I spent the day at Beamer Conservation Area in Grimsby today. Skeins of
CANADA GOOSE were going by all day but, apart from one probable
Richardson's (a much smaller one) there were no other species among
them. The morning from 8:00 - 10:00 was slow for raptors but good for
fly-by passerines including 6 COMMON REDPOLL in two small groups, a
small flock of 5 SNOW BUNTING, an EASTERN BLUEBIRD, 26 TUNDRA SWAN and a
KILDEER. Significant numbers of raptors started going through from 10:00
until those big wet flakes of snow shut the flight down at about 12:15.
Notable among the migrants were 1 juvenile BALD EAGLE, an all dark and
probable 2nd year GOLDEN EAGLE, 3 TURKEY VULTURE (or is that TURKEY
CONDOR yet?), and 11 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (10 light phase, 1 dark phase).
Once the snow ended the weather cleared for an hour and a half until the
next squall line blew in, but it was enough of a break for a few more
stragglers including an adult BALD EAGLE. Of the 122 raptors seen today,
100 were RED-TAILED HAWK and there were low numbers of SHARP-SHINNED
HAWK, COOPER'S HAWK and one AMERICAN KESTREL.
Directions: QEW to Grimsby, through the middle of town and up the hill,
turn right and go about 1 km to a turnoff on the right to Beamer
Conservation Area. Gate is open 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
--
Christopher J. Escott
1 Shouldice Court, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M2L 2S3
Home phone: 416.444.8055 Cellular 416.788.8055
Chris Escott <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
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