Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area
Grimsby, Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 15, 2013
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
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Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 192 3002 6053
Osprey 3 27 28
Bald Eagle 1 14 46
Northern Harrier 5 45 52
Sharp-shinned Hawk 222 661 705
Cooper's Hawk 4 17 51
Northern Goshawk 0 2 4
Red-shouldered Hawk 4 189 413
Broad-winged Hawk 4 7 7
Red-tailed Hawk 33 662 1420
Rough-legged Hawk 1 21 34
Golden Eagle 0 5 8
American Kestrel 22 51 60
Merlin 2 7 8
Peregrine Falcon 1 1 3
Unknown Accipiter 0 2 3
Unknown Buteo 4 28 41
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 2 7 9
Total: 500 4748 8945
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Observation start time: 07:45:00
Observation end time: 16:30:00
Total observation time: 8.75 hours
Official Counter: John Stevens
Observers: Bouwe Bergsma, Brandon Holden, Dave Don, Eric Holden,
Ian Smith, Mike Street, Peter Booker, Tom Thomas
Visitors:
A great influx of hawkwatchers in anticipation of a good flight on the
promised southerly winds and warm temperatures, which never materialized.
Those identified included: Ralph Vanhaeran of Georgetown, Deni Bellai of
Waterdown, Jean Iron, Ron Pittaway, Eric Single, Carol Horvat, Debbie, Ty
and Belle Daniels, Gerry Shemilt, Glenn Barnett, John Niewiadomski, Ed
Couture, Rick Naves and Richard Tofflemire.
Weather:
Sunny to begin. Slowly increasing thin cloud cover during the afternoon.
Moderate but cool wind from the north northeast with the temperature not
reaching 10 C until late in the day.
Raptor Observations:
Thanks to all those who assisted with finding and identifying today.
Migrants were all over the sky at various altitudes. Flight was steady
through most of the day with periodic short lulls. Good falcon flight for
Beamer with 22 American Kestrels but far from the record of 44 in 1990. 13
species in all dominated by TVs and SSs.
Non-raptor Observations:
Group of three Sandhill Cranes flew west at low altitude just north of the
tower. One Evening Grosbeak identified flying east. Several Common Loons
during the day and numerous Double-crested Cormorants.
Predictions:
Weather forecast is for warmer but light rain on Tuesday so Wednesday may
be better when it is expected to be sunny.
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Report submitted by John Stevens ()
Beamer Conservation Area, Grimsby, ON 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. © 2013 Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch
_______________________________________________
ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial
birding organization.
Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca
For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
