Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: May 05, 2016 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 4 46 4748 Osprey 1 2 42 Bald Eagle 1 5 35 Northern Harrier 3 6 79 Sharp-shinned Hawk 20 193 1014 Cooper's Hawk 2 6 116 Northern Goshawk 0 0 2 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 273 Broad-winged Hawk 9 443 2094 Red-tailed Hawk 7 36 1264 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 25 Golden Eagle 0 1 2 American Kestrel 0 3 53 Merlin 0 1 21 Peregrine Falcon 0 1 4 Unknown Accipiter 0 0 8 Unknown Buteo 0 0 8 Unknown Falcon 0 1 3 Unknown Eagle 0 0 1 Unknown Raptor 0 1 18 Total: 47 745 9810 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:30:00 Observation end time: 15:30:00 Total observation time: 8 hours Official Counter: Sandy Darling Observers: Darren Smillie Visitors: A walker at 9:00 EDT with a heavy backpack said that his destination is Tobermoray. Krista Kaptein and friend visiting from Vancouver Island. Weather: There is a saying in Scotland and the north of England that advises "Never cast a clout (sweater) till May is out." This morning was a day for a clout, windcheater, scarf, gloves and hat as there was a biting north wind. Sun finally burned off the clouds around 1:00 p.m. EST. At that point even the local TVs stopped flying and so there was little migration thereafter. Raptor Observations: A slow day. Bald Eagle (year 4 with white head but black terminal band on tail) Non-raptor Observations: Very few for the first week in May. A few warblers in the woods were reported to me. Predictions: Given today's low numbers from west of Buffalo, there will probably be a low count. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Sandy Darling () 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. © 2016 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
