Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 25, 2018 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 1 7 7 Turkey Vulture 63 927 943 Osprey 0 0 0 Bald Eagle 2 21 25 Northern Harrier 0 2 2 Sharp-shinned Hawk 3 12 12 Cooper's Hawk 1 15 15 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 17 82 84 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 32 268 289 Rough-legged Hawk 0 2 4 Golden Eagle 0 2 2 American Kestrel 0 3 3 Merlin 0 2 2 Peregrine Falcon 1 3 3 Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0 Unknown Buteo 0 3 3 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 0 Total: 120 1349 1394 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:45:00 Observation end time: 16:30:00 Total observation time: 8.75 hours Official Counter: Chris Escott Observers: Mourad Jabra, Rayfield Pye, Tom Thomas Visitors: Bob Stamp, Blaine and Jean Farnham, Kevin McLaughlin, Dillon White, John Black, and a few other birders came to see raptors, and a lot of hikers, families with young children and folks with dogs passed through the area. Weather: A bitterly cold day with a brisk to sometimes gusty NE wind. The day started at -7 C feeling like -14 C and, although it warmed up to just above freezing, the wind chill didn't abate. The day started with scattered cloud, becoming more cloudy as the morning went on, but the skies cleared after noon and it became hard to spot passing birds as they raced by against the clear blue sky. Raptor Observations: Steady trickle of birds all day, about half being Turkey Vultures and the remainder a mix of seven other species. Many of the Turkey Vultures flew overhead or zipped by along the edge of the escarpment whereas many of the buteos took a line overhead or farther inland. The single BLACK VULTURE, alone, may have been a "local" bird. Non-raptor Observations: A flock of 36 AMERICAN ROBIN on the grassy ditch north of the tower was notable. A pair of SANDHILL CRANE flew overhead. Otherwise there was little evidence of any Spring migration. Predictions: Ripley today had double the number of birds but much the same sort of mix with a majority of Turkey Vultures. The weather forecast for Beamer is warmer tomorrow, but with clear skies and a SE breeze becoming easterly. This suggests there will be birds passing through, but maybe not in large numbers or variety, and possibly higher up and hard to pick out of the blue sky. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Chris Escott ([email protected]) Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area information may be found at: http://www.niagarapeninsulahawkwatch.org/ More site information at hawkcount.org: http://hawkcount.org/siteinfo.php?rsite=389 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: 1) Data in this report is not official until reviewed and finalized after the end of the season. ©2018 Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch. 2) Vehicular traffic into park is restricted in March because of construction on site. Visitors can park at the gate BUT DO NOT LEAVE VALUABLES IN YOUR VEHICLE!!! _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - the provincial birding organization. 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