Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 19, 2015 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 315 613 613 Osprey 0 0 0 Bald Eagle 10 24 24 Northern Harrier 2 4 4 Sharp-shinned Hawk 5 10 10 Cooper's Hawk 8 19 19 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 156 158 158 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 321 446 446 Rough-legged Hawk 4 11 11 Golden Eagle 3 4 4 American Kestrel 0 0 0 Merlin 1 3 3 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0 Unknown Buteo 0 0 0 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 0 Total: 825 1292 1292 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 16:15:00 Total observation time: 8.25 hours Official Counter: Sandy Darling Observers: Barry Cherriere, Dave Sked, Phil Waggett, Tom Thomas Visitors: Tom Thomas, Barry Cherriere, Phil Wagget, Dave Sled, Darren Smillie and Mike Walker helped with the count. A number of families came with eagle-eyed youngsters. and others from whom I did not get names in the flurry of activity. Donna Bachur arrived before the flurry Weather: Clear day with no wind to start. Later winds were light from north-east to east. Temperatures started below freezing and ended a few degrees above. Raptor Observations: REVISED REPORT A banner day for mid-March with 825 migrants in 10 species. Highlights included 10 Bald Eagles, 3 Golden Eagles, 156 Red-shouldered Hawks, 4 Rough-legged Hawks and 3 Northern Harriers. As one observer found out, it was dangerous to take a bathroom break, but the rest of us enjoyed two Golden Eagles in his absence. Non-raptor Observations: Kildeer called and one was observed. Duck species flying included Mallard, Northern Pintail, Common Merganser, Common Goldeneye, Predictions: If the weather is good, there could be another good flight, because birds continues to come late in the day. ======================================================================== 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. © 2015 Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch
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