Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area
Grimsby, Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 29, 2015
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 197 2028 2028
Osprey 0 0 0
Bald Eagle 0 46 46
Northern Harrier 0 6 6
Sharp-shinned Hawk 9 29 29
Cooper's Hawk 5 31 31
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 12 276 276
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0
Red-tailed Hawk 11 798 798
Rough-legged Hawk 0 13 13
Golden Eagle 0 8 8
American Kestrel 0 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: 234 3244 3244
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Observation start time: 09:00:00
Observation end time: 15:30:00
Total observation time: 6.5 hours
Official Counter: Phil Waggett
Observers: Andrew Keaveney, Bill Rapley, Craig Corcoran,
Darren Smillie, Gord Kozak, Kevin McLaughlin, Len Manning
Visitors:
Numerous visitors today, many of which helped with the count. Gord Kozak,
Len Manning, Andrew Keaveney, Barry Cherriere (who monitored activities
from the point), Jacques Giraud, Jean Iron & Ron Pittaway, Bill Rapley,
Craig Corcoran, Kevin McLaughlin, Darren Smillie, and Derryn Gill.
Weather:
Clear with 10% wispy cloud until the final 30 minutes when the sky became
overcast with an approaching front.
Very heavy SW winds with gusts at 40 k/hr. Temperatures started at --3 C
rising to 5 C; however, the significant wind chill made it feel much
colder.
Raptor Observations:
Primarily a turkey vulture flight. The heavy SW winds pushed much of the
flight below the escarpment towards the QEW--I don't believe that we
counted more than 50% of the flight from the tower; as I proceeded down
the escarpment at 3:45, I noted 4 medium sized kettles of TV's below the
escarpment (65+ birds) that were not counted.
Non-raptor Observations:
Very little migrant activity today. Robins, juncos, and the red-bellied
woodpeckers were evident around Beamer Park with several groups of geese
and ducks flying around.
Predictions:
Mixed rain & snow tonight will make for a slow start in the morning but a
variable forecast for Monday with adverse winds strongly from the west
means that the flight will be light--likely a clean-up of today's vulture
migration.
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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. © 2015 Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch
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