Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 02, 2010 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 1 Turkey Vulture 538 2102 4085 Osprey 2 4 4 Bald Eagle 0 3 37 Northern Harrier 7 20 44 Sharp-shinned Hawk 242 475 653 Cooper's Hawk 1 4 75 Northern Goshawk 0 0 7 Red-shouldered Hawk 20 72 476 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 110 281 1455 Rough-legged Hawk 2 5 22 Golden Eagle 0 0 5 American Kestrel 6 10 15 Merlin 0 1 8 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 7 Unknown Accipiter 0 0 3 Unknown Buteo 0 0 5 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 3 Total: 928 2977 6905 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 9 hours Official Counter: Phil Waggett Observers: Cody Law, Colin Horstead, Derek Lyon, Jennifer Lyon, Sandy Darling, Tom Thomas Visitors: Our annual Open House attracted a crowd estimated at 500+. Hats off to Tom Thomas for organizing this event. The primary observers were Colin Horstead, Tom Thomas, Cody Law, Sandy Darling, Mike Williamson, Dave Don, Dave Sked, Jennifer & Derek Lyon, Cheryl Edgecombe, Barry Cherriere, and Richard Tofflemire. Weather: Unseasonably warm to 24 C, moderate SW winds with high hazy cloud becoming overcast during the last two hours of the hawkwatch. Raptor Observations: A good vulture flight but disappointing after yesterday's big flight; our best vulture numbers were during the last two hours. Apparently many vultures were flying below the escarpment along the lakeshore and were missed at the count site. Another good sharp-shin flight today. The highlights were two ospreys. Non-raptor Observations: Good passerine activity including many golden-crowned kinglets, more flickers, an eastern phoebe, song & fox sparrows, tree and barn swallows. Also noted were wood ducks (local),resident red-bellied woodpeckers, a belted kingfisher, several great-blue herons, several cormorants, and a wild turkey. Predictions: Another warm day with strong winds. The flight will likely take place over the plain near the lakeshore. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Phil Waggett () Beamer Conservation Area, Grimsby, ON information may be found at: http://www.hwcn.org/link/niaghawk/ Site Description: The hawk migration at the Beamer Memorial Conservation Area is conducted by the Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch (NPH). The counting is all 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 the cold days of 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 publically 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 the day�s observations 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. © 2010 Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch