[Ontbirds]HSR: Beamer Conservation Area (17 Apr 2008) 903 Raptors

[reports at hawkcount.org]

Beamer Conservation Area
Grimsby, Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 17, 2008
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Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture                0              1              1
Turkey Vulture              55           2376           5064
Osprey                       0             28             28
Bald Eagle                   3             11             45
Northern Harrier             4             60             85
Sharp-shinned Hawk         236            741            815
Cooper's Hawk                5             47             95
Northern Goshawk             0              2              3
Red-shouldered Hawk          5            268            606
Broad-winged Hawk          522            568            568
Red-tailed Hawk             65            818           1925
Rough-legged Hawk            0             22             54
Golden Eagle                 1              2              7
American Kestrel             5             34             49
Merlin                       0              4              5
Peregrine Falcon             0              4              6
Unknown Accipiter            0              0              3
Unknown Buteo                0              8             15
Unknown Falcon               0              2              3
Unknown Eagle                0              0              1
Unknown Raptor               2             23             28

Total:                     903           5019           9406
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Observation start time: 08:00:00 
Observation end   time: 16:00:00 
Total observation time: 8 hours

Official Counter:        Tom Thomas

Observers:        Brandon Holden, Colin Horstead, Mike Street, Peter Booker,
                  Phil Waggett, Tim King

Visitors:
The great weather today and the hopes of a good Hawk flight, brought out
many visitors......Linda Wills, Gail Ingraham,Keith Sealy, Brian Hawthorne,
John Froom,George Pond,Barrie Jones, Jim Heslop, Bob Stamp, John Olmstead,
Barrie Cherrier, Brandon Holden, Jean Iron, Ron Pittaway,Bob Curry, Glenda
Slessor, Mike Street, Mike Myers, Colin Horstead, Phil Waggett, Tim King,
David Sked, Kevin McLaughlin,Peter Booker,Marion Robertson and many
others.
       If I have left anyone out or miss spelled any names, please accept
my apologies.


Weather:
The weather today was sunny and warm. temperatures ranged from 17 degrees
C. at the start of the count, and remained steady at around 20 degrees for
most of the day.
    The winds again were very strong from the south west, but not as
severe and as gusty as yesterday. 

Raptor Observations:
    
Today's flight was dominated by Broadwinged Hawks and Sharp-shinned Hawks.

    Due to the strong winds, most of the flight today was at tree level
and we had great close up looks at the hundreds of Broadwings and
Sharpshins that came in and over the observation tower.
    Other raptors of note were a single adult Golden Eagle that came in
low and fast and only a few observers managed to see it, three Bald Eagles,
and some Red-shouldered Hawks. 

Non-raptor Observations:
   Other species seen were....Upland Sandpiper, Sandhill Crane, Fox
Sparrow,Eastern Towhee,Belted Kingfisher, Northern Rough-winged Swallow,
Barn Swallow, Common Loon and Great-blue Heron. 

Predictions:
      
   The Next few days could be very promising indeed
========================================================================
Report submitted by Tom Thomas (tthomas at cogeco.ca)
Beamer Conservation Area, Grimsby, ON information may be found at:
http://www.hwcn.org/link/niaghawk/


Site Description:
Beamer Conservation Area is located on top of the Niagara Escarpment above
the town of Grimsby, Ontario. The site is 1km south of the south shore of
Lake Ontario, 20km east of Hamilton, 40km west of Niagara Falls. 

Directions to site:
To get to Beamer CA, take the QEW to Exit 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. © 2008 Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch