Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 26, 2016 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 0 1494 4620 Osprey 1 37 37 Bald Eagle 0 5 28 Northern Harrier 0 39 70 Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 550 700 Cooper's Hawk 0 56 105 Northern Goshawk 0 2 2 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 8 271 Broad-winged Hawk 0 311 311 Red-tailed Hawk 0 332 1192 Rough-legged Hawk 0 5 25 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 1 29 48 Merlin 1 9 15 Peregrine Falcon 0 2 3 Unknown Accipiter 0 5 8 Unknown Buteo 0 3 8 Unknown Falcon 0 0 2 Unknown Eagle 0 1 1 Unknown Raptor 0 10 17 Total: 4 2898 7463 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:45:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 6.25 hours Official Counter: Matt Mills Observers: Darren Smillie Visitors: Avalon Arsenault Weather: Torrential downpour during the first hour. Skies were overcast all day but gradually brightened. Brisk winds and damp air made for a chilly day. Raptor Observations: Singles of 4 different species. Osprey went by sideways. Merlin attacking a local Red-tailed Hawk. Lefty the mangled Red tail was again cruising the ridge with 2 other local adults and the pale local juvenile. Non-raptor Observations: Lots of grounded songbirds just after the rain. 15+ Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Blue-headed Vireo, 20 Yellow-rumped and 1 Pine warbler with 2 Northern Waterthrush. Also 40+ White-throated Sparrow, 2 Song, 2 Field and 1 Chipping Sparrow. Still a few Juncos at the feeder with all the expected feeder birds. Migrants overhead were 1 Common Loon, 2 Purple Martin, 1 Barn Swallow, 11 Pine Siskin Predictions: Sunny and mild with northerly winds petering out in the afternoon. There's a pile of birds just south of us so tmrw could be good, if the winds don't completely die. No guarantees. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Matt Mills () 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. © 2016 Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch