Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area
Grimsby, Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 02, 2011
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 0 1
Turkey Vulture 444 444 5148
Osprey 1 1 1
Bald Eagle 1 1 31
Northern Harrier 2 2 18
Sharp-shinned Hawk 15 15 78
Cooper's Hawk 1 1 51
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 3 3 475
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0
Red-tailed Hawk 31 31 1010
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 36
Golden Eagle 0 0 0
American Kestrel 1 1 10
Merlin 0 0 2
Peregrine Falcon 0 0 3
Unknown Accipiter 0 0 1
Unknown Buteo 0 0 21
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 0 2
Total: 499 499 6888
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 16:30:00
Total observation time: 8.5 hours
Official Counter: Phil Waggett
Observers: Barry Cherriere, Cody Law, Dave Sked, John Stevens,
Linda Cherriere, Mike Walker, Ron Pittaway, Tom Thomas
Visitors:
Special thanks to Tom Thomas, Cody Law, John Stevens, and Mike Walker who
helped with the count. Other visitors included Sandra & Frank Horvath,
Barry & Linda Cherriere, Bruce Mackenzie, John Black, Jean Iron, Ron
Pittaway, Kevin McLaughlin, Sandy Darling, Bouwe Bergsma, Dave Sked. My
apologies if I omitted anyone.
Weather:
Moderate west to north-west winds with a high temperature of 10 degrees
celsius. The sky was clear in the morning with cumulus cloud increasing to
approx. 50% in the last 3 hours of the count.
Raptor Observations:
Once again, a flight dominated by turkey vultures that came through in
small groups all afternoon. We saw our first osprey of the season this
afternoon. Sharp-shins were more in evidence today, although numbers are
still small. One juvenile bald eagle today (1 year old). Buteo numbers
were disappointing. Local coops were active early in the morning.
Non-raptor Observations:
Sandhill crane(1), great blue herons (4), common loon,
common raven, song sparrow; local wood ducks have returned. Other local
birds--red-bellied woodpecker, white-breasted nuthatch.
Predictions:
Likely a continuation of today's count, although we could see more hawks
ahead of the rain predicted for tomorrow night.
========================================================================
Report submitted by Phil Waggett ()
Beamer Conservation Area, Grimsby, ON information may be found at:
http://www.niagarapeninsulahawkwatch.org/
Site Description:
Hawk migration monitoring at the Beamer Memorial Conservation Area in
Grimsby, Ontario is conducted by the Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch (NPH). All
counting is 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 cold days, particularly in 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 publicly 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 seven day's worth of observation data 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 71/72, 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. © 2011 Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch
_______________________________________________
ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial
birding organization.
Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca
For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
