Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 17, 2014 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 2 Turkey Vulture 17 4869 6678 Osprey 2 37 38 Bald Eagle 0 17 31 Northern Harrier 0 32 44 Sharp-shinned Hawk 38 510 551 Cooper's Hawk 1 45 74 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 2 162 386 Broad-winged Hawk 115 147 147 Red-tailed Hawk 27 539 973 Rough-legged Hawk 1 10 24 Golden Eagle 0 0 4 American Kestrel 0 18 20 Merlin 0 5 9 Peregrine Falcon 0 1 5 Unknown Accipiter 0 3 6 Unknown Buteo 0 6 65 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 1 9 11 Total: 204 6410 9068 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 14:45:00 Total observation time: 6.75 hours Official Counter: Sandy Darling Observers: David Weare, Terry Osborne, Tom Thomas Visitors: Dave Weare, Tom Thomas, Digby Sales, Skip Gilham, Felix Barbeti, Ian Smith, Terry Osbourne, Chris Bailey, Bob Stamp, Jim Heslop, Sam Berone, Barry Cherriere. The kindergarten classes from College Street School, Smithville; they arrived just as migration slowed to a trickle. Weather: Temperature rose from just above freezing to about 7C. Winds started variable between south and east, and ended up from north-east. Some hazy cloud that helped viewing. Raptor Observations: In one splendid hour (11:00 to 12:00) we had 112 raptors (over half the count), but migration closed off in the early afternoon. Non-raptor Observations: Highlights were Eastern Towhee and Fox Sparrow. A Blue-gray Gnatcatcher put in a brief appearance. Predictions: Lots of people to be at Open House. There should be lots of birds to come if conditions are right. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Sandy Darling () 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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