November 15 [Day 55] (George Halmazna, Cliff Hansen after 1530) It was a pleasant day for the last day of the count with the temperature reaching a high of 5.5C at 1200 from a low of -2C and it remained at 5C at 1700. Ground winds were light and variable, while ridge winds were strong WSW-SSW all day with a peak gust of 120 km/h at 1300. Cloud cover was 90% cumulus at the start and thickened throughout the day reaching 100% cumulus and altostratus after 1600 and the ridges were clear all day. Despite the conditions no migrant raptors were seen making this just the second active count day this season to draw a blank, the other being the first day of the count on September 20. In compensation there were some non-raptor migrants seen including 22 Canada Geese, 1 Dark-eyed Junco, 13 Common Redpolls, 4 Pine Siskins and 5 Evening Grosbeaks, and a Northern Shrike was also present at the site. A northern cold front is forecast to arrive overnight bringing cold temperatures and snow for at least the next week so it is appropriate to finish the count today. 9.5 hours (578.63) No migrant raptors.

MOUNT LORETTE FINAL COUNT (September 20 to November 15, 2010)
DAYS 55
HOURS 578.63

TURKEY VULTURE (TUVU) 0
OSPREY (OSPR) 4
BALD EAGLE (BAEA) 165
NORTHERN HARRIER (NOHA) 6
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (SSHA) 67
COOPER’S HAWK (COHA) 15
NORTHERN GOSHAWK (NOGO) 34
Unidentified Accipiter (UA) 16
BROAD-WINGED HAWK (BWHA) 1
SWAINSON’S HAWK (SWHA) 0
RED-TAILED HAWK (RTHA) 44
FERRUGINOUS HAWK (FEHA) 1
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (RLHA) 23
Unidentified Buteo (UB) 9
GOLDEN EAGLE (GOEA) 3222
Unidentified eagle (UE) 12
AMERICAN KESTREL (AMKE) 2
MERLIN (MERL) 2
GYRFALCON (GYRF) 0
PEREGRINE FALCON (PEFA) 4
PRAIRIE FALCON (PRFA) 4
Unidentified Falco (UF) 1
Unidentified raptor (UU) 10

TOTAL 3642

November 14 [Day 54] (Bill Wilson) It was the warmest day since November 7 reaching 8C at 1300 and 1400 from a low of -1C, and it was still 5C at 1710. Ground winds were light and variable in the morning and W 3-10 gusting 20 km/h in the afternoon, and ridge winds were strong, mainly SW all day gusting to 117 km/h in the morning and to 124 km/h in the afternoon. Cloud cover was 100% cumulus and altostratus to 0830 bringing snow flurries to the west that persisted to 0930, but by 1100 it had cleared to 5% cumulus before it again gradually increased reaching 80% cumulus by 1700. Mounts Lorette and MacGillivray and the western ridges were periodically obscured during the morning flurries, but all peaks and ridges were clear in the afternoon. A total of 16 migrant raptors moved between 1023 and 1612 with hourly high counts of 4 birds between 1100 and 1200 (3 Bald Eagles and 1 Golden Eagle), and 1500-1600 (1Bald Eagle and 3 Golden Eagles). The flight comprised 7 Bald Eagles (6a, 1u) and 9 Golden Eagles (5a, 3j, 1u). Non-raptor migrants included 2 adult Herring Gulls, 28 Common Mergansers in two flocks, 3 Belted Kingfishers and the third Pine Grosbeak of the season. 10 hours (569.13) BAEA 7 (165), GOEA 9 (3222) TOTAL 16 (3642)

November 13 [Day 53] (Ron Dutcher) The temperature high was 4C between 1100 and 1500, rising from a low of 0C at 0900 and falling to 3C at 1700. Ground winds were moderate to strong W to variable gusting to 50 km/h and ridge winds were strong SW-WSW gusting to 142 km/h in the morning and 162 km/h in the afternoon. Cloud cover was 60% cumulus at 0900 reaching 100% at 1300, thinning to 10% at 1500 after which it again thickened to 50% cumulus and altostratus. Raptor movement was very sparse with only 4 adult Golden Eagles seen with single birds occurring at 0955, 1034, 1230 and 1604. 8.83 hours (559.13) GOEA 4 (2313) TOTAL 4 (3626)

November 12 [Day 52] (Terry Waters) The temperature reached a high of 4C at 1400 from a low of 0C and was 2C at 1600. Ground winds were light S-SW all day and ridge winds were strong WSW in the morning gusting to 150 km/h and moderate SW in the afternoon gusting to 90 km/h. Initial cloud cover was 100% stratus gradually breaking up to 20% cumulus at 1400 before increasing again to 50% at the end of the day. A total of 18 migrant raptors moved between 0920 and 1550 with highest hourly counts of 4 birds between 1400 and 1500, and 1500 to 1600. The flight comprised 1 adult Bald Eagle, 1 unaged Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1 adult Northern Goshawk, 1 unidentified small Accipiter and 14 Golden Eagles (7a, 1sa, 6u). Other birds included 15 Canada Geese, 14 Bohemian Waxwings and 5 White-winged Crossbills, and the Northern Hawk-Owl again visited the site from 1100 to 1130. 8 hours (550.3) BAEA 1 (158), SSHA 1 (67), NOGO 1 (34), UA 1 (16), GOEA 14 (3209) TOTAL 18 (3622)

November 11 [Day 51] (Cliff Hansen) It was another cool day with a temperature of -9C at 1000 which rose to 1.5C at 1400 and was 0C at 1700. Ground winds were SW 5-10 gusting 20 km/h between 1200 and 1500, but before and after that period they were variable and light, and ridge winds were SW to SSW moderate in the morning gusting to 50 km/h and strong in the afternoon gusting to 84 km/h. Cloud cover was 80-90% all day: cirrus in the morning with altocumulus and lenticular cloud developing in the afternoon. Raptor movement was restricted to the period 1443-1534 during which time 2 adult Bald Eagles and 6 Golden Eagles (4a, 2sa) moved south. The highlight of an otherwise rather slow day was, however, the season’s first Northern Hawk-Owl that visited the site between 1615 and 1700 and which for 15 minutes was vigorously mobbed by a couple of Grey Jays. 7.75 hours (542.3) BAEA 2 (157), GOEA 6 (3195) TOTAL 8 (3604)

November 10 [Day 50] (Cliff Hansen) It was again cool with a starting temperature of -8C which rose to 0.5C at 1300 and briefly to the day’s high of 2C at 1400. Ground winds were variable and light, not exceeding 5 km/h, while ridge winds were light to moderate NE to 1100 after which they were mainly moderate SSW-SW gusting to 78 km/h. An initial cloud cover of 100% altocumulus reduced to 50% cumulus at noon and it was cloudless after 1500. Raptor movement was slow and sporadic with a juvenile Bald Eagle at 1006, 2 Cooper’s Hawks (1a, 1u) at 1142 and 2 adult Golden Eagles at 1206. There was then a long break until 1630-1653 when 4 more Golden Eagles passed, none of which could be aged because the light conditions reduced them to silhouettes. The only notable song bird was a single Common Redpoll, which have been anything but common this fall. 9.33 hours (534.55) BAEA 1 (155), COHA 2 (15), GOEA 6 (3189) TOTAL 9 (3596)

November 9 [Day 49] (George Halmazna) Cool air persisted with a high temperature of only 1.5C at 1300 from a low of -5C, and it sporadically snowed for the first 2 hours of the count. Ground winds were calm to very light in the morning becoming SW in the afternoon still mainly light but gusting to 20 km/h at 1400, while ridge winds were SW-SSW all day mainly moderate but occasionally gusting to 120 km/h in the morning and to 84 km/h in the afternoon. An initial cloud cover of 90% stratus gradually reduced throughout the day to 40% stratus and cumulus. There was again a fairly strong raptor movement with a total of 46 birds recorded between 0816 and 1542 with maximum hourly counts of 9 birds in each of the 3 hours between 1000 and 1300. With the exception of 2 adult Northern Goshawks all migrants were eagles: 14 Bald Eagles (9a, 5j) and 30 Golden Eagles (26a, 4j). There were few passerine migrants but a late American Pipit was notable, and the morning snow produced fresh Canada Lynx tracks near the site. We were planning to finish the count on November 10 but because of the movement of 100 raptors during the last 2 days we shall try to find observers to extend the count to at least Sunday November 14. 10.5 hours (525.22) BAEA 14 (154), NOGO 2 (33), GOEA 30 (3183) TOTAL 46 (3587)

November 8 [Day 48] (George Halmazna) The passage of a cold front brought snow overnight and the temperature only reached 3C at 1400 from a low of -2C. Ground winds were variable and light, never exceeding 5 km/h but ridge winds were moderate SSW to WSW in the morning becoming strong and gusting to over 100 km/h in the afternoon. Cloud cover was 100% stratus in the morning obscuring the ridges that didn’t fully clear until 1600, but by 1700 the cloud had reduced to 30% cumulus. Despite the conditions there was a fairly strong raptor movement with a total of 54 birds tallied between 1057 and 1555 with a peak movement of 19 birds (3 Bald Eagles and 16 Golden Eagles) between 1300 and 1400. The flight comprised 9 adult Bald Eagles, 1 juvenile Cooper’s Hawk (the first recorded since October 29), 1 adult Northern Goshawk and 43 Golden Eagles (40a, 2sa, 1j). The front also triggered a good movement of waterfowl with 23 Tundra Swans, 3 Trumpeter Swans, 500 Canada Geese (in 11 flocks) and 60 Mallard going south, while 2 American Tree Sparrows, 1 Snow Bunting and 9 Grey-crowned Rosy Finches were also recorded. 10.5 hours (514.72) BAEA 9 (140), COHA 1 (13), NOGO 1 (31), GOEA 43 (3153) TOTAL 54 (3541)

November 7 [Day 47] (Bill Wilson) (NOTE: change to Mountain Standard Time) The temperature was a balmy 8C at 0700 (MST) and rose to 11.5C at 1400, but quickly fell to 7.5C at 1500 and was 2.5C at 1700. Ground winds were mainly SW 2-7 gusting 15-20 km/h, but ridge winds were strong SW until they moderated after 1500, gusting up to 185 km/h in the morning and to 65 km/h after 1500. Cloud cover was initially 50% stratus, cumulus and cirrus to the west, but cumulus cloud steadily increased reaching 100% stratocumulus at 1430 which began to occlude Lorette and the mountains to the west and, after 1500, the Fisher Range. There were a few light showers in the morning and early afternoon but steady rain began at 1500 which only stopped around 1700 as darkness closed in. A total of 46 eagles migrated between 0859 and 1650 comprising 41 Golden Eagles (29a, 5j, 7u) and 5 Bald Eagles (2a, 1sa, 2j). Peak movement was 14 birds (all Golden Eagles) between 1100 and 1200 and movement remained steady until the rain began at 1500. Notable non-raptor records included a Common Loon, 1 Common Redpoll and 5 Pine Siskins. 10.16 hours (504.22) BAEA 5 (131), GOEA 41 (3110) TOTAL 46 (3487)

November 6 [Day 46] (Ron Dutcher) The temperature reached 14C from a low of -1C and remained at 9C at 1800, ground winds were N less than 5 km/h until 1000 after which they became S-SW 15-20 gusting 50 km/h for the rest of the day and ridge winds were SSW-SW moderate to strong in the morning becoming very strong in the afternoon with maximum gusts close to 200 km/h. Cloud cover was 90-50% cumulus all day, with light rain falling to 1030 and up to 40% of the western peaks and ridges obscured throughout the day. Cloud was heavy to the south largely obscuring the mountains. The only migrant raptors recorded were 7 Golden Eagles (5a, 1sa, 1u) moving between 1040 and 1632. 9.58 hours (494.06) GOEA 7 (3069) TOTAL 7 (3441)

November 5 [Day 45] (Cliff Hansen) The temperature again reached 17C between 1200 and 1400 from a low of 13C which was also the temperature at 1800. Surface winds were calm to light to 1300 after which they were mainly SW 5-15 gusting 30 km/h, and ridge winds were strong SSW (occasionally SSE-ESE) gusting to 170 km/h at 1300. Cloud cover was 10-20% altocumulus and cirrus to noon after which 20-30% lenticular cloud developed to the east and after 1700 50% cumulus and cirrus providing good observing conditions for much of the day. A total of 28 migrant raptors moved between 0941 and 1755 comprising 1 adult Bald Eagle, 1 small unidentified Accipiter, 23 Golden Eagles (8a, 2j 13u) and 3 small unidentified raptors. Peak movement was 5 birds between 1100 and 1200, and 1300 to1400, and most birds moved high and well to the east accounting for the high percentage of unaged Golden Eagles and unidentified birds. There was no passerine movement but single American Tree Sparrow, White-winged Crossbill and Pine Grosbeak were recorded at the site. 10 hours (484.48) BAEA 1 (126), UA 1 (15), GOEA 23 (3062), UU 3 (10) TOTAL 28 (3434)

November 4 [Day 44] (George Halmazna) It was an amazingly warm day for early November with the temperature reaching 17C at 1400 and 1500 from a low of -1C, and it was still 11C at 1800. Ground winds were generally calm to light SW occasionally gusting 30-50 km/h between 1100 and 1500 and were almost calm after 1600. Ridge winds were moderate N-NNE gusting to 74 km/h to 1300, then moderate variable NE-SE gusting to 85 km/h. The sky was cloudless to 1500 after which 30-80% cirrus, cirrostratus and cirrocumulus developed. The first Golden Eagle of the day moved at 0836, peak movement was 19 birds (of which 18 were Golden Eagles) between 1100 and 1200 and by 1242 50 Golden Eagles had been recorded, but subsequently only 6 more birds moved and the last Golden Eagle was seen at 1554. The 17th Golden Eagle of the day recorded at 0959 was the 3000th of the season. The total count was 3 adult Bald Eagles, 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk and 56 Golden Eagles (50a, 6j). Other birds proved to be scarce but included 152 Bohemian Waxwings and 5 White-winged Crossbills. 10.75 hours (474.48) BAEA 3 (125), RLHA 1 (23), GOEA 56 (3039) TOTAL 60 (3406)

November 3 [Day 43] (Cliff Hansen) Joel was the designated Principal Observer today, but was unwell and phoned Cliff who arrived at the site at 1150 when the temperature was still 0C before it rose to a high of 11C at 1600 and was still 4C at 1800. Ground winds were light SW all day, as were ridge winds in the morning after which they became moderate to strong gusting 55 km/h by late afternoon. It was cloudless until 1600 when 10% altocumulus developed that reached 40-50% after 1700. The morning’s calm conditions suggested that despite the late start it is unlikely that birds were missed. The first of the day’s 69 migrants wasn’t seen until 1308 after which movement was brisk with 23 more birds recorded before 1400, 26 between 1400 and 1500, and a further 19 migrants were seen after 1500 with the last passing at 1759. The flight comprised 10 Bald Eagles (8a, 1sa, 1j), 2 unaged Northern Goshawks, 54 Golden Eagles (34a, 1sa, 13j, 6u) and 3 unidentified eagles. There was no passerine movement but a flock of 50 Bohemian Waxwings fed on an insect hatch above the Kananaskis River. 6.83 hours (463.73) BAEA 10 (122), NOGO 2 (30), GOEA 54 (2983), UE 3 (12) TOTAL 69 (3346)

November 2 [Day 42] (George Halmazna) Rain continued overnight, falling as snow to the west and throughout much of the morning, and although the eastern ridges were clear all day the western mountains only fully cleared after 1400. The temperature reached a high of 7C at 1400 from a low of 3C, ground winds were S-W 2-4 occasionally gusting 20 km/h to 1300 after which they were mainly SW 15-20 gusting 45 km/h dropping to 5-10 gusting 30 km/h at the end of the day, and ridge winds were moderate SW all day gusting to 100 km/h. Initial cloud cover was 90% stratus diminishing to 50-60% stratus and cumulus after noon and 30% cumulus late in the day. A total of 45 migrant raptors of 5 species moved between 1012 and 1730 with peak counts of 10 birds from 1100 to 1200, and 1700 to 1800 which was the only time in the day that the eagles soared above the Fisher Range. The flight comprised 3 adult Bald Eagles, 3 Sharp-shinned Hawks (1a, 2u), 2 Northern Goshawks (1a, 1u), 1 Rough-legged Hawk and 36 Golden Eagles (34a, 2u). Probable non-raptor migrants were a Common Loon flying south at 0815, 50 Canada Geese flying south in 4 flocks, 12 Golden-crowned Kinglets, 170 Bohemian Waxwings, the season’s first Pine Grosbeak, and 3 Pine Siskins. 10.5 hours (456.9) BAEA 3 (112), SSHA 3 (66), NOGO 2 (28), RLHA 1 (22), GOEA 36 (327) TOTAL 45 (3277)

November 1 [Day 41] (George Halmazna) It was a warm day for the beginning of November with the temperature rising to 11C at 1300 from a low of 6C and it was still 8C at 1800. Ground winds were SW mainly 20-30 km/h gusting almost to 60 km/h to 1500 after which they became light, while ridge winds were strong WSW-SSW gusting to between 150 and 216 km/h through most of the day. Cloud cover was initially 80% altostratus becoming 100% stratocumulus after 1300 with snow and partial obscuring of the western ridges after 1400 and rain beginning at the site after 1500. The eastern ridges began to be covered in cloud after 1300 and all ridges were obscured after 1700. A total of 25 migrant raptors were recorded of which 22 were Golden Eagles (21a, 1u) that moved between 0838 and 1528 with 11 of the birds occurring between 1400 and 1500. The other migrants were 1 adult Bald Eagle and 2 unaged Sharp-shinned Hawks. Probable songbird migrants comprised 1 Varied Thrush, 13 Bohemian Waxwings, 1 European Starling and 1 Snow Bunting, the first of the season. 10.5 hours (446.4) BAEA 1 (109), SSHA 2 (63), GOEA 22 (2893) TOTAL 25 (3232)

October 31 [Day 40] (Bill Wilson) The warming trend continued with the temperature reaching 10.5C at 1400 from a low of 4C and it was still 6C at 1800. Ground winds were mainly SW 5-10 gusting 20 km/h while ridge winds were strong SW-WSW gusting over 100 km/h all day reaching 138 km/h at 1100. Cloud cover was mainly 90-100% cumulus reducing briefly to 80% in early afternoon, and very light rain showers moved from the west for much of the day. Despite the high winds there was an excellent raptor movement for the end of October with no fewer than 209 migrant raptors passing between 0833 and 1747, the first 200+ day at the site since October 10. Movement was strong all day with 19 birds from 0900-1000, and at least 20 birds/hour for every hour up to1800, with high counts of 31 between 100 and 11 and 30 between 1400 and 1500. The total of 203 Golden Eagles (148a, 13j, 42u) was by far the latest ever 200+ count at Mount Lorette, the previous latest being on October 22 in 1995 (311), 2003 (260) and 2004 (207). Other migrant raptors were 3 Bald Eagles (2a, 1sa), 1u Sharp-shinned Hawk and 1 large unidentified raptor at 1336 that was the only bird seen moving south above the western ridges all day. Passerine migrants comprised 35 Bohemian Waxwings, 30 White-winged Crossbills and 3 Pine Siskins. 11.08 hours (435.9) BAEA 3 (108), SSHA 1 (61), GOEA 203 (2871), UU 1 (7) TOTAL 209 (3207)

October summary Of the 18 counts conducted by RMERF at Mount Lorette since 1992 (one full count was at Plateau Mountain in 1997) all but 4 have included the whole of October excepting up to 2 days lost because of poor weather conditions. The years 1992, 2002, 2006 and 2007 had a significant number of non-weather days lost and are not included in the following comparison that involves the average of the 14 complete October counts at the site, with variance from average in parentheses. A total of 29 days (-4.31%) and 318.5 hours (+0.16%) were spent at the site during the month during which 2870 migrant raptors of 15 species were counted. This total was 14.43% below average and represents the third lowest October combined species count at the site, higher than only 2008 (2234) and 2009 (1979), which was a count severely affected by poor weather conditions. The 2 Ospreys were the highest counted on a complete count (although 3 were recorded in 2006), and the only other species occurring in above average numbers were Red-tailed Hawk (20: +85.7%), Ferruginous Hawk (1: only the second October record), American Kestrel (1: +18.2%), Peregrine Falcon (4: +44.4%) and Prairie Falcon (3 : +179%). The 2648 Golden Eagles recorded were 10.9% below average following very low October counts for the species in 2008 (2047) and 2009 (1831). Compared to the average of full October counts 1993-2005 (the last year of full-season counts at the site) this year’s count was 16.2% below average and would have been the second lowest count compared to counts in this period, higher only than the 2588 counted in 2004. All other species were below average: Bald Eagle 78 (-55.3%), Northern Harrier 4 (-24.6%), Sharp-shinned Hawk (27 (-64.8%), Cooper’s Hawk 8 (-9.57%), Northern Goshawk 16 (-52%), Broad-winged Hawk 1 (-79.4%), Rough-legged Hawk 20 (-57.1%), and Merlin 2 (-50.9%). Gyrfalcon was unrecorded for only the 5th time in the 14 full October counts conducted at the site.

October 30 [Day 39] (Ron Dutcher) It was a slightly warmer day with a high temperature of 8C at 1600, with starting and finishing temperatures of -2C and 7C respectively. Ground winds were S-SW gusting to 50 km/h while ridge winds were yet again strong SW frequently gusting well over 100 km/h, and it was essentially cloudless all day. A total of 23 raptors migrated between 0925 and 1630 with maximum movement between 1400 and 1500 when 10 of the day’s 21 Golden Eagles (17a, 3j, 1u) were recorded. The only other raptor migrants were 1 adult Bald Eagle and an undifferentiated Buteo, and non-raptor migrants comprised 20 Bohemian Waxwings and an American Tree Sparrow. 9.42 hours (424.82) BAEA 1 (105), UB 1 (9), GOEA 21 (2668) TOTAL 23 (2998)

October 29 [Day 38] (Terry Waters) The temperature reached a high of 6C at 1300 from a low of -2C and was 3C at 1700. Ground winds were mainly light S-SW occasionally gusting 15 km/h, but ridge winds were strong SW all day gusting in excess of 100 km/h. Cloud cover ranged from 50-80% altocumulus to 1400 after which it gradually dwindled to 10% at the end of the day. The day’s total of 76 migrant raptors was the highest for 8 days as was the total of 69 Golden Eagles (42a, 11sa, 7j, 9u) that moved between 0940 and 1718. Other migrants were 2 Bald Eagles (1a, 1j), 1 adult Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1 adult Cooper’s Hawk, 1 juvenile Northern Goshawk, 1 adult light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk and 1 unidentified eagle. Peak movement was 1200 to 1300 when 17 birds (16 Golden Eagles and 1 Northern Goshawk) moved. The only non-raptor migrants were 46 Bohemian Waxwings and 2 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches. 9 hours (415.4) BAEA 2 (104), SSHA 1 (60), COHA 1 (12), NOGO 1 (25), RTHA 1 (44), GOEA 69 (2647), UE 1 (9) TOTAL 76 (2975)