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.
03/30/2022
Observers: Bill Wilson
06:45 AM
08:00 PM
A pleasant day for most of the day, but with showers of light to moderate rain and sleet moving in late in the day. Ground winds were light at first, then gusting to 20 or even 40 km/h after 12:00. Ridge winds were west 30 to 40 km/h, then decreased to west to WNW 10 to 20 km/h after about 14:00. All movement was in the east, often very high above the Fisher Range, with the last migrant going through at 16:40. I left the site at 19:20 with both sides of the valley obscured and light rain still falling, since it was obvious the ridges weren't going to clear before sunset. Of course by the time I got to the car at 19:35 the ridges had more-or-less cleared (although the Wedge was still socked in to the south), so I observed from the parking lot with no further success until 20:00, and then left.
34 (19 adults, 2 juveniles, 13 unaged)
One adult Bald Eagle, one unidentified eagle.
12:00-13:00 with 13 migrants and 15:00-16:00 with 8 migrants.
36
One adult Bald Eagle soaring over Fisher North and then gliding south, and one Northern Goshawk.
3 singing Varied Thrush, 13 American Robins foraging on the ground in Hay Meadow, 1 Song Sparrow heard singing across the river, 1 Dark-eyed Junco heard singing across the river, 6 Starlings trying to disguise themselves a foraging Robins, 2 Brown Creepers, 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch, a flock of 6 Canada Geese flying (migrating?) north very high up, at least two Canada Geese on the river (heard several times), 3 Black-capped Chickadees, and various assorted and unassorted ravens.
25
