Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 24, 2013 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 2 3365 6416 Osprey 0 38 39 Bald Eagle 0 19 51 Northern Harrier 1 62 69 Sharp-shinned Hawk 10 1010 1054 Cooper's Hawk 3 32 66 Northern Goshawk 0 3 5 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 213 437 Broad-winged Hawk 2 1009 1009 Red-tailed Hawk 0 903 1661 Rough-legged Hawk 0 22 35 Golden Eagle 0 5 8 American Kestrel 0 75 84 Merlin 0 9 10 Peregrine Falcon 0 1 3 Unknown Accipiter 0 2 3 Unknown Buteo 0 33 46 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 11 13 Total: 18 6812 11009 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 11:00:00 Total observation time: 2.25 hours Official Counter: Sandra Horvath Observers: Frank Horvath, Gord Kozak Visitors: Jeremy Beal and his son Sam. Weather: High winds with strong gusts under an overcast sky started the day. The promised rains began shortly after 10 AM. Raptor Observations: The flight was mostly low and fast just over the trees. A few appeared low,just over the quarry, pushed along the escarpment edge by the strong winds. Non-raptor Observations: Large numbers of Tree and Barn Swallows and Purple Martins filled the sky feeding on recent hatches of insects. Four Great Blue Herons and several Belted Kingfishers were noted along with the male Eastern Towhee and male Purple Finch. The count period ended due to the arrival of the rain. ======================================================================== 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. © 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/
