Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area
Grimsby, Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 28, 2011
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
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Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 588 3675 3675
Osprey 0 0 0
Bald Eagle 0 30 30
Northern Harrier 0 15 15
Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 52 52
Cooper's Hawk 2 43 43
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 2 394 394
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0
Red-tailed Hawk 10 863 863
Rough-legged Hawk 0 32 32
Golden Eagle 0 0 0
American Kestrel 1 8 8
Merlin 1 2 2
Peregrine Falcon 0 2 2
Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0
Unknown Buteo 0 21 21
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 1 1
Total: 606 5138 5138
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Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 17:00:00
Total observation time: 9 hours
Official Counter: John Stevens
Observers: Barry Cherriere, Carol Horvat, David Weare, John Black,
John Niewiadomski, Linda Cherriere, Mike Kirchin, Tim King
Visitors:
Assisting with the count on the tower; Dave Weare, John Niewiadomski, Mike
Kirchen, John Black, Tim King and Carol Horvat: and from the ground; Barry
and Linda Cherriere and Verne Evans.
Weather:
Cloudless sky all day with light winds from the west and north providing
lift off the escarpment. Cold for the date but bearable on the tower.
Raptor Observations:
Lots of TVs from the escarpment edge to south beyond the houses. Little
variety aside from keeping track of which ones were moving east from those
migrating west. Local RT seen along the escarpment edge and male CH seen
flying a few times.
Non-raptor Observations:
One Great Blue Heron near the end of the day but not much else moving.
Predictions:
Slightly warmer but still sunny. The variety may increase.
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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
_______________________________________________
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/
