Mount Lorette (03 Nov 2023) 26 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 03, 2023 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 5 | 89 |
| 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 | 26 | 47 | 2951 |
| 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 | 0 | 9 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| Total: | 26 | 52 | 3373 |
| Observation start time: | 08:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 17:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 8.75 hours |
| Official Counter | Caroline Lambert |
| Observers: | Ruth Morrow |
Visitors:
About 5 people stopped to chat.
Weather:
The milder weather of today was quite welcome, warm enough to melt much of the snow that had fallen recently. The starting temperature was +2C, then it reached a high of 5C before falling to 4C by the end of the day. Ground winds were mostly calm with some strong gusts from the southwest, while ridge winds were initially very strong (81-99 kph in the morning), but decreased to moderately strong for the afternoon. There was not much sun due to thick cumulus clouds that looked threatening for much of the day, touching the top of the west ridge but staying above the east ridge. Towards the end of the day a few raindrops materialized.
Raptor Observations:
The only migrant raptors seen were 26 Golden Eagles (8a, 2sa, 1ui, 15u). A few used the west ridge, where they had to run the gauntlet of a large number of ravens (25 seen at one time), but most made good use of the strong ridge winds and sailed by high above the east ridge. The lack of sunlight and no soaring made aging challenging.
The only other raptor seen was an adult Bald Eagle which perched in a tree by the river for a while.
Non-raptor Observations:
Other birds were: Canada Goose 22, Larus sp. 2, Northern Shrike 1, Canada Jay 2, Common Raven 30, Mountain Chickadee 1, Boreal Chickadee 1, Golden-crowned Kinglet 1, Bohemian Waxwing 50, Pine Grosbeak 2
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 (02 Nov 2023) Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 02, 2023 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 5 | 89 |
| 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 | 21 | 2925 |
| 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 | 0 | 9 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| Total: | 0 | 26 | 3347 |
| Observation start time: | 08:30:00 |
| Observation end time: | 10:30:00 |
| Total observation time: | 0.5 hours |
| Official Counter | Neil Denton |
| Observers: |
Visitors:
None
Weather:
Low Nimbo-stratus cloud at start of day, on or below the ridge lines. During the two hours we were present, the clouds continued to lower into the valley floor.
Raptor Observations:
No possibility of raptors being spotted, identified or aged.
We called off the day at 10:30am.
Non-raptor Observations:
1 Northern Shrike 2 American Dipper 3 Common Raven 1 Black-capped Chickadee 1 Brown Creeper 1 Pine Grosbeak 1 Gray-crowned Rosy Finch 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 (01 Nov 2023) 26 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 01, 2023 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Bald Eagle | 5 | 5 | 89 |
| 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 | 21 | 21 | 2925 |
| 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 | 0 | 9 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| Total: | 26 | 26 | 3347 |
| Observation start time: | 08:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 17:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 9 hours |
| Official Counter | Annie Finch |
| Observers: | Lynette MacCulloch |
Visitors:
12 people stopped in to chat about the count, including a lovely family visiting from Tahiti who took full advantage of the excellent snowman-making conditions.
Weather:
The morning started out at -4°C, rose to +3°C by 3:00 pm, and fell to 2°C by 6:00 pm. Cirrus clouds dominated the aerial narrative once again, dissipating and building above the valley rather than transiting as usual. The ridges remained unobscured throughout the day. Light conditions were favourable for aging until we lost light after 5:00 pm. Ground winds were mild all day from a general south-westerly direction. Ridge winds were 20-30 km/h from the SW/WSW with gusts in the afternoon up to 44 km/h. Though some eagles found the lift necessary to soar and glide above ridge level, many used powered flight for supplemental or primary propulsion. Overall, the flight speed of the eagles was notably slow.
Raptor Observations:
Migrant Eagles The first two eagles of the day were observed over the western ridges after 1:00 pm; two of the last were spotted over Mt. Collembola after 5:00 pm. All others used the eastern ridges and the east side of the valley. 21 Golden Eagles: 12a, 1ui, 8u 5 Bald Eagles: 3a, 1sa1/2, 1j
Other Raptors No other migrant raptors were observed.
Non-migrant Raptors An American Goshawk was calling from the western slopes of the valley when I arrived at the parking lot in the morning.
Non-raptor Observations:
I was greeted just out of the parking lot by a chiclet flock (3 chickadee sp. + 1 kinglet sp.). The lone local Common Redpoll made numerous passes over the site through the day calling somewhat frantically. Two Canada Jays stopped in to chat about the count while two others observed the proceedings from a distance. Two American Dippers frequented the riffles next to the site, occasionally chasing each other up and down the channel. Many Common Ravens played in the air currents above the ridges and in many cases drew our attention to the migrating eagles they were harassing up there. 1 American Goshawk 1 Hairy Woodpecker 1 Northern Shrike 4 Canada Jay 1 Black-billed Magpie 9 Common Raven 3 Black-capped Chickadee 11 Mountain Chickadee 6 Boreal Chickadee 2 Golden-crowned Kinglet 3 Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 Brown Creeper 2 American Dipper 2 Pine Grosbeak 1 Common Redpoll 1 Red Crossbill 1 Dark-eyed Junco
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 (31 Oct 2023) 23 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 31, 2023 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Osprey | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| Bald Eagle | 2 | 82 | 84 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 7 | 8 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 108 | 138 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 0 | 7 | 8 |
| American Goshawk | 0 | 29 | 33 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| Swainson’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 0 | 19 | 24 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 12 | 12 |
| Golden Eagle | 21 | 2747 | 2904 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 0 | 10 | 14 |
| Gyrfalcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 27 | 45 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 8 | 9 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 9 | 14 |
| Total: | 23 | 3072 | 3321 |
| Observation start time: | 08:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 17:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 8.92 hours |
| Official Counter | Caroline Lambert |
| Observers: | Dan Parliament, James Bannon, Theresa Gawron |
Visitors:
One person stopped to ask about the count, and two others showed up with binoculars and helped spot – thanks Yumi and Dave!
Weather:
The temperature started at -10C, rose to +2C, and was -3C at the end of the day. Ridge winds were low from the southwest, only occasionally strong enough to blow snow off the west ridge. Ground winds were light most of the day, but enough to offset what little warmth came from the sun. The only clouds were cirrus, constantly changing in shape and coverage throughout the day.
Raptor Observations:
With the light ridge winds, most of the migrating raptors were making slow and laborious progress. Several of the eagles were seen using powered flight to cross the west side of the valley. The first few seen on the east side needed to use powered flight, but a few later in the day found enough uplift to glide and soar above the east ridge. Of the migrants, 21 were Golden Eagles (13a, 1j, 7u), and two were Bald Eagles (1a, 1j).
Early in the day a subadult Bald Eagle was perched on a tree by the river, and later two adult Bald Eagles flew north down the river. The local adult American Goshawk was seen hunting over Hummingbird Plume, and the juvenile was seen briefly as it disappeared into the nearby forest.
Non-raptor Observations:
Other birds seen were two gulls heading west (possible Herring Gulls), the usual 2 Canada Jays, 1 Black-billed Magpie, about 15 ravens (frequently harassing the migrating eagles), 1 Black-capped Chickadee, 1 Mountain Chickadee, 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet, the American Dipper, about 25 Bohemian Waxwings, a couple of Pine Grosbeaks across the river, 1 lonely Common Redpoll, and a couple of slate-coloured Dark-eyed Juncos.
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 (30 Oct 2023) 15 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 30, 2023 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Osprey | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| Bald Eagle | 8 | 80 | 82 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 7 | 8 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 108 | 138 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 0 | 7 | 8 |
| American Goshawk | 0 | 29 | 33 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| Swainson’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 0 | 19 | 24 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 12 | 12 |
| Golden Eagle | 7 | 2726 | 2883 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 0 | 10 | 14 |
| Gyrfalcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 27 | 45 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 8 | 9 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 9 | 14 |
| Total: | 15 | 3049 | 3298 |
| Observation start time: | 08:30:00 |
| Observation end time: | 18:30:00 |
| Total observation time: | 10 hours |
| Official Counter | Lori Anderson |
| Observers: | Lynette MacCulloch |
Visitors:
One very interested man showed us a picture he’d taken of a raptor. It was Golden Eagle! A large number of young students passed by the site.
Weather:
The day started out on the chilly side at -14.5 and reached -2 at 15:00, falling short of the forecast. It stayed at that temperature for the rest of the afternoon and only fell to -3 at sunset when we finished. The storybook cirrus clouds painted many tales throughout the day increasing in thickness until a 100 % layer was formed by 17:00. Luckily it was a cirrus layer and none of the ridges were affected. The wind was very slow and even calm at times and consequently, there was very little raptor movement. The wind speed did pick up a bit after 15:00 and brought with it a few more raptors. Those that ventured out had to flap their way south and were seen low on the slopes or ridge level at most.
Raptor Observations:
All of the Goldens glided along the Eastern route and the Balds flapped laboriously along the Western slopes. One Bald glided low along Valley Center. 7 adult Golden Eagles, 8 Bald Eagles, (3a, 4j, 1sa) We also saw the two resident Goshawks, one adult and one juvenile.
Non-raptor Observations:
My binocularâs field of view today came with Ravens included with every sweep. Iâm sure it must have been a regional celebration concerning freedom of flight for Ravens. Near the end of the day, we even witnessed a harassment event involving two Ravens and a lone Golden over the bumps. Non-human visitors to the site included two Wihsakecahkw, doing of course what they are known best for, scavenging campsites, and the sweetest little short-tailed weasel with its triangular clown eyes and black-tipped tail. It seemed to be involved in the same activity as the birds, checking out tidbits in the snow and investigating Lynetteâs backpack. Other birds seen were: a White-throated Sparrow, a Ruffed Grouse, an American Dipper, 5 Ducks sp. 2 American Robins, a Woodpecker(maybe Downy), 7 Bohemian Waxwings, 10 Pine Siskins, 1 Pine Grosbeak, 1 Magpie and a few Dark-eyed Juncos.
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]
