Beamer Conservation Area
Grimsby, Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 10, 2009
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
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Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 123 2961 5280
Osprey 1 5 7
Bald Eagle 0 7 54
Northern Harrier 2 20 49
Sharp-shinned Hawk 42 214 412
Cooper's Hawk 1 11 94
Northern Goshawk 0 0 2
Red-shouldered Hawk 2 20 719
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0
Red-tailed Hawk 70 368 2386
Rough-legged Hawk 0 9 60
Golden Eagle 0 8 13
American Kestrel 5 15 31
Merlin 0 0 1
Peregrine Falcon 0 0 5
Unknown Accipiter 0 0 4
Unknown Buteo 0 4 24
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 3 46
Total: 246 3645 9187
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Observation start time: 07:00:00
Observation end time: 16:00:00
Total observation time: 9 hours
Official Counter: Tim Foran
Observers: Art Slaughter, Bruce Mackenzie, Colin Horstead,
Peter Booker, Phil Waggett, Richard Tofflemire, Tom Thomas
Visitors:
Jennifer and Derek Lyons. Mike Kirchen and his friend, John.
And over one thousand more as it was the annual open house for Beamer.
In the afternoon, representatives of the Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch
attended the memorial service for our late friend and fellow counter,
Tom Reavley, who passed away last October.
Weather:
Sunny, with a wispy layer of cloud. North East winds made conditions a bit
blustery for the birds, and they passed over fairly low.
Raptor Observations:
There are a lot of birds to come and no sign of the log jam loosening, due
to inclement weather to the south.
Non-raptor Observations:
Barn Swallow, more than ten Northern Loons
Predictions:
Good weather for the next few days.
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Report submitted by Tim Foran ()
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/
