Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 30, 2015 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 238 2266 2266 Osprey 0 0 0 Bald Eagle 0 46 46 Northern Harrier 2 8 8 Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 30 30 Cooper's Hawk 8 39 39 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 12 288 288 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 6 804 804 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: 267 3511 3511 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 8 hours Official Counter: John Stevens Observers: Darren Smillie Visitors: Greg Vandervelde, Brian Hawthorne, Art Ward, and John Hogeveen Weather: Low single digit temperatures with westerly winds that were strong at times. Snow showers in the morning and a period of rain in the early afternoon. Raptor Observations: The wind in their face kept the westbound raptors low but a few eastbound birds got quite high. Local CH seen several times but no displays. Local TVs are becoming a nuisance. Sub-adult BE seen going west from the point about 12:30 EDT and a similar bird headed east at 3:30 EDT. This bird is becoming a regular visitor. Non-raptor Observations: One flock of 15 Tundra Swans and numerous flocks of Canada Geese. Not much in the way of songbird migrants although a few Killdeer flew over. Predictions: It'll be March 31st so we should have the first Osprey since it didn't come today. ======================================================================== 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. © 2015 Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch
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