Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: May 11, 2011 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 1 Turkey Vulture 36 138 7099 Osprey 0 1 41 Bald Eagle 0 4 59 Northern Harrier 0 1 103 Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 50 1693 Cooper's Hawk 0 3 100 Northern Goshawk 0 1 2 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 1 581 Broad-winged Hawk 0 14 8612 Red-tailed Hawk 6 41 1848 Rough-legged Hawk 0 3 59 Golden Eagle 0 1 8 American Kestrel 0 6 44 Merlin 2 4 17 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 9 Unknown Accipiter 0 1 3 Unknown Buteo 0 0 31 Unknown Falcon 0 0 2 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 3 9 Total: 46 272 20321 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 09:00:00 Observation end time: 17:00:00 Total observation time: 8 hours Official Counter: Brian Mishell Observers: Visitors: We had a couple of birders from Hamilton and Vancouver visit for an hour Dorothy Smith and daughter Joanne Smith. Dave Bissell dropped in for 30 minutes. Weather: There was a brisk cold wind coming directly of the Lake Ontario which kept temperatures down all day.Cloud cover varies from 30 to 85%. Raptor Observations: Four species only, mostly TVs. But the highlight was two Merlins in the morning streaking across the quarry. Non-raptor Observations: The Brown Thrasher still does not have a girlfriend, I think he is doomed this year. Indigo Bunting,Eastern Kingfisher and W.C.Sparrows made the day Predictions: More of the same. ======================================================================== 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
_______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
