Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area
Grimsby, Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 22, 2012
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
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Black Vulture 2 2 2
Turkey Vulture 423 2287 2287
Osprey 0 0 0
Bald Eagle 0 31 31
Northern Harrier 0 18 18
Sharp-shinned Hawk 42 295 295
Cooper's Hawk 15 54 54
Northern Goshawk 0 1 1
Red-shouldered Hawk 2 551 551
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0
Red-tailed Hawk 97 1146 1150
Rough-legged Hawk 4 20 21
Golden Eagle 0 3 3
American Kestrel 2 12 12
Merlin 1 5 5
Peregrine Falcon 0 1 1
Unknown Accipiter 0 2 2
Unknown Buteo 0 13 13
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 7 7
Total: 588 4448 4453
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Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 15:30:00
Total observation time: 7.5 hours
Official Counter: Sandy Darling
Observers: Barry Cherriere, Colin Horstead, Dave Sked, David Weare,
Tom Thomas
Visitors:
Many visitors today and I apologize if your name is not listed and you are
not afraid of it being listed. Garth Baker (from Barry on his first
visit), Colin Horstead, Don Davis, Dave Weare, Dave Frumbell, Tom Thomas,
Dave Sked, Glenn Barnett, Eric Holden, Murray Cohen, Josh Kaell, Geroge
Holland, Stuart Laughton, Kevin McLaughlin, Sandra and Frank Horvath, Barry
Cherriere
Weather:
Record-breaking heat (25C) with some hazy cloud and wind at times from
south, sometimes from NE and sometimes still
Raptor Observations:
A record-breaking 2 BLACK VULTURES came together just after 11:00 EST
(12:00 EDT) over the tower at good height for viewing. 300 of the 588
birds were seen in the first two hours. Numbers of Red-shouldered Hawks
dropped off today.
Non-raptor Observations:
Tree Swallows, a flock of Pine Siskins, House Finch, Wild Turket flew west
to east over the field to the south,Fox, Sog and Chipping Sparrows, Common
Raven, Eastern Phoebe
Predictions:
It could be a good day if there are birds in the pipeline, although it was
very quiet this afternoon (23 birds in last 2.5 hours).
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Report submitted by Sandy Darling ()
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/
