Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area
Grimsby, Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 21, 2014
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 0 2
Turkey Vulture 43 4965 6774
Osprey 2 46 47
Bald Eagle 0 18 32
Northern Harrier 2 41 53
Sharp-shinned Hawk 80 662 703
Cooper's Hawk 4 54 83
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 1 167 391
Broad-winged Hawk 232 538 538
Red-tailed Hawk 15 601 1035
Rough-legged Hawk 1 13 27
Golden Eagle 1 1 5
American Kestrel 5 24 26
Merlin 0 5 9
Peregrine Falcon 0 1 5
Unknown Accipiter 0 3 6
Unknown Buteo 4 10 69
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 6 15 17
Swainson's Hawk 0 1 1
Total: 396 7165 9823
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Observation start time: 07:00:00
Observation end time: 17:00:00
Total observation time: 10 hours
Official Counter: John Stevens
Observers: Brad Wilson, Diana Wilson, Frank Horvath, Phil Waggett,
Sandra Horvath, Tom Lane, Tom Thomas
Visitors:
Almost too many to list on this school holiday with many children in
company of their parents or grandparents. I noted the following: Paul
Summerskill, Kayo Roy, Evelyne Fleurman, Linda Robertson, the Bergsmas, the
Homers, Brandon Holden, Jean Iron, Ron Pittaway, Barry Cherriere, Ricky
Dunn and David Hussell doing his Raptorthon to raise money for HMANA.
Weather:
Partly sunny for most of the day, becoming quite warm in the afternoon with
light to moderate southerly to southwesterly winds keeping the tower very
comfortable.
Raptor Observations:
The main Broad-winged Hawk flight line was well off the edge of the
escarpment for most of the day, only coming in to the south of the tower in
the last hour and a half. Bird of the day was an adult Golden Eagle less
than 50 feet up right over the sign box heading east at 4:55 EST with only
Diana and Brad Wilson still there to see it with me.
Non-raptor Observations:
Pair of Wood Duck landed in a tree behind the outhouse, three Pintail flew
south, only a few Tree Swallow, but many White-throated Sparrow, plus E.
Towhee, Fox Sparrow, butterbutts, and the common residents.
Predictions:
Some light rain is moving in overnight but it is supposed to clear by
around noon and have pleasant temperatures with strong winds from the west.
We're in prime time but I'd expect only a modest flight.
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Report submitted by John Stevens ()
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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