Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area
Grimsby, Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 10, 2012
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
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Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 10 41 41
Osprey 0 0 0
Bald Eagle 6 7 7
Northern Harrier 1 2 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 5 5
Cooper's Hawk 1 9 9
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 19 25 25
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0
Red-tailed Hawk 97 141 145
Rough-legged Hawk 0 2 3
Golden Eagle 2 2 2
American Kestrel 0 3 3
Merlin 0 0 0
Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0
Unknown Buteo 0 0 0
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 0 0
Total: 137 237 242
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Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 16:00:00
Total observation time: 8 hours
Official Counter: Tom Thomas
Observers: Cody Law, Tim Foran
Visitors:
There were some visitors early in the day, but since I was the only
observer I didn't get a chance to ask for names.
later however we were graced by Frank Horvath, Nigel Gough, Tim
Foran, Cody Law, Joyce Litster, and Fran Hicks,
Weather:
Another cold day for hawk counting. Moderate north winds in the early
morning gave way to stronger winds from the south and south west in the
afternoon.There was no precipitation,and the sky was cloudy with sunny
periods, but a haze lingered over the Escarpment, and unfortunately this
was where the majority of today's flight took place.
Raptor Observations:
A good hawk flight today, with both eagle species showing up,however you
had to be on your toes all the while as birds were following the escarpment
edge to the north of the viewing tower and could not be seen from the
ground. Not many birds came in over the tower, or to the south,and in some
instances birds could only be identified with a scope for a brief period
before they would vanish in the haze.
Bald Eagles....... Five adults and one immature.
Golden Eagles.......Two adults.
Northern Harrier.......Female
Non-raptor Observations:
There were 6 flights of Tundra Swans, a Song Sparrow at the feeders, and a
single Killdeer in the late afternoon.
Predictions:
Strong south west winds are predicted, but with warmer temperatures.
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Report submitted by Tom Thomas ([email protected])
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. © 2012 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/
