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]
