Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 29, 2010 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 1 1 Turkey Vulture 70 949 949 Osprey 0 0 0 Bald Eagle 0 34 34 Northern Harrier 0 20 20 Sharp-shinned Hawk 7 111 111 Cooper's Hawk 1 65 65 Northern Goshawk 0 7 7 Red-shouldered Hawk 11 339 340 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 9 973 975 Rough-legged Hawk 0 15 15 Golden Eagle 0 5 5 American Kestrel 0 4 4 Merlin 1 7 7 Peregrine Falcon 0 5 5 Unknown Accipiter 0 2 2 Unknown Buteo 0 5 5 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 1 3 3 Total: 100 2545 2548 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 8 hours Official Counter: John Stevens Observers: Bouwe Bergsma, Ian Smith, John Niewiadomski, Mike Kirchin Visitors: Nadine Litwin had a class of 14 from Niagara College on a fauna identification excursion. Jennifer Brenton from St. Catharines and Jim Dowall from Hamilton. Assisting with the count for short periods were Ian Smith, Bouwe Bergsma, Mike Ketchen and John Niewiadomski. Weather: Heavily overcast to begin but clearing around noon and thereafter a mix of sun and cloud. Winds mainly NE and light to moderate. Only a modest temperature rise over the day (4 to 8.5 degrees). Raptor Observations: As many as 7 local TVs were quite active before 1:30 EST. Local CH seen in am and male about 3:30 EST. An immature in former owl tree in morning for 30+ minutes wasn't counted as its departure went unnoticed. Last 2.5 hours were verrrry slow despite warmer temperature, more sun and same wind. Non-raptor Observations: A pair of Wood Ducks seen four times and two Great Blue Herons. Others included Purple Finches, Carolina Wren, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Fox Sparrow and Tufted Titmouse. Predictions: Similar winds and slightly warmer but no clouds. Good luck. ======================================================================== 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 tower�s 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 day�s 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. Photos courtesy of Mike Street and Barry Cherriere 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. © 2010 Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
