Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area
Grimsby, Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 13, 2018
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
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Black Vulture 0 0 7
Turkey Vulture 78 5087 6428
Osprey 1 25 25
Bald Eagle 0 7 37
Northern Harrier 4 13 15
Sharp-shinned Hawk 34 249 273
Cooper's Hawk 0 28 53
Northern Goshawk 0 1 1
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 55 204
Broad-winged Hawk 2 3 3
Red-tailed Hawk 43 303 774
Rough-legged Hawk 3 6 11
Golden Eagle 0 0 2
American Kestrel 1 9 14
Merlin 0 5 7
Peregrine Falcon 0 5 8
Unknown Accipiter 0 2 2
Unknown Buteo 0 9 15
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 2 2
Total: 166 5809 7881
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Observation start time: 10:30:00
Observation end time: 15:00:00
Total observation time: 4.5 hours
Official Counter: Tom Thomas
Observers:
Weather:
Predictions of rain never materialized. Overcast with breezy north easterly
winds. There were some bright openings in the sky at times, where you could
actually see your shadow, but for the most part of the afternoon it was
dark and gloomy.
Raptor Observations:
Counting hawks today was not on my radar, but as I was doing some errands
in downtown Waterdown, I had a Broad-wing fly right over my car. The skies
looked pretty bright so I decided there could be a flight so I hoofed it to
Beamer where a half decent flight was well under way. There was no official
counter there today, probably thought it was going to rain.
Mostly Sharp-shins Red-tails and Turkey Vultures with some
Rough-legs, Northern Harriers and a couple of Broad-wings in the mix
Non-raptor Observations:
Common Loons, Tree Swallows, flocks of Double-crested Cormorants, and a
line of four Great Blue Herons.
Predictions:
Freezing Rain and ice pellets expected for the next few days
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Report submitted by Tom Thomas (ttho...@cogeco.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 is again allowed into the park, but visitors are asked to
have their cars outside the gate by 3PM. If parking at the gate DO NOT LEAVE
VALUABLES IN YOUR VEHICLE!!!
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