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Mount Lorette (14 Apr 2025) 15 Raptors

Mount Lorette
Alberta, Canada

Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 14, 2025
Species Day’s Count Month Total Season Total
Turkey Vulture 0 0 0
Osprey 0 0 0
Bald Eagle 0 9 65
Northern Harrier 1 1 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 4 6
Cooper’s Hawk 0 2 2
American Goshawk 2 5 6
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0
Swainson’s Hawk 0 0 0
Red-tailed Hawk 0 17 19
Ferruginous Hawk 0 0 0
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 10 128 1066
American Kestrel 0 0 0
Merlin 0 0 1
Gyrfalcon 0 0 0
Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0
Prairie Falcon 0 0 1
Unknown Accipitrine 0 3 4
Unknown Buteo 0 1 6
Unknown Falcon 2 3 3
Unknown Eagle 0 3 10
Unknown Raptor 0 2 2
Total: 15 178 1192
Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 18:00:00
Total observation time: 10 hours
Official Counter Lori Anderson
Observers: Glenn Webber

Visitors:
15 people stopped by to ask questions about the migration.

Weather:
At sunrise the fragile ice veil at the river bend fractured, echoing a crystaline song of glass breaking. The chill of–3C warmed steadily climbing to a mild 11C. Despite a tranquil start, the day saw sustained SW ground winds averaging 11 km/h with periodic gusts reaching 22 kms/h. Ridge winds from the West were strong enough to create plumes.
A thin layer of Cirrostratus covered the sky for most of the day and a spooky lenticular ghost cloud show started at 16:00. Soft round and vibrant silken clouds expanded slowly and gradually overtook the entire sky.

Raptor Observations:
Migrants: Almost every migrant Golden Eagle came into view above the North Fisher range, then glided high towards Lorette. Once at Lorette, they either glided in front and then disappeared behind or flew directly behind the peak. Final count: 10 Golden Eagles (4a, 1sa, 2j, 3u), 2 American Goshawks, 1 Northern Harrier. 2 Falcons. Non-migrants: 4 Bald Eagles (3a,1J) flying south over Patrick and east ridges at 6:20 maybe to roost together. 2 Resident Golden Eagles, 2 Red-tailed Hawks, 2 American Goshawks.

Non-raptor Observations:
1 Ruffed-Grouse 3 Pileated Woodpeckers, 2 Varied Thrush, 2 Canada Geese, 2 Dark-eyed Juncos, 6 Robins, 10 Ravens, 3 Mountain Chickadees, 1 Hairy woodpecker, 2 Northern Flickers, 1 Common Merganser, 2 Mountain Bluebirds, 2 golden-crowned Kinglets, 3 Mallards, 3 Swallows.


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



Mount Lorette (13 Apr 2025) 11 Raptors

Mount Lorette
Alberta, Canada

Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 13, 2025
Species Day’s Count Month Total Season Total
Turkey Vulture 0 0 0
Osprey 0 0 0
Bald Eagle 1 9 65
Northern Harrier 0 0 0
Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 4 6
Cooper’s Hawk 0 2 2
American Goshawk 1 3 4
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0
Swainson’s Hawk 0 0 0
Red-tailed Hawk 2 17 19
Ferruginous Hawk 0 0 0
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 4 118 1056
American Kestrel 0 0 0
Merlin 0 0 1
Gyrfalcon 0 0 0
Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0
Prairie Falcon 0 0 1
Unknown Accipitrine 1 3 4
Unknown Buteo 0 1 6
Unknown Falcon 1 1 1
Unknown Eagle 0 3 10
Unknown Raptor 1 2 2
Total: 11 163 1177
Observation start time: 09:00:00
Observation end time: 16:00:00
Total observation time: 7 hours
Official Counter Cameron Harvey, Lynette MacCulloch
Observers:

Visitors:
11 visitors stopped to talk and ask about the count. 4 brought binoculars and helped spot for 5-30 minutes each.

Weather:
Sunny day with fresh snow. The temperature started at -1° C and slowly rose during the day to a high of 4 ° C. Ground winds were from the SW for most of the day. Ridge winds were from the west and started out light, but gained strength by the early afternoon. Ridges were partially obscured during the first hour of count but cleared off for the remainder of the day. Partial cloud cover throughout day due to cumulus clouds.

Raptor Observations:
A total of 11 migrant raptors were seen from 10:13 to 16:45 comprising 4 Golden Eagles (1a, 2j, 1u), 1 Bald Eagle juvenile, 1 adult American Goshawk, 2 undifferentiated light morph Red-tailed Hawk, 1 unidentified accipiter, 1 unidentified falcon and 1 unidentified small raptor. Most eagles were seen flying over East ridge, but one GOEA and one RTHA were over the West ridge. Some of the smaller migrants were over the valley.
Non-migrant raptors included 1 adult Golden Eagle, 2 Bald Eagles (1a, 1j), 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk and 1 American Goshawk.

Non-raptor Observations:
4 Canada Goose, 1 Northern Flicker, 8 Common Raven, 3 Mountain Chickadee, 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet, 3 Golden-crowned Kinglet, 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch, 2 Mountain Bluebird, 2 Varied Thrush, 8 American Robin, 20 Dark-eyed Junco.


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



Mount Lorette (12 Apr 2025) Raptors

Mount Lorette
Alberta, Canada

Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 12, 2025
Species Day’s Count Month Total Season Total
Turkey Vulture 0 0 0
Osprey 0 0 0
Bald Eagle 0 8 64
Northern Harrier 0 0 0
Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 4 6
Cooper’s Hawk 0 2 2
American Goshawk 0 2 3
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0
Swainson’s Hawk 0 0 0
Red-tailed Hawk 0 15 17
Ferruginous Hawk 0 0 0
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 114 1052
American Kestrel 0 0 0
Merlin 0 0 1
Gyrfalcon 0 0 0
Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0
Prairie Falcon 0 0 1
Unknown Accipitrine 0 2 3
Unknown Buteo 0 1 6
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 3 10
Unknown Raptor 0 1 1
Total: 0 152 1166

(No count conducted today)

Weather:
No count was conducted as a snowfall warning was issued for the area with heavy snow forecast to begin around the same time as the start of the count.

Raptor Observations:

Non-raptor Observations:


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



Mount Lorette (11 Apr 2025) 26 Raptors

Mount Lorette
Alberta, Canada

Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 11, 2025
Species Day’s Count Month Total Season Total
Turkey Vulture 0 0 0
Osprey 0 0 0
Bald Eagle 0 8 64
Northern Harrier 0 0 0
Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 4 6
Cooper’s Hawk 0 2 2
American Goshawk 1 2 3
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0
Swainson’s Hawk 0 0 0
Red-tailed Hawk 2 15 17
Ferruginous Hawk 0 0 0
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 19 114 1052
American Kestrel 0 0 0
Merlin 0 0 1
Gyrfalcon 0 0 0
Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0
Prairie Falcon 0 0 1
Unknown Accipitrine 2 2 3
Unknown Buteo 1 1 6
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 3 10
Unknown Raptor 1 1 1
Total: 26 152 1166
Observation start time: 09:00:00
Observation end time: 16:00:00
Total observation time: 7 hours
Official Counter Graeme Dunlop
Observers: Glenn Webber, Neil Denton

Visitors:
12

Weather:
A sunny, windy day. The temperature rose to a high of 11C at 1600 from a low of 7C, ground winds were S to SW moderate and ridge winds were SW moderate to strong. Cloud cover was 20 to 50 % cumulus.

Raptor Observations:
A total of 26 migrant raptors occurred between 10:30 and 15:50, comprising 19 Golden Eagles (12a, 2sa, 5u), 1 adult American Goshawk, 1 adult light morph and 1 undifferentiated dark morph Red-tailed Hawk, 2 unidentified accipiters, 1 unidentified buteo and 1 unidentified small raptor. All migrant Golden Eagles were seen over the eastern ridges, gliding high and fast over to Mt Lorette. Non migrants comprised 3 adult Bald Eagles and 1 adult Golden Eagle.

Non-raptor Observations:
8 Common Ravens, 15 American Crows, 2 Black-capped Chickadee, 1 Mountain Chickadee, about 20 American Robins, 12 Dark-eyed Juncos, 2 Common Mergansers.


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



Mount Lorette (10 Apr 2025) 1 Raptors

Mount Lorette
Alberta, Canada

Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 10, 2025
Species Day’s Count Month Total Season Total
Turkey Vulture 0 0 0
Osprey 0 0 0
Bald Eagle 0 8 64
Northern Harrier 0 0 0
Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 4 6
Cooper’s Hawk 0 2 2
American Goshawk 0 1 2
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0
Swainson’s Hawk 0 0 0
Red-tailed Hawk 0 13 15
Ferruginous Hawk 0 0 0
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 95 1033
American Kestrel 0 0 0
Merlin 0 0 1
Gyrfalcon 0 0 0
Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0
Prairie Falcon 0 0 1
Unknown Accipitrine 0 0 1
Unknown Buteo 0 0 5
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 1 3 10
Unknown Raptor 0 0 0
Total: 1 126 1140
Observation start time: 09:00:00
Observation end time: 16:00:00
Total observation time: 7 hours
Official Counter Lynette MacCulloch
Observers: Bill McKeeman

Visitors:
There were 41 visitors , most stopped to chat. Thank you to Lynn, Richard, Kevin and Cliff for helping to search the skies.

Weather:
Today was a balmy day at Hay Meadows. The temperature upon arrival was 3 degrees climbing to 13 by the end of the day. The wind was light from the west rising midafternoon to slight gusts. High winds and ridge were from the west, light to moderate. There were only a few cirrus clouds in the north east with a predominantly clear sky. As the day wore on, thin cirrus cloud changing more to haze cam and went with a few cumulus clouds and several lenticular clouds forming in the northern sky.

Raptor Observations:
There was only one migrating raptor sighted going North over Patrick, too far to tell if it was Golden or Bald as it simply looked dark. One of the resident Golden eagles hunted over Skogan Pass and then on the right side of Mt Lorette. The Goshawk appeared several times overhead and near Lorette , at different times than the golden eagle. A Bald eagle flew south from Patrick a the end of the day.

Non-raptor Observations:
A Three-toed woodpecker was busy drumming on a powerline pole in the parking lot and was responded to by another Woodpecker in the trees. Two varied thrush, Two Mountain Chickadees and two Ruby-crowned Kinglets sang in the trees on the way to the observation site. More Mountain chickadees collected in the Spruce trees behind us, joined by several Black capped Chickadees and Dark -eyed Juncos. A big flock of Robins played in the meadow, a Northern Flicker flew around numerous times, 7 Ravens swooped over the trees and the Dipper flew upstream in a big hurry. A male Common Merganser came down river, two Canada Geese flew over head and tree Mallards also flew up and down the valley. the Ruffed Grouse could be heard drumming in the woods for the first hour.


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



Mount Lorette (09 Apr 2025) 2 Raptors

Mount Lorette
Alberta, Canada

Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 09, 2025
Species Day’s Count Month Total Season Total
Turkey Vulture 0 0 0
Osprey 0 0 0
Bald Eagle 0 8 64
Northern Harrier 0 0 0
Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 4 6
Cooper’s Hawk 1 2 2
American Goshawk 0 1 2
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0
Swainson’s Hawk 0 0 0
Red-tailed Hawk 1 13 15
Ferruginous Hawk 0 0 0
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 95 1033
American Kestrel 0 0 0
Merlin 0 0 1
Gyrfalcon 0 0 0
Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0
Prairie Falcon 0 0 1
Unknown Accipitrine 0 0 1
Unknown Buteo 0 0 5
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 2 9
Unknown Raptor 0 0 0
Total: 2 125 1139
Observation start time: 09:00:00
Observation end time: 16:00:00
Total observation time: 6.97 hours
Official Counter Annie Finch
Observers: Xavier Gorloo

Visitors:
Nine people stopped by to chat about the count, some staying for a while to see if any eagles would pass by.

Weather:
The morning started out at 3°C, rose to 9°C by 3 pm where it remains for the duration of the count. Ground winds moved from the NW in the morning around to the south in the afternoon. Three snow squalls blew through the valley, one in the morning from Skogan Pass and two in the afternoon from Mt. Bogart. Cloud cover was partial through the day otherwise, primarily due to cumulus clouds.

Raptor Observations:
Migrant Eagles No migrant eagles were observed.
Migrant Raptors Two migrant raptors were observed, an adult Cooper’s Hawk over the centre of the valley and an adult Red-tailed Hawk north of Lorette.
Non-migrant Raptors The resident Golden Eagles were observed a few times throughout the day flying west over the centre of the valley and later together over Olympic Summit.

Non-raptor Observations:
The highlight of the day was a Mountain Goat on Patrick about half way between Tony’s Peak and the right edge of the Big Smile. It was intermittently harassed by four ravens. A dozen Mountain Bluebirds moved through the meadow in the morning. Other species observed were Canada goose, Ruffed Grouse, Northern Flicker, Boreal Chickadee, Golden-crowned Kinglet, American Robin, and Dark-eyed Junco.


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



Mount Lorette (08 Apr 2025) 11 Raptors

Mount Lorette
Alberta, Canada

Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 08, 2025
Species Day’s Count Month Total Season Total
Turkey Vulture 0 0 0
Osprey 0 0 0
Bald Eagle 2 8 64
Northern Harrier 0 0 0
Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 4 6
Cooper’s Hawk 0 1 1
American Goshawk 0 1 2
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0
Swainson’s Hawk 0 0 0
Red-tailed Hawk 1 12 14
Ferruginous Hawk 0 0 0
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 8 95 1033
American Kestrel 0 0 0
Merlin 0 0 1
Gyrfalcon 0 0 0
Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0
Prairie Falcon 0 0 1
Unknown Accipitrine 0 0 1
Unknown Buteo 0 0 5
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 2 9
Unknown Raptor 0 0 0
Total: 11 123 1137
Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 17:00:00
Total observation time: 9 hours
Official Counter Caroline Lambert
Observers: Xavier Gorloo

Visitors:
It was a quiet day for visitors – only six, in two groups, stopped to talk.

Weather:
The morning started off gloomy with the south end of the valley shrouded in mist. The clouds gradually broke up, but in a non-linear fashion as the west ridge and the south end of the east ridge appeared and disappeared in clouds and what appeared to be snow. A few stray snowflakes reached us. By the end of the day cloud cover was about 50% cumulus and the ridges were mostly clear. The temperature started out as a cool 2C and rose to 9C, but like the clouds the temperature rise was non-linear in response to cloud cover and wind. The final temperature was 8C. Ground wind oscillated between west and south, picking up substantially in the late afternoon. Ridge winds appeared to be from the south or south-southwest. The upper winds were strong from the west.

Raptor Observations:
The first migrants, a group of three Golden Eagles, were seen shortly before 1100, giving hope for a good day. But it was not to be. Of the 11 migrants, only one Bald Eagle and one Golden Eagle were seen after 1200. Most were gliding along the east ridge, but some needed to soar. The total was 8 Golden Eagles (1a, 1ui, 6u), 2 Bald Eagles (1a, 1j), and 1 adult Red-tailed Hawk.
An American Goshawk was seen various times during the day, and a Red-tailed Hawk hunted over Hummingbird Plume.
The resident Golden Eagles were active – at one point one of them landed about half-way down Patrick below the Little Smile. Another one landed on the snow beside it. Then they shuffled together behind some trees, and we could see an occasional wing flapping. After a few minutes, one flew away, shortly followed by the other. Exactly what they were up to is left to the imagination.

Non-raptor Observations:
There was much activity in the meadow in the morning, with at least 15 Mountain Bluebirds flitting around. Other birds were: 4 Canada Geese, 1 Ruffed Grouse (drumming), 2 Northern Flickers, 1 Northern Shrike, about 8 Common Ravens, 1 Black-capped Chickadee, 1 Mountain Chickadee, 1 kinglet (too far away to determine species), about 8 American Robins, 1 American Tree Sparrow, 6 Dark-eyed Juncos, and 1 Red-winged Blackbird.


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



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