Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 10, 2014 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 2 Turkey Vulture 323 4352 6161 Osprey 6 20 21 Bald Eagle 0 14 28 Northern Harrier 3 21 33 Sharp-shinned Hawk 92 272 313 Cooper's Hawk 1 25 54 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 1 149 373 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 11 421 855 Rough-legged Hawk 0 7 21 Golden Eagle 0 0 4 American Kestrel 4 10 12 Merlin 1 5 9 Peregrine Falcon 0 1 5 Unknown Accipiter 0 0 3 Unknown Buteo 0 1 60 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 5 7 Total: 442 5303 7961 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 8 hours Official Counter: Sandy Darling Observers: Andy Morgan, David Weare, Terry Osborne, Tom Thomas Visitors: Many came expecting a large flight, but the wind drove most away by mid-afternoon. Leon Schlichter, Judy Kurramoto, Terry Osbourne, Tom Thomas, Dave Weare, Jean Iron, Ron Pittaway, Andy Morgan, Sandra Shields, Barry Cherriere, George Holland, Bob Stamp, Jim Heslop, Leslie Urquhart, Diane Dabrowski, Glenn Barnett, Michael Sandell Weather: Windy, Wild, Warm Weather with Wispy cloud. Constant strong winds from the south with gusts of at least force 7 meant that there were few buteos, and songbirds were hunkered down. Rain started as we were closing the board at the end of a full day. Raptor Observations: Despite the strong winds Sharp-shinned Hawks put in their best flight of the year. 6 Ospreys and 4 American Kestrels were note-worthy - in addition, an observer at the point saw an additional Osprey which never appeared above the escarpment. Flight was low and constant after the first hour. Non-raptor Observations: It was a day for hirundae: >10 Tree Swallows, 1 Purple Martin, 1 Barn Swallow, and Northern Roughwings. Flicker(s) flew across the field multiple times. Predictions: Rain is predicted so flight will be affected ======================================================================== Report submitted by Sandy Darling () 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. © 2014 Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch