Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area
Grimsby, Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 23, 2018
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
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Black Vulture 0 0 7
Turkey Vulture 21 5901 7242
Osprey 1 43 43
Bald Eagle 1 13 43
Northern Harrier 3 31 33
Sharp-shinned Hawk 141 631 655
Cooper's Hawk 3 44 69
Northern Goshawk 0 1 1
Red-shouldered Hawk 2 58 207
Broad-winged Hawk 422 797 797
Red-tailed Hawk 17 461 932
Rough-legged Hawk 1 11 16
Golden Eagle 0 0 2
American Kestrel 5 24 29
Merlin 0 8 10
Peregrine Falcon 0 5 8
Unknown Accipiter 1 3 3
Unknown Buteo 3 13 19
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 1 1
Unknown Raptor 0 6 6
Total: 621 8051 10123
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Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 16:00:00
Total observation time: 8 hours
Official Counter: John Stevens
Observers: Andrew Don, Dave Sked, Eric Holden, Keith Dieroff,
Matt Mills, Phil Waggett, Tom Thomas
Visitors:
Lots, many who helped spot and identify including Kayo Roy, Tom Lane, Marc
Lichtenberg, Marcie Jacklin, Stuart Laughton and Pat Hogge. Other visitors
included Eric Single, Barry Cherriere, Dennis Lewington and Brian
Hawthorne.
Weather:
Nearly cloudless sky the entire period with light to moderate wind from the
north and east. Temperature struggled to get into double digits and with
the wind required an insulated jacket on the tower to be comfortable.
Raptor Observations:
With a tail wind for the most part, birds passed very quickly and made for
brief views because of their generally low elevation. Good lift off the
edge of the gully to the east would shoot the sharpies upward. A few
kettles of BWs formed but most were short-lived. Lots of local TV activity
but their migration appears to have dropped off.
Non-raptor Observations:
Lots of sightings of Common Loons, flying in all directions. Chimney Swift
and Brown Thrasher were notable. No sparrows at the feeder but Song
Sparrow could be heard.
Predictions:
Should be good as we're into prime time for BWs and SSs. Some clouds might
help with spotting compared to today.
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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/
More site information at hawkcount.org:
http://hawkcount.org/siteinfo.php?rsite=389
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: 1) Data in this report is not official until reviewed and
finalized after the end of the season. ©2018 Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch.
2) Vehicular traffic is again allowed into the park, but visitors are asked to
have their cars outside the gate by 3PM. If parking at the gate DO NOT LEAVE
VALUABLES IN YOUR VEHICLE!!!
_______________________________________________
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