Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area
Grimsby, Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 25, 2011
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 0 1
Turkey Vulture 14 2137 6841
Osprey 1 37 37
Bald Eagle 0 14 44
Northern Harrier 1 65 81
Sharp-shinned Hawk 58 884 947
Cooper's Hawk 0 34 84
Northern Goshawk 0 1 1
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 103 575
Broad-winged Hawk 164 3961 3961
Red-tailed Hawk 2 760 1739
Rough-legged Hawk 0 13 49
Golden Eagle 1 4 4
American Kestrel 1 19 28
Merlin 0 9 11
Peregrine Falcon 0 4 7
Unknown Accipiter 0 1 2
Unknown Buteo 0 10 31
Unknown Falcon 0 2 2
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 4 6
Total: 242 8062 14451
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Observation start time: 07:00:00
Observation end time: 13:00:00
Total observation time: 5.17 hours
Official Counter: John Stevens
Observers: Brian Robertson, Don Pfeffer, Ian Smith, John Olmstead,
Sandra Van Hullenaar
Visitors:
Marylou Langton and Jo Skillicorn from Toronto and a group from Nova Scotia
whose names I didn't get.
Weather:
Clouded over almost from the start with light rain beginning about 1030 EST
and becoming heavier around 1250 EST.
Raptor Observations:
Mostly BWs and SSs with a few spicier offerings. Local Cooper's Hawk
displayed just off the escarpment and a pair were seen heading south.
Perched Merlin found in the woods to the west of the tower.
Non-raptor Observations:
A Red Fox was in the field to the south for a while and an American Crow
without a tail flew past. Notable migrants were singing Field Sparrow,
Brown Thrasher, Rufous-sided Towhee, White-throated Sparrow and two Common
loon flybys.
Predictions:
Warmer tomorrow but more rain, particularly in the morning. Might be
something in the afternoon but then rain again on Wed. and Thurs.
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Report submitted by John Stevens ()
Beamer Conservation Area, Grimsby, ON 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. © 2011 Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch
_______________________________________________
ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial
birding organization.
Send bird reports to [email protected]
For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
