[Ontbirds] Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area (16 Mar 2019) 36 Raptors

2019-03-16 Thread reports--- via ONTBIRDS
Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area
Grimsby, Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 16, 2019
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SpeciesDay's CountMonth Total   Season Total
-- --- -- --
Black Vulture0  0  0
Turkey Vulture  24 97 97
Osprey   0  0  0
Bald Eagle   0  5  5
Northern Harrier 0  1  1
Sharp-shinned Hawk   0  1  1
Cooper's Hawk1  4  4
Northern Goshawk 0  0  0
Red-shouldered Hawk  2  3  3
Broad-winged Hawk0  0  0
Red-tailed Hawk  8 41 41
Rough-legged Hawk0  4  4
Golden Eagle 0  0  0
American Kestrel 0  2  2
Merlin   0  2  2
Peregrine Falcon 1  2  2
Unknown Accipiter0  0  0
Unknown Buteo0  0  0
Unknown Falcon   0  0  0
Unknown Eagle0  0  0
Unknown Raptor   0  0  0

Total:  36162162
--

Observation start time: 08:00:00 
Observation end   time: 15:00:00 
Total observation time: 6.5 hours

Official Counter:Phil Waggett

Observers:Catherine Manschot, Lauren Booker

Visitors:
Catherine Manschot and Lauren Booker helped with the count today.


Weather:
Chilly day with brisk westerly winds, frequent snow showers and flurries. 
Mostly cloudy.

Raptor Observations:
A small flight today dominated by turkey vultures and red-tailed hawks.   A
lone peregrine falcon was the highlight of the day.   At 11:05, a juvenile
bald eagle (year one) was 
observed flying east and was not counted.   A local red-tail along the
escarpment was active.

Non-raptor Observations:
Very light migratory activity today, apart from robins and a few small
flocks of red-wings and grackles.  The highlight was a pair of sandhill
cranes that flew over the site at around 11:15 heading west.Also noted
was a partially leucistic robin with a nice white tail.

Predictions:
Likely a continuation of today's flight.   Lighter westerly winds and a mix
of sun/cloud are forecast with snow flurries developing into the afternoon.

Report submitted by Phil Waggett (philipwagg...@hotmail.com)
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 
fi

[Ontbirds] Black Vulture in Toronto

2019-03-16 Thread Greg Stuart via ONTBIRDS
Just had a Black Vulture fly over Col. Samuel Smith Park. From the 
QEW/Lakeshore take Kipling Ave as far south as you can go. 

Last seen flying off to the northeast. 

Greg Stuart
Toronto, Ontario
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[Ontbirds] Bewick’s Swan

2019-03-16 Thread Joanne Redwood via ONTBIRDS

The Bewick’s Swan is still present at Aylmer Wildlife Management Centre.
Sent from my iPhone

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provincial birding organization.
Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca
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[Ontbirds] Hamilton Naturalists Club Birding Report - Saturday, March 16th, 2019

2019-03-16 Thread Cheryl Edgecombe via ONTBIRDS



GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE
BLUE-WINGED TEAL
KILLDEER
TREE SWALLOW
RUSTY BLACKBIRD


Cackling Goose
Canada Goose
Tundra Swan
Wood Duck
American Wigeon
Northern Shoveler
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
King Eider
Ruffed Grouse
Red-throated Loon
Pied-billed Grebe
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Rough-legged Hawk
American Kestrel
Merlin
Peregrine Falcon
Sandhill Crane
Iceland Gull
Glaucous Gull
Snowy Owl
Northern Shrike
Common Raven
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird


Finally there is a sign of hope that winter will indeed end as there was a
significant movement of birds in the last week of early spring migrants.
Highlighted at the top are not rarities but first spring migrants this week.
More GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE came in with the warm push and one was seen
on Wednesday for a first over the Hawkwatch at Beamer Conservation Area.
Three more were seen along Powerline Road on the mountain.  Yesterday two
BLUE-WINGED TEAL were seen from Woodland Cemetery along the edge of the ice.
One of the same or perhaps a different bird was noted later on down at
LaSalle Marina.  KILLDEER were arriving in droves on Thursday, setting up
territory in a number of places but particularly noted in Saltfleet and St.
George.  The first TREE SWALLOW daringly arrived yesterday and was seen
battling strong winds at Powerline Road and 5th Road East in Saltfleet.
Lastly, last week a single RUSTY BLACKBIRD was photographed on March 8th at
the Desjardins Canal near the butterfly gardens.  

There are lots of places to go to see migrants finally.  Most of the birds
arriving are puddle ducks and blackbirds.  On the Hamilton Harbour and over
Woodland Cemetery yesterday many Wood Ducks, American Wigeon, Gadwall,
Shoveller, Green-winged Teal and Northern Pintail could be found along the
edge of the ice.  Some of the same mix could be found in the flooded fields
on the mountain and in Saltfleet with areas around Powerline Road and 5th
Road East being very productive.  Also seen on the Hamilton Harbour were
arrivals of Pied-billed, Red-necked and Horned Grebes.  Red-throated Loons
continue to be seen on the Harbour with new arrivals coming in daily while
other birds move on.

Tundra Swans have been reported over a widespread area in the Hamilton Study
Area, their calls a welcoming sign of spring.  Canada Geese too have been
moving with Cackling Geese being seen mixed in their flocks.  A total of 18
Cackling Geese were seen near Powerline Road and 5th Road East on Thursday.

Sandhill Cranes are moving as well with one heard over a house in Dundas on
Wednesday and seen at the Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch at Beamer.  Great Blue
Herons have started to arrive with two reported in Binbrook and other
reports around the area.

The Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch located at Beamer Conservation Area in
Grimsby will be ramping up over the next weeks.  A slow trickle of Turkey
Vultures, Bald Eagles, Red-tailed and Rough-legged Hawks were noted this
past week.  The first Red-shouldered Hawk arrived yesterday, more to come.
Also of note were three species of Falcon including American Kestrel, Merlin
and Peregrine Falcon.  The Hawkwatch is still looking for counters and
counters on duty are always looking for an extra pair of eyes.

Blackbirds were streaming in over the past few days with Red-winged
Blackbird, Common Grackle and Brown-headed Cowbirds all setting up and
singing on territories as they do so early in the season.

In the odds and sods this week a King Eider was seen and photographed by a
group at Jones Road last weekend.  This species has been a little scarce
this year.  Ruffed Grouse were seen along Lennon Road in north Flamborough
two weeks ago, they should be a little easier to hear drumming now that the
weather has turned. A Snowy Owl has returned to the docks at Bronte Harbour
although difficult to spot at times.  Iceland Gulls were seen at Bronte and
Oakville Harbours in the week.  A Glaucous Gull was seen on Hamilton
Harbour.  A Northern Shrike was seen on 10th Road East on the north side of
the tracks yesterday.  Common Ravens are being reported in growing numbers
with a few reports coming from Grimsby over the last week.  They are likely
tending to nest.  There appears to be a pair also nesting at the transformer
station again seen from the 403 at Brant Street.  A single Yellow-rumped
Warbler seems to be the sole survivor over the winter at Sedgewick Park in
Oakville.

That's the news this week, now that things are starting to happen, reports
will be more frequent but sightings are needed to make a report so please
send along.

Looking forward to the next weeks!
Cheryl Edgecombe
HNC








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