Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 06, 2012 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 1 3 Turkey Vulture 98 1686 5086 Osprey 6 14 18 Bald Eagle 6 6 41 Northern Harrier 1 11 33 Sharp-shinned Hawk 14 64 397 Cooper's Hawk 4 18 79 Northern Goshawk 0 0 2 Red-shouldered Hawk 1 3 570 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 37 209 1561 Rough-legged Hawk 0 2 26 Golden Eagle 0 3 7 American Kestrel 1 5 21 Merlin 0 2 10 Peregrine Falcon 0 1 3 Unknown Accipiter 1 7 9 Unknown Buteo 0 3 16 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 2 9 Total: 169 2037 7891 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 16:15:00 Total observation time: 8.25 hours Official Counter: Mike Street Observers: Colin Horstead, David Weare, Phil Waggett, Sandy Darling Visitors: Thanks to Barry Cherriere for acting as MC for the unveiling of the memorial benches for Dave Copeland, initiator of the formal hawkwatch at Beamer in 1975, and Bruce Duncan, first President of the Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch. We were very pleased to have Dave's and Bruce's families present. Thanks also to our partners at Beamer CA, the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority, for their help setting things up for the Open House, Carla Carlson for the children's progam, James Cowan of the Canadian Raptor Conservancy for the live raptor demonstartaions,and the hundreds of visitors. Weather: Great weather for our 22nd annual Good Friday Open House - blue skies all day with north winds, temperature rising nicely and winds diminishing later in the afternoon. Raptor Observations: Slow but steady flight highlighted by 6 Osprey and 6 Bald Eagles (4 adult, 1 third year, 1 imm with missing feathers) Thanks to additional observers: Barry & Linda Cherriere, Frank & Sandra Horvath, Jean Iron, Marcie Jacklin, Cody Law, Derek & Jennifer Lyon, Tom Thomas, Richard & Andalyne Tofflemire. Non-raptor Observations: Purple Finch, Eastern Phoebe, two Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers Predictions: Tomorrow's flight should be similar to today's - slow but steady. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Mike Street ([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
_______________________________________________ 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/
