Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 26, 2018 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 7 Turkey Vulture 21 5922 7263 Osprey 0 43 43 Bald Eagle 2 15 45 Northern Harrier 0 31 33 Sharp-shinned Hawk 12 643 667 Cooper's Hawk 4 48 73 Northern Goshawk 0 1 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 58 207 Broad-winged Hawk 51 848 848 Red-tailed Hawk 20 481 952 Rough-legged Hawk 0 11 16 Golden Eagle 0 0 2 American Kestrel 0 24 29 Merlin 2 10 12 Peregrine Falcon 0 5 8 Unknown Accipiter 0 3 3 Unknown Buteo 3 16 22 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 1 1 Unknown Raptor 0 6 6 Total: 115 8166 10238 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:45:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 8.25 hours Official Counter: Sandy Darling Observers: Tom Thomas Visitors: Bruce Campbell and John Hogeven were very helpful in the count. Weather: A pleasant day with variable winds from NW to SW. Raptor Observations: Relatively small flight, probably because of pipeline restrictions (weather related, not political). Most Broad-wings came in high, beyond visible sight and required binoculars and in some cases 12 power binoculars. It is conceivable that some birds were missed, especially Sharp-shins. Non-raptor Observations: 27 non-raptor species, including Eastern Towhee at feeders, Belted Kingfisher, many cormorants and 4 hirundines (including Rough-winged swallows). Predictions: Most of the Broad-wings came in the last two hours and Ripley had more Broad-wings that we did today, so it could be a good flight and a good count if the birds are lower and there is a little more cloud. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Sandy Darling (darlinga@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. ©2018 Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch. 2) Vehicular traffic is again allowed into the park, 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!!!