Mount Lorette (22 Mar 2025) 49 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 22, 2025 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bald Eagle | 1 | 20 | 20 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| American Goshawk | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Swainson’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Golden Eagle | 47 | 637 | 637 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Gyrfalcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipitrine | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 5 | 5 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total: | 49 | 665 | 665 |
| Observation start time: | 08:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 18:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 10 hours |
| Official Counter | Blake Weis |
| Observers: | Allison Zukewich |
Visitors:
38 people stopped to talk. Thanks to Joseph, Jessica, Melissa, and Calvin for staying for much of the day to help spot migrants, and to the others who stopped to watch. Come back anytime!
Weather:
The temperature was -4 C at the start of observation, it rose to a high of 5 around 3 PM, and fell to 1 as we were leaving. Ground wind was from the SW, light in the morning, then gusting to 20 km/h in the afternoon. Ridge wind was also from the SW, light to moderate in the morning, and strong in the afternoon. For most of the day, cloud cover was 30-60% cumulus and cirrus. Around 6 PM snow squalls began to move into the valley from the west, and the count was ended at 7 PM as snow reached the site.
Raptor Observations:
The count for the day was 47 Golden Eagles (17 adults, 3 sub-adults, 1 juvenile, 26 unaged), 1 adult Bald Eagle, and 1 Merlin. Raptors moved between 11:15 AM and 5:25 PM, with a peak of 20 migrants between 4 and 5 PM. In the afternoon movement was split between the west where migrants moved from Mts. Kidd and Boggart to Olympic Summit, and the east, where they moved from Old Baldy Hill and Mt. McDougall over the east side of the valley. Later in the day, movement was all high over the east ridges. Ageing was often hampered by backlit conditions and eagles staying tucked up while gliding.
The resident Golden Eagle pair was seen numerous times throughout the day, frequently displaying over Mt. Kidd and Mt. Boggart, even flying low above the site and displaying over the east side of the valley. A sub-adult Golden Eagle, an adult Bald Eagle, and another Merlin were not counted as migrants since they were flying south.
Non-raptor Observations:
1 Ruffed Grouse, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 1 Pileated Woodpecker, 3 Canada Jays, 25 Common Ravens, 1 American Dipper, 3 Black-capped Chickadees, 1 Mountain Chickadee, 2 White-tailed Deer, 1 Deer Mouse, and 2 Bighorn Sheep.
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Mount Lorette information may be found at: eaglewatch.ca
More information at hawkcount.org: [Site Profile] [Day Summary] [Month Summary]
