Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 27, 2013 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 230 1505 1505 Osprey 0 1 1 Bald Eagle 10 22 22 Northern Harrier 0 4 4 Sharp-shinned Hawk 8 20 20 Cooper's Hawk 0 26 26 Northern Goshawk 0 1 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 14 58 58 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 61 472 472 Rough-legged Hawk 2 8 8 Golden Eagle 0 1 1 American Kestrel 2 7 7 Merlin 0 1 1 Peregrine Falcon 0 1 1 Unknown Accipiter 0 1 1 Unknown Buteo 0 1 1 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 1 2 2 Total: 328 2131 2131 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 14:00:00 Total observation time: 6 hours Official Counter: Sandra Horvath Observers: Bouwe Bergsma, Frank Horvath, Gord Kozak, Phil Waggett Visitors: Greg Vandervelde, Toni Carson, Doris Southwell, a home schooled group of 11 children and 4 adults, Linda and Jack Homer, Rose, Jenny, Jacky and Julie Scott, Debbie, Ty and Bell Daniels, Heather and Richard Hannah from Sault Saint Marie, Eric and Molly, Sue Walton and Quincy, Donald Perks and his wife. Weather: Nice mild morning with SW winds. A snow squall to the south at 9:45 sent the flight high and to the north of the tower. By noon the wind had shifted to the north and the temperature dropped. This brought the flight to a halt around 1:30. At 2 PM rain and ice pellets ended the count. Many thanks to the observers of the day... Bouwie Bergsma, Gord Kozak, Phil Waggett and Frank Horvath. Raptor Observations: 10 Bald Eagles! 2nd year BAEA at 8:50, Adult BAEA at 9:45, 3rd year BAEA at 10:10, immature BAEA at 10:15, 1st year BAEA at 10:35, immature BAEA at 10:45, 2nd year BAEA at 11:25, adult BAEA at 12:20, 1st year BAEA at 12:25, 3rd year BAEA at 12:25 2 Rough-legged Hawks Non-raptor Observations: 6 Snow Geese, 1 Killdeer, 1 Common Loon, Northern Flicker. Had a good view of crows chasing a Great Horned Owl along the edge of the escarpment near the quarry. Predictions: With sun in the forecast ... a good flight is possible. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Sandra Horvath () 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
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