Beamer Conservation Area
Grimsby, Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 05, 2009
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
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Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 438 2546 4865
Osprey 0 2 4
Bald Eagle 2 5 52
Northern Harrier 5 12 41
Sharp-shinned Hawk 58 135 333
Cooper's Hawk 4 10 93
Northern Goshawk 0 0 2
Red-shouldered Hawk 1 18 717
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0
Red-tailed Hawk 109 271 2289
Rough-legged Hawk 4 8 59
Golden Eagle 0 7 12
American Kestrel 2 6 22
Merlin 0 0 1
Peregrine Falcon 0 0 5
Unknown Accipiter 0 0 4
Unknown Buteo 0 4 24
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 2 45
Total: 623 3026 8568
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Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 16:00:00
Total observation time: 8 hours
Official Counter: Tom Thomas
Observers: Brandon Holden, Colin Horstead, Eric Holden, Peter Booker,
Phil Waggett, Terry Osbourne
Visitors:
Terry Osborne, Ian Smith, Jim Watt, Brian and Gary Tannahill, Bruce and
Laurie Mackenzie, Roland, Brian Hawthorne, Dave Sked and Francis,Jennifer
and Derrick Lyon, Ron Pittaway, Jean Iron, Mark Stabb, Colin Horstead, Phil
Waggett, Peter Booker, Susan, Eric and Brandon Holden.
There were lots of visitors today that I didn't get a chance to
meet,perhaps I will see you on Friday April 10th at our Annual Open House.
Weather:
The weather today was almost perfect for watching hawks.
The temperature was a cool 3 degrees early morning, but it soon warmed
up to a pleasant eight degrees by mid-morning, it probably felt a little
warmer due to just a hint of a breeze from the north west.
Raptor Observations:
A good flight of Turkey Vultures today,with a fair number of Red-tailed
Hawks, and Sharp-shinned Hawks.
Today's flight for the most part was directly over the tower, but most
of the hawks were so high, they were at the limit of unaided vision, and
the lack of cloud cover made it even more difficult to pick out the smaller
raptors.
We did however see two immature Bald Eagles, and four Rough-legged
Hawks.
It seems our recent good tallies of Red-shouldered Hawks is coming to
and end with just one immature counted today.
Non-raptor Observations:
The fox Sparrows continue to sing, and there were several sightings of them
around the feeders, along with a male Purple Finch.
Other birds seen.......Purple Martin, Barn Swallow, Tree Swallow,
Common Loon, Red-bellied Woodpecker, and Eastern Phoebe.
Predictions:
Poor weather is predicted for the next few days.
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Report submitted by Tom Thomas ([email protected])
Beamer Conservation Area, Grimsby, ON information may be found at:
http://www.hwcn.org/link/niaghawk/
Site Description:
The hawk migration at the Beamer Memorial Conservation Area is conducted by
the Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch (NPH). The counting is all 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 the cold days of March, a black plastic wind guard is
installed around the towers 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 publically 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 the days observations 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 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. © 2008 Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch
_______________________________________________
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birding organization.
Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list [email protected]
For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
