Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area
Grimsby, Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 09, 2011
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
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Black Vulture 0 0 1
Turkey Vulture 236 1204 5908
Osprey 6 7 7
Bald Eagle 3 5 35
Northern Harrier 7 23 39
Sharp-shinned Hawk 101 214 277
Cooper's Hawk 4 11 61
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 21 87 559
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0
Red-tailed Hawk 247 450 1429
Rough-legged Hawk 4 7 43
Golden Eagle 0 0 0
American Kestrel 0 5 14
Merlin 0 0 2
Peregrine Falcon 0 0 3
Unknown Accipiter 0 1 2
Unknown Buteo 0 6 27
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 1 3
Total: 629 2021 8410
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Observation start time: 07:30:00
Observation end time: 16:30:00
Total observation time: 8 hours
Official Counter: Cody Law, Phil Waggett
Observers: Barry Cherriere, Cody Law, Dave Sked, David Weare,
Linda Cherriere, Mike Walker, Sandy Darling, Terry Osborne,
Tim King, Tom Thomas
Visitors:
A special thanks to everyone who participated in the count, particularly
Cody Law, Tom Thomas, David Weare,Dave Sked, Tim King, Sandy Darling and
Terry Osborne. Also helping were Sandra Horvath, Barry and Linda Cherriere,
Mike Walker, Kevin McLaughlin, and Jacques Giraud. Caroline Schultz
(Executive-Director of ON Nature) and her husband, Mark, visited today. My
apologies to anyone I omitted.
Weather:
Nice spring day with cool winds from the east and north-east at 10-15
km/hr. Hazy, high cloud covering around 50% of the sky. Temperature
reached 10 degrees celsius.
Raptor Observations:
Good flights of sharp-shins and red-tails. Three bald eagles, all 2nd year
birds. The rough-legged hawks were 2 dark form and 2 light. Fifteen of
the twenty Red Shoulders were still adult birds. Local coops and TV's were
active for most of the day.
Non-raptor Observations:
A nice variety of spring migrants--several common loons, 2 pairs of wood
ducks, belted kingfisher, 4 bonaparte's gulls, tree swallows, purple
martin, great blue heron, northern flicker. The highlight was a tufted
titmouse which sang contantly and led photographers on a merry chase around
the parking lot.
Predictions:
Might be good for the upflight in the morning but rain will most certainly
develop into the afternoon.
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Report submitted by Phil Waggett ()
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/
