Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area
Grimsby, Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 02, 2010
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
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Black Vulture 0 0 1
Turkey Vulture 538 2102 4085
Osprey 2 4 4
Bald Eagle 0 3 37
Northern Harrier 7 20 44
Sharp-shinned Hawk 242 475 653
Cooper's Hawk 1 4 75
Northern Goshawk 0 0 7
Red-shouldered Hawk 20 72 476
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0
Red-tailed Hawk 110 281 1455
Rough-legged Hawk 2 5 22
Golden Eagle 0 0 5
American Kestrel 6 10 15
Merlin 0 1 8
Peregrine Falcon 0 0 7
Unknown Accipiter 0 0 3
Unknown Buteo 0 0 5
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 0 3
Total: 928 2977 6905
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Observation start time: 07:00:00
Observation end time: 16:00:00
Total observation time: 9 hours
Official Counter: Phil Waggett
Observers: Cody Law, Colin Horstead, Derek Lyon, Jennifer Lyon,
Sandy Darling, Tom Thomas
Visitors:
Our annual Open House attracted a crowd estimated at 500+. Hats off to Tom
Thomas for organizing this event. The primary observers were Colin
Horstead, Tom Thomas, Cody Law, Sandy Darling, Mike Williamson, Dave Don,
Dave Sked, Jennifer & Derek Lyon, Cheryl Edgecombe,
Barry Cherriere, and Richard Tofflemire.
Weather:
Unseasonably warm to 24 C, moderate SW winds with high hazy cloud becoming
overcast during the last two hours of the hawkwatch.
Raptor Observations:
A good vulture flight but disappointing after yesterday's big flight; our
best vulture numbers were during the last two hours. Apparently many
vultures were flying below the escarpment along the lakeshore and were
missed at the count site. Another good sharp-shin flight today. The
highlights were two ospreys.
Non-raptor Observations:
Good passerine activity including many golden-crowned kinglets, more
flickers, an eastern phoebe, song & fox sparrows, tree and barn swallows.
Also noted were wood ducks (local),resident red-bellied woodpeckers, a
belted kingfisher, several great-blue herons, several cormorants, and a
wild turkey.
Predictions:
Another warm day with strong winds. The flight will likely take place over
the plain near the lakeshore.
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Report submitted by Phil Waggett ()
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 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 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 day�s 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 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. © 2010 Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch
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ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial
birding organization.
Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list [email protected]
For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
