Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area
Grimsby, Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 23, 2013
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 112 377 377
Osprey 0 1 1
Bald Eagle 0 11 11
Northern Harrier 1 3 3
Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 4 4
Cooper's Hawk 1 12 12
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 1 13 13
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0
Red-tailed Hawk 17 237 237
Rough-legged Hawk 1 5 5
Golden Eagle 0 1 1
American Kestrel 0 4 4
Merlin 0 1 1
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: 133 671 671
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 15:30:00
Total observation time: 7.5 hours
Official Counter: Phil Waggett
Observers: Cody Law, Dave Dickson, Jane Hamilton, Michael Press,
Mike Street, Phil Downey, Rick Connelly
Visitors:
Mike Street was kept busy with Hawk Identification Workshops which were
well attended. Early participants included Doris Southwell, Tim Lucas, Rob
Simpson, Irene Almas,and Eric D. Cody Law, Dave Dickson, Jane Hamilton,
Mike Press, Phil Downey, and Rick Connelly helped observe the flight
Weather:
Mix of sun and cloud in the morning turning to mainly sunny in the
afternoon with moderate/light northwest winds. Temperature rising to 4 C.
Raptor Observations:
The flight was predominantly turkey vultures. The rough-leg was a dark
form. Local red-tails and cooper's hawks were active, primarily in the
morning.
Non-raptor Observations:
One tundra swan, two killdeers, and one great blue heron were the
highlights among very few migrants. Only robins were relatively numerous
with little blackbird activity. The local red-bellied woodpecker was seen
a few times.
Predictions:
Weather will be like today with a flight that is likely an improvement on
today. Ripley, NY had a large vulture flight (649) today which is often a
sign of better things for Beamer.
========================================================================
Report submitted by Phil Waggett ()
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/
