Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area
Grimsby, Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 21, 2012
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
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Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 744 1864 1864
Osprey 0 0 0
Bald Eagle 1 31 31
Northern Harrier 2 18 18
Sharp-shinned Hawk 49 253 253
Cooper's Hawk 4 39 39
Northern Goshawk 0 1 1
Red-shouldered Hawk 39 549 549
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0
Red-tailed Hawk 62 1049 1053
Rough-legged Hawk 1 16 17
Golden Eagle 0 3 3
American Kestrel 0 10 10
Merlin 0 4 4
Peregrine Falcon 0 1 1
Unknown Accipiter 0 2 2
Unknown Buteo 2 13 13
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 7 7
Total: 904 3860 3865
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Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 16:00:00
Total observation time: 8 hours
Official Counter: Sandra Horvath
Observers: Andrew Keaveney, Bouwe Bergsma, Brian Hawthorne,
Colin Horstead, Dave Sked, Frank Horvath
Visitors:
Dave Worthington, Debbie, Bell and Ty Daniels, Gerry and Bill Doeks, George
Holland, Jean Scriven, Dave Purcell, Jean and Blayne Farnan, Jack and Linda
Homer, Murray Cohen, Toni Carson, Doris Southwell, Barb Breen, Bruce and
Ann Falls and many more whose names I did not get a chance to record.
Weather:
The morning began with dense fog below the escarpment but fairly clear
skies above. Fog would occasionally rise and drift across the field in
front of the tower, but would clear again quickly. It was a blue sky day
with very pleasant temperatures which drew a large number of visitors,
expecting a good flight day. The flight shifted from Beamer to the south in
the afternoon, till 3PM. brought large numbers of TV's streaming over the
Quarry at the edge of the escarpment.
Raptor Observations:
Two Northern Harriers were counted and a 3rd year Bald Eagle flew over at
11:27 AM.
Non-raptor Observations:
Other birds of interest seen today were Yellow-rumped Warbler, 3 Fox
Sparrows, Rusty Blackbird, Eastern Bluebird, Hairy Woodpecker, Winter Wren
and Pine Siskins.
Predictions:
With a count of over a thousand TV's seen at Ripley today and continuing
warm weather here another good day should be expected at Beamer.
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Report submitted by Sandra Horvath ()
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/
