Mount Lorette (12 Oct 2025) Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 12, 2025 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 33 | 37 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 157 | 187 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 0 | 10 | 14 |
| American Goshawk | 0 | 9 | 15 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Swainson’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 0 | 18 | 40 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 9 | 9 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 1249 | 1391 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 0 | 8 | 13 |
| Gyrfalcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipitrine | 0 | 5 | 11 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 4 | 5 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 5 | 11 |
| Total: | 0 | 1512 | 1757 |
(No count conducted today)
Weather:
Low clouds covering the ridges and intermittent snow precluded any observation today.
Raptor Observations:
Non-raptor Observations:
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 (11 Oct 2025) 194 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 11, 2025 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Bald Eagle | 1 | 33 | 37 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 5 | 157 | 187 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 2 | 10 | 14 |
| American Goshawk | 0 | 9 | 15 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Swainson’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 0 | 18 | 40 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 2 | 9 | 9 |
| Golden Eagle | 182 | 1249 | 1391 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 0 | 8 | 13 |
| Gyrfalcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipitrine | 0 | 5 | 11 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Unknown Eagle | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Unknown Raptor | 1 | 5 | 11 |
| Total: | 194 | 1512 | 1757 |
| Observation start time: | 06:45:00 |
| Observation end time: | 16:15:00 |
| Total observation time: | 9.58 hours |
| Official Counter | Blake Weis |
| Observers: | Blake Weis, Brett McGrath, Jennifer Brand |
Visitors:
48 people stopped to talk, and at least 7 stayed a while with binoculars to watch for migrants. Thanks to everyone who did, come back anytime!
Weather:
The temperature was 9 C at the start of observation, it rose to a high of 13, then fell to 11 by the end. Ridge wind was from the SW, gusting up to 80 in the morning but diminishing to 40 in the afternoon. Ground wind was also from the SW, usually gusting around 20 km/h, though some gusts were close to 30. The frequency of those gusts decreased in the afternoon, but the speed remained the same. The sky was almost clear in the morning, but cloud cover increased throughout the afternoon until the end of the count when it was 100% cumulus, stratus and stratocumulus. Around 3 PM low cloud started gathering over the Kananaskis Range to the west, occasionally sending sprinkles of rain towards the site. By 5 PM the storm overcame the mountains and began to enter the valley. The count was concluded at 5:20 PM as rain grew heavier and the eastern ridges were socking in.
Raptor Observations:
It wouldn’t be accurate to say migration began bright and early, because it was still quite dark when I saw the first Golden Eagle moving south over the valley at 7:45 AM, almost immediately after stepping out of my car. The count was up to 17 when I arrived at the site, and over 30 by the time I could look away from the sky long enough to set up the scope and start recording weather data. The early rush resulted in a high hourly count of 61 Golden Eagles between 8 and 9 AM. Movement became slower but steady around 9:30 AM, then built back up to a second peak between noon and 3 PM. Movement slowed again after 3 as the storm approached. The last 4 migrants were recorded after 5 PM, right before rain convinced us to leave the site. Almost all of the migrants were using the eastern ridges, some quite high. Ageing was impossible in most cases as migrants were tucked up gliding and kiting without stopping to soar, and silhouetted by the sunrise in the morning and by cloud in the afternoon.
The final count for the day was 182 Golden Eagles (9 a, 7 j, 3 sa, 9 ui, 154 u), 1 adult Bald Eagle, 5 Sharp-shinned Hawks, 2 Cooper’s Hawks, 2 Rough-legged Hawks, 1 unidentified eagle, and 1 small unidentified raptor. 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk that was hunting in the area but not moving south was recorded as a “resident” raptor.
Non-raptor Observations:
Other birds included 4 Common Mergansers, 1 Ruffed Grouse, 1 Northern Flicker, 2 Clark’s Nutcrackers, 15 Common Ravens, 1 Mountain Chickadee, 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet, 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch, 2 American Dippers, 6 American Robins, 82 Pine Siskins, 1 Lapland Longspur, and 1 Dark-eyed Junco. 2 White-tailed Deer were also seen.
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 Trektellen.org – [Project Details]
Mount Lorette (10 Oct 2025) 215 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 10, 2025 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Bald Eagle | 9 | 32 | 36 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 50 | 152 | 182 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 0 | 8 | 12 |
| American Goshawk | 0 | 9 | 15 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Swainson’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 5 | 18 | 40 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Golden Eagle | 148 | 1067 | 1209 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 0 | 8 | 13 |
| Gyrfalcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipitrine | 0 | 5 | 11 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 3 | 4 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 4 | 10 |
| Total: | 215 | 1318 | 1563 |
| Observation start time: | 07:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 19:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 11.17 hours |
| Official Counter | Ethan Denton, Sarah Clarahan, Tiina Moore |
| Observers: |
Visitors:
We had a great number of visitors stop to help spot today, over 20 people between 12pm and 5pm. Another approximately 25 people walked by or stopped briefly to chat.
Weather:
A huge swing in temperature saw the day start at -2 and reach 19 above. Ridge winds stayed low and from the SW, as they have been for the last couple days. Air pressure dripped by 10 points throughout the day, as tomorrow’s storm grows ever closer.
Raptor Observations:
Today was good for Golden Eagles, with 148 (42a, 47s, 6j, 53u) passing over. In the early afternoon they struggled for height, usually coming from Baldy and popping out from behind Patrick before following the Fisher Range south. This changed later on when eagles started staging over Lorette and drifting higher over to the Eastern ridge in a more classic pattern. The final couple hours saw many eagles pass high and fast, nothing more than siloughetttes and consequently difficult to age.
It was another bumper day for Sharp-shinned Hawks with exactly 50 migrants – several accompanying eagles again, but a greater proportion were on their own than yesterday. One adult buzzed directly through the count site at about 8 feet off the ground.
Other migrants included 9 Bald Eagles, 5 Red-tailed Hawks, and 3 Rough-legged Hawks. The resident adult Golden was seen, but no other residents showed up today.
Non-raptor Observations:
A female Green-winged Teal foraged along the river for a short while, while the Kingfishers put on a show. Clark’s Nutcrackers continued to zip around overhead, and a Common Merganser flew quickly upstream in the afternoon.
Yesterday’s Common Yellowthroat was still around – hopefully he gets a move on soon!
Report submitted by Ethan Denton (ethan@suechick.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 Trektellen.org – [Project Details]
Mount Lorette (09 Oct 2025) 142 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 09, 2025 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Bald Eagle | 2 | 23 | 27 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 78 | 102 | 132 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 3 | 8 | 12 |
| American Goshawk | 2 | 9 | 15 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Swainson’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 4 | 13 | 35 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Golden Eagle | 46 | 919 | 1061 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 3 | 8 | 13 |
| Gyrfalcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipitrine | 1 | 5 | 11 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 3 | 4 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 4 | 10 |
| Total: | 142 | 1103 | 1348 |
| Observation start time: | 08:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 18:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 10.02 hours |
| Official Counter | Ethan Denton |
| Observers: |
Visitors:
We were lucky to have many enthusiastic visitors stop by to help us count today, from all levels of hawkwatching and birding experience. Approximately 38 people stopped by overall.
Weather:
There was not a cloud to be seen today, as temperatures soared up to 16 degrees from our opening temp of -2. Ridge winds were low once again, and predominantly from the SW. pressure stayed steady throughout the day. Winds at ground level were largely non-existent, but came from the north when they were present.
Raptor Observations:
Once again, very few raptors flew before the early afternoon. At around 14:00, the starter’s gun must have fired, because in the following three or so hours, the vast bulk of our count moved through. This was, surprisingly, comprised primarily of Sharp-shinned Hawks. Today’s total of 78 is the second highest number on record at Lorette, behind only a superb day in 2015 when observers tallied 98 of these tiny raptors.
Most of our 46 Golden Eagles came through in singles or doubles, typically with at least one Sharpie hanging on to their coattails. The eagles almost exclusively used the Eastern ridge, struggling unsuccessfully to gain height. A lot of them popped up over Lorette itself before making their way across to the Fisher Range, where they passed just below or around ridge level.
Other raptors included 3 Merlins, a couple Red-tailed Hawks, 3 Cooper’s Hawk and 2 American Goshawk, and a couple Bald Eagles. Three light morph Rough-legged Hawks came through in the late evening, one of which alit on the top right peak of Patrick and seemed reluctant to continue.
The resident Goshawk and a resident Golden were both seen.
Non-raptor Observations:
It was a very quiet day for passerines, but a pair of Cassin’s Finches mixed in with some Siskins was a nice bonus. The resident Dipper stopped by late on, and a flurry of Golden-crowned Kinglets foraged in the wolf willows near the site. One late Common Yellowthroat was chipping away to itself as it foraged along the river bank.
Report submitted by Ethan Denton (ethan@suechick.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 Trektellen.org – [Project Details]
Mount Lorette (08 Oct 2025) 55 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 08, 2025 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Bald Eagle | 2 | 21 | 25 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 5 | 24 | 54 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 0 | 5 | 9 |
| American Goshawk | 1 | 7 | 13 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Swainson’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 1 | 9 | 31 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Golden Eagle | 45 | 873 | 1015 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 0 | 5 | 10 |
| Gyrfalcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipitrine | 0 | 4 | 10 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 3 | 4 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 4 | 10 |
| Total: | 55 | 961 | 1206 |
| Observation start time: | 07:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 18:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 11.13 hours |
| Official Counter | Ethan Denton, Peter Lloyd |
| Observers: |
Visitors:
Around 80 people passed by today, the majority of which stopped to chat. Several people stayed to help watch for a while, and an education group of ~30 schoolchildren passed by quickly.
Weather:
Ridge winds were extremely low today, getting down to just 7km/h at one point! They were predominantly from the SW, in contrast to the northerly winds at ground level. Swaths of cumulus clouds came and went throughout the day without threatening too much, and the temperature held between 5 and 9 degrees. The pressure meter barely shifted from 0851 throughout the day. There were some low clouds which obscured the Western ridges for a while, but these dissipated after an hour or so.
Raptor Observations:
Golden Eagles moved through late – only a couple came through before 2pm, these being split between the ridges and flying laboriously and low. Between 14:00 and 16:30 around 35 eagles passed through. They were mostly picked up at Lorette and followed the Eastern ridge, relatively low. A couple Sharp-shinned Hawks were scattered in, two Bald Eagles flew the ridges, and a dark-morph Red-tailed Hawk was a nice sighting. A Rough-legged Hawk following the Eastern slope of the valley makes for the first of the season!
Residents included 1 Golden Eagle and the adult Goshawk.
Non-raptor Observations:
A small handful of passerines migrated along the valley, as well as some Canada Geese high overhead. A Common Loon flew determinedly along the ridge, in the complete wrong direction.
Other notable birds include 2 White-winged Crossbills, 9 Golden-crowned Kinglets, a female Common Merganser, and a Wilson’s Warbler.
Report submitted by Ethan Denton (ethan@suechick.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 Trektellen.org – [Project Details]
Mount Lorette (07 Oct 2025) 215 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 07, 2025 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Bald Eagle | 4 | 19 | 23 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 1 | 19 | 49 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 0 | 5 | 9 |
| American Goshawk | 1 | 6 | 12 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Swainson’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 0 | 8 | 30 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Golden Eagle | 206 | 828 | 970 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 0 | 5 | 10 |
| Gyrfalcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipitrine | 2 | 4 | 10 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Unknown Eagle | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 4 | 10 |
| Total: | 215 | 906 | 1151 |
| Observation start time: | 06:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 18:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 11.03 hours |
| Official Counter | Caroline Lambert |
| Observers: | Rick Robb |
Visitors:
We thank everyone who came with binoculars and helped us spot the eagles. There were about 40 people altogether, including several groups of children who seemed to be enjoying their unplanned freedom from school.
Weather:
It was another mild day with comfortable temperatures and little wind. Although the starting temperature was 0C, as soon as the sun came over the ridge it warmed up rapidly to a high of 17C. It was 9C as we left, shortly before sunset. Ground winds were light, mostly from the southwest, and ridge winds mostly moderate and also from the southwest. The upper level clouds moved from the west. A smattering of cumulus clouds early on gave way to almost complete coverage of cirrostratus clouds, which in turn dissipated until there were no clouds, but then built up again before we left.
Raptor Observations:
The large flight of eagles from yesterday continued today from sunrise until early afternoon – an unusual day in that the majority of the birds (143) were seen in the morning and early afternoon, and only 63 in the afternoon and early evening. The first eagles were seen at 0750, and the last at 1845. The total was 206 Golden Eagles (93a, 18sa, 3j, 18ui, 74u). There was enough wind that very little soaring was needed, presenting the usual aging challenges as the majority of the eagles glided quickly over the east ridge without showing us much of their plumage. Other migrating raptors were 4 Bald Eagles (3a, 1j), one adult American Goshawk, one Sharp-shinned Hawk, two unidentified small accipitrine hawks, and one unidentified eagle. Just two non-migrants were spotted – an adult Golden Eagle and an adult American Goshawk, both seen hunting over Hummingbird Plume.
Non-raptor Observations:
With the focus on the eagles on the east ridge, there was little time to look for or pay attention to anything else. There are still a few flocks of small birds heading south. Other birds were one Ruffed Grouse, one Hairy Woodpecker, one Pileated Woodpecker, one Clark’s Nutcracker, six Common Ravens, one Mountain Chickadee, and three American Robins.
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 Trektellen.org – [Project Details]
Mount Lorette (06 Oct 2025) 329 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 06, 2025 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Bald Eagle | 3 | 15 | 19 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 6 | 18 | 48 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 1 | 5 | 9 |
| American Goshawk | 1 | 5 | 11 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Swainson’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 0 | 8 | 30 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Golden Eagle | 315 | 622 | 764 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 2 | 5 | 10 |
| Gyrfalcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipitrine | 0 | 2 | 8 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Unknown Raptor | 1 | 4 | 10 |
| Total: | 329 | 691 | 936 |
| Observation start time: | 07:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 19:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 11.25 hours |
| Official Counter | Dan Parliament |
| Observers: | Neil Denton, Tiina Moore |
Visitors:
There were 25 visitors. Several of the visitors remained at the site to assist with counting and identification. Special thanks to George Halmazna for the early morning assistance. The observers were delighted with the young children visitors who asked many questions, and donned binoculars to assist with the observation.
Weather:
The opening temperature was -2 C and increasing to 11 C during the mid afternoon. The ground winds were from the SW at 1-5 km/hr increasing to 6-10 km/hr later in the afternoon. The ridge winds were assessed to be from the North at “Medium” (11-40 km/hr). The Northerly ridge winds likely assisted in the migration, as the raptors came across the valley from Mt Lorette, and entered low on the face of “Patrick”, and with much soaring and circling gained elevation above the ridges to glide across to the “Bumps”. The high winds were from the SW or WSW and generally less than 40 km/hr.
Raptor Observations:
The total raptor flight was 329 birds and was comprised of 315 Golden Eagles, 3 Bald Eagles, 6 Sharp-shinned Hawks, 1 Cooper’s Hawk, 1 American Goshawk, 2 Merlin and 1 unidentified raptor. The Golden Eagle flight of 315 was comprised of 182 adults, 51 juveniles, and 82 unaged birds. Fifty-two of the unaged Golden Eagles were identified in the last 30 minutes of the count when the volume of migrants and the poor lighting before sunset resulted in much silhouetting of the migrants. The final 75 minutes of the observation period resulted in a count of 107 Golden Eagles.
Non-raptor Observations:
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 Trektellen.org – [Project Details]
