Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 01, 2017 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 1 Turkey Vulture 76 76 2149 Osprey 0 0 1 Bald Eagle 1 1 22 Northern Harrier 1 1 12 Sharp-shinned Hawk 3 3 79 Cooper's Hawk 0 0 39 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 5 5 258 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 13 13 614 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 7 Golden Eagle 0 0 4 American Kestrel 1 1 19 Merlin 0 0 5 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 2 Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0 Unknown Buteo 0 0 27 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 5 Total: 100 100 3244 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 8 hours Official Counter: Phil Waggett Observers: Andrew Don, Barry Cherriere, Bruce Campbell, Matt Mills Visitors: Several visitors. Matt Mills & Sandy Darling conducted a Hawk Identification Workshop that was attended by approx. 25 people. Also visiting were Jennifer & Derek Lyon, Barry Cherriere, Andrew Don, Tim Foran, Sara Handrigan, Lois Evans, and Bruce Campbell. Weather: Overcast for most of the morning with skies gradually clearing at 1pm. A moderate north to north-west wind in the morning gradually diminishing as the day progressed. Temperature stayed cool at 2 deg.C. in the morning rising to 7 degrees in the afternoon. Raptor Observations: Migratory activity as expected was light today, primarily turkey vultures. Local TV's were very active today, as were the local coops (displaying at least 3 times) and red-tails. The highlight was an adult bald eagle which soared over the tower at 2:18. Non-raptor Observations: A few migrants were noted--great blue herons, common loon (1), an eastern phoebe, and a few song sparrows. Also a quiet day. A red fox was observed immediately south of the tower. Predictions: Fairweather with a light westerly wind--likely a better flight than today, especially buteos. Monday is looking very good with fair weather until late when a front crosses the area but the east winds forecast should be very favourable. ======================================================================== 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. ©2017 Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca 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 Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists