Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 14, 2013 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 33 140 140 Osprey 0 1 1 Bald Eagle 2 9 9 Northern Harrier 0 0 0 Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 3 3 Cooper's Hawk 1 3 3 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 2 9 9 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 30 131 131 Rough-legged Hawk 0 3 3 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 1 4 4 Merlin 0 0 0 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Accipiter 0 1 1 Unknown Buteo 0 1 1 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 0 Total: 70 305 305 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 8 hours Official Counter: Sandy Darling Observers: Tom Thomas Visitors: Many grandparents and grandchildren. Ben Oldfield, who helped with the count, Caleb , Melina, & Ethan Rakonja, Gerry Kalnovic, Richard Dubiel, Geoff & Dorothy Coates, Debby Daniels (some good spotting), David & Rob Williams, Rose Wibaniuk Weather: A bright winter day with temperatures sharting below freezing and climbing to just above. Wind was from NW and it was cold at times. Raptor Observations: The highest count so far this year with seven species with 40% of birds observed in the last hour. Non-raptor Observations: A raven glided around at the edge of the escarpment. Other birds were common, and cardinals were singing. Predictions: Although the forecast is not good, there could be a good upflight, becaue 40% of today's birds appeared in the last hour. This morning crows started around 8:30 EST and Turkey Vultures around 8:50 ======================================================================== Report submitted by Sandy Darling () 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. © 2013 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/
