The Fall 2021 Migration Count has commenced and runs from Sep 20th until Nov 15th with observers at the Mount Lorette site daily — including viewing equipment available to the public. If interested in visiting the site, we suggest that you visit after 3pm. We see the majority of the migrating eagles in the later afternoon. This is the 29th consecutive year of vigilant recording. Mount Lorette site, Observation map.
Related links: Count Reports
Observations
Total Migratory Raptors: 3,520
09/30/2021
Observers: Graeme Dunlop, Ruth Morrow, Johan Poll
07:20 AM
07:10 PM
+11C to +18C
Generally a nice day, windy and lots of clouds but quite sunny and warm. Ridge winds SW with gusts up to 140 km/h in the morning.
Decent early movement of Golden Eagles with 40 birds seen before 11a.m. (first birds observed 10 minutes before sunrise with a pair soaring into vivid pink clouds). A cold front passed through late on the previous day so this had likely held some birds back.
Vast majority of birds flew high from Mt Lorette to Fisher range, often angling into the strong wind with wings half-closed until half way across the valley before turning towards Fisher Range.
High percentage of unaged birds due to a combination of high flying, below average lighting conditions and also many of the morning birds were only glimpsed briefly as they flew in and out of the cloud base.
150 (72 adults, 4 subadults, 5 juveniles, 69 unaged)
3 Bald Eagles, 3 Sharp shinned Hawks, 7 Coopers Hawks, 7 Northern Goshawks, 4 Red tailed Hawks, 1 Merlin, 1 Peregrine Falcon, 1 unidentified large falcon.
15:00 to 16:00 with 33 migrant raptors
177
Golden Eagle 1, Northern Goshawk 1.
1 Ruby crowned Kinglet, 3 Black billed Magpies, 1 Downy Woodpecker
0
