Mount Lorette (02 Nov 2025) 25 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 02, 2025 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Bald Eagle | 1 | 1 | 69 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 0 | 198 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| American Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Swainson’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 0 | 0 | 43 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 17 |
| Golden Eagle | 24 | 24 | 2229 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| Gyrfalcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipitrine | 0 | 0 | 11 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 0 | 16 |
| Total: | 25 | 25 | 2663 |
| Observation start time: | 09:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 17:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 8 hours |
| Official Counter | Dan Parliament |
| Observers: | Lynn Macintosh |
Visitors:
There were not many hikers in the valley today. We had 10 visitors, and special thanks to Nikhil and Hanee for their visit and videography.
Weather:
It was a wild day for the weather. The opening temperature was zero and rose to a high of +3C at 1100 hr and then fluctuating between zero and +2C for the remainder of the day. The morning greeted us with light snow that continued until noon when the clouds descended to near ground level, the ground winds switched to the North and heavy snow fell until 1330 hrs (MST). The day began to clear after 1330 hrs and the Golden Eagles commenced their migration flights. The ground winds were variable in direction throughout the day and gusts exceeded 30 km/hr. The ridge winds were from the NW and generally low to medium (< 40 km/hr). The high winds were from the SW with speeds from 40 km/hr and gusts to 70 km/hr
Raptor Observations:
There were 24 migrating Golden Eagles (14 Adults, 1 Juvenile, and 9 unaged). The Eagles generally flew very high across the East ridges and aging was difficult, as the birds did not often turn to provide a profile for aging. There was one third year subadult Bald Eagle migrant. A second adult Bald Eagle flew very low over the valley, and appeared to be hunting and was assessed as a resident bird.
Non-raptor Observations:
Pine Siskins were the most abundant non-raptor species with several flocks flying South. A total of approximately 30 Pine Siskins were noted. Other species were 16 Mallard, 8 Common Raven, 2 Mountain Chickadee, and 2 Northern Flickers.
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 (01 Nov 2025) Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 01, 2025 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 0 | 68 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 0 | 198 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| American Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Swainson’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 0 | 0 | 43 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 17 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 0 | 2205 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| Gyrfalcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipitrine | 0 | 0 | 11 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 0 | 16 |
| Total: | 0 | 0 | 2638 |
(No count conducted today)
Weather:
No count was conducted as a mix of rain and snow fell and low cloud obscured the mountains all day.
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 (31 Oct 2025) 106 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 31, 2025 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Bald Eagle | 5 | 64 | 68 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 168 | 198 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 0 | 11 | 15 |
| American Goshawk | 0 | 14 | 20 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Swainson’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 0 | 21 | 43 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 17 | 17 |
| Golden Eagle | 101 | 2063 | 2205 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 0 | 9 | 14 |
| 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 | 2 | 4 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 5 | 6 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 10 | 16 |
| Total: | 106 | 2393 | 2638 |
| Observation start time: | 08:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 17:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 9 hours |
| Official Counter | Graeme Dunlop |
| Observers: | Susan Clarahan |
Visitors:
8 people stopped to ask about the eagle migration
Weather:
The temperature was -4C at 0900, reached a high of 5C at 1500 and was 5C at the end, but it felt much colder as persistent southerly winds blew at 10-30 gusting to 40 km/h all day. Ridge winds were S to WSW, 20km/h to 55km/h gusting up to 100km/h. Cloud cover began with 80% stratocumulus and altostratus cloud which thickened to a blanket of altostratus that persisted to 1430 when it broke up to 80-60% lenticular, altocumulus and cirrostratus after the passage of a warm front. Although the warm front was weak (zero precipitation and cloud base remaining above the peaks) it did cause some subtle shifts in the weather: wind direction shifted clockwise about 20 degrees, temperature increased by 3 degrees, relative humidity began to rise and the dull grey skies gave way to much brighter conditions from the west. The low western sun shining on these varied and ever-changing lenticular clouds over the Fisher Range and Mt Lorette created some spectacular skies.
Raptor Observations:
There was a surprisingly strong eagle migration with 96 Golden Eagles observed between 1015 and 1415. Unfortunately the passing of the warm front may have created suboptimal flying conditions as only a further 4 Golden Eagles were seen between 1415 and 1705. All eagles were seen on the eastern ridges, usually gliding at or near ridge level. Some eagles were seen gliding across from Mt Lorette but most seemed to approach the ridges from the north east. The cloud layer helped with locating eagles but the flat light made ageing them very difficult. The final count was 5 Bald Eagles (4a, 1sub adult) and 101 Golden Eagles (28a, 1sa, 10 juv, 62u)
Non-raptor Observations:
8 Common Ravens, 1 Pileated Woodpecker, 5 Clark’s Nutcrackers, 70 Bohemian Waxwings, 12 Red Crossbills, 2 Pine Grosbeaks.
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 (30 Oct 2025) 19 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 30, 2025 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Bald Eagle | 4 | 59 | 63 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 168 | 198 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 0 | 11 | 15 |
| American Goshawk | 0 | 14 | 20 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Swainson’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 0 | 21 | 43 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 17 | 17 |
| Golden Eagle | 13 | 1962 | 2104 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 0 | 9 | 14 |
| 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 | 2 | 4 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 5 | 6 |
| Unknown Raptor | 2 | 10 | 16 |
| Total: | 19 | 2287 | 2532 |
| Observation start time: | 08:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 18:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 9.5 hours |
| Official Counter | Lynette MacCulloch |
| Observers: | Glenn Webber |
Visitors:
10 people stopped to chat and watch for birds. Three visitors from the UK stopped twice and were treated to a good view of a Juvenile Golden Eagle as well as the Dipper.
Weather:
Today was a lovely day in the field, lots of sunshine, very few clouds, very little wind and very few raptors. The temperature at start time was minus 3, rose quickly to plus 7 in the early afternoon and then dropped to plus 3 by end time. Clouds were mostly scattered cumulus that cleared and then were replaced by a pattern of wispy cirrus clouds. There was very little ground wind, the ridge winds were also low but the clouds and contrails we could see were moved moderately quickly by the high winds.
Raptor Observations:
IN all we saw 13 Golden eagles (4adult, 1 subadult, 2 juvenile and 6 unaged), 4 adult Bald eagles and 2 unknown raptors. Most of the raptors appeared low over Patrick, or the Bumps, twice too late to tell what they were, except they were not Ravens. A few showed up at Lorette or coming up to Patrick and several were so high, they were impossible to age. It seems like the juveniles could not find the thermals and so they were easier to observe, which could possibly have been the time of day as the three Bald eagles seen midafternoon were also quite low and searching for the thermals.
Non-raptor Observations:
A Pileated Woodpecker could be heard drumming on arrival to the site. Two flocks of Canada Geese flew high over us. Many flocks of little birds, some being identified as Pine Siskins and some as Red-crossbills, flew back and forth all morning, seeming to grow in size with each pass. A Clarks Nutcracker , a Canada Jay, two Black-capped Chickadees, three juvenile gulls, 6 Pine Grosbeaks, the Dipper and the Northern Shrike were the other birds observed. 8 Ravens flew around the west side and over head as well as a welcoming committee of 4 Ravens who frequented Patrick and the bumps and harassed whatever eagle they could.
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 (29 Oct 2025) 23 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 29, 2025 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 55 | 59 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 1 | 168 | 198 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 0 | 11 | 15 |
| American Goshawk | 0 | 14 | 20 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Swainson’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 0 | 21 | 43 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 17 | 17 |
| Golden Eagle | 22 | 1949 | 2091 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 0 | 9 | 14 |
| 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 | 2 | 4 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 5 | 6 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 8 | 14 |
| Total: | 23 | 2268 | 2513 |
| Observation start time: | 08:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 18:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 8.67 hours |
| Official Counter | -, Ethan Denton , Peter Lloyd |
| Observers: |
Visitors:
About 30 people passed through, with only a couple stopping to talk
Weather:
It was a blustery day, with ground winds rarely below 3 Beaufort, and ranging up to 6 several times. Ridge winds were also high, SW gusting to around 100 throughout. There was a inconsistent light snowfall, and heavy clouds obscured parts of the western ridge all day. Those same clouds forced a slightly late start to the day, as they obscured everything in the morning. Temperatures weren’t too bad, reaching as high as 6 degrees, but it always felt colder due to the wind.
Raptor Observations:
The first eagles flew early, riding the coatails of the initial storm. 3 eagles passed between 09:45 and 10:15. They then came in drawn out trickles, all gliding high along the Eastern ridge. Conditions made ageing very difficult at times, and the high winds meant the birds sped by without often banking or even flapping.
A Sharp-shinned Hawk flew low over the valley early on.
Non-raptor Observations:
A couple flocks of Geese struggled to make headway against the wind, but the scattering of gulls that passed by did alright. There were a handful of Bohemian Waxwings passing through, and the Shrike we saw in the morning was different from the Shrike we saw in the evening.
Other then those and some Deer, pretty quiet today.
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 (28 Oct 2025) 6 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 28, 2025 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 55 | 59 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 167 | 197 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 0 | 11 | 15 |
| American Goshawk | 0 | 14 | 20 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Swainson’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 0 | 21 | 43 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 17 | 17 |
| Golden Eagle | 6 | 1927 | 2069 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 0 | 9 | 14 |
| 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 | 2 | 4 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 5 | 6 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 8 | 14 |
| Total: | 6 | 2245 | 2490 |
| Observation start time: | 08:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 17:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 9 hours |
| Official Counter | Caroline Lambert |
| Observers: | Alan Hingston, Neil Denton |
Visitors:
There were few hikers on the trail today. About 5 people stopped to ask about the count. Many thanks to Alan Hingston for helping spot for several hours.
Weather:
The temperature started at -5C, rose to +5C, and was +3C at the end of the day. The day started with clear blue skies, and that persisted until about 1500 when cirrostratus clouds moved in from the west. The clouds gradually became flat, textureless, steel-grey altostratus clouds that covered the entire sky. Ground winds were mostly calm, occasionally gusting up to 20kph. Ridge winds were from the southwest, ranging from 20kph to about 60kph by the end of the day.
Raptor Observations:
A couple of Golden Eagles around noon gave hope for a day of more normal movement than we’ve had in the last few days, but it was not to be. Another Golden Eagle was seen around 1530, and then three appeared as the day was being wrapped up, giving a total of 6 (1a, 1sa, 1ui, 3u). All were flying low along the east ridge, sometimes going below ridge level. No other migrant raptors were seen.
One Bald Eagle was spotted flying up the river and was not considered a migrant.
Non-raptor Observations:
Ravens were again abundant over the east ridge, with 10 being seen circling together over the bumps. Small groups of Canada Geese flew by, totalling about 15. A Ruffed Grouse was heard drumming. A loon flew by high up early in the day, and later a juvenile gull of unknown species (possibly American Herring Gull) was seen heading south. Two Belted Kingfishers chased each other up river, and later a female came to sit on a perch across the river. An adult Northern Shrike made several appearances. An American Dipper was heard and seen briefly as it flew down the river. A Red-breasted Nuthatch, a couple of Mountain Chickadees, a pair of Canada Jays, and about 75 Bohemian Waxwings rounded out the day’s non-raptor species.
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 (27 Oct 2025) 29 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 27, 2025 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Bald Eagle | 3 | 55 | 59 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 167 | 197 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 0 | 11 | 15 |
| American Goshawk | 0 | 14 | 20 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Swainson’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 0 | 21 | 43 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 17 | 17 |
| Golden Eagle | 26 | 1921 | 2063 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 0 | 9 | 14 |
| 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 | 2 | 4 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 5 | 6 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 8 | 14 |
| Total: | 29 | 2239 | 2484 |
| Observation start time: | 08:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 17:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 9 hours |
| Official Counter | Dan Parliament |
| Observers: | Dana Guenette, Glenn Webber |
Visitors:
We had five visitors at the site. Special thanks to Yumi and Alan who spent the greater part of the afternoon assisting in spotting and aging the raptors.
Weather:
The temperature fluctuated between zero to a high of +3 C and declining to + 2 C at the close. The ground winds were variable from WSW to SW to West to SW. The base ground winds were 6-11 km/hr with periodic gusts to 25 km/hr. The ridge winds were assessed at NNW to NW at Medium (11-40 km/hr). The high winds were initially SW at 40 with gusts to 70 km/hr and declining in the late afternoon to 20-30 with gusts to 50 km/hr.
Raptor Observations:
The migration flight consisted of 29 birds of two species. The breakdown was 26 Golden Eagles (18 adults, and 8 unaged), and 3 Bald Eagles (3 adults). The flight was very high, mostly 2 binocular FOVs above the east ridges. The eagles were mostly in side profile and aging was difficult as this required following the route across Patrick and the Bumps and waiting for the bird to bank to provide aging details. A resident Bald Eagle was observed at 1440 hrs (MDT) hunting at the base of Mt Lorette.
Non-raptor Observations:
The Common Ravens were active along the East ridge and rising to harass the migrants. Other observations were 2 Boreal Chickadee, 2 Red-breasted Nuthatch, 9 American Robins, 30 Pine Siskins 2 Northern Flickers, 1 Clarke’s Nutcracker, 1 Northern Shrike and 26 Common Ravens.
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]
