Mount Lorette (13 Nov 2022) 9 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 13, 2022 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Bald Eagle | 2 | 46 | 131 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 0 | 47 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 24 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 1 | 26 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Swainson’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 0 | 0 | 31 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 5 | 16 |
| Golden Eagle | 7 | 130 | 2357 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| Gyrfalcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 6 | 27 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 0 | 11 |
| Total: | 9 | 188 | 2738 |
| Observation start time: | 08:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 17:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 8.92 hours |
| Official Counter | Caroline Lambert |
| Observers: | Lynette MacCulloch |
Visitors:
It was a beautiful day and there were quite a few people out enjoying the sun and gorgeous scenery. We intercepted about 30 people wanting to get to the parking lot along “our” trail after visiting Troll Falls. Several didn’t take our word for it that the flooded trail was impassable, and tried anyway, but only the very last person of the day, after 5:00pm, managed to make their way successfully across the ice.
Weather:
It was an interesting day, to say the least. The last section of path through the forest to the count site was flooded. At the start of the day that section of the path had about 20cm of water on it with a crust of ice. The water apparently was a result of the river overflowing its banks. This was most likely a result of ice building up in the river due to the intermittent daily release of water from the Lower Kananaskis Lake dam, at a higher volume than normal, combined with unseasonably cold temperatures (according to one source, the Bow Valley/Kananaskis area was the second coldest area on the *entire planet* on Nov 8!). By the end of the day some of the water had drained away, leaving behind a thick layer of slick ice, and we were entertained all day long by the sounds of ice cracking in various places. Photos of the ice can be found on our Instagram account at www.instagram.com/_eaglecount/ .
Today the temperature started at -17C, reached a high of -2C, and dropped to -6C at the end of the count. An initial covering of about 70% cirrus clouds gave way to blue sky by 10:00am. There was almost no ground wind, and ridge winds were light from the northwest, swinging around to west-southwest and becoming ever-so-slightly stronger by the end of the day.
Raptor Observations:
The flooding and ice were quite a distraction, but in spite of that, observation continued, and a relatively normal number of migrating eagles were seen throughout the day – 7 Golden Eagles (5a, 2u) and 2 Bald Eagles (1a, 1j). Early in the day the light winds meant that few of the eagles seen reached above ridge level. They were coming in low to Patrick and disappearing behind the ridge. By the end of the day, the stronger southwest winds allowed them to glide just above ridge level.
Non-raptor Observations:
The American Dipper didn’t seem too happy with all the ice. Other than that, we had the following birds: Downy Woodpecker 1, Canada Jay 4, Black-billed Magpie 1, Common Raven 4, Mountain Chickadee 4, Red-breasted Nuthatch 1, Brown Creeper 2, Dark-eyed Junco 3, and a small flock of Red Crossbills.
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 2022) 25 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 12, 2022 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Bald Eagle | 15 | 44 | 129 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 0 | 47 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 24 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 1 | 26 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Swainson’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 0 | 0 | 31 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 5 | 16 |
| Golden Eagle | 10 | 123 | 2350 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| Gyrfalcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 6 | 27 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 0 | 11 |
| Total: | 25 | 179 | 2729 |
| Observation start time: | 08:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 16:45:00 |
| Total observation time: | 8.75 hours |
| Official Counter | Blake Weis |
| Observers: | Deb Hornsby |
Visitors:
18 visitors
Weather:
At ground level the wind was light from variable N-W-S directions. At ridge level wind varied from any direction and was light for most of the day but increased up to 20 km/h in the afternoon. The sky was overcast with 80-100% cloud cover until the end of the day when it decreased to 30%. The low was -9 C in the morning and it reached a high of -5 C.
Raptor Observations:
Migrants were moving low with lots of flapping and relatively little gliding or soaring, which is typical on days with low wind. Most of them went down the east side of the valley in front of the Fisher Range, but some used the middle or west side of the valley. Peak migration was 1-2 pm with 10 migrants. The count consisted of 10 Golden Eagles (9 adults, 1 unaged) and 15 Bald Eagles (10 adults, 2 sub-adult 3, 2 sub-adult 1 or 2, 1 juvenile). No local raptors were observed.
Non-raptor Observations:
Belted Kingfisher 1 Canada Jay 2 Black-billed Magpie 1 Common Raven 7 Black-capped Chickadee 1 Boreal Chickadee 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 Brown Creeper 1 American Dipper 2 Dark-eyed Junco 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 (11 Nov 2022) 25 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 11, 2022 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Bald Eagle | 5 | 29 | 114 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 0 | 47 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 24 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 1 | 26 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Swainson’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 0 | 0 | 31 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 3 | 5 | 16 |
| Golden Eagle | 17 | 113 | 2340 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| Gyrfalcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 6 | 27 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 0 | 11 |
| Total: | 25 | 154 | 2704 |
| Observation start time: | 08:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 16:30:00 |
| Total observation time: | 8 hours |
| Official Counter | Graeme Dunlop |
| Observers: | Ruth Morrow |
Visitors:
15
Weather:
Cold with a low of -17 C and a high of -5 C. Quite calm at ground level. Ridge winds gradually increased through the day from calm in the morning to 25km/h SW by mid afternoon. Some cirrus clouds.
Raptor Observations:
Most migrants were seen flying along the eastern ridges at or near ridge level. Most eagles were able to glide but some were seen flapping and gliding. Days tally was 17 Golden Eagles (13 adults, 1 sub-adult, 2 juvenile, 1 unaged), 5 Bald Eagles (2 adults, 2 sub-adults, 1 juvenile), 3 Rough-legged Hawks.
Non-raptor Observations:
Other birds: Canada Jay 2 Black-billed Magpie 1 Common Raven 15 Black-capped Chickadee 2 Mountain Chickadee 1 Bohemian Waxwing 20
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 (10 Nov 2022) 18 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 10, 2022 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Bald Eagle | 5 | 24 | 109 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 0 | 47 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 24 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 1 | 26 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Swainson’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 0 | 0 | 31 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 2 | 13 |
| Golden Eagle | 10 | 96 | 2323 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| Gyrfalcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Unknown Eagle | 3 | 6 | 27 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 0 | 11 |
| Total: | 18 | 129 | 2679 |
| Observation start time: | 08:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 17:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 9 hours |
| Official Counter | Blake Weis |
| Observers: | Glenn Webber |
Visitors:
6 visitors
Weather:
Much like the previous day it was cold with a low of -18 C and a high of -6 C. The sky was clear all day without a single cloud. Ground wind was calm to light from the SW with “gusts” around 15 km/h. Ridge wind was also light from the SW until 3 pm when it picked up slightly with gusts up to 22 km/h.
Raptor Observations:
Like the weather, migration was nearly identical to the day before. Most migrants used the eastern ridges and the east side of the valley with powered flight and only a little gliding and soaring. Brief views of eagles passing in front of or behind various peaks sometimes hampered identification. The highest hourly count was 3-4 pm with 6 migrants. The count consisted of 10 Golden Eagles (7 adults and 3 unaged), 5 Bald Eagles (4 adults and 1 undifferentiated immature) and 3 unidentified eagles.
Three resident adult Bald Eagles were hanging around the river just south of the site in the morning and early afternoon. The Bald Eagles, along with some ravens and magpies, seemed to be trying to get at a duck carcass caught in the ice. One of them was successful as a scattering of feathers were found by the trail on the way out. A Rough-legged Hawk was also hunting in the area. It perched briefly at the edge of the meadow before flying off to the north.
Non-raptor Observations:
Canada Jay 2 Black-billed Magpie 2 Common Raven 8 Black-capped Chickadee 1 Mountain Chickadee 2 Boreal Chickadee 2 Pine Grosbeak 1 Dark-eyed Junco 2 Harris’s Sparrow 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 (09 Nov 2022) 15 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 09, 2022 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Bald Eagle | 5 | 19 | 104 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 0 | 47 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 24 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 1 | 26 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Swainson’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 0 | 0 | 31 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 2 | 13 |
| Golden Eagle | 10 | 86 | 2313 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| Gyrfalcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 3 | 24 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 0 | 11 |
| Total: | 15 | 111 | 2661 |
| Observation start time: | 08:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 17:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 9 hours |
| Official Counter | Blake Weis |
| Observers: | Lynette MacCulloch |
Visitors:
10 visitors passed through the meadow
Weather:
It was a cold morning with a low of -21 C which rose to a high of -7 C by the end of the day. The sky was almost entirely clear with just a trace of cumulus cloud in the afternoon. The wind was very light at both ground and ridge level and varied between SW and N.
Raptor Observations:
Migrants were moving low along the eastern ridges, often passing in front of or behind the parts of the Fisher Range. They were mostly detected around Mt. Patrick or farther south, though a few were seen farther north near Mt. Lorette. With hardly any wind and seemingly minor thermals migrants had to use powered flight to cover any distance. Migration was slow in the morning but picked up a bit in the afternoon with a peak of 6 migrants between 1 and 2 pm. The total count was 10 Golden Eagles (8 adults, 1 juvenile, 1 unaged) and 5 adult Bald Eagles. A resident adult Bald Eagle perched for a while over the river near the site.
Non-raptor Observations:
American Three-toed Woodpecker (Northwestern) 1 Downy Woodpecker 1 Northern Shrike 1 Canada Jay 1 Common Raven 3 Black-capped Chickadee 3 Mountain Chickadee 2 Boreal Chickadee 2 chickadee sp. 2 Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 American Dipper 2 Bohemian Waxwing 40 Pine Grosbeak 5
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]
