The main observation site is the Hay Meadow, Mt. Lorette Site. The site is located in Kananaskis on the bank of the Kananaskis River. It has a view of the open valley. which allows excellent (though rather distant) viewing of the Fisher Range to the east. The bulk of the Golden Eagles and other raptors use this ridge as part of their preferred migration route.
Mt. Lorette Observations
See the seasonal count reports and daily summaries for historical observation counts. The following observations started in Fall 2021.
04/10/2022
Observers: Annie Finch, Blake Weis
07:00 AM
02:30 PM
Min: -3°C Max: 0°C
The first few hours were a beautiful mix of cloud types providing roughly 50% cover. Light winds from the southwest became variable after 10 am. As cumulus clouds increased, a subadult Golden Eagle soared above the north ridge of Mt. Lorette before gliding on. Shortly after, snow squalls advanced on our position from both ends of the valley. North winds won out and the temperature dropped. At 2:30 pm, after three hours of steady snow, the count was suspended. We lingered in the area, and while sky over the meadow cleared enough to melt the freshly fallen snow, the walls of cloud sealing each end of the valley remained stubbornly in place.
1 Subadult
none
11:00am to 12:00pm with the sole migrant raptor
1
none
Canada Goose: 2
Mallard: 2
Ruffed Grouse: 1
Golden Eagle: 1
American Three-toed Woodpecker: 1
Hairy Woodpecker: 2
Northern Flicker: 1
Canada Jay: 1
Common Raven: 2
Black-capped Chickadee: 2
Mountain Chickadee: 2
Boreal Chickadee: 2
Golden-crowned Kinglet: 4
Red-breasted Nuthatch: 1
White-breasted Nuthatch: 1
Brown Creeper: 1
Pacific Wren: 1
American Dipper: 2
European Starling: 6
Mountain Bluebird: 2
Varied Thrush: 2
American Robin: 14
Dark-eyed Junco: 6
Song Sparrow: 1
Red-winged Blackbird: 1
All resident raptors were conspicuously absent today; two Common Ravens made good use of the airspace with synchronized flight.
9
