Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area
Grimsby, Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 24, 2015
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 220 1500 1500
Osprey 0 0 0
Bald Eagle 6 42 42
Northern Harrier 0 6 6
Sharp-shinned Hawk 5 18 18
Cooper's Hawk 3 26 26
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 66 261 261
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0
Red-tailed Hawk 107 766 766
Rough-legged Hawk 0 12 12
Golden Eagle 1 8 8
American Kestrel 1 2 2
Merlin 0 3 3
Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0
Unknown Buteo 0 1 1
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 1 1
Unknown Raptor 0 2 2
Total: 409 2648 2648
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Observation start time: 08:15:00
Observation end time: 16:30:00
Total observation time: 8.25 hours
Official Counter: Matt Mills
Observers: Barry Cherriere, Bouwe Bergsma, Dave Sked, John Stevens,
Phil Waggett
Visitors:
Many keen-eyed visitors made for an enjoyable afternoon.
One gentleman - sporting cracked ribs no less - kept magically pulling
birds from the blue.
Greg Vandervelde, John H., Craig from NOTL, Darren Smilley, Sue, and
several others.
Weather:
Blue sky blindness! A cold morning became a somewhat pleasant afternoon as
the NE winds gradually eased. Not a cloud in the sky.
Raptor Observations:
Local Cooper's Hawk pair very active all morning.
A good run of buteos in the afternoon and some late-day Vultures.
Crippling views of a low adult Golden Eagle (1:55).
Bald Eagles:
1 ad. 1:33
1 distant subad. 1:45
1 ad. 2:25
1 ad. 3:45
1 ad. 3:58
1 subad. III 4:12
Non-raptor Observations:
1 C. Raven, ~20 migrating Am. Crows, ~125 Canada Geese, 2 Am. Black Duck, 1
Horned Lark.
2 Golden-crowned Kinglets just about landed on the tower mid-afternoon.
Predictions:
Rain and gusty winds. Doesn't look promising for a raptor flight.
Depending on the duration and intensity of the precipitation there could be
a pile of vultures just crazy enough to make a run for it.
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Report submitted by Matt Mills ()
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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