Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area
Grimsby, Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 24, 2017
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
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Black Vulture 0 2 3
Turkey Vulture 11 3726 5799
Osprey 2 41 42
Bald Eagle 3 18 39
Northern Harrier 2 47 58
Sharp-shinned Hawk 46 854 930
Cooper's Hawk 1 40 79
Northern Goshawk 0 1 1
Red-shouldered Hawk 1 53 306
Broad-winged Hawk 179 3156 3156
Red-tailed Hawk 15 588 1189
Rough-legged Hawk 1 14 21
Golden Eagle 0 4 8
American Kestrel 0 41 59
Merlin 0 8 13
Peregrine Falcon 0 2 4
Unknown Accipiter 1 4 4
Unknown Buteo 1 11 38
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 3 13 18
Total: 266 8623 11767
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Observation start time: 07:30:00
Observation end time: 16:15:00
Total observation time: 8.58 hours
Official Counter: John Stevens
Observers: Barry Cherriere, Bruce Campbell, Darren Smillie, Keith Park,
Paul Shanahan, Stuart Laughton
Visitors:
A very helpful guest was Paul Shanahan from a New Jersey fall watch. Also
Sandy Darling stopped by briefly.
Weather:
Clear with a moderate to strong wind from the northeast. The seasonally
cool temperatures (6-8C) felt much colder requiring winter jackets on the
tower.
Raptor Observations:
Nice morning flight dried up by noon. Local TV, CH and RT seen numerous
times. A bird identified as a dark morph Rough-legged Hawk showed distinct
white patches on each upper wing.
Non-raptor Observations:
Not much moving or noted. Several Ruby-crowned Kinglet and a Blue-gray
Gnatcatcher in the shrubs. Yellow-rumped Warbler also seen.
Predictions:
Weather forecast is for warmer temperatures with scattered showers and east
to northeast winds. There should be birds between the showers but there
should have been birds today and the flight dried up for some reason.
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Report submitted by John Stevens ()
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. ©2017 Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch
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