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.
09/20/2021
Observers: Lori Anderson, Ian Dowson
07:15 AM
07:45 AM
Low -2 at 7:15, High 11 at 16:00 and 6 at 19:45
It was a gorgeous sunny/cloudy fall day. The ground winds were mainly S/SW from Calm to 5 km/h with a few gusts up to 10 km/h. Ridge winds averaged 27 kms/h from the SW.
Today must have been the national migratory day for Robins and Bohemian Waxwings. More than 100 Robins passed before 9 am and more than 300 by the end of the day. It seems that 2 Merlins have taken up residence in the meadow and we were gifted with a gruesome view of one of them feasting on its prey at the riverbank. The two Broad-winged Hawks were harassed by some local Ravens who nipped at them as they passed by above the eastern ridges. A very brave Red-breasted Nuthatch kicked an invading Flicker off the top of his tree.
8 GOEA (4 Adults, 1 Subadult, 3 indeterminate).
1 Sharp-Shinned Hawk, 1 Cooper's Hawk, 2 Broad-Winged Hawks.
Between 13:00-14:00 the count was 3 Golden Eagles and from 17:00 - 18:00 another 3 Golden Eagles.
12
8 total. 2 Northern Goshawks, 2 Golden Eagles, 1 Red-tailed Hawk, 1 Bald Eagle, 2 Merlins.
1 Dark-eyed Junco, 2 American Dippers, 1 Tree Swallow, A murder of 25 Ravens at Mt.Lorrete. 1 Yellow-shafted Northern Flicker, 5 Snow Geese, 3 Common Mergansers, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 1 Boreal Chickadee, endless Robins 300+, 60 Bohemian Wax-wings, and 2 Ruffed Grouse.
0
