Mount Lorette (11 Oct 2026) Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 11, 2026 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 11 | 21 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 5 | 9 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 42 | 70 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| American Goshawk | 0 | 6 | 18 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Swainson’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 0 | 6 | 18 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 8 | 11 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 529 | 795 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 0 | 4 | 6 |
| Gyrfalcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Unknown Accipitrine | 0 | 3 | 8 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 3 | 8 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 2 | 5 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 7 | 11 |
| Total: | 0 | 628 | 994 |
| Observation start time: | 08:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 11:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 3 hours |
| Official Counter | Cameron Harvey |
| Observers: |
Weather:
The day started with heavy snow and a cloud ceiling at valley bottom level. Due to a poor forecast, persisting snow and a low cloud ceiling, the count was called off for the day at 1100 MST. Nakiska base webcam showed the cloud ceiling rose around 1400 MST, but ridgetops appeared obscured until sunset.
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 (10 Oct 2026) 3 Raptors
Mount Lorette
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 10, 2026 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 11 | 21 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 5 | 9 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 2 | 42 | 70 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| American Goshawk | 0 | 6 | 18 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Swainson’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 0 | 6 | 18 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 8 | 11 |
| Golden Eagle | 1 | 529 | 795 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 0 | 4 | 6 |
| Gyrfalcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Unknown Accipitrine | 0 | 3 | 8 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 3 | 8 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 2 | 5 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 7 | 11 |
| Total: | 3 | 628 | 994 |
| Observation start time: | 12:30:00 |
| Observation end time: | 16:30:00 |
| Total observation time: | 4 hours |
| Official Counter | Blake Weis |
| Observers: |
Visitors:
15 people stopped briefly at the site. None stayed to look for migrants.
Weather:
Snow and low cloud obscured the mountains in the morning, which delayed the start of the count until ridge visibility improved around 1:30 PM. The temperature was 2 C for most of the afternoon but fell to 1 as I was leaving. Ground wind was gusting up to 30 km/h from the north. Ridge wind was light from the NE. West ridges were 40-100% obscured and east ridges were obscured up to 20%. Cloud cover was 100%. It was snowing lightly on and off. The count was concluded at 5:30 PM as the weather began to deteriorate again.
Raptor Observations:
The only migrant raptors were 1 unaged Golden Eagle and 2 Sharp-shinned Hawks. Two local goshawks (an adult and a juvenile) were also seen.
Non-raptor Observations:
Other birds were 1 Canada Jay, 5 Common Ravens, 1 Black-capped Chickadee, 1 Mountain Chickadee, 4 Ruby-crowned Kinglets, 4 Golden-crowned Kinglets, and 1 Dark-eyed Junco.
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 (09 Oct 2026) 5 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 09, 2026 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 11 | 21 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 5 | 9 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 40 | 68 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| American Goshawk | 0 | 6 | 18 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Swainson’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 2 | 6 | 18 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 8 | 11 |
| Golden Eagle | 2 | 528 | 794 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 0 | 4 | 6 |
| Gyrfalcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Unknown Accipitrine | 0 | 3 | 8 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 3 | 8 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 2 | 5 |
| Unknown Raptor | 1 | 7 | 11 |
| Total: | 5 | 625 | 991 |
| Observation start time: | 08:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 15:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 7 hours |
| Official Counter | Ethan Denton |
| Observers: | Peter Christensen |
Visitors:
Around 30 people passed by today, with extra thanks to the 12 who stayed to help spot for periods!
Weather:
The day started cloudy but with no precipitation, and ridge winds averaging around 50kph gusting 75kph.
Rain & wind swept in at 0930, obscuring both ridges. It did not truly lift for the rest of the day. After 1500 the day was called with the forecast predicting no change.
Raptor Observations:
A pair of Red-tailed Hawks and a mysterious raptor enveloped by the gathering moisture rode the front edge of the storm just before 0930. After that, a brief window of clear weather let two individual Golden Eagles slip through, though both were low and clearly struggling against the conditions.
A local Goshawk battled a Raven briefly over the valley and was not seen again.
Non-raptor Observations:
Very little was around for non-raptors, but an early morning Varied Thrush and a chatty Palm Warbler were nice additions to the list.
Predictions:
It seems unlikely that tomorrow will be particularly good for migration.
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 2026) 48 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 08, 2026 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 11 | 21 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 5 | 9 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 1 | 40 | 68 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| American Goshawk | 0 | 6 | 18 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Swainson’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 0 | 4 | 16 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 1 | 8 | 11 |
| Golden Eagle | 45 | 526 | 792 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 0 | 4 | 6 |
| Gyrfalcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Unknown Accipitrine | 0 | 3 | 8 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 3 | 8 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 2 | 5 |
| Unknown Raptor | 1 | 6 | 10 |
| Total: | 48 | 620 | 986 |
| Observation start time: | 07:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 18:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 10.68 hours |
| Official Counter | Lynette MacCulloch |
| Observers: | Peter Christensen |
Visitors:
We had quite a crowd at the site around noon. 3 young women from the Alberta Institute for Wildlife Conservation helped spot eagles as well as Sarah and Wolfgang who have come out several times before to help. About 27 enthusiastic people stopped altogether.
Weather:
Arriving at the site before sunrise, the temperature was plus 5 degrees celsius with a light breeze from the northwest. There were cumulonimbus and cumulus clouds covering most of the sky, but they were replaced by fluffy cumulus clouds by the time the sun hit our spot by the river. The wind also dropped and the temperature climbed to 16, the high of the day. the clouds returned as the sun went behind the western ridge and the wind became quite gusty at times in the late afternoon, alternating with calm periods. The ridge winds were south to southwest at 30km/hr to 73km/hr with gusts between 37 km /h and 106 km/hr. High winds were mostly South-west with moderate pace.
Raptor Observations:
Most of the raptors were seen over the eastern ridges, sailing high in the sky, with two eagles coming over Hummingbird plume and using the western ridge. Once again they were so high it was impossible to properly age them. Several of the eagles were travelling quite fast and must have hit some kind of opposing wind over Fisher as they slowed remarkably, almost stalling, then turning and continuing. I have never witnessed this before.
We counted 45 Golden eagles (13a,7ui, 25 ua), 1 Rough-legged Hawk, 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk and 1 unknown raptor. We saw the adult Goshawk hunting several times on the west side of the valley and over Hummingbird plume.
Non-raptor Observations:
Other birds and wildlife seen were at least 25 Ravens, 1 White-crowned Sparrow, 1 American Tree sparrow, 2 Song Sparrow, 3 Black-capped chickadees, 1 Mountain chickadee, 1 Golden Crowned Kinglet, the Belted Kingfisher was heard but not seen as was the Ruffed grouse drumming. 11 Mule deer came over the ridge on Nakiska and went back again.
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 (07 Oct 2026) 195 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 07, 2026 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Bald Eagle | 2 | 11 | 21 |
| Northern Harrier | 5 | 5 | 9 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 23 | 39 | 67 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| American Goshawk | 4 | 6 | 18 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Swainson’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 1 | 4 | 16 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 3 | 7 | 10 |
| Golden Eagle | 150 | 481 | 747 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 2 | 4 | 6 |
| Gyrfalcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Unknown Accipitrine | 1 | 3 | 8 |
| Unknown Buteo | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Unknown Falcon | 1 | 3 | 8 |
| Unknown Eagle | 1 | 2 | 5 |
| Unknown Raptor | 1 | 5 | 9 |
| Total: | 195 | 572 | 938 |
| Observation start time: | 07:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 19:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 11.25 hours |
| Official Counter | Graeme Dunlop |
| Observers: | Christina Furtado, Peter Lloyd |
Weather:
The temperature at the start was 1C, it reached a high of 13C at 1500 and was 10C at the end of observation. Ground winds were light variable all day, and ridge winds were moderate SW. Cloud cover was 10 to 50% cirrostratus, cirrus and cumulus all day.
Raptor Observations:
There was a fairly strong and varied raptor movement of 195 birds of 8 species that were seen between 0930 and 1905 which comprised 2 adult Bald Eagles, 5 juvenile/female Northern Harriers, 23 Sharp-shinned Hawks (7a, 16u), 4 American Goshawks (2a, 1j, 1u) 1 unidentified Accipiter, 1 dark adult Harlan’s Red-tailed Hawk, 3 Rough-legged Hawks (1a light, 1u dark, 1u), 1 unidentified Buteo, 150 Golden Eagles (48a, 5sa, 6j, 19 undifferentiated immatures, 72u), 2u Merlins and 1 unidentified large Falcon. Although the majority of raptors were seen gliding high from Lorette over to the eastern ridges the flight routes were unusually varied with a significant number using the western ridges especially during the busiest 2 hour period from noon until 1400 (64 total raptors between those hours). Several Golden Eagles approached Lorette at low altitude from the north east. We had a number of close fly-bys giving excellent views in great light including 2 Golden Eagles, the Harlan’s Hawk, a Rough-legged Hawk, a Goshawk and a Sharpie that skimmed the ground just a few meters away. The variable flight paths made for a challenging but rewarding day helped enormously by having 2 excellent assistants.
Non-raptor Observations:
Other bird species seen were 28 Snow Geese, 1 Ruffed Grouse, 1 Belted Kingfisher, 2 Canada Jays, 25 Common Ravens, 3 Black-capped Chickadees, 1 Mountain Chickadee, 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet, 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet, 75 American Robins, 1 Palm Warbler, 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler and 1 adult male Wilson’s Warbler. A single Mourning Cloak butterfly was also seen on the wing.
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 2026) 39 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 06, 2026 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Bald Eagle | 1 | 9 | 19 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 16 | 44 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| American Goshawk | 0 | 2 | 14 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Swainson’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 0 | 3 | 15 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 1 | 4 | 7 |
| Golden Eagle | 37 | 331 | 597 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| Gyrfalcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Unknown Accipitrine | 0 | 2 | 7 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 2 | 7 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 4 | 8 |
| Total: | 39 | 377 | 743 |
| Observation start time: | 07:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 18:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 10.35 hours |
| Official Counter | Caroline Lambert |
| Observers: | Linda Hickey, Peter Christensen |
Visitors:
Numerous people came by the site, about 30 of which were told about the count. Thanks to Deanna for helping to spot at the end of the day.
Weather:
A chinook arch was visible to the east at the start of the day, with corresponding warm temperatures, high pressure, low humidity, and gusty winds. While the temperature started off at a relatively cool 5C, it rose rapidly to 16C and was 12C at the end of the day. A few tiny cumulus clouds appeared throughout the day, moving rapidly from the west, but most of the time the sky ranged from mostly cloudless to mostly covered with cirrus clouds. Ground winds were blustery, sometimes calm and sometimes gusting up to 20kph. Ridge winds were moderate, in the 30-40kph range from the southwest, with gusts up to 75kph.
Raptor Observations:
The weather conditions did not seem amenable to migrating eagles today, as our total of 37 Golden Eagles (9a, 10sa, 18u) was well below the average expected on this day of the season. Those that we saw were all gliding along the east ridge, most quite high up. Very few did any soaring, but nearly all of them were being buffeted by the wind.
The only other migrating raptors seen were a Rough-legged Hawk and an adult Bald Eagle.
Non-migrants were an adult Bald Eagle, an adult American Goshawk, and an adult Golden Eagle.
Non-raptor Observations:
A Steller’s Jay was an unusual sighting, and two Bohemian Waxwings perched on spruce trees were the first of the season. Other than those we had one Pileated Woodpecker, about 15 Common Ravens, three Black-backed Chickadees, 30 American Robins (all heading south), a couple of Pine Siskins, a couple of White-crowned Sparrows, and a Red Crossbill was heard in the parking lot.
Predictions:
Tomorrow may be similar to today, but things should pick up Thursday, and especially Friday, as a cold front approaches.
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 (05 Oct 2026) 45 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 05, 2026 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Bald Eagle | 3 | 8 | 18 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 2 | 16 | 44 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| American Goshawk | 1 | 2 | 14 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Swainson’s Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 0 | 3 | 15 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| Golden Eagle | 32 | 294 | 560 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Gyrfalcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Prairie Falcon | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Unknown Accipitrine | 0 | 2 | 7 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Falcon | 2 | 2 | 7 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 4 | 8 |
| Total: | 45 | 338 | 704 |
| Observation start time: | 06:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 18:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 11.07 hours |
| Official Counter | Lori Anderson |
| Observers: | Allison Zukewich, Caroline Lambert, Christine Ouellet, Graeme Dunlop |
Visitors:
About 60 visitors stopped by the site today.
Weather:
The temperature was 11�C first thing in the morning, rising to a high of 16�C at 1 p.m., where it remained for the rest of the day and dropping by 1�C to 15�C as we left the site at the end of the count.
Cloud cover was sparse throughout the day, ranging from 0 to 30%, with cirrus, lenticular, and cirrostratus clouds observed. The wind blew from the south and southwest, starting light in the morning and gradually increasing in strength throughout the day, with gusts reaching up to 40 km/h at one point. At ridge level, the wind was moderately strong, with gusts as high as 97 km/h.
Raptor Observations:
Today�s raptor activity started out strong, with two-thirds of the birds recorded before 1 p.m. I wondered whether the afternoon formation of large lenticular clouds over the eastern ridges may have played a role in the decline in activity.
It was one of the most challenging days I�ve encountered because the birds were flying very high, and the lighting often reduced them to silhouettes, making identification and observation difficult. Most of the birds glided at a considerable altitude and did not offer views of their upper feather coverage. All of the eagles flew over the eastern ridges.
The totals are: 32 Golden Eagles (11a, 2sa, 1j, 4ui, 14u), 3 adult Bald Eagles, 2 Sharp-shinned Hawks, 1 American Goshawk, 2 Rough-legged Hawks, 2 Merlins, 1 Prairie Falcon and 2 Falcon sp. A resident Goshawk was seen hunting a few times throughout the day. A golden Eagle was observed displaying while interacting with a Raven on Mt. Baldy.
Non-raptor Observations:
1 Varied Thrush, 1 Belted Kingfisher, 13 Robins, 10 Ravens, 2 Gull sp., 2 Black-capped Chickadees, 1 Dark-eyed Junco, 1 Common Merganser.
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]
