Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area
Grimsby, Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 12, 2015
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
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Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 678 3857 6860
Osprey 4 19 19
Bald Eagle 3 17 66
Northern Harrier 9 29 38
Sharp-shinned Hawk 194 530 566
Cooper's Hawk 10 35 92
Northern Goshawk 0 1 1
Red-shouldered Hawk 7 106 692
Broad-winged Hawk 25 26 26
Red-tailed Hawk 170 642 1554
Rough-legged Hawk 6 20 35
Golden Eagle 3 5 13
American Kestrel 3 15 17
Merlin 0 4 7
Peregrine Falcon 0 1 1
Unknown Accipiter 0 5 5
Unknown Buteo 25 25 29
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 1 1 2
Unknown Raptor 0 0 2
Total: 1138 5338 10025
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Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 16:30:00
Total observation time: 8.5 hours
Official Counter: Mike Street, Sandy Darling
Observers: Brad Wilson, Craig Corcoran, Eric Baldo, Eric Single,
Matt Mills
Visitors:
Tom Fried; Keith Park; Jean Iron & Ron Pittaway; Kevin McLaughlin; Ken and
Angie Williams; Keith Sealy; Debby Daniels with Belle and Ty; Terry
Osborne; Terrie Smith; Bob Currie and Glenda Slessor; Marc Lichtenberg;
Kaitlyn, Heather and Chris. from St. Catharines; Rob Walhuber and several
people whose names I didn't get.
Weather:
Blue sky all day, light to moderate winds, and warmer every hour.
Raptor Observations:
A terrific 12 species, often hard to see in a truly awful - for a
hawkwatcher - blue sky. My sincere thanks to Craig Corcoran, Darren
Smillie, Eric Baldo, Brad and Diana Wilson, Sandy and Jeni Darling, and
Matt Mills for helping spot and count as many birds as we did. There were
birds we did not see, but it wasn't for lack of effort.
Non-raptor Observations:
30 species of non-raptor birds ranging from Yellow-bellied Sapsucker to
Great Blue Heron. 205 Double-crested Cormorants in 15 groups of varying
numbers. One group of 30 Cormorants kettling just above a kettle of 20-25
hawks and Turkey Vultures was quite a sight!
Predictions:
Possibly as good as today, and maybe better.
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Report submitted by Mike Street ([email protected])
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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