Mount Lorette (23 Oct 2024) 60 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 23, 2024 | |||
Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Osprey | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Bald Eagle | 4 | 51 | 62 |
Northern Harrier | 0 | 1 | 6 |
Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 73 | 91 |
Cooper’s Hawk | 0 | 3 | 4 |
American Goshawk | 0 | 14 | 14 |
Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Swainson’s Hawk | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Red-tailed Hawk | 0 | 10 | 18 |
Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Rough-legged Hawk | 4 | 16 | 16 |
Golden Eagle | 52 | 1982 | 2245 |
American Kestrel | 0 | 1 | 4 |
Merlin | 0 | 1 | 4 |
Gyrfalcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 4 | 6 |
Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 3 | 5 |
Unknown Buteo | 0 | 2 | 2 |
Unknown Falcon | 0 | 1 | 2 |
Unknown Eagle | 0 | 5 | 5 |
Unknown Raptor | 0 | 4 | 10 |
Total: | 60 | 2172 | 2495 |
Observation start time: | 07:30:00 |
Observation end time: | 17:30:00 |
Total observation time: | 10.08 hours |
Official Counter | Dan Parliament |
Observers: | Lynette MacCulloch |
Visitors:
There were 8 visitors. Special thanks to Nathan and Abby for helping to spot birds !
Weather:
The count opened at 0830 (MDT) at a chilly temperature of -7 C and concluded at 1835 (MDT) at + 1 C, with a daytime high of + 4 at 1500 hrs (MDT). The ridges were clear and the skies were cloudless. Ground winds were from the SW, initially at 1-5 km/hr and increasing to SW at 15-20 km/hr at the close. Ridge winds were difficult to determine due to the absence of cloud cover, but were assessed as low increasing to medium after lunch. The high winds were predominantly SW and ranging from 25-50 km/hr.
Raptor Observations:
The flight consisted of a total of 60 raptors. The migrants were as follows: Golden Eagle x 52 (Adult x 44, Juvenile x 2, Unaged x 6), Bald Eagle x 4 (Adult x 4), Rough-legged Hawk x 4 (Adult x 4). The bright blue skies made aging difficult as reflections from the fresh snow lit the migrants like beacons. Once the migrants flew into the mountain face and “normal” lighting conditions prevailed – aging the birds became more routine. The highest hourly count was between 1400-1500 hrs (MDT) with 13 Golden Eagles.
Non-raptor Observations:
Canada Goose x 30, Hairy Woodpecker x 1, Canada Jay x 2, Common Raven x 16, Black-capped Chickadee x 2, Mountain Chickadee x 1, Boreal Chickadee x 1, Ruby-crowned Kinglet x 2, Golden-crowned Kinglet x 4, American Dipper x 1, American Robin x 15, Pine Grosbeak x 50 (one flock), Gray-crowned Rosy-finch x 90 (one flock feeding by the river below the site), Swamp Sparrow x 1
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Mount Lorette information may be found at: eaglewatch.ca
More information at hawkcount.org: [Site Profile] [Day Summary] [Month Summary]
Mount Lorette (22 Oct 2024) 51 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 22, 2024 | |||
Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Osprey | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Bald Eagle | 2 | 47 | 58 |
Northern Harrier | 0 | 1 | 6 |
Sharp-shinned Hawk | 1 | 73 | 91 |
Cooper’s Hawk | 0 | 3 | 4 |
American Goshawk | 0 | 14 | 14 |
Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Swainson’s Hawk | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Red-tailed Hawk | 0 | 10 | 18 |
Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Rough-legged Hawk | 1 | 12 | 12 |
Golden Eagle | 47 | 1930 | 2193 |
American Kestrel | 0 | 1 | 4 |
Merlin | 0 | 1 | 4 |
Gyrfalcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 4 | 6 |
Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 3 | 5 |
Unknown Buteo | 0 | 2 | 2 |
Unknown Falcon | 0 | 1 | 2 |
Unknown Eagle | 0 | 5 | 5 |
Unknown Raptor | 0 | 4 | 10 |
Total: | 51 | 2112 | 2435 |
Observation start time: | 08:00:00 |
Observation end time: | 18:00:00 |
Total observation time: | 9.83 hours |
Official Counter | Caroline Lambert |
Observers: | Glenn Webber |
Visitors:
With ice fog in Calgary in the morning, and icy conditions on the TransCanada from yesterday’s storm, it was not surprising that very few people came by the site today. Only two stopped to talk.
Weather:
The temperature stayed in a narrow range today, starting at -2C, rising to +2C, and falling to +1 at the end of the day. Yesterday was the first winter storm of the season, and 10cm of fresh snow was on the ground, making the count site look remarkably different from a few days ago. Most of the day was characterized by blue sky, making spotting the migrants quite difficult, and snow blowing off the ridges didn’t help. Peaks on the west ridge were frequently blotted out by blowing snow. The few cumulus clouds were coming from the northwest, but ridge winds were mostly 30-50kph from the southwest, with gusts up to 94. Ground winds were mostly calm.
Raptor Observations:
All of the migrants were seen on the east ridge. Most appeared to come in low, and then kite up rapidly well above the ridge, making it hard to find them in the blue sky if they weren’t spotted when low on the ridge. It was a challenge to get them in the scope in the featureless sky, and when they were low down, the albedo effect made nearly all of them look as if all their flight feathers were pale. That, combined with no soaring, made aging very difficult and many of the eagles went unaged. Movement was slow in the morning, but built up gradually with a third of the eagles seen in the last 90 minutes. The last one was seen several minutes after sunset.
The totals were 47 Golden Eagles (14a, 1sa, 3j, 5ui, 24u), two Bald Eagles (1a, 1j), one Sharp-shinned Hawk, and one Rough-legged Hawk.
Two eagles on the west ridge (one adult Golden Eagle and one adult Bald Eagle) were deemed to be not migrating.
Non-raptor Observations:
One distraction from watching eagles was the water level in the river. Apparently there was a major issue with the power grid, and presumably water was released from the reservoir upstream from the count site to help with generation of electricity from hydropower. This led to the water rising quite rapidly in the river. A couple of photos from the morning and then later in the day can be found on our Instagram account, @_eaglecount, showing the different water levels (and also how much snow melted during the day!). The water level was dropping before we left.
Other birds seen were: Canada Goose 59 (flying south), Common Merganser 1, Canada Jay 3, Common Raven 8, Pine Siskin 3, American Tree Sparrow 2
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Mount Lorette information may be found at: eaglewatch.ca
More information at hawkcount.org: [Site Profile] [Day Summary] [Month Summary]
Mount Lorette (21 Oct 2024) Raptors
Alberta, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 21, 2024 | |||
Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Osprey | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Bald Eagle | 0 | 45 | 56 |
Northern Harrier | 0 | 1 | 6 |
Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 72 | 90 |
Cooper’s Hawk | 0 | 3 | 4 |
American Goshawk | 0 | 14 | 14 |
Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Swainson’s Hawk | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Red-tailed Hawk | 0 | 10 | 18 |
Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 11 | 11 |
Golden Eagle | 0 | 1883 | 2146 |
American Kestrel | 0 | 1 | 4 |
Merlin | 0 | 1 | 4 |
Gyrfalcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 4 | 6 |
Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 3 | 5 |
Unknown Buteo | 0 | 2 | 2 |
Unknown Falcon | 0 | 1 | 2 |
Unknown Eagle | 0 | 5 | 5 |
Unknown Raptor | 0 | 4 | 10 |
Total: | 0 | 2061 | 2384 |
(No count conducted today)
Weather:
A snowfall warning was issued with total amounts of 10-15 cm expected. Reduced visibility due to heavy snow was forecast. The local webcams confirmed the forecast. All ridges are covered by snow squalls. Low snow cloud coverage 100% stratocumulus.
Raptor Observations:
Non-raptor Observations:
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Mount Lorette information may be found at: eaglewatch.ca
More information at hawkcount.org: [Site Profile] [Day Summary] [Month Summary]
Mount Lorette (20 Oct 2024) 45 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 20, 2024 | |||
Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Osprey | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Bald Eagle | 3 | 45 | 56 |
Northern Harrier | 0 | 1 | 6 |
Sharp-shinned Hawk | 3 | 72 | 90 |
Cooper’s Hawk | 0 | 3 | 4 |
American Goshawk | 1 | 14 | 14 |
Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Swainson’s Hawk | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Red-tailed Hawk | 0 | 10 | 18 |
Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 11 | 11 |
Golden Eagle | 38 | 1883 | 2146 |
American Kestrel | 0 | 1 | 4 |
Merlin | 0 | 1 | 4 |
Gyrfalcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 4 | 6 |
Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 3 | 5 |
Unknown Buteo | 0 | 2 | 2 |
Unknown Falcon | 0 | 1 | 2 |
Unknown Eagle | 0 | 5 | 5 |
Unknown Raptor | 0 | 4 | 10 |
Total: | 45 | 2061 | 2384 |
Observation start time: | 08:00:00 |
Observation end time: | 18:00:00 |
Total observation time: | 9.33 hours |
Official Counter | Ethan Denton |
Observers: | Allison Zukewich |
Visitors:
19 people stopped to chat and watch for eagles.
Weather:
The day started out warm at 6 degrees and rose to 14 by the afternoon. As the pressure dropped (6 points throughout the day), a storm system skirted around the valley to the west. Winds at the ground level were mostly between 1 and 3 beaufort, but increased to 5 around 17:30. Cumulus clouds hung low in the sky for much of the day, and moved very fast across the sky.
Raptor Observations:
38 Golden Eagles were counted today, all of which followed the eastern ridgeline. Almost all came through high and very fast. This count was boosted by 3 Bald Eagles, 3 Sharp-shinned Hawks, and a singular American Goshawk. The resident Goshawk was also seen, as was one of the resident Bald Eagles. The busiest hour was between 11:00 and 12:00, when 13 Golden Eagles were seen.
Non-raptor Observations:
A fairly quiet day for other birds. In total the non-raptor bird list reads: 6 Common Mergansers, 7 unidentified waterfowl, 1 unidentified larid, 4 Common Loon, 2 Canada Jay, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 34 Common Raven, 5 Black-capped Chickadee, 2 Ruby-crowned Kinglet, 4 Golden-crowned Kinglet, 2 American Dipper.
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Mount Lorette information may be found at: eaglewatch.ca
More information at hawkcount.org: [Site Profile] [Day Summary] [Month Summary]
Mount Lorette (19 Oct 2024) 6 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 19, 2024 | |||
Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Osprey | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Bald Eagle | 0 | 42 | 53 |
Northern Harrier | 0 | 1 | 6 |
Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 69 | 87 |
Cooper’s Hawk | 0 | 3 | 4 |
American Goshawk | 1 | 13 | 13 |
Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Swainson’s Hawk | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Red-tailed Hawk | 0 | 10 | 18 |
Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 11 | 11 |
Golden Eagle | 4 | 1845 | 2108 |
American Kestrel | 0 | 1 | 4 |
Merlin | 0 | 1 | 4 |
Gyrfalcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 4 | 6 |
Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 3 | 5 |
Unknown Buteo | 0 | 2 | 2 |
Unknown Falcon | 0 | 1 | 2 |
Unknown Eagle | 0 | 5 | 5 |
Unknown Raptor | 1 | 4 | 10 |
Total: | 6 | 2016 | 2339 |
Observation start time: | 08:00:00 |
Observation end time: | 11:15:00 |
Total observation time: | 3.25 hours |
Official Counter | Blake Weis |
Observers: | Lynn Macintosh |
Visitors:
15 people stopped to talk
Weather:
It was a windy day with gusts from the SW reaching 35 km/h at ground level and 135 at ridge level. It didn’t feel very cold as the temperature was warm for the time of year, between 9 and 11 C. In the morning, cloud cover was 60-80% cumulus, stratus and altocumulus, with dark stratocumulus clinging to the Kananaskis Range to the west. Around noon that system crossed the western ridges, bringing rain into the valley. The count was concluded at 12:15 PM as ridge visibility began to deteriorate. I lingered in the area for a few more hours in case the weather broke, but visibility in the Kananaskis Valley didn’t improve.
Raptor Observations:
The count was 4 unaged Golden Eagles, 1 juvenile American Goshawk and 1 small unidentified raptor. The Golden Eagles were spotted over Mt. Lorette where they kited on updrafts to gain enough elevation that they didn’t need to use the Fisher Range south of Lorette, flying very high down the valley instead. The Goshawk and the unidentified raptor were using the eastern ridges, much lower than the eagles.
Non-raptor Observations:
6 Common Ravens, 1 Boreal Chickadee, 2 Golden-crowned Kinglets, 2 American Dippers, 1 Varied Thrush, 2 Pine Siskins, and 1 White-tailed Deer.
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Mount Lorette information may be found at: eaglewatch.ca
More information at hawkcount.org: [Site Profile] [Day Summary] [Month Summary]