Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 08, 2015 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 0 0 0 Osprey 0 0 0 Bald Eagle 0 3 3 Northern Harrier 0 0 0 Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 1 1 Cooper's Hawk 0 1 1 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 1 4 4 Rough-legged Hawk 1 1 1 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 0 0 0 Merlin 0 0 0 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0 Unknown Buteo 0 0 0 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 0 Total: 3 10 10 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:30:00 Observation end time: 16:30:00 Total observation time: 9 hours Official Counter: Chris Escott Observers: Barry Cherriere, Chris Bailey Visitors: Gerten and Terry Basom stopped by briefly. Mike Davis and daughter Catherine stayed for an hour, and Fred Bellinato for an hour and a half. Jane Scholer also stopped by for a little while. Many walkers with dogs visited the conservation area, as well as a group of nine young people on a snowshoe hike. Weather: The morning was very cloudy with a mild SW breeze, turning in the afternoon to a clear blue sky and light SW breeze. A wonderful day to be outdoors, but not so good for migrating raptors! Raptor Observations: The Baled Eagle (near-adult, Basic III plumage) seen at 11:50 a.m. was not counted. It appeared circling beyond the quarry, drifted east a bit, then glided west out of sight below the escarpment -- could have been the same bird Barry Cherriere photographed at Windermere 2 days earlier. An adult male Cooper's Hawk was observed at 12:30 p.m. flying east at treetop level then diving into the ravine, and another (same bird?) flying west at treetop level in the late afternoon. It was assumed to be local bird, so not counted. Non-raptor Observations: Passerine activity in the morning around the feeders included a WBNU and a RBWO. There was a steady trickle of RBGU heading west all morning. In the late afternoon a single, then 3 more, Horned Lark flew by. Predictions: The weather report is much the same tomorrow as it was today -- sunny, SW breeze. That suggests a light flight. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Chris Escott () Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area 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. © 2015 Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch
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