Mount Lorette (09 Mar 2025) Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 09, 2025 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 8 | 8 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| American Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 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 | 0 | 33 | 33 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gyrfalcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipitrine | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total: | 0 | 41 | 41 |
| Observation start time: | 08:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 13:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 5 hours |
| Official Counter | Dan Parliament |
| Observers: | Sofia Preece |
Visitors:
Five Visitors
Weather:
The opening temperature was + 3 C, declining to + 2 C for the remainder of the count period. The ground winds were from the SW and the winds initially were 10-15 km/hr with gusts to 30 km/hr. The wind abated to 5-10 km/hr after 1000 hrs. The ridges were initially clear, but became obscured at 1000 hrs as the cloud cover dropped to halfway from the ridges and the snow commenced. The snow became heavier throughout the day and visibility was low to none. Ridge winds could not be estimated. The count was terminated at 1400 hrs due to the continuing snow, no visibility, and forecasts of snowfall warnings !
Raptor Observations:
A resident Bald eagle was observed hunting over the valley at 1215 hrs.
Non-raptor Observations:
American Robin x 6 Bald Eagle x 1 Common Raven x 3 Black-capped Chickadee x 2 European Starling x 8 White-tailed Deer x 1 (on the walk to the site) American Red Squirrel x 2
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 (08 Mar 2025) 7 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 08, 2025 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 8 | 8 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| American Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 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 | 7 | 33 | 33 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gyrfalcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipitrine | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total: | 7 | 41 | 41 |
| Observation start time: | 09:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 17:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 8 hours |
| Official Counter | Blake Weis, Lynn MacIntosh |
| Observers: |
Visitors:
27 visitors stopped to talk. Thanks to the 3 people to stopped to look for eagles!
Weather:
The weather was remarkably consistent until the last hour of observation. The temperature was 4 C at the beginning, the high was 6, and it only fell to 5 by the end. There was strong wind from the S-SW with gusts frequently reaching 40 km/h at ground level, and ridge wind must have been very strong judging by the amount of blowing snow. Cloud cover was 20-40% cumulus, cirrus and cirrostratus. A weather system was clinging to the western ridges all day, obscuring the taller peaks and sending the occasional flake of snow into the valley. Around 4 PM the wind died down and that weather system slowly started moving into the valley. The count was concluded at 5 PM as light snow began to fall.
Raptor Observations:
The count was 7 Golden Eagles (2 adults & 5 unaged). They often appeared low over the Fisher Range, then used very strong updrafts to kite high into the sky over the east side of the valley before turning north towards Mt. Lorette. The first migrant wasn’t seen until nearly 2 PM. Afterwards, movement was slow but steady. They usually stayed tucked up kiting and gliding but did very little soaring, rarely showing features needed for ageing. No non-migrant raptors were observed.
Non-raptor Observations:
Other birds included 1 Northern Shrike, 2 Canada Jays, 8 Common Ravens, 1 Boreal Chickadee, and 70 Bohemian Waxwings. The wind seemed to keep bird activity subdued. 1 White-tailed Deer was 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]
Mount Lorette (07 Mar 2025) 24 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 07, 2025 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bald Eagle | 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| American Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 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 | 19 | 26 | 26 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gyrfalcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipitrine | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total: | 24 | 34 | 34 |
| Observation start time: | 09:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 18:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 9.1 hours |
| Official Counter | Blake Weis, Sofia Preece |
| Observers: |
Visitors:
46 people stopped to talk, including a few tour groups. Thanks to Cliff, Kevin and Ed for stopping to spot migrants!
Weather:
The temperature was -2 C at the start of observation. It rose to a high of 7 in the afternoon, then fell to 5 as we were leaving. Ground wind was nearly calm in the morning, but it picked up in the afternoon with gusts around 30 km/h from the S-SW. Ridge wind was moderate to strong from the WSW. Cloud cover was around 10% in the morning, but increased later in the day to nearly 100%. Conditions for spotting and identification were good most of the time.
Raptor Observations:
The count for the day was 19 Golden Eagles (13 adults & 6 unaged) and 5 Bald Eagles (4 adults & 1 sub-adult 1). All of them used the eastern ridges. Movement was sporadic without a noticeable peak. The last Golden Eagle perched near the summit of Mt. Lorette for a while before moving on. One young Golden Eagle (a juvenile or sub-adult 1) seemed to be migrating along the Fisher Range at first, but then it flew west across the valley before turning back south. That bird was considered to be non-migrant since it seemed to be cruising around looking for food rather than actively migrating. One of the local adult Goshawks flew close by the site.
Non-raptor Observations:
Other birds were 1 Northern Pygmy Owl (first heard at the site, then seen nearby by one of the observers), 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 2 Canada Jays, 8 Common Ravens, 1 Black-capped Chickadee, 2 Mountain Chickadees, 4 Boreal Chickadees, 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch, and 1 American Dipper. Mammals included a Snowshoe Hare and 5 White-tailed Deer.
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 (06 Mar 2025) 10 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 06, 2025 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bald Eagle | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| American Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 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 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gyrfalcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipitrine | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total: | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| Observation start time: | 09:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 18:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 9 hours |
| Official Counter | Caroline Lambert |
| Observers: | Lynette MacCulloch |
Visitors:
Eight people stopped to talk.
Weather:
The temperature started at -4C, rose to a high of 5C by late afternoon, then dropped rapidly after the sun went behind the west ridge and ended at 1C. A few cumulus clouds were hanging over both ridges in the morning, but these gradually dissipated and by noon the sky was clear. There was very little wind at any level until late afternoon, when finally snow was seen blowing off the higher points on the ridges.
Raptor Observations:
The first migrant seen was an adult Bald Eagle flying low along the east ridge in the early afternoon. Most of the rest of the eagles were spotted disappearing to the northwest beyond Mt Lorette, low down and never getting much height. A couple of Golden Eagles were spotted disappearing over Nakiska early in the afternoon. The end result was seven Golden Eagles (3a, 4u) and three adult Bald Eagles.
The first raptor of the day was a local American Goshawk, first seen hunting over the lower slopes of Nakiska, and then it headed over to Hummingbird Plume to continue its hunt.
Non-raptor Observations:
Other birds were 2 Mountain Chickadees, 1 American Dipper, 1 American Tree Sparrow, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 2 Canada Jays, and 8 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]
2025 Spring Count
The Spring 2025 Migration Count runs from March 6 to April 22 with observers at the Mount Lorette site daily. If interested in visiting the site we suggest that you visit after 3pm. We see the majority of migrating eagles later in the afternoon. This is the 32rd year of vigilant recording. Thank you to the observers and count coordinators.
See the Spring Count 2025 Daily Summaries
Mount Lorette (15 Nov 2024) 14 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 15, 2024 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bald Eagle | 5 | 44 | 119 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 1 | 8 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 1 | 94 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| American Goshawk | 1 | 1 | 16 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Swainson’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 0 | 0 | 18 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 1 | 20 |
| Golden Eagle | 8 | 184 | 2791 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Gyrfalcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 1 | 8 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Total: | 14 | 234 | 3115 |
| Observation start time: | 09:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 16:30:00 |
| Total observation time: | 7.5 hours |
| Official Counter | Blake Weis, Sofia Preece |
| Observers: |
Visitors:
28 people stopped to talk.
Weather:
The temperature was 0 C at the start of observation, it rose to a high of 4, then fell to 3 as we were leaving. Ground wind was usually light from the SW with occasional gusts around 15 km/h. Ridge wind was from the SW-SSW with gusts reaching 34. In the morning cloud cover was 100% cumulus and stratus, which gradually decreased to 20% cumulus, altocumulus and cirrus.
Raptor Observations:
Raptors on this last day of the 2024 fall count included 8 Golden Eagles (6 adults & 2 unaged), 5 Bald Eagles (4 adults & 1 juvenile), and 1 adult American Goshawk. Migrants passed by slowly throughout the day the day, with a peak of 5 between 11 AM and 12 PM. Most of them were relatively low over the east ridges, though a few used the west earlier in the day. No non-migrant raptors were observed.
Non-raptor Observations:
25 Canada Geese, 2 Cackling/Canada Geese (In a flock of Canada Geese flying over. They had noticeably shorter necks than the other geese, but their bodies didn’t seem any smaller. They were too far away to see bill size.), 3 Canada Jays, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 20 Common Ravens, 1 Black-capped Chickadee, 1 Mountain Chickadee, 2 Boreal Chickadees, 60 Bohemian Waxwings, 1 Pine Grosbeak, 30 Redpolls, 1 Pine Siskin, 1 Dark-eyed Junco, 6 White-tailed Deer, and 1 Bighorn Sheep.
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 (14 Nov 2024) 7 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 14, 2024 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bald Eagle | 1 | 39 | 114 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 1 | 8 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 1 | 94 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| American Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Swainson’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 0 | 0 | 18 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 1 | 20 |
| Golden Eagle | 6 | 176 | 2783 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Gyrfalcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 1 | 8 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Total: | 7 | 220 | 3101 |
| Observation start time: | 09:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 17:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 7.95 hours |
| Official Counter | Caroline Lambert |
| Observers: | Lynette MacCulloch |
Visitors:
14 of the passers by stopped to talk.
Weather:
Overall it was a dark and gloomy day with some snow flurries. The temperature started out at 3C, rose to 6C, and was back at 3C by the end of the day. Ground winds were mostly light from the west to southwest with a few chilly gusts. Ridge winds were unremarkable, staying in the range 20-40kph with gusts up to 69, mostly from the southwest. Upper winds were moderate, bringing in the snow flurries from the west. There was very little blue sky to be seen. The west ridge was never completely free of clouds, and both ridges started disappearing around 3pm. The entire valley was engulfed in cloud for about an hour, with light snow that didn’t settle. We decided to wait out the snow; the east ridge cleared up as we were packing up to leave, and our patience was rewarded with a late Golden Eagle.
Raptor Observations:
The first Golden Eagle appeared low on Patrick before 10am and flapped its way along the ridge below ridge level. Subsequent eagles all managed to fly above the east ridge, but not too high. The last one was about 20 minutes before sunset. The totals were 6 Golden Eagles (3a, 3u), and one juvenile Bald Eagle.
One adult Bald Eagle flew low up the river.
Non-raptor Observations:
Other birds were: Common Merganser 22 (flying high to the south), Northern Pygmy-Owl 1, Canada Jay 4, Black-billed Magpie 1, Common Raven 8, Boreal Chickadee 1, chickadee sp. 2, Golden-crowned Kinglet 1, American Dipper 1, Bohemian Waxwing 30, Pine Grosbeak 1, Redpoll 1
Report submitted by ()
Mount Lorette information may be found at: eaglewatch.ca
More information at hawkcount.org: [Site Profile] [Day Summary] [Month Summary]
