[Ontbirds] Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area (13 Apr 2018) 166 Raptors

[reports--- via ONTBIRDS]

Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area
Grimsby, Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 13, 2018
---

SpeciesDay's CountMonth Total   Season Total
-- --- -- --
Black Vulture0  0  7
Turkey Vulture  78   5087   6428
Osprey   1 25 25
Bald Eagle   0  7 37
Northern Harrier 4 13 15
Sharp-shinned Hawk  34249273
Cooper's Hawk0 28 53
Northern Goshawk 0  1  1
Red-shouldered Hawk  0 55204
Broad-winged Hawk2  3  3
Red-tailed Hawk 43303774
Rough-legged Hawk3  6 11
Golden Eagle 0  0  2
American Kestrel 1  9 14
Merlin   0  5  7
Peregrine Falcon 0  5  8
Unknown Accipiter0  2  2
Unknown Buteo0  9 15
Unknown Falcon   0  0  0
Unknown Eagle0  0  0
Unknown Raptor   0  2  2

Total: 166   5809   7881
--

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

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 

[Ontbirds] Kingston Area Birds: 7th - 13th April 2018

[Mark D. Read via ONTBIRDS]

Kingston Field Naturalists (KFN) maintains records in a 50km radius of
MacDonald Park, Kingston. Birders using eBird are encouraged to share their
sightings with 'Kingston FN'. Alternatively, please email or post records
directly to me - contact details below. Please note that some sightings may
require review and remain unconfirmed unless stated otherwise.

 

NOTE: Information regarding road closures on Amherst Island due to the
installation of wind turbines can be found at
http://amherstislandwindproject.com/site_main/index.php/construction-updates
/.

 

Highlights:

It's already been said in all the other reports but put politely, the
weather this week was, and will continue for the next few days, to be
unfavourable to migration. Here are the highlights of the last 7 days:

 

CACKLING GOOSE - a single bird was seen near Lansdowne on 8th.

TUNDRA SWAN - a very poor year for this species, 3 birds were seen oat
Reed's Bay, Wolfe Island on 11th.

NORTHERN SHOVELER - birds finally returned to the area on 7th at Amherstview
Sewage Lagoons where they have been seen regularly since.

BLACK VULTURE - a single bird was seen at Prince Edward Point on 7th.
Outside the area at Mallorytown Landing, another was seen today, 13th.

SANDHILL CRANE - birds were present near Crosby and Lansdowne on 7th and
8th.

SNOWY OWL - birds still continue on Wolfe and Amherst Islands in dwindling
numbers though a late afternoon survey on Wolfe on 8th still turned up a
remarkable 42 birds. All farmland on both islands is private - please no
trespassing.

LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE - at least 2 birds continue on the Napanee Limestone Plain
IBA but visitors should be aware that Northern Shrike has also seen there as
recently as 9th.

YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER - a single bird near Brewer's Mills on 7th appears to
be the first genuine migrant arrival of this species. 

SWAMP SPARROW - the first of the year was noted on Wolfe Island on 8th.

SAVANNAH SPARROW - first birds were seen on Amherst Island on 10th.

FOX SPARROW - the first and only report was of a single bird seen at Big
Sandy Bay, Wolfe Island, on 8th.

 

In order to minimise disturbance to wildlife and property in the recording
area, Kingston Field Naturalists has adopted the KFN Sensitive Sightings
Policy
 . Please note that you must be a member of Kingston Field Naturalists
(KFN) or be accompanied by a member to access the Martin Edwards Reserve.

 

As always, a big thank you goes to all those who have submitted sightings
directly or via eBird.

 

Mark.

 

Mark D. Read

337 Button Bay Road,

Wolfe Island,

Kingston, Ontario

K0H 2Y0

Canada

 

Mobile: +1 (613) 217-1246

Email:   markdr...@gmail.com

eBird Guidelines for Reporting Sensitive Species
 

 

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[Ontbirds] OFO trip-Saturday-Point Pelee

[dave milsom via ONTBIRDS]

The OFO outing to Point Pelee scheduled for Saturday, April 14th has been 
cancelled due to weather concerns, and rescheduled to Sunday, April 22nd. 
Leader is Ellen Smout.



Dave Milsom

OFO Fieldtrip Coordinator

milsomd...@hotmail.com

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[Ontbirds] OFO Trip-Sunday

[dave milsom via ONTBIRDS]

We have decided to cancel the Sunday April 15th OFO fieldtrip for Spring 
Waterfowl east of Ottawa due to weather-related concerns.



Dave Milsom

OFO Fieldtrip Coordinator

milsomd...@hotmail.com

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provincial birding organization.
Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca
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[Ontbirds] Presqu'ile Bird Report for 6-12 April 2018

[Doug McRae via ONTBIRDS]

Presqu’ile Bird Report for Week of 6-12 April 2018

By Doug McRae

 Highlights this week include the reappearance of the male HARLEQUIN DUCK near 
the Lighthouse on 11 and 12 Apr, up to four RED-THROATED LOONS in Popham Bay on 
the 12th, and a lingering SNOWY OWL on the Salt Pt. lighthouse on 9 Apr.


 The big story this week is the very delayed state of spring migration.  There 
were a few breaks from the dominant northerly winds this week that allowed a 
trickle of migrants to push in, but it remains unseasonably slow with generally 
small numbers of new arrivals and many expected species still not reported.  
Even frogs have been slow to appear with Spring Peeper, Chorus and Wood Frogs 
being heard for the first time only on 11 Apr.  As soon as we get a substantial 
southerly air flow the migration flood gates should open.


 Waterfowl are scattered but still present in good numbers in Presqu’ile Bay.  
SCAUP (mostly GREATER) and REDHEAD dominate with several thousand of each 
present but most expected species are present.  30 GADWALL and 20 AMERICAN 
WIGEON could be seen with the mixed AYTHYA flocks off the Fingers (as seen from 
Harbour St. just outside the Park) on 8 Apr, and 65 CANVASBACK and 13 
WHITE-WINGED SCOTER were seen in the Bay the following day. The highlight was 
the reappearance of the male HARLEQUIN DUCK off the Lighthouse on 11 Apr and 
again on 12 Apr. after having been “missing” for over a week. 


 RUFFED GROUSE are now drumming regularly and can be heard in most wooded areas 
and WILD TURKEYS were also noted several times around the Calf Pasture field.  
Another highlight was the discovery of four RED-THROATED LOONS in Popham Bay 
off Beach 1 on 12 Apr, followed by a RED-NECKED GREBE there later the same day. 
 PIED-BILLED and HORNED GREBES were seen throughout the week in the marsh and 
Presqu’ile Bay respectively.


 The first and only AMERICAN BITTERN was noted on 11 Apr.  OSPREYS returned to 
their nest platform at Salt Pt. this week and a COOPERS HAWK was seen 
displaying.  The first two WILSON’S SNIPE were winnowing over the Main Rd. at 
Beach 1 on the 12th, joining AMERICAN WOODCOCK AND KILLDEER as the only 
shorebirds back so far. The first CASPIAN TERN was seen on 12 Apr on the beach.


 A late SNOWY OWL spent the day on the Salt Pt. lighthouse on 9 Apr, and BARRED 
OWLS were reported several times from Newcastle Woods and Jobes Woods.  
RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER is being found in Newcastle and Jobes Woods with 
regularity, although NORTHERN FLICKER, which should be common by now, remains 
scarce with just a few reports. Several pairs of MERLIN have been noted 
displaying and copulating.  The first EASTERN PHOEBE was reported on 5 Apr and 
only one more has been seen since on 10 Apr – another species that should be 
common by now. Similarly TREE SWALLOW is still scarce with the high so far 
being only 12 on 9 Apr.


 WINTER WRENS are becoming more frequent and one was seen gathering moss at 
Jobes Woods on 11 Apr. The only BROWN THRASHER so far was seen just outside the 
Park on 10 Apr. Even expected sparrows are scarce or absent with the only new 
migrants this week being two SAVANNAH SPARROWS on 12 Apr. A few EASTERN 
MEADOWLARKS have been seen around the Calf Pasture fields this week.  Finally a 
PURPLE FINCH was singing at Jobes Woods on 10 Apr.


 

Presqu’ile Provincial Park is located on the north shore of Lake Ontario, just 
south of the town of Brighton.  It can be reached from either Hwy. 401 or Cty. 
Rd. 2 and is well signed.  A Park map can be found in the information tabloid 
available at the Park gate.  Presqu’ile’s two offshore islands – Gull and High 
Bluff – support a large multi-species colonial bird nesting area and access is 
not permitted during the breeding season.





Doug McRae
P.O. Box 3010
Brighton, Ontario
K0K 1H0
613-475-5014 H
613-243-4161 C


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