Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 11, 2010 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 1 Turkey Vulture 169 4129 6112 Osprey 3 17 17 Bald Eagle 3 15 49 Northern Harrier 8 46 70 Sharp-shinned Hawk 167 1357 1535 Cooper's Hawk 4 18 89 Northern Goshawk 0 0 7 Red-shouldered Hawk 1 100 504 Broad-winged Hawk 65 72 72 Red-tailed Hawk 50 644 1818 Rough-legged Hawk 1 8 25 Golden Eagle 1 2 7 American Kestrel 6 29 34 Merlin 4 7 14 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 1 4 Total: 482 6445 10373 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 8 hours Official Counter: Tom Thomas Observers: Cody Law, Colin Horstead, Derek Lyon, Jennifer Lyon Visitors: Lots of visitors today....Jean Iron and Ron Pittaway,Jennifer and Derrick Lyon, Ian Smith,Phil Waggett, Bill Rapley, Cody Law, Tim King,Colin Horstead,Kevin Mclaughlin, Frank and Sandra Horvath, Fran and Leo Versluis from Port Dalhousie, and Maria and John Bajima from Lowell Michigan. If I didn't catch your name today I will get it next time. Weather: A beautiful Spring day with temperatures ranging from a low of +7 to a high of +18 by late afternoon. The winds were light out of the north west, and there was minimal cloud. Raptor Observations: The flight was typical for this time of the year with an early morning push, the usual lunch time lull, and then another big push in the late afternoon. Today's count was difficult as the birds were coming in very high, and with very little cloud, it was difficult to pick out the birds. As the clouds moved in however we began to get a lot more success in picking out the raptors. We managed to count thirteen species, with the highlight being a second year Golden Eagle. Non-raptor Observations: Other species seen today were a Common Loon, Eastern Towhee, Purple Finch, Belted Kingfisher, Field, White-throated, and Chipping Sparrows, Purple Martin, Wood Duck and Great Blue Heron. Predictions: Sunny conditions predicted for tomorrow could be a good day for another decent flight ======================================================================== 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 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 _______________________________________________ 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/
