Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 19, 2015 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 6 4321 7324 Osprey 1 27 27 Bald Eagle 0 21 70 Northern Harrier 0 37 46 Sharp-shinned Hawk 4 888 924 Cooper's Hawk 0 51 108 Northern Goshawk 0 1 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 111 697 Broad-winged Hawk 39 569 569 Red-tailed Hawk 9 760 1672 Rough-legged Hawk 0 26 41 Golden Eagle 0 5 13 American Kestrel 2 22 24 Merlin 0 5 8 Peregrine Falcon 0 1 1 Unknown Accipiter 0 5 5 Unknown Buteo 0 30 34 Unknown Falcon 0 1 1 Unknown Eagle 0 1 2 Unknown Raptor 0 2 4 Total: 61 6884 11571 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 7 hours Official Counter: Phil Waggett Observers: Karl Konze, Matt Mills, Michael Sandell, William Konze Visitors: Frank Morley and his grandson, James Maxwell. Terry Osborne, Craig Corcoran, Karl and William Konze, Matt Mills and Michael Sandell. Weather: Strong north-north east wind with high hazy cloud cover which was around 40% most of the day but reached 100% with the approach of a weather front by 3 pm. Raptor Observations: A very small flight reflecting an "empty pipeline"; it appears that the main broadwing flight is bootled up somewhere south of Lake Erie. Not much variety today. The local TV's, male cooper's hawk and local red-tails were active today. Non-raptor Observations: Not much in the way of migratory activity although double crested cormorants were frequently observed. Seen at the feeder were chipping, song, and white-throated sparrows. Other migrants observed included common loons (2), several purple martins, belted kingfisher (2), a pair of wood ducks, and several bonaparte's gulls. Predictions: With a thin pipeline, lots of rain, and generally unfavourable winds, no migration is likely. ======================================================================== 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
_______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide
