Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area
Grimsby, Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 20, 2012
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
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Black Vulture 0 2 4
Turkey Vulture 18 2455 5855
Osprey 3 46 50
Bald Eagle 0 16 51
Northern Harrier 3 52 74
Sharp-shinned Hawk 59 932 1265
Cooper's Hawk 6 68 129
Northern Goshawk 1 2 4
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 24 591
Broad-winged Hawk 20 1226 1226
Red-tailed Hawk 8 545 1897
Rough-legged Hawk 0 10 34
Golden Eagle 0 7 11
American Kestrel 6 36 52
Merlin 0 6 14
Peregrine Falcon 0 2 4
Unknown Accipiter 1 9 11
Unknown Buteo 5 12 25
Unknown Falcon 0 1 1
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 5 12
Total: 130 5456 11310
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Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 16:00:00
Total observation time: 8 hours
Official Counter: John Black
Observers: Dan Salisbury, Dave Don, Jean Iron, Michael King,
Sandra Horvath
Visitors:
Roberta McKenzie, Barbara, Don Perks, Ron Pittaway, Kevin McLaughlin,
Cheryl Edgecombe, Frank Horvath
Weather:
Slight to moderate overcast. Light winds from the North changed to strong
winds from the south over the course of the observation period.
Raptor Observations:
Very few Broad-winged Hawks. Birds were quite high in the early hours but
shifted to tree level as the winds developed coming from the south.
Non-raptor Observations:
Common Loon (1) , Great Blue Heron (2), Caspian Tern (1), Brown Thrasher (2
singing birds), Purple Martin, Chimney Swift, Gnatcatcher, Siskin, Purple
Finch.
Predictions:
The weather is not looking good for April 21 otherwise a large movement of
Broad -winged Hawks would be a reasonable prediction. Perhaps on Sunday
April 22.
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Report submitted by John Black ()
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/
