Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 03, 2011 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 1 Turkey Vulture 330 774 5478 Osprey 0 1 1 Bald Eagle 1 2 32 Northern Harrier 5 7 23 Sharp-shinned Hawk 50 65 128 Cooper's Hawk 0 1 51 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 46 49 521 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 114 145 1124 Rough-legged Hawk 1 1 37 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 2 3 12 Merlin 0 0 2 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 3 Unknown Accipiter 0 0 1 Unknown Buteo 5 5 26 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 1 1 3 Total: 555 1054 7443 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 8 hours Official Counter: Keith Dieroff Observers: Phil Waggett, Tom Thomas Visitors: Thanks to Phil, Tom, Barry, Linda and others on the tower (Mike, Matt, Cody, Jack) for helping with the count. Thanks to Mike Street for fixing the plastic wind guards on the tower. Many other visitors were seen throughout the day - too many to mention. Weather: Sunny in the morning with increasing cloudiness. Wind picked up as the day went on, until the wind chill was significant, making it feel more cold than the mercury suggested. Raptor Observations: Mixed flight with some low birds which were easy to identify and many higher birds which, when combined with the difficult lighting conditions, posed more of a challenge. Good variety of species. Non-raptor Observations: Several common loons throughout the day and an Eastern Phoebe late in the afternoon. Predictions: Sounds like rain tomorrow... ======================================================================== Report submitted by Keith Dieroff () Beamer Conservation Area, Grimsby, ON 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. © 2011 Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch