The Spring 2022 Migration Count has commenced and runs from Mar 1st to Apr 22nd with observers at the Mount Lorette site daily — including viewing equipment available to the public. If interested in visiting the site, we suggest that you visit after 3pm. We see the majority of the migrating eagles in the later afternoon. This is the 30th consecutive year of vigilant recording. Mount Lorette site, Observation map.
Related links: Count Reports
Observations
Total Migratory Raptors: 302
04/18/2022
Observers: Lori Anderson, Glenn Webber
06:45 AM
08:45 PM
-7 C to + 4 C
A wonderful calm spring morning that allowed for a smorgasbord on the Hay Meadow Biosphere Reserve, especially between 9:00 and10:00. The weather was quite stable all day until about 19:30 when a front started moving in from the SW.
Ground winds averaged between 5-10 km/h from the south with occasional periods of gusts to about 18 km/h. The winds at ridge level were not detectable due to irregular wind currents. Lenticular clouds formed and stayed in the same places all day. The USASK centennial ridge data recorded the winds as between 10- 40 km/h from the S and S/SE. 100 % Altostratus started as a thin layer and thickened as the day progressed. Most of the raptors were found either on the eastern ridges, valley center, or at Lorette.
5 (1 adult, 3 subadult, 1 indeterminate)
Bald Eagle (2 adults, 1 subadult), Indeterminate Eagle 1, Prairie Falcon 1, Merlin 1, Northern Goshawk 1.
17:00 to 19:00 with 6 migrants
12
Bald Eagle 3 adults, Red-tailed Hawk 2, Northern Goshawk 1, Golden Eagle 2 adults.
Mountain Bluebird 3 (m,m,f)
Varied Thrush 2
American Robin 30
Northern Shrike 1
Dark-eyed Junco 12
Canada goose 2
Northern Flicker 3
Canada Jay 2
Common Raven 3
Pileated Woodpecker 1
Mountain Chickadee 1
Bohemian Waxwing 50
Clark’s Nutcracker 1
Ruffed Grouse 3
European Starling 3
Common Merganser 3
American Crow 1
A hungry Merlin swooped down past us into the meadow and almost caught the female mountain bluebird after a wild pursuit. Yikes!!!
A Raven caught a large prey and flew it triumphantly all over the valley for about 10 minutes. At one point two other Ravens joined the show.
40
