Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area
Grimsby, Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 08, 2013
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
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Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 222 1566 4617
Osprey 0 4 5
Bald Eagle 0 8 40
Northern Harrier 5 14 21
Sharp-shinned Hawk 106 181 225
Cooper's Hawk 2 9 43
Northern Goshawk 0 1 3
Red-shouldered Hawk 18 136 360
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0
Red-tailed Hawk 100 339 1097
Rough-legged Hawk 1 13 26
Golden Eagle 3 5 8
American Kestrel 4 12 21
Merlin 0 2 3
Peregrine Falcon 0 0 2
Unknown Accipiter 0 2 3
Unknown Buteo 0 22 35
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 0 2
Total: 461 2314 6511
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Observation start time: 07:45:00
Observation end time: 15:00:00
Total observation time: 7.25 hours
Official Counter: John Stevens
Observers: Brian Hawthorne, Ed Couture, George Holland,
John Niewiadomski, Skip Gilham, Tom Thomas
Visitors:
Carol Horvat, Jack and Linda Homer, Debbie, Ty and Belle Daniels
Weather:
Started as a sunny, spring day with light winds. An east wind developed
with some lake effect north wind that decidedly cooled things, which
coupled with the increasing cloud cover made it uncomfortable on the tower.
Rain started just before 4 pm EDT.
Raptor Observations:
Lots of activity by the local CH pair, a couple of local RTs and some local
TVs. Some birds got really high as early as 0800. Adult GEs at 0801, 0805
and 0830 EST. Only RL was a dark morph, 3 NH were female, one male and one
undetermined. At least two of RS were immatures.
Non-raptor Observations:
7 Great Blue Herons, 6 Common Loons, 8 Double-crested Cormorants, one
Yellow-rumped Warbler and constantly singing Fox Sparrows, at least 4 of
which were present.
Thanks to all those who helped today with the birds all over the sky,
often high and moving quickly.
Predictions:
Looks like it could be a repeat of today, sunny then clouding over ahead of
rain, with inclement weather predicted for the following two days. Flight
may be more concentrated than today's was on the east wind.
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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. © 2013 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/
