Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: May 04, 2009 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 8 75 6030 Osprey 1 1 38 Bald Eagle 0 1 70 Northern Harrier 0 2 117 Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 59 1681 Cooper's Hawk 1 3 132 Northern Goshawk 0 0 6 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 732 Broad-winged Hawk 3 16 5473 Red-tailed Hawk 6 33 2821 Rough-legged Hawk 0 2 90 Golden Eagle 0 0 12 American Kestrel 0 1 68 Merlin 1 3 11 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 7 Unknown Accipiter 0 0 6 Unknown Buteo 0 0 30 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 2 70 Total: 22 198 17394 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:15:00 Observation end time: 17:00:00 Total observation time: 9.83 hours Official Counter: John Stevens Observers: Barry Cherriere Visitors: A young couple from Atlanta, John Niewiadomski, Mike Kirchin and an elderly gentleman whose name I didn't get. Weather: High thin cirrus clouds all day with light to moderate northeasterly winds Raptor Observations: Continuous movement of local TVs made identifying migrants difficult. Local RTs very active, apparently escorting migrants through. Local male Cooper's Hawk displaying several times in the afternoon and seen carrying a bird in the am to the west. The entire BW flight was over in less than 10 minutes. Non-raptor Observations: Two Ravens came along migrating just like raptors. No warblers of any kind but 42 other non-raptor species including Eastern Kingbird, Great-crested Flycatcher, Eastern Phoebe, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Eastern Towhee, Wood Thrush and the local Wood Ducks. Predictions: There must be some birds somewhere as they didn't pass today. ======================================================================== Report submitted by John Stevens () Beamer Conservation Area, Grimsby, ON information may be found at: http://www.hwcn.org/link/niaghawk/ Site Description: The hawk migration at the Beamer Memorial Conservation Area is conducted by the Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch (NPH). The counting is all done by volunteers. Not all members are counters nor does a counter have to be a member. Typically one person is the designated counter for each day but other observers present assist with the spotting and identification. Counting is done from a steel observation tower with a wooden floor. For wind protection on the cold days of March, a black plastic wind guard is installed around the towers platform. This platform easily accommodates ten people but on most busy days, no more than five or six observers would be on it. The site lies within a publically accessible property owned by the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority. There is no charge for admittance. The tower stands in the centre of a mowed area with a gravel ring road near the outer edge. This provides lots of room to park vehicles (along the road) and set up lawn chairs, telescopes and cameras. Toilet facilities are present. During the counting season, the NPH erect a counting board to display the days observations for the public. The box enclosing the sign contains brochures and silhouette sheets for the public as well as bulletin boards with news and historical sighting records. Directions to site: To get to Beamer CA, take the QEW to Exit 72, follow Christie St./Mountain St. to the top of the escarpment, turn right on Ridge Road West, and go 1.6km to Quarry Rd. Turn right on Quarry Rd. and drive 100m to the conservation area. Parking is normally available inside the park. If parking at the entrance or on the roads, do NOT leave valuables in your car. Please note: Data in this report is not official until reviewed and finalized after the end of the season. © 2009 Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
