Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 26, 2015 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 50 4395 7398 Osprey 5 36 36 Bald Eagle 0 24 73 Northern Harrier 0 49 58 Sharp-shinned Hawk 5 1002 1038 Cooper's Hawk 2 63 120 Northern Goshawk 0 1 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 112 698 Broad-winged Hawk 32 2293 2293 Red-tailed Hawk 7 770 1682 Rough-legged Hawk 1 29 44 Golden Eagle 0 5 13 American Kestrel 0 30 32 Merlin 1 6 9 Peregrine Falcon 3 4 4 Unknown Accipiter 0 5 5 Unknown Buteo 1 31 35 Unknown Falcon 0 1 1 Unknown Eagle 0 1 2 Unknown Raptor 0 2 4 Total: 107 8859 13546 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 8 hours Official Counter: Brian Mishell Observers: Peter Thoem, Ron Pittaway Visitors: Lots of visitors from about 10 a.m. onwards which included Ron Pittaway,Jean Iron, Brandon Holden and Matt Mills as well as Barry cheriere Weather: Cloudy to start then gradual clearing but the afternoon saw increasing cloud cover. Winds were light from the Northeast all day. Temperature varied from 6C to 10C Light rain started to fall in the last hour Raptor Observations: After the large movement of broadwings yesterday this was a disappointment but we did get 9 species including 3 PEFA. All movement ceased from about 2.15 pm onwards Non-raptor Observations: There several sightings of Common Loons throughout the day. usual passerines Predictions: MY forecasting is poor but in view of the weather is not expected to change much I imagine only a so so day ======================================================================== Report submitted by Brian Mishell () 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. © 2015 Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch