Beamer Conservation Area
Grimsby, Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 19, 2009
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 69 468 468
Osprey 0 0 0
Bald Eagle 0 37 37
Northern Harrier 1 18 18
Sharp-shinned Hawk 5 54 54
Cooper's Hawk 4 32 32
Northern Goshawk 0 2 2
Red-shouldered Hawk 8 218 218
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0
Red-tailed Hawk 31 1005 1005
Rough-legged Hawk 0 24 24
Golden Eagle 0 2 2
American Kestrel 0 2 2
Merlin 0 1 1
Peregrine Falcon 0 1 1
Unknown Accipiter 0 1 1
Unknown Buteo 5 9 9
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 28 28
Total: 123 1902 1902
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 16:00:00
Total observation time: 8 hours
Official Counter: Sandy Darling
Observers: Barry Cherriere, Brian Hawthorne, Dave Sked,
John Niewiadomski, Linda Cherriere, Peter Booker
Visitors:
Many visitors, including oparents with children, because of March break.
Some of the young folks were quick to spot and identify birds. Among these
visitors were Peter Booker and Barry & Linda Cherriere for much of the day,
and David Sked, Brian Hawthorn and John Niewiadomski for shorter periods,
all of whom helped with the count.
Weather:
Sunny with winds from NW to NE, and temperatures rnging from 2 to 5 C
Raptor Observations:
A relatively slow day with some raptors far to the south. Local Red-tails
and Cooper's were displaying.
Non-raptor Observations:
21 Tundra Swans, but few other birds of note
Predictions:
Peak activity was in the second half of today and skies were clear, so
there could be a continuation of the flight tomorrow.
========================================================================
Report submitted by Sandy Darling ()
Beamer Conservation Area, Grimsby, ON information may be found at:
http://www.hwcn.org/link/niaghawk/
Site Description:
The hawk migration at the Beamer Memorial Conservation Area is conducted by
the Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch (NPH). The counting is all 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 the cold days of March, a black plastic wind guard is
installed around the towers 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 publically 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 the days observations 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 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. © 2008 Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch
_______________________________________________
ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial
birding organization.
Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list [email protected]
For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
