Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 24, 2017 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 1 1 Turkey Vulture 66 455 492 Osprey 0 0 0 Bald Eagle 1 14 17 Northern Harrier 0 1 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk 4 16 17 Cooper's Hawk 1 19 19 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 1 68 68 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 9 253 289 Rough-legged Hawk 0 3 3 Golden Eagle 0 2 2 American Kestrel 6 10 10 Merlin 1 3 3 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0 Unknown Buteo 0 3 3 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 1 5 Total: 89 849 930 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 09:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 7 hours Official Counter: Tom Thomas Observers: Darren Smillie, Matt Mills Visitors: BillCuddy, Joanne Redwood, Barry Cherriere, John Ogeven. Weather: The weather predictions calling for 90% chance for rain showers didn't materialize, and we had a warm pleasant day but just a little windy from the south at times. Raptor Observations: Even though there was a large window of good weather, there was not much of a flight, as even the Turkey Vultures were finding it hard to make headway, and were coming over at treetop height. we counted six Kestrels, and one Merlin that landed in a tree not too far out from the tower, and posed there for a while. one immature Bald Eagle. Non-raptor Observations: The morning skies were awash with migrating birds.....Tundra Swan 90, Snow Goose, 3 white and 1 blue, Green-winged Teal 1, Red-breasted Merganser 9, Killdeer 74, Great Blue Heron 5, Belted Kingfisher 1, Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1, Horned Lark 11, American Robin 200 +, Common Grackle 275+, Song Sparrow, Tree Swallow, Mourning Cloak,..... Barry Cherriere. Predictions: Looks like a lot of rain coming in ======================================================================== Report submitted by Tom Thomas (ttho...@cogeco.ca) 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
