Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area
Grimsby, Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 23, 2009
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
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Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 12 3310 5636
Osprey 4 24 26
Bald Eagle 0 9 56
Northern Harrier 5 52 83
Sharp-shinned Hawk 27 526 724
Cooper's Hawk 0 23 106
Northern Goshawk 0 2 4
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 24 723
Broad-winged Hawk 175 365 365
Red-tailed Hawk 12 640 2658
Rough-legged Hawk 6 23 74
Golden Eagle 0 8 12
American Kestrel 1 36 52
Merlin 0 1 2
Peregrine Falcon 0 0 5
Unknown Accipiter 0 1 5
Unknown Buteo 1 6 26
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 1 20 63
Total: 244 5070 10620
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Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 16:30:00
Total observation time: 8.5 hours
Official Counter: Sandy Darling
Observers: Barry Cherriere, Brandon Holden, Colin Horstead,
David Weare, Peter Booker
Visitors:
Colin Horstead, Barry Cherriere, Dave Weare, Ian Smith, Digby Sale, Skip
Gillam, Peter Booker, Eric Single, Brian Hawthorne, Ed Couter, Marty
Shimano, Brandon Holden, Eric Holden, Petr Scholtens, Charles Smith, Sandra
Horvarth, John Niewiadomski, Monty McDonald, a Grade 12 class from
Warerdown HS who were a delight to have around, and other visitors
Weather:
Cool and cloudy to start with wind from NW. Sun and west winds later
Raptor Observations:
175 Broad-winged Hawks, 5 Northern Harriers, 6 Rough-legged Hawks, & 4
Osprey
Non-raptor Observations:
Tree Swallows, Purple Martin, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Eastern
Phoebe, 11 Cormorants
Predictions:
Most of the Broad-winged Hawks came in the afternoon, and with good weather
promised the next two days could be good for the delayed push of BWs.
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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. © 2009 Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch
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