Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 25, 2014 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 1 1 Turkey Vulture 35 628 628 Osprey 0 0 0 Bald Eagle 0 13 13 Northern Harrier 2 5 5 Sharp-shinned Hawk 8 20 20 Cooper's Hawk 0 16 16 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 27 88 88 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 19 265 265 Rough-legged Hawk 0 11 11 Golden Eagle 0 4 4 American Kestrel 0 2 2 Merlin 2 2 2 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 0 0 0 Total: 93 1058 1058 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 7 hours Official Counter: Tom Thomas Observers: Jim Heslop Visitors: A few visitors today, Greg, Jim Heslop, Gerry Schemelt, and others I failed to catch the names of. Weather: Another cold and windy day, with clear skies for the most part. A strong southerly wind proved to be bone chilling up on the tower, and it made for watery eyes, and after a day of scanning, I could feel my eyes starting to burn, and by late afternoon, the sky clouded over, and the promised snow flurries moved in. Raptor Observations: A better day than I expected,with a good mix of raptors. Despite the strong south wind, the majority of the birds especially the Red-shouldered Hawks passed directly over the tower. Non-raptor Observations: Two groups of Sandhill Cranes (one of three, and another of four birds) were spotted coming in from lake and heading south, Killdeer, a large flock of American Robins hung around the tower for most of the day, and by mid afternoon the sky was filled with many flocks of Mallard Ducks. Predictions: Another cold day, but it is peak season for Red-Shouldered Hawks, so they may try to get through. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Tom Thomas ([email protected]) Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area 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. © 2014 Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch
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