Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 29, 2022 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 12 4350 7998 Osprey 1 26 26 Bald Eagle 9 46 77 Northern Harrier 1 29 45 Sharp-shinned Hawk 29 783 852 Cooper's Hawk 2 75 130 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 25 413 Broad-winged Hawk 54 1282 1282 Red-tailed Hawk 31 483 1069 Rough-legged Hawk 0 8 21 Golden Eagle 3 6 11 American Kestrel 0 22 34 Merlin 0 11 23 Peregrine Falcon 0 2 3 Unknown Accipiter 0 2 7 Unknown Buteo 0 14 29 Unknown Falcon 0 1 2 Unknown Eagle 0 1 2 Unknown Raptor 0 2 11 Short-eared Owl 0 1 1 Total: 142 7169 12036 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 8 hours Official Counter: Sandy Darling Observers: Tom Thomas Visitors: Tom Thomas (spotter), Mike, Mike (junior), and Leena were a great help in finding birds in the blue skies. Visitors to the hawkwatch may enter the park on foot and must follow all public health guidelines. Only pre-approved counters and spotters may drive into the park and mount the tower. Washroom facilities are open. Weather: Temperature started around 5C rising to mid-teens by afternoon. Cool winds from NE. Blue skies which made high birds hard to find. Raptor Observations: Birds very high in blue sky were hard to find, so some Sharp-shinned and Broad-winged Hawks were not seen. An eagle day with 9 Bald Eagles (3 adult, 1 year 4, 2 year 2, 2 undetermined) and 3 Golden (2 adult and 1 juvenile). Finding the eagles meant that we discovered Sharpies and Broad-wings up high. Non-raptor Observations: Brown Thrasher, Eastern Towhee, Belted Kingfisher 3 Caspian Terns ======================================================================== Report submitted by Sandy Darling (darlinga@cogeco.ca) Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area information may be found at: http://www.niagarapeninsulahawkwatch.org/ More site information at hawkcount.org: https://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. ©2020 Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch. 2) Vehicular traffic into the park is allowed, 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!!!