Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 26, 2019 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 4 4 Turkey Vulture 168 1968 1968 Osprey 0 0 0 Bald Eagle 0 26 26 Northern Harrier 1 13 13 Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 38 38 Cooper's Hawk 1 27 27 Northern Goshawk 0 1 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 6 369 369 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 65 474 474 Rough-legged Hawk 0 9 9 Golden Eagle 0 4 4 American Kestrel 1 6 6 Merlin 0 3 3 Peregrine Falcon 0 6 6 Unknown Accipiter 0 1 1 Unknown Buteo 0 16 16 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 2 2 Total: 242 2967 2967 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 8 hours Official Counter: Tom Thomas Observers: Craig Corcoran, Darren Smillie, Peter Thoem, Phil Waggett Visitors: Visitors today included … Peter Thoem, Craig Corcoran, Darren Smillie, Bob Stamp, Phil Waggett, Marcie Jacklin, Doug Peters, Ryk Naves, Greg Vandervelde, Kevi Mclaughlin, Owen Novoselac, Jim Watt and Tina Higgins. Weather: Another cloudless day with bright blue skies. A cold north, north east wind meant it was chilly up on the tower for most of the day. there was some complaining about the cold, but these came from folks who had just returned from southern climes, or who had forgotten their winter jackets. Raptor Observations: Not a day to pop the champagne, but a steady trickle of birds, mostly Turkey Vultures and Red-tailed Hawks. There were a few Red-shouldered Hawks and some of these were immature birds. Non-raptor Observations: Not too much going on out there, but we did see a high flying Common Raven and had some good looks at an Eastern Bluebird at the top of a tree above the bird feeders. Predictions: South winds predicted, but it could be similar to todays flight. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Tom Thomas (tthomas@cogeco.ca) Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area information may be found at: http://www.niagarapeninsulahawkwatch.org/ More site information at hawkcount.org: http://hawkcount.org/siteinfo.php?rsite=389 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: 1) Data in this report is not official until reviewed and finalized after the end of the season. ©2019 Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch. 2) Vehicular traffic into the park is allowed, but visitors are asked to have their cars outside the gate by 3PM. If parking at the gate DO NOT LEAVE VALUABLES IN YOUR VEHICLE!!!