Ridge winds were suitable most of the day for migrating raptors, however, only five were seen, 3 adult Golden Eagles, and 2 immature Bald Eagles. The Golden Eagles all sailed effortlessly over the east ridge, while the Bald Eagles flew high over the east side of the valley.
One adult Bald Eagle flew low up the river, presumably the local one we’ve seen almost daily.
Non-raptor Observations:
There were few other birds around: 2 Canada Jays, 1 Black-billed Magpie, about 8 Common Ravens, 1 Black-capped Chickadee, and just 1 Bohemian Waxwing
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 (13 Nov 2023) 2 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 13, 2023 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Bald Eagle | 1 | 42 | 126 |
| 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 | 1 | 171 | 3075 |
| 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 | 1 | 10 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| Total: | 2 | 214 | 3535 |
| Observation start time: | 08:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 14:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 5 hours |
| Official Counter | Lori Anderson |
| Observers: | Lynette MacCulloch |
Visitors:
We talked with 10 curious visitors today.
Weather:
At the start of the count at 8:30 the temperature read 2C. It crept up to a high of 3.5C by 10:00 and then made its way back to 2C by 12:00 and remained there until we sadly had to abandon the site at 13:30 due to the drizzle/ snow (Sndrizzleow) lol. A storm gradually moved in from the SW behind Mt Kidd and overcame the valley. Ground winds were light from the SW and Ridge winds averaged about 50 Km/h from the SW/SSW.
Raptor Observations:
Only one Golden Eagle was sighted today at 8:30 as it made its way south gliding over the Fisher Range. Later, one adult Bald Eagle flew south following the river.
Non-raptor Observations:
A flock of 60 Bohemian Waxwings kept returning to the wolf willow bushes to eat silverberries. 2 Canada Jays, 1 Ruffed Grouse, 4 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 Dunkadoo – [Project Details]
Mount Lorette (12 Nov 2023) 26 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 12, 2023 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Bald Eagle | 2 | 41 | 125 |
| 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 | 24 | 170 | 3074 |
| 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 | 1 | 10 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| Total: | 26 | 212 | 3533 |
| Observation start time: | 09:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 16:30:00 |
| Total observation time: | 7.5 hours |
| Official Counter | Blake Weis |
| Observers: | Glenn Webber |
Visitors:
41 visitors stopped to talk. None came to watch migration.
Weather:
At the beginning of observation the temperature was 0 C, it rose to 3, then fell back to 0 as we were leaving. Ground wind was from the SW and light at times, but it was blustery in the afternoon with some gusts around 30 km/h. Ridge wind was strong all day from the WSW with gusts between 53 and 97. Cloud cover was around 30% in the morning, then increased to 80% in the afternoon as sheets of cirrostratus moved in.
Raptor Observations:
The count included 24 Golden Eagles (11a, 3sa, 1ui, 9u) and 2 Bald Eagles (1ad, 1 sa1). Most of them used the east ridges with varying height and flight paths, though a few took the western route later in the day. Migrants were using the strong wind to their advantage by kiting into it to gain height then gliding south very fast. One of the local adult American Goshawks was seen flying low close to the river.
Non-raptor Observations:
3 Canada Jays, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 10 Common Ravens, 6 Mountain Chickadees, 6 Boreal Chickadees, 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch, 1 Brown Creeper, and 50 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 Dunkadoo – [Project Details]
