Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 31, 2014 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 2 2 Turkey Vulture 605 1809 1809 Osprey 0 1 1 Bald Eagle 0 14 14 Northern Harrier 2 12 12 Sharp-shinned Hawk 7 41 41 Cooper's Hawk 6 29 29 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 53 224 224 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 54 434 434 Rough-legged Hawk 1 14 14 Golden Eagle 0 4 4 American Kestrel 0 2 2 Merlin 0 4 4 Peregrine Falcon 1 4 4 Unknown Accipiter 1 3 3 Unknown Buteo 57 59 59 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 1 2 2 Total: 788 2658 2658 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 17:00:00 Total observation time: 9 hours Official Counter: John Stevens Observers: Dave Sked, David Pryor, David Weare, Eric Holden, Jean Iron, Joe Ashworth, Matt Mills, Pat Hogge, Phil Waggett Visitors: A huge crowd including several faces that we don't see too often any more. In addition to those who are down as helping with the counts, I noted Bouwe Bergsma, Rick Young, Keith Sealey, Glenn Barnett, Barb Charlton, Glenda Slessor, Bob Curry, Jim Dowall, Laurie and Bruce McKenzie, Gerry Shemilt, Greg Vandervelde and Peter Thoem. Weather: Clear skies with light northerly winds and temperature rising to 10 C made for a very comfortable day, a lamb-like end to a cold March. Raptor Observations: A fairly slow start that had hardly warmed up before the principal flight line shifted well to the south where only TVs could be identified with any certainty and other birds were dots in the haze. Particular thanks to Eric Holden for helping find the birds in the blue. Non-raptor Observations: Not many migrants at all although a crane sp., probably Sandhill Crane, was seen far to the south. Predictions: For April 1 nothing I could say would be believable. Still it's a new month and with easterly winds and a warm day it does look promising. ======================================================================== Report submitted by John Stevens () Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area 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. © 2014 Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch
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