Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 13, 2012 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 109 200 200 Osprey 0 0 0 Bald Eagle 1 8 8 Northern Harrier 0 8 8 Sharp-shinned Hawk 13 21 21 Cooper's Hawk 3 18 18 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 113 152 152 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 70 238 242 Rough-legged Hawk 1 3 4 Golden Eagle 0 2 2 American Kestrel 3 6 6 Merlin 0 2 2 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Accipiter 0 1 1 Unknown Buteo 0 1 1 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 0 Total: 313 660 665 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 8 hours Official Counter: Tom Thomas Observers: Cody Law, Colin Horstead, Dave Sked, Phil Waggett Visitors: Lots of visitors today....Colin Horstead, Phil Waggett, Bill Cuddy, Owen Novoselac, Brian Hawthorn, Dan Bailey, Peter Thoem, Cody Law, and Joey Gardiner among many others. Weather: A sun and cloud mix, with warm moderate south west winds. Raptor Observations: This was a great day for hawk watching,as birds were coming in directly over the observation tower.We had glorious views of dozens of Red-shouldered Hawks, Red-tailed Hawks, a very close adult Bald Eagle, and then later in the day a light phase Rough-legged Hawk came close, followed by a string of Turkey Vultures. Non-raptor Observations: The first two Tree Swallows of the season, a flock of Tundra Swans, many flyover Killdeer. Predictions: It could be more of the same. On my way home I detoured to east Grimsby, and there were two large kettles of Turkey Vultures numbering about a 100 birds over the Q.E.W. Whether these birds continued on, or were looking for a roosting site, I don't know, so there could be quite an up flight tomorrow morning. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Tom Thomas ([email protected]) 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. © 2012 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/
