Mount Lorette (07 Nov 2024) 21 Raptors

Visitors:
Quite a few people came by, including about half a dozen with binoculars, several of whom stopped to scan for while. We wish there had been more migrants for them to see.

Weather:
The temperature started at -1C and rose all the way to 5C by the end of the day. Initially there were few clouds in the sky, but clouds gradually built up so that before the end of the morning the sky was 100% covered with gloomy altostratus clouds. The sun put in a brief appearance at the end of the day as the clouds began to break up. Ground winds were mostly calm with occasional gusts, initially from the south, then swinging to a more westerly direction. Ridge winds started out as moderate from the south-southwest, in the 20-40kph range, and were from the west-southwest at the end of the day. Upper winds appeared to come from the west.

Raptor Observations:
There was a slow, but steady, trickle of eagles throughout the day. Movement was all along the east ridge. Earlier in the day, when the ridge winds were close to being from the south, the birds moved slowly and low along the ridge. As the wind swung to a more westerly direction, the birds flew higher and faster. The dark clouds and lack of sunlight made aging challenging earlier in the day.
The totals were 16 Golden Eagles (7a, 9u) and 5 Bald Eagles (2a, 1sa, 1wb, 1j).
No other raptors were seen.

Non-raptor Observations:
A flock of about 15 Bohemian Waxwings catching flying insects were quite a distraction during the day, as they frequently flew through our view while scanning the ridges. Other birds were: Canada Jay 2, Common Raven 15, American Dipper 1, Redpoll 5, White-winged Crossbill 2

Report submitted by ()
Mount Lorette information may be found at: eaglewatch.ca
More information at hawkcount.org: [Site Profile] [Day Summary] [Month Summary]