Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 11, 2018 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 49 81 97 Osprey 0 0 0 Bald Eagle 0 6 10 Northern Harrier 0 1 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 0 0 Cooper's Hawk 0 2 2 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 2 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 8 47 68 Rough-legged Hawk 0 1 3 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 0 0 0 Merlin 0 0 0 Peregrine Falcon 0 1 1 Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0 Unknown Buteo 0 1 1 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 0 Total: 57 140 185 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:30:00 Observation end time: 17:00:00 Total observation time: 8.5 hours Official Counter: Chris Escott Observers: Bob Stamp Visitors: Plenty of hikers and dog walkers, a few with a passing interest in birds. Only one other observer, as noted elsewhere. Weather: Overcast to start and -3 C. By mid-morning the sky was clear, with a light NW to N breeze, and the raptors (mostly TUVU) started to trickle through. Afternoon turned unpleasant, grey clouds drifted in, breeze shifted to SW with intermittent light flurries, and the meager flight stopped dead. Barely +1 C, and little action after that. Raptor Observations: The local COHA flew over early, but not seen again all day. A trickle of TUVU for a couple of hours near mid-day, with the occasional RTHA, but nothing else of note. Non-raptor Observations: Two skeins of CAGO flew over, and a small mixed flock of RWBL and COGR. One large but transient flock of DEJU spent a half hour on the ground in the feeder area. Otherwise nothing of note. Predictions: Forecast is similar to today's forecast (which was off the mark), with light NE winds and low POP. If the grey clouds and intermittent flurries hold off, it could be a decent day. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Chris Escott (ch...@escott.ca) Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area information may be found at: http://www.niagarapeninsulahawkwatch.org/ More site information at hawkcount.org: http://hawkcount.org/siteinfo.php?rsite=389 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: 1) Data in this report is not official until reviewed and finalized after the end of the season. ©2018 Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch. 2) Vehicular traffic into park is restricted in March because of construction on site. Visitors can park at the gate BUT DO NOT LEAVE VALUABLES IN YOUR VEHICLE!!! _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
