Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area
Grimsby, Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 13, 2019
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
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Black Vulture 0 1 5
Turkey Vulture 160 2793 5663
Osprey 0 9 9
Bald Eagle 4 9 41
Northern Harrier 3 20 39
Sharp-shinned Hawk 88 402 463
Cooper's Hawk 1 25 59
Northern Goshawk 0 1 1
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 25 408
Broad-winged Hawk 1 1 1
Red-tailed Hawk 34 214 809
Rough-legged Hawk 1 9 24
Golden Eagle 0 0 5
American Kestrel 2 8 14
Merlin 0 4 7
Peregrine Falcon 0 3 10
Unknown Accipiter 0 7 8
Unknown Buteo 0 6 24
Unknown Falcon 0 0 1
Unknown Eagle 0 1 1
Unknown Raptor 0 5 7
Total: 294 3543 7599
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Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 15:00:00
Total observation time: 7 hours
Official Counter: Phil Waggett
Observers: Denys Gardiner, Eric Single, Karl Konze, Lauren Booker,
Liam & Joshua Thorne, William Konze
Visitors:
Denys Gardiner, Lauren Booker, William & Karl Konze, Liam & Joshua Thorne,
Eric Single, and John Hogeveen helped with the count. My apologies if I
omitted anyone--we had lots of visitors today.
Weather:
A moderate south wind gave way to a very strong and sustained south wind
after the noon hour with skies becoming increasingly overcast. Clearing
did not start until 2:30.
Raptor Observations:
A rather disappointing flight dominated by turkey vultures and sharp-shins.
Much of the flight was likely pushed north over the plain and below the
escarpment by the strong south winds and not counted (on my way home at 3
pm, I noted a steady stream of TV's, RT's and shins below the escarpment).
The highlight was 2 broad-winged hawks. The high winds kept most of the
birds just over treetop.
Non-raptor Observations:
Northern flickers, tree swallows, and several skeins of cormorants made up
the majority of the migrants today. Also noted were 2 common loons, 2 pine
siskins, 1 great blue heron. One fox sparrow remains at the feeder.
Predictions:
Rain is predicted which will shutdown the flight.
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Report submitted by Phil Waggett ([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. ©2019 Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch.
2) Vehicular traffic into the park is allowed, but visitors are asked to have
their cars outside the gate by 3PM. If parking at the gate DO NOT LEAVE
VALUABLES IN YOUR VEHICLE!!!
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