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.
10/30/2021
Observers: Blake Weis, Annie Finch
08:40 AM
07:00 PM
-9 to 0
It was a sunny day with very little wind and about 10 cm of fresh snow on the ground. In the afternoon the western ridges were partially obscured by low cumulus from snow-making on Nakiska. The sky was totally clear otherwise. Raptor migration picked up later in the day as most of the birds were recorded after 3 pm. The last few passed just after sunset. All migrants used the eastern ridges and most of them were detected over Patrick and the Fisher Range. With the lack of wind migrants were usually moving low and slow with much soaring. They were well lit from below by sun reflecting off snow which (finally) made excellent conditions for ageing.
81 (76 adults, 1 sub-abult, 4 unaged)
13 Bald Eagles, 2 Northern Goshawks, 3 unidentified accipers, 2 Rough-legged Hawks
4-5 pm with 35 migrants
101
1 Golden Eagle and 2 Bald Eagles flying the migration route in reverse and 1 Northern Goshawk perched by the river
Lots of waterfowl moving south including 120 Snow Geese, 610 Canada Geese, 10 unidentified swans and 250 Mallards. Also 2 Northern Shrikes, 120 Ravens (including one conspiracy of at least 100), 1 Clark's Nutcracker, 1 Mountain Bluebird, 1 American Robin, 2 Varied Thrush, 8 Pine Grosbeaks, 15 Grey-crowned Rosy Finches, 50 Common Redpolls, 5 White-winged Crossbills, 4 Pine Siskins, 2 Snow Buntings, 1 American Tree Sparrow, 2 Dark Eyed Juncos and 1 White-crowned Sparrow
Nothing of note
0
