Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 16, 2012 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 2 4 Turkey Vulture 50 2303 5703 Osprey 7 38 42 Bald Eagle 0 11 46 Northern Harrier 4 36 58 Sharp-shinned Hawk 145 521 854 Cooper's Hawk 7 44 105 Northern Goshawk 0 0 2 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 17 584 Broad-winged Hawk 44 107 107 Red-tailed Hawk 3 410 1762 Rough-legged Hawk 0 9 33 Golden Eagle 1 4 8 American Kestrel 3 21 37 Merlin 1 6 14 Peregrine Falcon 0 2 4 Unknown Accipiter 0 8 10 Unknown Buteo 0 4 17 Unknown Falcon 1 1 1 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 2 5 12 Total: 268 3549 9403 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:45:00 Observation end time: 17:00:00 Total observation time: 9.25 hours Official Counter: John Stevens Observers: Bouwe Bergsma, Carol Horvat, Verne Evans, stuart Laughton Visitors: Jack and Linda Homer, Andy Morgan of Burlington, Brian Hawthorne, Josh Kaell of Toronto, Murray ? Weather: Very strong SW winds preventing use of hats not tied on. Hot for the date. Great sky for watching until the last half hour when it went all blue. Band of thick low clouds between 1 and 2 EST that blew away within 30 minutes. Raptor Observations: Most birds were skimming the treetops or in the case of sharpies, coming through the trees. No birds above height 2 and most of those didn't stay there. Local CH brought an American Robin in toward the nest site in the pm. Another good Osprey flight but the buteos didn't like the wind. Non-raptor Observations: Sandhill Crane going east (sideways in the wind), two Wild Turkeys flew across into woods, one later emerging on the ground by the stinkhouse before flying west right over the tower. Predictions: Cooler and less windy but looks like all the BWs went east today so may not be much left for us. ======================================================================== 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. © 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/
