Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area
Grimsby, Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 02, 2017
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
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Black Vulture 0 0 1
Turkey Vulture 751 827 2900
Osprey 0 0 1
Bald Eagle 0 1 22
Northern Harrier 1 2 13
Sharp-shinned Hawk 25 28 104
Cooper's Hawk 4 4 43
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 12 17 270
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0
Red-tailed Hawk 63 76 677
Rough-legged Hawk 1 1 8
Golden Eagle 0 0 4
American Kestrel 3 4 22
Merlin 1 1 6
Peregrine Falcon 0 0 2
Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0
Unknown Buteo 1 1 28
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 2 2 7
Total: 864 964 4108
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Observation start time: 07:30:00
Observation end time: 17:00:00
Total observation time: 9.5 hours
Official Counter: Chris Escott
Observers: Barry Cherriere, Jean Iron, Mark Patry, Rayfield Pye,
Ron Pittaway
Visitors:
It was a busy day with about 50 visitors through the day including Mark
Patry from Ottawa, Rayfield Pye, John Stevens and two NPHW scholarship
applicants Karlie Haining and Maisie Babiski, Eric Single, Bob Curry and
Glenda Slessor, Phil Waggett, Jean Iron, Ron Pittaway, Barry Cherriere,
Kevin McLaughlin, Tim King, Marcie Jacklin, Judy Robins and many more.
Weather:
Forecast winds never really developed. There was a light SW breeze becoming
westerly, but with long periods of little breeze at all. Morning was mostly
clear sky with intermittent bits of cloud, and as the afternoon wore on it
became considerably more cloudy.
Raptor Observations:
The flight didn't really start until almost noon (STD) but from that point
on the Turkey Vultures, with a smattering of other raptors, just streamed
through. The light winds forced migrants to very high altitude, high enough
that smaller raptors like Sharp-shinned Hawk were almost impossible to spot
with the naked eye. Even the TUVU had to be counted largely by binocular as
they were both high and in many cases on flight lines inland from Beamer
(as opposed to overhead).
Non-raptor Observations:
Interesting sightings included four fly-by Eastern Bluebird and a flock of
ten Bonaparte's Gull, a Great Blue Heron and a dozen Red-breasted
Merganser. An Eastern Phoebe heard singing in the afternoon showed itself
late in the day. There were reports of both Tree and Northern Rough-winged
Swallow and - in the butterfly category - a Mourning Cloak in the woods and
an Eastern Comma that flew past the hawk watchers at the picnic tables.
Predictions:
Forecast is reasonably good with warmer temperatures, SE to E breeze, and
no rain until late in the day.
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Report submitted by Chris Escott ()
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. ©2017 Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch
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