Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: May 03, 2014 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 2 Turkey Vulture 8 15 6932 Osprey 0 0 54 Bald Eagle 0 0 39 Northern Harrier 1 2 59 Sharp-shinned Hawk 16 20 789 Cooper's Hawk 2 2 103 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 392 Broad-winged Hawk 6 12 1009 Red-tailed Hawk 1 1 1076 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 27 Golden Eagle 0 0 5 American Kestrel 1 1 30 Merlin 0 0 10 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 7 Unknown Accipiter 0 0 6 Unknown Buteo 0 0 74 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 18 Swainson's Hawk 0 0 1 Total: 35 53 10633 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:00:00 Observation end time: 13:00:00 Total observation time: 5.5 hours Official Counter: Brian Mishell Observers: Visitors: I had 2 visitors from Guelph who stayed for 15 minutes. Weather: Overcast day , very strong South winds with strong gusts. Dark clouds formed at 11.40 a.m. and heavy rain started at 12.24 p.m. Raptor Observations: ALL birds were low, just over the treetops and single birds. With the strong winds the birds suddenly appeared and were going through very fast but because they were very low identification was very good. A Coopers Hawk took up residence in the trees behind the notice board and after about 30 minutes took out one the feeding WTSP. Very dramatic! Non-raptor Observations: Plenty of small birds. Bran Swallows 6, Wood Ducks 5, plus the following BHCO,RBWO,WCSP,BTGR,NOFL,Rusty Blackbirds-4, plus other common residents. Predictions: Weather forecast is pretty much the same so some birds but not a whole lot. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Brian Mishell () Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area 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. © 2014 Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch
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