Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: May 08, 2011 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 1 Turkey Vulture 38 68 7029 Osprey 0 0 40 Bald Eagle 1 2 57 Northern Harrier 0 1 103 Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 44 1687 Cooper's Hawk 2 3 100 Northern Goshawk 0 1 2 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 580 Broad-winged Hawk 4 10 8608 Red-tailed Hawk 6 23 1830 Rough-legged Hawk 2 3 59 Golden Eagle 0 1 8 American Kestrel 3 5 43 Merlin 0 2 15 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 9 Unknown Accipiter 0 0 2 Unknown Buteo 0 0 31 Unknown Falcon 0 0 2 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 3 9 Total: 57 166 20215 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 09:00:00 Observation end time: 17:00:00 Total observation time: 8 hours Official Counter: Brian Mishell Observers: Visitors: It was Mother's Day and with fine weather there were 50 to 60 visitors but no official observers, perhaps they were with their mothers or possibly at Pelee Weather: Wind constantly from the NNW and a light breeze all day. 0% cover all day. Visibility 15 KM/Hr all day. Raptor Observations: 3 to 10 birds seen every hour, slow but steady.Highlights were two Rough-legged hawks, both light morphs, one male and one female. The last birdof the day was the favourite of the crowd of visitors, , a fully mature Bald Eagle at 4.28 p.m. Non-raptor Observations: Lots of birds all day. 3 Wood ducks,Brown Thrasher singing all day(has he found a mate yet?)Chimney swifts,Purple Martins, Predictions: The weather is going to be basically the same so a similiar day I expect. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Brian Mishell () 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
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