Mount Lorette
Alberta, Canada

Visitors:
The thick snow is likely at fault for our complete lack of visitors today. Coincidentally, the sk-hill was very busy!

Weather:
The day started out with a heavy snowstorm, which blanketed the valley in low clouds and dumped around 20-25cm over the course of a few hours. By noon it showed some signs of lifting, and by 1:00pm, ridgelines began to become visible. A pleasant calm settled, with very low winds, some sun, and a strong scattering of cumulus clouds up above. This lasted until around 6:30pm, when a sudden north wind swept into the clearing gusting up to 35km/h. The wind brought with it an increase in clouds and a decrease in temperature, and lasted until we lost the ridgelines again at 7:45pm. The temperature was -1ºC at 1:00, and held at zero until it dropped to -6ºC by 7:00.

Raptor Observations:
Within a few minutes of the ridgelines clearing, the first eagles of the day were spotted gliding over the Eastern ridgeline. Goldens continued in trickles until the final two hours of the day, when 11 Eagles in 15 minutes contributed to our busiest hour (17 between 6:00 and 7:00). In total, 53 Golden Eagles were counted, almost all along the Eastern side. One unidentified Eagle dipped behind Mt. Patrick and was never picked up again.
We did see a resident sub-adult Bald Eagle, which cruised southwards along the powerline.

Non-raptor Observations:
Upon arriving, a European Starling was unceremoniously evicted from the kiosk, where it had been taking shelter from the storm. This same Starling hung around and was seen over a dozen times during the afternoon. Also seen were a pair of Hooded Mergansers, which flew low overhead late in the day, as well as a smattering of Robins, Juncos, and Redpolls. Two male Mountain Bluebirds paused briefly in the meadow.

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]

Visitors:
I would have been very surprised had there been any visitors so early in the morning on such a windy, snowy, cold day. There were none.

Weather:
Spring weather. There was some hope that just maybe the snow would hold off a little bit this morning and there would be a continuation of yesterday’s flight, but it was not to be. Although the sky was overcast, the ridges were clear on arrival at sunrise, but first the west ridge dissolved into the mist, and then clouds draped over the east ridge, bringing light snow that was forecast to worsen and continue for the rest of the day, so the count was abandoned after less than an hour. Ground winds were in the range 20-30kph from the northeast – migrant eagles are rarely seen when the wind is from that direction. For that brief time the temperature was -5C.

Raptor Observations:
In spite of the conditions, one unaged Golden Eagle was seen flying briefly above the east ridge.

Non-raptor Observations:
Other birds around were a small flock of starlings, some Canada Geese, a small flock of crows heading north, and a couple of Varied Thrushes.

Predictions:
Tomorrow is looking better than today, but some flurries may get in the way of the migration. The next big days could be Friday and Saturday this week.

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]