Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 22, 2013 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 67 3314 6365 Osprey 0 35 36 Bald Eagle 0 18 50 Northern Harrier 2 59 66 Sharp-shinned Hawk 14 952 996 Cooper's Hawk 0 29 63 Northern Goshawk 0 3 5 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 213 437 Broad-winged Hawk 15 587 587 Red-tailed Hawk 5 879 1637 Rough-legged Hawk 0 22 35 Golden Eagle 0 5 8 American Kestrel 0 73 82 Merlin 0 8 9 Peregrine Falcon 0 1 3 Unknown Accipiter 0 2 3 Unknown Buteo 0 31 44 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 8 10 Total: 103 6239 10436 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:30:00 Observation end time: 17:00:00 Total observation time: 9.33 hours Official Counter: John Stevens Observers: Ed Couture, Ian Smith, Phil Waggett Visitors: Ken Williams brought a group of about 50 Grade 4 and 5 students from W.H. Ballard School in Hamilton. While noisy at times they were very well-behaved and took turns visiting the tower until losing interest with the lack of birds. Others included: Ian Smith, Eric Single, John Olmsted, Bob Stamp, Dave Sked, John Niewiadomski, and Jack Alvo with his daughter Frances and a family friend, Sandra. Weather: Partial high cirrus cloud to begin that gradually disappeared to a pure blue. A cool wind from the north northeast held the temperature in high single digits most of the day. Raptor Observations: Without the predicted southeast wind the pickings were slim with some TVs at the start, another group late in the afternoon and then single BWs and SSs at widely spaced intervals. The local CH was very active in the am, displaying all over the sky, sometimes at a great height. Non-raptor Observations: Lots of singing White-throated Sparrows with Song, Fox and Juncos as well. At ten after five a single Sandhill Crane came along. Predictions: With more BWs being sighted just to the south today and similar weather conditions predicted, it looks promising at this time. ======================================================================== 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/
