Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: May 09, 2015 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 18 181 7691 Osprey 0 3 41 Bald Eagle 1 4 79 Northern Harrier 0 6 66 Sharp-shinned Hawk 16 139 1221 Cooper's Hawk 1 13 146 Northern Goshawk 0 0 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 698 Broad-winged Hawk 21 64 2594 Red-tailed Hawk 6 34 1751 Rough-legged Hawk 0 1 46 Golden Eagle 0 0 14 American Kestrel 0 1 38 Merlin 0 0 9 Peregrine Falcon 1 1 6 Unknown Accipiter 0 1 6 Unknown Buteo 0 2 37 Unknown Falcon 0 0 1 Unknown Eagle 0 0 2 Unknown Raptor 0 0 6 Swainson's Hawk 0 0 1 Total: 64 450 14454 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:15:00 Observation end time: 15:15:00 Total observation time: 7 hours Official Counter: Mike Street Observers: Visitors: While the only birder to visit today was Mark Peck, who dropped by for a brief visit, the counter was not alone. Over a hundred Beaver and Cub Scouts, their leaders and a few parents spent the day at Beamer at a Jamboree on the Trail, an annual day for Scouts to hike together. The kids, belonging to 7 or 8 different packs and troops from the Niagara region, were there all day and seemed to have lots of fun. Weather: Hazy for the first two hours. HOT!!!!!!! Temperature was +31°C by 3PM. South wind most of the day was stronger than expected and very welcome. Raptor Observations: Only 64 birds. Many early, thus unexpected, immature Broad-wings. One Peregrine blasting east, and a nice full adult Bald Eagle cruising west. Non-raptor Observations: The only migrant heard was an elusive Brown Thrasher. Predictions: Possible thunderstorms may disrupt the flight. ======================================================================== 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 _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide
