Mount Lorette (19 Oct 2023) 159 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 19, 2023 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Osprey | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| Bald Eagle | 1 | 40 | 42 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 4 | 5 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 96 | 126 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 0 | 6 | 7 |
| American Goshawk | 1 | 26 | 30 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| Swainson’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 1 | 16 | 21 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Golden Eagle | 156 | 1979 | 2136 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 0 | 9 | 13 |
| Gyrfalcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 25 | 43 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 8 | 9 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 8 | 13 |
| Total: | 159 | 2227 | 2476 |
| Observation start time: | 07:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 18:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 9.58 hours |
| Official Counter | Caroline Lambert |
| Observers: | James Bannon, Theresa Gawron |
Visitors:
There were two visitors, and one with binoculars to help spot.
Weather:
The starting temperature was a ridiculously warm 10C. It warmed up to 14C and dropped to 12C by the end of the count. The start of the count was delayed slightly, again, due to rain and low clouds. The clouds lifted so that the ridges were clear most of the time, but dark rain clouds sat over the west ridge and the south and west halves of the valley all day, throwing occasional rain drops our way, and occasionally blurring our view of the east ridge. Ground winds were blustery and from the southwest, occasionally strong enough to knock camp chairs over. Ridge winds on Nakiska were strong from the southwest, ranging from 30 kph up to 65 kph, with gusts up to 87.
Raptor Observations:
The strong southwest ridge winds made for good migrating conditions, and there was a steady parade of eagles, with over 20 each hour between 1300 and 1700. Most came in above ridge level and were able to gain height without soaring, but some were having trouble with the wind gusts at times and ended up flying below ridge level for a while until finding the lift they needed. With nearly all the migrants never needing to soar or use powered flight, misty rain in the air, and with the sun behind dark clouds most of the day, many of the birds went unaged. The totals were 156 Golden Eagles (49a, 10sa, 3j, 94u), 1 adult Bald Eagle, 1 American Goshawk, and 1 Red-tailed Hawk.
Non-raptor Observations:
Other birds were: Belted Kingfisher 1, Canada Jay 2, Common Raven 15, Mountain Chickadee 1, American Dipper 1, Bohemian Waxwing 25, Pine Grosbeak 3, Pine Siskin 9
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 (18 Oct 2023) 67 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 18, 2023 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Osprey | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| Bald Eagle | 4 | 39 | 41 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 4 | 5 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 1 | 96 | 126 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 0 | 6 | 7 |
| American Goshawk | 0 | 25 | 29 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| Swainson’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 0 | 15 | 20 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Golden Eagle | 62 | 1823 | 1980 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 0 | 9 | 13 |
| Gyrfalcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 25 | 43 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 8 | 9 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 8 | 13 |
| Total: | 67 | 2068 | 2317 |
| Observation start time: | 07:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 18:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 10.42 hours |
| Official Counter | Dan Parliament |
| Observers: | Cindy Parliament, Rick Robb |
Visitors:
A thank you to Hazel and Nancy who visited in the afternoon and assisted in spotting and special thanks to Cindy.
Weather:
The initial temperature was a balmy 10 C increasing to a high of 14 C at 1400 hrs. The balmy temperatures were offset by initial ground winds of 10 km/hr and increasing to 60 km/hr creating general blustery conditions. At times it was difficult to stand properly to scope and age the birds. Ridge winds were from the SW and averaged 80 to 110 km/hr. The strong ridge winds resulted in the migrants flying very high and fast. Drizzle occurred periodically throughout the day and then steady rain from 1700 hrs.
Raptor Observations:
The migrant raptor count was 62 Golden Eagles:(31 Adult, 2 Juvenile, 29 unaged), 4 Bald Eagles: (4 Adult), and 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk: (1 unaged). Aging was very difficult as the birds were flying high and fast over the East ridges, making locating with the scope very challenging. In addition, the migrants typically in their fast flight, only presented a side profile.
A single American Goshawk was heard calling from the parking lot early in the morning and was counted as a non-migrant resident bird.
Non-raptor Observations:
Other birds were: Ruffed Grouse 1, American Goshawk 1, Black-billed Magpie 1, Common Raven 6, American Robin 12, Black-capped Chickadee 3, Boreal Chickadee 1, Golden-crowned Kinglet 2, Red-breasted Nuthatch 1
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 (17 Oct 2023) 66 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 17, 2023 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Osprey | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| Bald Eagle | 1 | 35 | 37 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 4 | 5 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 1 | 95 | 125 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 0 | 6 | 7 |
| American Goshawk | 0 | 25 | 29 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| Swainson’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 0 | 15 | 20 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Golden Eagle | 63 | 1761 | 1918 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 0 | 9 | 13 |
| Gyrfalcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 1 | 25 | 43 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 8 | 9 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 8 | 13 |
| Total: | 66 | 2001 | 2250 |
| Observation start time: | 10:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 18:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 7.63 hours |
| Official Counter | Caroline Lambert |
| Observers: | Lynette MacCulloch |
Visitors:
About 8 people stopped to inquire about the count. 2 with binoculars stayed for a while.
Weather:
The start of the count was delayed to 11:00am due to rain and low clouds. Once the rain stopped, the clouds cleared up quickly, and by late afternoon there were almost no clouds. Before leaving, however, cumulus clouds were building up again. The temperature started out at 6C, rose to 10C, and was 7C at the end of the count. Ground winds were low from the southwest all day, while ridge winds were mostly from the southwest all day in the range 30-50km/h, gusting up to 70km/h, perfect for migrating eagles.
Raptor Observations:
Apart from a lull between 15:00 and 17:00, there was a steady, but slow, stream of migrant Golden Eagles. Apart from one seen on the west ridge, all were on the east ridge. Most came in around ridge level, and were able to gain altitude with no flapping or soaring, making the IDs a bit challenging as they were sideways on as they glided along. The totals were 63 Golden Eagles (27a, 5sa, 3j, 5ui, 23u), one Sharp-shinned Hawk, one small accipiter, and one subadult Bald Eagle.
One adult Bald Eagle sat in a tree beside the river for a while, an adult American Goshawk was seen hunting over Hummingbird Plume, and a juvenile American Goshawk was seen twice in the area.
Non-raptor Observations:
Other birds were: Canada Jay 2, Black-billed Magpie 1, Common Raven 7, Black-capped Chickadee 3, Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1, Golden-crowned Kinglet 1, Bohemian Waxwing 20, Pine Grosbeak 3, Red Crossbill 10
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 (16 Oct 2023) 111 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 16, 2023 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Osprey | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| Bald Eagle | 3 | 34 | 36 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 4 | 5 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 4 | 94 | 124 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 0 | 6 | 7 |
| American Goshawk | 0 | 25 | 29 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| Swainson’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 0 | 15 | 20 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Golden Eagle | 100 | 1698 | 1855 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 0 | 9 | 13 |
| Gyrfalcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 1 | 24 | 42 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Unknown Eagle | 2 | 8 | 9 |
| Unknown Raptor | 1 | 8 | 13 |
| Total: | 111 | 1935 | 2184 |
| Observation start time: | 07:15:00 |
| Observation end time: | 17:45:00 |
| Total observation time: | 10.75 hours |
| Official Counter | Annie Finch |
| Observers: | Caroline Lambert, Rosemary Power |
Visitors:
15 people stopped to chat about the count. Special thanks to Michael and Sheila for their enthusiastic help spotting eagles during the peak of the day.
Weather:
The morning started out at 5°C, the high was 16°C at 3 p.m., falling to 15°C by sunset. Ground winds were mild throughout the day with a slight increase in gusts towards the evening. A chinook arch hung behind the eastern ridges all day. Continuously shifting cirrus and cumulus clouds made cloud cover estimations an interesting exercise each hour. Ridge winds were predominantly from the SW, moderate in the morning and increasing through the day to over 60 km/h by 4 p.m. with just up to 100 km/h by 6 p.m.
Raptor Observations:
Migrant Eagles 100 Golden Eagles: 21a, 8sa, 6j, 10ui, 55u 3 Bald Eagles: 2a, 1sa 2 Undifferentiated Eagles
The first Golden Eagles of the day appeared after 9 a.m. and both sides of the valley. Most eagles used the east ridges throughout the day, through the west ridges averaged a few eagles per hour until about 4 p.m. Average route height increased along with ridge winds with some eagles flying very high over Patrick. One Golden Eagle appeared to partake in an in-flight meal, passing something from talon to beak while gliding far overhead. After a morning of backlit birds, aging became easier in the afternoon as the sun came around to an agreeable angle. Aging in the evening proved difficult as we lost light and most eagles flew high, fast, and tightly tucked.
Migrant Raptors 4 Sharp-shinned Hawks: all unaged, spotted high over the ridges harassing Golden Eagles 1 Undifferentiated Accipiter flew directly towards the site from over Lorette 1 Unidentified small raptor harassing Golden Eagle
Non-migrant Raptors A resident adult American Goshawk was first noted hunting over Hummingbird Plume at 12:30 p.m. and observed again later over the west side of the valley.
Non-raptor Observations:
A Varied Thrush hopped along the path in front of me as I walked to the site in the morning. A concerning rustling in the underbrush along the path proved to be a puffed up Ruffed Grouse hurrying away at my approach, rather than my initial impression of a mammal with an appetite. 1 Ruffed Grouse 1 American Three-toed Woodpecker 4 Canada Jay 1 Black-billed Magpie 6 Common Raven 2 Black-capped Chickadee 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet 1 Brown Creeper 1 American Dipper 1 Varied Thrush 13 Bohemian Waxwing 2 Pine Grosbeak 2 Red Crossbill 26 White-winged Crossbill 3 Pine Siskin 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler
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 (15 Oct 2023) 262 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 15, 2023 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Osprey | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 31 | 33 |
| Northern Harrier | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 5 | 90 | 120 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 0 | 6 | 7 |
| American Goshawk | 2 | 25 | 29 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| Swainson’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 0 | 15 | 20 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Golden Eagle | 253 | 1598 | 1755 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 1 | 9 | 13 |
| Gyrfalcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 23 | 41 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 6 | 7 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 7 | 12 |
| Total: | 262 | 1824 | 2073 |
| Observation start time: | 06:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 18:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 11.17 hours |
| Official Counter | Jessica Banas |
| Observers: | Allison Zukewich |
Visitors:
We had 30 visitors who stopped by to chat, including some children who were very excited to learn about Golden Eagles. Special thanks to the dependable spotting skills of Theresa & James.
Weather:
The weather in the morning was quite humid and cloudy, with scattered light showers, however this did not seem to hinder some early birds excited by some strong ridge winds. Throughout the early morning the winds died down a bit, between 8-18 km/h from the W. By midday, the skies were partly cloudy and the ridge winds stayed consistent at 24-50 km/h SW throughout the afternoon with gusts up to 72 km/h. The temperature started at 7C and reached a high of 13 C.
Raptor Observations:
The days total was 262 migrants, including 253 Golden Eagles (108a, 74sa, 27j, 44u), 5 Sharp-shinned Hawks (4a, 1u), 2 American Goshawk (2j), 1 Merlin (1 a t/m), 1 Northern Harrier (1 brown). The Eagles started moving early, first seen at 7:54 in the morning, and stayed consistent throughout the day. The birds primarily used the eastern ridges, but a number of birds were able to stream across the valley from Mt. Lorette over to Old Baldy, skipping the usual path to Patrick. In the morning, there was significant cloud cover and birds were easy to age, by mid-day the light and partial cloud cover kept it easy, but by evening the aging became much more difficult. One of the challenges of the day was following the many different paths the eagles seemed to be taking. One of the early eagles was able to poach something from the top of Patrick (perhaps a ptarmigan or some other round fluffy object), dropping and catching it once, before finally dropping it and moving on to migrate. We were treated to a visit by the resident Goshawk, flying low through the valley, and a local bald eagle was seen multiple times throughout the day – starting by zooming along the river at first light, and then associating with migrants in various spots throughout the day. There was also a local Golden Eagle that was hanging around Lorette, occasionally escorting other migrants through the valley.
Non-raptor Observations:
Other birds included: Ruffed Grouse 1, Canada Jay 2, Golden-crowned Kinglet 3, Common Raven 14, American Dipper 1, American Robin 3, Bohemian Waxwing 24, Townsend’s Solitaire 1, Pine Grosbeak 10, Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch 28, White-winged Crossbill 2, Pine Siskin 2, Yellow-rumped Warbler 1, Common Merganser 3, Common Loon 2, Black-billed Magpie 1, Black-capped Chickadee 3
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]
