Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area
Grimsby, Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 23, 2019
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
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Black Vulture 2 2 2
Turkey Vulture 216 1471 1471
Osprey 0 0 0
Bald Eagle 2 26 26
Northern Harrier 0 9 9
Sharp-shinned Hawk 3 35 35
Cooper's Hawk 4 24 24
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 9 333 333
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0
Red-tailed Hawk 15 363 363
Rough-legged Hawk 0 9 9
Golden Eagle 0 4 4
American Kestrel 2 5 5
Merlin 0 2 2
Peregrine Falcon 0 4 4
Unknown Accipiter 0 1 1
Unknown Buteo 0 14 14
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 1 1
Total: 253 2303 2303
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Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 15:30:00
Total observation time: 7.5 hours
Official Counter: Phil Waggett
Observers: Craig Corcoran, Ezra Campanelli, Greg Vandervelde,
John Hogeveen, Lauren Booker, Legzdins family,
Marcie Jacklin, Sian Ford
Visitors:
A good number of birders showed up and helped with spotting and identifying
the raptors today. Ezra Campanelli & Sian Ford (Hamilton), Lauren Booker,
Marcie Jacklin, Peter Thoem. Jackie Oblak (Fonthill), Greg Vandervelde,
Craig Corcoran (Niagara), John Hogeveen, Paul Cannon (Toronto) and the
Legzdins family--Ina, Laura, Markus (Oakville). My apologies to anyone I
omitted but everyone's help was sincerely appreciated.
Weather:
Clear skies and sunny with a brisk NW wind.
Raptor Observations:
The flight was dominated by turkey vultures. The highlights were 3 black
vultures--one at 2:11, one at 2:25 and a third at 3:01. Two continued
west and were counted but likely the last one returned to Beamer Gorge area
just after 3:30. Local TV's made counting the vultures a challenge and the
local RT's and male cooper's hawk were active.
Non-raptor Observations:
Very little migratory activity today, apart from 2 song sparrows at the
feeder. 3 wild turkeys flew over the hawkwatch early in the morning.
Predictions:
The weather forecast is no precipitation with warmer temperatures with a SW
wind tomorrow. Ripley, NY had a good vulture flight today so I expect a
continuation of today's flight.
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Report submitted by Phil Waggett (philipwagg...@hotmail.com)
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. ©2019 Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch.
2) Vehicular traffic into the park is allowed, 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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