Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area
Grimsby, Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 17, 2013
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
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Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 130 3140 6191
Osprey 3 30 31
Bald Eagle 1 15 47
Northern Harrier 4 49 56
Sharp-shinned Hawk 114 815 859
Cooper's Hawk 8 25 59
Northern Goshawk 0 2 4
Red-shouldered Hawk 19 208 432
Broad-winged Hawk 335 342 342
Red-tailed Hawk 153 815 1573
Rough-legged Hawk 1 22 35
Golden Eagle 0 5 8
American Kestrel 7 58 67
Merlin 1 8 9
Peregrine Falcon 0 1 3
Unknown Accipiter 0 2 3
Unknown Buteo 0 28 41
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 7 9
Total: 776 5572 9769
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Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 16:00:00
Total observation time: 8 hours
Official Counter: Sandra Horvath
Observers: Bouwe Bergsma, Dave Sked, Frank Horvath, Gord Kozak,
Phil Waggett, Tom Thomas
Visitors:
Ed Couture, Dennis Gardner, Andy Morgan, Brian Hawthorne, Bruce and Esther
Cressman, John Black, Glenda Slessor, Bob Curry, Kevin Mclaughlin, Glenn
Barnett, Frank Butson, George Holland, Jean Scrivens, John Niewiadowski,
Mark Sawyer, John Hendrix, Lois Evans, Dave Wier and many others whose
names I am sorry I missed.
Weather:
Cool North and NE winds for most of the day with clear blue skies and sun.
Raptor Observations:
A high flight for most of the day. Highlights were a good flight of
Broad-wing Hawks, a light Rough-legged Hawk, a Bald Eagle, several Osprey
and a male Northern Harrier.
Non-raptor Observations:
The Eastern Towhee both male and female as well as the Brown Thrasher and
the White-throated Sparrow arrived. Large numbers of Common Loons and
Northern Flickers were seen.
Much thanks to all who helped to spot the high flyers throughout the day.
Predictions:
With showers in the forecast it doesn't look great for tomorrow.
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Report submitted by Sandra Horvath ()
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. © 2013 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/
