Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area
Grimsby, Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 29, 2014
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 2 2
Turkey Vulture 140 1164 1164
Osprey 1 1 1
Bald Eagle 0 14 14
Northern Harrier 1 10 10
Sharp-shinned Hawk 3 34 34
Cooper's Hawk 1 22 22
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 12 169 169
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0
Red-tailed Hawk 32 356 356
Rough-legged Hawk 1 13 13
Golden Eagle 0 4 4
American Kestrel 0 2 2
Merlin 2 4 4
Peregrine Falcon 0 1 1
Unknown Accipiter 0 2 2
Unknown Buteo 0 2 2
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 1 1
Total: 193 1801 1801
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Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 15:00:00
Total observation time: 7 hours
Official Counter: Phil Waggett
Observers: Ellen & Jerry Horak, Greg Vandervelde, Hugh Currie,
Irene Almas, Tim Foran, Tim Lucas, Tom Flinn
Visitors:
Tim Lucas (Waterford), Irene Almas (NOTL), Hugh Currie, Tim Foran and Tom
Flinn (Toronto), Greg Vandervelde, and
Ellen & Jerry Horak helped with the count today.
Weather:
Overcast and cold (1 C) with a biting north-north-east wind. Low hanging
clouds with mist/fog patches, especially late morning.
Raptor Observations:
Considering the weather, a good flight dominated by turkey vultures. The
season's first osprey and a dark rough-legged hawk were the day's
highlights. Local TV's were very active as were the pair of red-tails on
the escarpment.
Non-raptor Observations:
Four great blue herons, a common loon, and an eastern phoebe of what was a
slow day in migration. A notable uptick in migrating blue jays was noted
today.
Predictions:
If the approaching storm system clears tonight, we should see a resumption
of the flight by late tomorrow morning.
The main red-shoulder flight has yet to materialize and the many vultures
that migrated past Ripley have yet to arrive in any numbers. Monday will
likely be an excellent flight.
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Report submitted by Phil Waggett ()
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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