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.
10/16/2021
Observers: Blake Weis, Annie Finch
08:05 AM
07:00 PM
7C - 14C
During the walk in to the site a juvenile Goshawk flushed from a tree near the pathway. Judging by the pile of feathers left behind it seemed to be in the process of plucking a Ruffed Grouse. The first migrant was counted at 9:57 am and the last at 5:13 pm. Unfortunately, movement was slow and sporadic. In what seems like the theme for Saturdays during this fall count migrants flew very high over the Fisher Range and were difficult to age silhouetted by persistent clouds. It was very windy with gusts up to 60 km/h at ground level and up to 136 at ridge level.
26 (9 adults, 1 sub-adult, 3 juveniles, 13 unaged)
2 Bald Eagles, 1 Cooper's Hawk, 3 Rough-legged Hawks, 1 unidentified eagle, 1 Prairie Falcon
15:00-16:00 with 8 migrants
34
1 Northern Goshawk (juv), 1 Golden Eagle (sub-adult flying the migration route in reverse)
1 Northern Shrike, 2 Brown Creepers, 1 American Robin, 17 Common Redpolls, 20 White-winged Crossbills, 3 White-crowned Sparrows, 1 American Tree Sparrow
Nothing of note
3
