Mount Lorette (06 Oct 2022) 27 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 06, 2022 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 14 | 27 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 5 | 34 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 2 | 6 | 17 |
| Northern Goshawk | 1 | 5 | 12 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Swainson’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 0 | 6 | 15 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Golden Eagle | 20 | 239 | 394 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 0 | 6 | 8 |
| Gyrfalcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 2 | 4 | 10 |
| Unknown Buteo | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Unknown Eagle | 1 | 5 | 9 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Total: | 27 | 298 | 549 |
| Observation start time: | 07:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 19:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 11.17 hours |
| Official Counter | Caroline Lambert |
| Observers: | Graeme Dunlop, Lynette MacCulloch |
Visitors:
25 visitors came by and chatted with us.
Weather:
The weather pattern from previous days continued with blue skies, few clouds, a slight haze (an orange glow to the sunrise suggested a distant forest fire), and warm temperatures, ranging from 0C in the morning to a high of 16C, dropping to 12C at the end of the day. Initially the wind was calm, but it picked up in the afternoon, coming from the northeast. At ridge level the wind was light and also from the northeast. These conditions were not favourable either for the migrating raptors or spotting them.
Raptor Observations:
The first few eagles were spotted soaring above Mt Lorette around noon. These were then picked up flying low over the east ridge. As the northeast wind increased, though, it appeared that most eagles were coming in low and disappearing behind the east ridge. Some were seen low over the south end of the Fisher Range, but some did not reappear. A few came in high, but dropped quickly and disappeared behind the ridge. Nearly all were using powered flight. The tally at the end of the day was 20 Golden Eagles (10a, 1sa, 9u), 2 Cooper’s Hawk, 1 Red-tailed Hawk, 1 small accipiter, 1 buteo sp. and 1 unknown eagle.
Non-raptor Observations:
A couple of dippers entertained us in the morning, and one of the Belted Kingfishers flew past in the afternoon. The Swamp Sparrow is still hiding in the willows, and the Ruffed Grouse is still drumming. Other birds were a Northern Shrike, a Black-billed Magpie, a Brown Creeper, and 5 Common Ravens. At least 20 American Robins flew by heading south.
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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 (05 Oct 2022) 42 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 05, 2022 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Bald Eagle | 1 | 14 | 27 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 1 | 5 | 34 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 1 | 4 | 15 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 4 | 11 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Swainson’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 4 | 6 | 15 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Golden Eagle | 28 | 219 | 374 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 4 | 6 | 8 |
| Gyrfalcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 2 | 8 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Unknown Eagle | 2 | 4 | 8 |
| Unknown Raptor | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Total: | 42 | 271 | 522 |
| Observation start time: | 07:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 19:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 12 hours |
| Official Counter | Annie Finch |
| Observers: | Cliff Hansen, Ian Dowson |
Visitors:
We had 34 visitors to the site today, including a handful who stayed to help spot raptors.
Weather:
The morning started off at a frosty 2C, rising to 16C by early afternoon. Haze made spotting and aging raptors difficult, though it added to the visual splendour of the valley. We were treated to spectacular changes in cloud type and cover as winds shifted from SW to NE midday. Before long, the renewed vigour of the wind and the shade of a few particularly puffy clouds had us reaching for jackets and gloves.
Raptor Observations:
Most raptors appeared over Patrick, dipped below the right edge of the Big Smile, reappeared over Tonyâs Peak or in front of the Slab, flew behind the Big Bump, ultimately emerging at Fisher South or McDougall.
Of particular note were the 4 Merlins spotted throughout the day, with one perching ominously in a spruce near the river while the dippers and kingfishers nattered on unawares.
Resident/Non-migratory Raptors: Northern Goshawk (1a)
Non-raptor Observations:
A broad smattering of songbirds and other non-raptors were about in the meadow today. 252 American Robins moved south through the valley in flocks of various sizes. All three (expected) chickadees presented themselves, as did both kinglets. Towards the end of the day we were graced with three American Dippers chattering and dipping in the river at their usual log (Tom and family). The Swamp Sparrow continues. ebird.org/checklist/S120036409
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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 (04 Oct 2022) 59 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 04, 2022 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Bald Eagle | 3 | 13 | 26 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 2 | 4 | 33 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 0 | 3 | 14 |
| Northern Goshawk | 1 | 4 | 11 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Swainson’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 1 | 2 | 11 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Golden Eagle | 51 | 191 | 346 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| Gyrfalcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 2 | 8 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Unknown Eagle | 1 | 2 | 6 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Total: | 59 | 229 | 480 |
| Observation start time: | 06:45:00 |
| Observation end time: | 18:15:00 |
| Total observation time: | 10.53 hours |
| Official Counter | Caroline Lambert |
| Observers: | Rick Robb |
Visitors:
The 47 visitors included a group of 28 students and two teachers from Western Canada High School in Calgary.
Weather:
The abnormally warm weather continued yet again today. On arrival it was 2C with frost on the ground, but once the sun came over the east ridge, it quickly warmed up to 21C. It cooled off rapidly when the sun went behind the west ridge, dropping to 13C when we left. There were no clouds in the sky to start with, but there was much haze in the air making spotting the raptors quite challenging. The haze cleared up by mid afternoon, and a few clouds appeared over the east ridge, which helped with spotting a great deal. Ground winds were again light. Ridge winds from the Nakiska station were reported to be light, ranging from easterly to southwest, but there must have been stronger winds at higher levels, as the migrants were able to fly high and fast.
Raptor Observations:
Initially the eagles were popping up at random places along the east ridge, quickly gaining altitude by soaring and then moving to the south. As the day went by we were finding them coming into the ridge at great heights – eventually we spotted some riding thermals above Mt Lorette to high levels, and they were able to maintain those heights as they flew quickly to the east ridge and along the ridge. Many of them appeared to be flying on the other side of the ridge as they looked quite small and far away, and were difficult to track and age. The number of Golden Eagles, 51 (27a, 4sa, 4j, 16u), was well below expectations for this period of the migration. Other migrants were three adult Bald Eagles, one Red-tailed Hawk, two Sharp-shinned Hawks and a Northern Goshawk. Non-migrants were a Merlin hunting along the river in the evening, and a second year Bald Eagle.
Non-raptor Observations:
The local Ruffed Grouse is still drumming away. Tom the American Dipper came by in the morning and hopefully avoided the Merlin that was hunting along the river in the evening. Other birds were one Belted Kingfisher, one Black-billed Magpie, three Common Ravens, one Red-breasted Nuthatch, one European Starling, 25 American Robins flying south in small groups, 11 Red Crossbills looking delighted with our bumper crop of spruce cones, and two American Tree Sparrows.
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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 (03 Oct 2022) 47 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 03, 2022 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Bald Eagle | 7 | 10 | 23 |
| Northern Harrier | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 2 | 31 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 0 | 3 | 14 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 3 | 10 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Swainson’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 0 | 1 | 10 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Golden Eagle | 37 | 140 | 295 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Gyrfalcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 2 | 8 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Total: | 47 | 170 | 421 |
| Observation start time: | 06:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 18:30:00 |
| Total observation time: | 11 hours |
| Official Counter | Lori Anderson |
| Observers: | Mustafa Onder Ersin, Sandy Graham |
Visitors:
38 Visitors Some brought their own binoculars and located a few of the eagles.
Weather:
The day started out on the chilly side and, once again, temperatures rose quickly when the sun rose. The temperature range went from 2C to 21.5. The sky was clear all day with a few small cumulus clouds but there was a humid haze in the sky, which made the eagles magically disappear as if they were using an invisibility cloak. Ground winds were absent at times and low throughout most of the day from calm to 15km/H. After 2 pm, the SW ridge winds picked up and so did the migration.
Raptor Observations:
We found the first Golden Eagle at 9:40 at Lorette, and quite soon after that, two Taiga Merlins came rushing down to hunt a Belted Kingfisher. Most of the Raptors today took the Skogan pass- Lorette- Patrick- Fisher North route. As the winds picked up, the eagles found height soaring on thermals at Lorette, and crossing very high over the valley to the eastern ridges. The most active period was between 3-4 pm with 12 raptors. Totals: Golden Eagles 37 (22a,3sa,9j,3 not defined), Bald Eagles 7 (4a,1sa,2 not defined), Northern Harrier 1 (female or Juv.), Merlin 2 (1male, 1 female or juv.).
Non-raptor Observations:
2 Common Loons, 75 American Robins, 19 Canada Geese, 5 Red-breasted Merganser, 4 Black-billed Magpie, 12 Common Ravens, 3 Black-Capped Chickadees, 1 American Crow, 1 Clarkâs Nutcracker, 1 Belted Kingfisher, 1 American Dipper.
Red squirrels chattered off in the distance and many butterflies floated around. There was one really determined white butterfly whose fast flight reminded me of a small bird. Beware of some very vicious small fly-like insects that bite the heck out you. They are brown and gold with a red triangle on the shoulder.
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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 Oct 2022) 45 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 02, 2022 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Bald Eagle | 2 | 3 | 16 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 2 | 2 | 31 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 3 | 3 | 14 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 3 | 10 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Swainson’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Golden Eagle | 37 | 103 | 258 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Gyrfalcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 2 | 8 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Total: | 45 | 123 | 374 |
| Observation start time: | 06:45:00 |
| Observation end time: | 18:15:00 |
| Total observation time: | 10 hours |
| Official Counter | Blake Weis |
| Observers: | Glenn Webber |
Visitors:
50 visitors came out to Hay Meadow, 4 brought binoculars and helped spot migrants.
Weather:
Once again it was a clear and warm day with a high of 19C and a low of 1C. Wind was light to moderate from the NNE at valley bottom and ridge level.
Raptor Observations:
The first three eagles were soaring over the Fisher Range around 8:30 AM. They were most likely roosting somewhere nearby and had just lifted off to start their day’s journey. The distribution of migrants was “lumpy” through most of the day, with short burst of activity separated by slow periods. It did pick up later as we had a decent movement in the last couple hours.
The lack of cloud cover made spotting birds difficult, though some cumulus late in the day helped. The wind wasn’t favorable for migration which had most migrants moving low and mainly soaring. Possibly because of the NNE wind, eagles seemed to be using the east side of the Fisher Range, often passing behind peaks or only popping into view briefly. A few hawks and Bald Eagles used the western ridges or flew down the valley.
Resident raptors included an adult Bald Eagle and an Immature Northern Goshawk
Non-raptor Observations:
Other birds on eBird: ebird.org/checklist/S119879010
A mink was seen near the river in the morning. Red squirrels were very active. Several species of butterfly were still out including western white, mourning cloak, milbert’s tortoiseshell and grey comma
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Mount Lorette information may be found at: eaglewatch.ca
More information at hawkcount.org: [Site Profile] [Day Summary] [Month Summary]
