Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: May 02, 2011 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 1 Turkey Vulture 5 5 6966 Osprey 0 0 40 Bald Eagle 0 0 55 Northern Harrier 0 0 102 Sharp-shinned Hawk 16 22 1665 Cooper's Hawk 0 0 97 Northern Goshawk 0 0 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 580 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 8598 Red-tailed Hawk 2 2 1809 Rough-legged Hawk 1 1 57 Golden Eagle 1 1 8 American Kestrel 0 0 38 Merlin 0 0 13 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 9 Unknown Accipiter 0 0 2 Unknown Buteo 0 0 31 Unknown Falcon 0 0 2 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 6 Total: 25 31 20080 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 09:00:00 Observation end time: 17:00:00 Total observation time: 7.17 hours Official Counter: John Stevens Observers: Visitors: Only visitor was Dave Jensen of South River, Ontario who stopped for an hour and a bit on his way to Point Pelee. He was a good spotter. Weather: Rain in the morning that ceased before 10 EST, then heavy low cloud for a couple of hours. After thinning and noticeably warming, the cloud thickened again for a while before repeating the thinning and thickening, always cirrus. Raptor Observations: Local TVs first to start moving and seen often during the day. Local CH chased a pair of American Crows from the woods to the west. Non-raptor Observations: Two singing Brown Thrashers, one to the south and one to the north. Pileated Woodpecker in the woods to the east and a fly over by a Red-headed Woodpecker. Predictions: The forecast is for rain all day. It may be Thursday before we get much action. ======================================================================== 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/
