Mount Lorette (11 Nov 2024) 13 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 11, 2024 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bald Eagle | 2 | 35 | 110 |
| 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 | 11 | 157 | 2764 |
| 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: | 13 | 197 | 3078 |
| Observation start time: | 08:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 17:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 8.5 hours |
| Official Counter | Lori Anderson |
| Observers: | Glenn Webber |
Visitors:
The site was buzzing with activity all day. More than 70 people stopped by to chat including Mike Gibeau, Cindy Kelly, and Sage. We also had the delight of meeting Andrew and Baxter, the most stylish Yorkipoo I’ve ever seen, sporting his designer hoodie.
Weather:
Rain threatened from the west all day and wind-blown droplets sprinkled the valley at intervals. A very warm 6 C was the temperature at the onset of the count. The reading for most of the day was 8 C, reaching 9 C between 13:00 and 15:00. Strong winds blew from the SW at about 20-30 Km/h all day with very strong gusts, some up to 60 Km/h. Ridge winds were very strong reaching up to 131 Km/h with gusts up to 159 Km/h. Cloud coverage ranged from 80 – 100% and consisted mainly of a combination of cumulus and cirrostratus. One large lenticular cloud formed to the north around 13:00 but had dissipated by 15:00.
Raptor Observations:
Once again, the eagles chose the eastern ridges as their preferred route. Some came in low and flapped their way up to incredible heights in no time, while others glided high above the ridges. The final count was 11 Golden Eagles (5 adults, 1 subadult, 5 unaged) and 2 adult Bald Eagles.
Non-raptor Observations:
A song Sparrow was still lingering at the site. A bright white object in the trees across the river turned out to be the head of a Bald Eagle. It perched in the tree for quite a while before taking off to the north. Other birds included 40 Bohemian Waxwings, 2 Canada Jays, 3 Pine Grosbeaks. 1 American Dipper, 1 Black-capped Chickadee, 1 Belted King Fisher, 10 Ravens (many in courtship flights),
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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 Nov 2024) 19 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 10, 2024 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bald Eagle | 7 | 33 | 108 |
| 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 | 1 | 1 | 20 |
| Golden Eagle | 11 | 146 | 2753 |
| 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: | 19 | 184 | 3065 |
| Observation start time: | 08:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 17:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 8.33 hours |
| Official Counter | Ethan Denton |
| Observers: | Allison Zukewich |
Visitors:
19 people stopped to talk. We were also lucky to have MRU student Xavier help out for the day.
Weather:
The start of the day was delayed by a heavy fog hanging over the valley, but it dissipated around 09:30 and from then on the day was as clear as could be hoped for. Temperature at the site ranged from 0 to a high of 5 degrees, and ground winds never exceeded 3 beaufort. The pressure dropped only a little from 854 to 852. After the morning cleared, clouds were primarily cirrus, cirro-stratus, or cumulus, and never covered more than 50% of the sky at any given time.
Raptor Observations:
Eagles came in little pulses, never more than 3 birds at a time. Every raptor migrated low along the eastern ridge, gliding, soaring, and later in the day, flapping. The final count was 11 Golden Eagles, 7 Bald Eagles, and a Rough-legged Hawk. The resident American Goshawk hunted over Hummingbird Plume during the morning, and a resident subadult Bald Eagle circled Lorette before drifting off north, never to be seen again.
Non-raptor Observations:
A late Song Sparrow foraged along the river and at one point underneath our bench. The Northern Pygmy-Owl was present in the morning and offered some wonderful views. Other than those, a fairly average day on the other observations front.
The full list is: 12 Canada Goose, 1 Ruffed Grouse, 6 Common Loon, 1 Northern Pygmy-Owl, 4 Canada Jay, 10 Common Raven, 1 American Dipper, 40 Bohemian Waxwing, 1 Redpoll, 10 Pine Siskin, 1 Song Sparrow.
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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 Nov 2024) 1 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 09, 2024 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bald Eagle | 1 | 26 | 101 |
| 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 | 0 | 19 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 135 | 2742 |
| 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: | 1 | 165 | 3046 |
| Observation start time: | 09:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 11:45:00 |
| Total observation time: | 2.75 hours |
| Official Counter | Blake Weis |
| Observers: | Sofia Preece |
Visitors:
3 people stopped to talk.
Weather:
On arrival to the site cloud cover was 100% cumulus and cirrocumulus, west ridges were 100% obecured, and east ridges were 80% obscured, but no precipitation was falling. Wind was light from north to west at ground and ridge level. The temperature stayed at 3 C, except for the last few minutes when it fell to 2. Around 11 AM the clouds lowered from ridgetop height down to the bottom of the mountains and it began to snow. The count ended at 11:45 as the snow thickened and the weather radar showed nothing but precipitation to the north.
Raptor Observations:
The only migrant raptor was an adult Bald Eagle that flew south low over the site at 10:37 AM. No non-migrant raptors were observed.
Non-raptor Observations:
Other observations included: 27 Canada Geese flying south, 2 Canada Jays, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 3 Common Ravens, 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch, 70 Bohemian Waxwings, 1 Pine Grosbeak, 40 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches foraging in gravel bars along the river, 4 Redpolls, and 3 White-tailed Deer.
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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 Nov 2024) 11 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 08, 2024 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bald Eagle | 3 | 25 | 100 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 1 | 8 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 1 | 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 | 0 | 19 |
| Golden Eagle | 5 | 135 | 2742 |
| 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 | 1 | 1 | 8 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Unknown Falcon | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Total: | 11 | 164 | 3045 |
| Observation start time: | 09:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 16:15:00 |
| Total observation time: | 7.25 hours |
| Official Counter | Graeme Dunlop |
| Observers: | Cameron Harvey, Sofia Preece |
Visitors:
14 people stopped to chat.
Weather:
A sunny, warm and windy day. The temperature at 0900 was 6C, with a high at 1300 of 11C. Ground winds were S to W light to moderate with some strong gusts in the afternoon. Ridge winds were SW strong all day with gusts up to 120km/h. Cloud cover in the morning was 60% altostratus, cirrostratus and cirrus gradually decreasing through the day to 20% cirrus and cumulus by mid-afternoon.
Raptor Observations:
A slow day, possibly due to the very strong ridge winds, with only 11 birds of 3 species comprising of 3 adult Bald Eagles, 1 adult Sharp-shinned Hawk, 5 Golden Eagles (4a, 1j), 1 unidentified accipiter and 1 unidentified falcon.
Non-raptor Observations:
Bohemian Waxwings 20, Canada Jay 2, Common Raven 10, Dark-eyed Junco 1
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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 (07 Nov 2024) 21 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 07, 2024 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bald Eagle | 5 | 22 | 97 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 1 | 8 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 0 | 93 |
| 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 | 0 | 19 |
| Golden Eagle | 16 | 130 | 2737 |
| 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 | 0 | 7 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Total: | 21 | 153 | 3034 |
| Observation start time: | 08:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 17:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 8.38 hours |
| Official Counter | Caroline Lambert |
| Observers: | Peter Lloyd |
Visitors:
Quite a few people came by, including about half a dozen with binoculars, several of whom stopped to scan for while. We wish there had been more migrants for them to see.
Weather:
The temperature started at -1C and rose all the way to 5C by the end of the day. Initially there were few clouds in the sky, but clouds gradually built up so that before the end of the morning the sky was 100% covered with gloomy altostratus clouds. The sun put in a brief appearance at the end of the day as the clouds began to break up. Ground winds were mostly calm with occasional gusts, initially from the south, then swinging to a more westerly direction. Ridge winds started out as moderate from the south-southwest, in the 20-40kph range, and were from the west-southwest at the end of the day. Upper winds appeared to come from the west.
Raptor Observations:
There was a slow, but steady, trickle of eagles throughout the day. Movement was all along the east ridge. Earlier in the day, when the ridge winds were close to being from the south, the birds moved slowly and low along the ridge. As the wind swung to a more westerly direction, the birds flew higher and faster. The dark clouds and lack of sunlight made aging challenging earlier in the day.
The totals were 16 Golden Eagles (7a, 9u) and 5 Bald Eagles (2a, 1sa, 1wb, 1j).
No other raptors were seen.
Non-raptor Observations:
A flock of about 15 Bohemian Waxwings catching flying insects were quite a distraction during the day, as they frequently flew through our view while scanning the ridges. Other birds were: Canada Jay 2, Common Raven 15, American Dipper 1, Redpoll 5, White-winged Crossbill 2
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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 (06 Nov 2024) 29 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 06, 2024 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bald Eagle | 3 | 17 | 92 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 1 | 8 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 0 | 93 |
| 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 | 0 | 19 |
| Golden Eagle | 26 | 114 | 2721 |
| 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 | 0 | 7 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Total: | 29 | 132 | 3013 |
| Observation start time: | 09:15:00 |
| Observation end time: | 17:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 7.75 hours |
| Official Counter | Rick Robb |
| Observers: | Lynette MacCulloch |
Visitors:
Nine visitors stopped by three with binoculars to help spot
Weather:
A rather nice day for November. -1c to start the day getting to +4c as a high Winds were from the southwest , calm in morning then picking up around 11am with gusts up to 40 or 45 kph. The wind calmed down in late afternoon. Morning cloud gave away to full sunshine all afternoon
Raptor Observations:
BAEA 3A GOEA 26 <16a 2su 4ju 1usa 3u>
Non-raptor Observations:
BAEA HUNTING IN AREA 3 Ravens 15 Can Jay 3 ,BOCH 2 , A Dipper1 , Magpie 1, B Waxwings. Pine Gros. 1 MT Sheep 20+ on Nakiska WT Deer 3
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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 (05 Nov 2024) 3 Raptors
Alberta, Canada
| Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 05, 2024 | |||
| Species | Day’s Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bald Eagle | 1 | 14 | 89 |
| Northern Harrier | 1 | 1 | 8 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 0 | 93 |
| 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 | 0 | 19 |
| Golden Eagle | 1 | 88 | 2695 |
| 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 | 0 | 7 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Total: | 3 | 103 | 2984 |
| Observation start time: | 12:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 17:15:00 |
| Total observation time: | 5.25 hours |
| Official Counter | Caroline Lambert |
| Observers: | Lynette MacCulloch |
Visitors:
In spite of the weather, three groups totalling seven people came by, and all stopped to talk.
Weather:
The day’s count was delayed due to low clouds and snow. Arriving at the site at noon the ridges were still completely obscured, and there was still snow falling, but the clouds were beginning to break up. Light snow fell until about 1500, and the clouds gradually lifted until, about an hour before sunset, the east ridge was mostly clear. The west ridge was obscured most of the day.
The temperature started at 0C and barely diverged from that temperature until departure at sunset. Ground wind was light from the northeast, as were the ridge winds. The upper clouds appeared to be moving from the northwest. Cloud cover decreased from 100% to about 90%, mostly stratus with some cumulus.
Raptor Observations:
Despite the poor conditions, a trio of intrepid raptors were determined to move south. First there was a 3-4 year old Bald Eagle, then an adult male Norther Harrier, and towards the end of the day, an adult Golden Eagle. All of these flew moderately high over our heads.
One adult Bald Eagle was spotted flying along the river, not looking like it was migrating.
Non-raptor Observations:
While raptors were in short supply, there were plenty of ducks, geese, and swans on the move. The numbers were approximately: 275 Canada Geese (in three skeins), 4 swans, 35 Common Mergansers (two flocks), 2 Canada Jays, 5 Common Ravens, 1 Pine Grosbeak
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Mount Lorette information may be found at: eaglewatch.ca
More information at hawkcount.org: [Site Profile] [Day Summary] [Month Summary]
