Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area
Grimsby, Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 14, 2011
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
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Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 75 109 109
Osprey 0 0 0
Bald Eagle 0 9 9
Northern Harrier 0 1 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 1 1
Cooper's Hawk 1 3 3
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 3 3 3
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0
Red-tailed Hawk 28 65 65
Rough-legged Hawk 1 4 4
Golden Eagle 0 0 0
American Kestrel 0 0 0
Merlin 0 0 0
Peregrine Falcon 0 1 1
Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0
Unknown Buteo 2 3 3
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 1 1 1
Total: 111 200 200
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Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 16:30:00
Total observation time: 8.25 hours
Official Counter: John Stevens
Observers: Barry Cherriere, Cody Law, Mike Furber, Nancy Furber,
Peter Thoem
Visitors:
Grace and Brendon with their Granny Donna from St. Catharines plus several
others stopping briefly.
Weather:
Clear and dry, mostly sunny after 10 until almost 5. Winds light mostly
from the north/northeast.
Raptor Observations:
First RS of the season. Local CHs displaying frequently and doing much
calling. Local SS seen in PM and local RTs were around. All TVs were
migrating.
Non-raptor Observations:
Several large flocks of Canada Geese, a pair of Wood Ducks, Song Sparrow
and at one point 11 bushy-tailed rats at the feeders.
Predictions:
Should be at least as good with rain moving in tomorrow evening.
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Report submitted by John Stevens ()
Beamer Conservation Area, Grimsby, ON information may be found at:
http://www.niagarapeninsulahawkwatch.org/
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: Data in this report is not official until reviewed and finalized
after the end of the season. © 2011 Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch
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ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial
birding organization.
Send bird reports to [email protected]
For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/