[Ontbirds]HSR: Beamer Conservation Area (19 Apr 2008) 459 Raptors

Sat Apr 19 22:04:41 EDT 2008

Beamer Conservation Area
Grimsby, Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 19, 2008
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Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture                0              1              1
Turkey Vulture              62           2521           5209
Osprey                       3             34             34
Bald Eagle                   2             18             52
Northern Harrier            10             89            114
Sharp-shinned Hawk         167           1395           1469
Cooper's Hawk                4             63            111
Northern Goshawk             0              2              3
Red-shouldered Hawk          1            290            628
Broad-winged Hawk          172           1666           1666
Red-tailed Hawk             10            951           2058
Rough-legged Hawk            1             26             58
Golden Eagle                 0              3              8
American Kestrel            21             74             89
Merlin                       1              7              8
Peregrine Falcon             1              5              7
Unknown Accipiter            0              0              3
Unknown Buteo                0              8             15
Unknown Falcon               0              2              3
Unknown Eagle                0              0              1
Unknown Raptor               4             27             32

Total:                     459           7182          11569
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Observation start time: 06:15:00 
Observation end   time: 16:45:00 
Total observation time: 10.5 hours

Official Counter:        Chris Escott

Observers:        

Visitors:
Jacques Giraud, Jennifer Lyon and Derek, Linda Wills & Reno Favro, Colin
Horstead, Marlene, Brian Hawthorne, Don Pfeffer, Sandra Davey, Barry &
Linda Cherriere, Martin Vance, Mike Williamson, Bob Curry & Glenda Slessor,
Phil Wagget, Kevin McLaughlin, Brandon Holden, Tom Thomas, Alf McGrath and
a number of others.

Weather:
Relatively clear with high cloud all day, winds low and NE to sometimes N,
temperatures in the 10-15 degree Celsius range with the breeze off the lake
making it feel much cooler than further inland.

Raptor Observations:
Broad-wing numbers were promising earlier in the day but tapered off to a
trickle by midday. From then onwards, numbers of birds were fewer but
variety was substantially better as we got to 13 species of raptor on the
day.

Non-raptor Observations:
Passerines are becoming more numerous and included a flock of 5-6 Purple
Finch, a Bohemian Waxwing in a small flock of Cedar Waxwing, a Pine
Warbler, an Eastern Phoebe, and singing Brown Thrasher and Field Sparrow.
Good loon numbers flying over, with 22 Common Loon through the day and a
pair of Red-throated Loon in the early morning. Only two cormorants,
singles flying over to the north at 10.35 and 14.40 EDT.

Predictions:
Could be better than today. The results from the New York counts south of
Beamer indicate good numbers of Broad-wings today, which means they could
be at Beamer tomorrow. The weather report for tomorrow no longer includes
showers so, provided winds are favourable, a 4-digit count could occur.
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Report submitted by Chris Escott ()
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.