Mount Lorette (28 Sep 2022) 10 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 28, 2022 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 11 | 11 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 27 | 27 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 1 | 9 | 9 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 6 | 6 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Swainson’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 1 | 9 | 9 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Golden Eagle | 6 | 148 | 148 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Gyrfalcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 1 | 4 | 4 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Unknown Eagle | 1 | 4 | 4 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Total: | 10 | 231 | 231 |
| Observation start time: | 06:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 19:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 12 hours |
| Official Counter | Annie Finch |
| Observers: | Monique Wendling |
Visitors:
Most passers-by stopped to talk about the count today, about 20 in all. A few stayed for a while to help scan for raptors.
Weather:
Another day of magnificent weather and underwhelming migratory movement. Despite frost on the ground, the dawn air felt warm, hinting at the heat to come. The temperature hovered around 3C for a while before rising quickly once the sun hit the valley floor. Peaking at 23C with only scattered cirrus clouds, the intensity of the sun had us hiding in the shade for most of the day. Winds were calm until mid-afternoon when the only eagles of the day moved through in the span of two hours.
Raptor Observations:
10 Migratory Raptors: 6 Golden Eagle (1a, 5u) 1 Unknown Eagle 1 Cooperâs Hawk (1a) 1 Unknown Accipiter 1 Red-tailed Hawk (1a)
An adult Red-tailed Hawk soaring along the western ridges and an unidentified accipiter moving south along the eastern were all the first 7 hours of scanning produced.
Most migrants moved past between 3 and 5pm in the only rush of the day, all using the east side of the valley, each appearing at a different place and height. Harsh light, distance, and flight-style made aging difficult.
Non-raptor Observations:
Another slow day for smaller birds. There was a flurry of excitement at one point with a high-speed kingfisher chase along the river and through the trees. eBird checklist: ebird.org/checklist/S119616887
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 (27 Sep 2022) 17 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 27, 2022 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 11 | 11 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 27 | 27 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 6 | 6 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Swainson’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Golden Eagle | 14 | 142 | 142 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Gyrfalcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Total: | 17 | 221 | 221 |
| Observation start time: | 06:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 19:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 11.83 hours |
| Official Counter | Caroline Lambert |
| Observers: | Ian Dowson |
Visitors:
33 people came by in small groups, many eager to learn about the count, and a few with binoculars to help spot, which is always appreciated.
Weather:
It was unseasonably warm, with a starting temperature of 4C, and a high of 22C. It had cooled to 15C when we left. The sky was mostly blue with a few cirrus clouds that helped making spotting a bit easier in the afternoon. Winds were light all day on the ground, and there was just enough ridge wind that the migrants could fly mostly without soaring.
Raptor Observations:
It was a disappointing day for migrants as there was sufficient ridge wind for movement, and no obvious weather system to the north to hinder progress. A total of 17 migrants were seen: 14 Golden Eagles (8a, 1sa, 5u), 1 Cooper’s Hawk, 1 Red-tailed Hawk, and one small accipiter.
The best bird of the day was a juvenile dark morph Harlan’s Red-tailed Hawk that flew low over us and hunted for a few minutes along the power line on the other side of the meadow. Other non-migrants were a Bald Eagle that flew high and fast across the valley and disappeared over the east ridge, an adult Red-tailed Hawk that hunted on the west side of the valley, the usual resident Northern Goshawk, and an adult Golden Eagle that did some display flights in front of Patrick.
Non-raptor Observations:
If the number of migrants was disappointing, it was more so for the smaller birds. Apart from the ever present ravens (about nine of those), three robins were detected early in the morning and no non-raptors were seen after that.
Report submitted by Caroline Lambert (caroline144@gmail.com)
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 (26 Sep 2022) 21 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 26, 2022 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bald Eagle | 1 | 11 | 11 |
| Northern Harrier | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 4 | 27 | 27 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Northern Goshawk | 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Swainson’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Golden Eagle | 11 | 128 | 128 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Gyrfalcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Unknown Falcon | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Total: | 21 | 204 | 204 |
| Observation start time: | 06:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 18:30:00 |
| Total observation time: | 8 hours |
| Official Counter | Lori Anderson |
| Observers: | Eric Langshaw, Mustafa Onder Ersin, Rosemary Power |
Visitors:
About 25 interested visitors and friends stopped by.
Weather:
From heated socks to bare feet. The temperature in the wee hours of the morning was 3°C and quickly changed with the scorching sun after sunrise reaching 22°C. Wisps of cirrus clouds varied from 10% to 70% throughout the day and a thin humid mist filled the air. There was only a slight breeze at ground level and under 10 Km/h at ridge level for most of the day and consequently few birds ventured out to migrate.
Raptor Observations:
Most of the raptors appeared between 14:00 and 17:00 with about half using the eastern route and the rest found to the west or valley center. 11 Golden Eagles (7a,3sa,1u), 1 adult Bald Eagle, 1 Red-tailed Hawk, 4 Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1 Northern Harrier, 1 Northern Goshawk, 1 Coopers Hawk and 1 large falcon. Numerous sightings of a Non-migrating Northern Goshawk throughout the day.
Non-raptor Observations:
145 American Robins, 42 Canada Geese, 1 Common Merganser, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 18 Common Ravens, 2 Boreal Chickadees, 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet, 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet, 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch, 1 Sparrow sp., 1 Varied Thrush, 1 Blue-headed Vireo, 1 Clarkâs Nutcracker, 10 Dark-eyed Junco, 1 Snowshoe hare, 2 Red Squirrels, and Mourning Cloak butterflies everywhere.
Report submitted by ()
Mount Lorette information may be found at: eaglewatch.ca
More information at hawkcount.org: [Site Profile] [Day Summary] [Month Summary]
Mount Lorette (25 Sep 2022) 43 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 25, 2022 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bald Eagle | 5 | 10 | 10 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 7 | 23 | 23 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Northern Goshawk | 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Swainson’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Golden Eagle | 23 | 117 | 117 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Gyrfalcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Unknown Eagle | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Total: | 43 | 183 | 183 |
| Observation start time: | 06:30:00 |
| Observation end time: | 18:30:00 |
| Total observation time: | 12 hours |
| Official Counter | Blake Weis |
| Observers: | Lynn Macintosh, Rosemary Power |
Visitors:
The beautiful fall weather brought at least 40 visitors the meadow
Weather:
Most of the day was fairly sunny with sparse cloud and light to moderate wind. Late in the afternoon the wind picked up and cloud cover increased. That resulted in some high-flying, silhouetted migrants that were difficult to age. It was chilly in the morning at 1C but quickly warmed to a balmy 19C by the middle of the day.
Raptor Observations:
Most migrants used the eastern ridges though some hawks flew down the valley or used the western ridges. Elevation was quite variable though they tended to be high later in the day. Non-migrants included two Northern Goshawks who were harassing a migrating Red-tail over Hummingbird Plume Hill.
Non-raptor Observations:
20 Canada Geese, 1 Common Merganser, 2 Common Loons, 1 drumming Ruffed Grouse, 1 Belted Kingfisher, 1 Northern Flicker, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 7 Common Ravens, 2 Canada Jays, 2 Black-capped Chickadees, 4 Mountain Chickadees, 2 Boreal Chickadees, 3 Golden-crowned Kinglets, 5 Red-breasted Nuthatches, 2 American Dippers, 1 Varied Thrush, 150 American Robins, 1 American Pipit, 1 Dark-eyed Junco, 1 Lincoln’s Sparrow and 2 Yellow-rumped Warblers. Mourning cloak butterflies were on the wing
Report submitted by ()
Mount Lorette information may be found at: eaglewatch.ca
More information at hawkcount.org: [Site Profile] [Day Summary] [Month Summary]
Mount Lorette (24 Sep 2022) 16 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 24, 2022 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bald Eagle | 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 1 | 16 | 16 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Swainson’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Golden Eagle | 11 | 94 | 94 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Gyrfalcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Unknown Eagle | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Total: | 16 | 140 | 140 |
| Observation start time: | 06:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 19:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 12.03 hours |
| Official Counter | Annie Finch |
| Observers: | Rain Saulnier, Rick Robb |
Visitors:
20: The site was graced with many interested and enthusiastic visitors today, including a few eagle-eyed kids.
Weather:
From +6C at dawn, the temperature steadily increased to a high of +17C by 5:00pm. A gorgeous day of clear skies and light winds made for rather poor raptor migration and spotting conditions.
Raptor Observations:
The first raptor of the day was a Golden Eagle of undetermined age at 10:00am. Raptors continued in a slow trickle of roughly two per hour until supper time, with a small burst before sunset. The resident Northern Goshawk made a few appearances; a Sharp-shinned Hawk was observed lurking low in the forest near sunset.
16 migrating raptors were observed: 11 Golden Eagles (6 adult, 4 subadult, 1 unaged); 2 Bald Eagles (2 adult); 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk (1 adult); 2 unidentified eagles.
Non-raptor Observations:
Other birds: 1 Belted Kingfisher, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 2 Clarkâs Nutcracker, 15 Common Raven, 2 Mountain Chickadee, 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet, 2 Red-breasted Nuthatch, 1 American Dipper, 120 American Robin, 1 American Pipit, 1 Dark-eyed Junco, 2 White-throated Sparrow.
Tom, the resident American Dipper, made a last-minute cameo as the sun set.
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]
