Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 10, 2017 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 1 Turkey Vulture 200 3189 5262 Osprey 5 11 12 Bald Eagle 0 4 25 Northern Harrier 4 23 34 Sharp-shinned Hawk 109 365 441 Cooper's Hawk 2 17 56 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 44 297 Broad-winged Hawk 1 2 2 Red-tailed Hawk 21 260 861 Rough-legged Hawk 0 6 13 Golden Eagle 0 0 4 American Kestrel 7 26 44 Merlin 0 5 10 Peregrine Falcon 0 2 4 Unknown Accipiter 1 1 1 Unknown Buteo 0 5 32 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 1 3 8 Total: 351 3963 7107 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:45:00 Observation end time: 16:30:00 Total observation time: 8.75 hours Official Counter: John Stevens Observers: Barry Cherriere, Bouwe Bergsma, Dave Sked, Don Cunliffe, Eric Holden, Keith Park Visitors: In addition to the named assistants there were: Carol Horvat, Eric Single, Barb West, Chuck Simmons, Lois Evans, Brian Hawthorn, John Hogeveen and Bruce Mackenzie. Weather: Windy and warm, make that very windy and very warm with temperature reaching 23 C and winds gusting to 70 kph. Mostly sunny with high cirrus until thicker cloud passed around 2 EST and a few sprinkles that soon ended and earlier conditions resumed. Raptor Observations: At least the wind kept the birds low but they passed so quickly it was difficult to enjoy them. A BW @ 8:15 did not presage a great day. No concentrated flight lines with birds appearing from horizon to horizon. I was very thankful for having many helpers for most of the day. Non-raptor Observations: Great Egret was a surprise migrant. Lots of flickers on the move all day. Predictions: Forecast is for warm, windy and wet although not as warm or windy as today but possibly wetter. Likely to be a reasonable flight. We saved all the eagles for tomorrow. ======================================================================== Report submitted by John Stevens () 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