Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 28, 2023 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 663 2745 2745 Osprey 0 0 0 Bald Eagle 4 43 43 Northern Harrier 0 13 13 Sharp-shinned Hawk 6 25 25 Cooper's Hawk 3 28 28 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 73 308 308 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 50 521 521 Rough-legged Hawk 0 6 6 Golden Eagle 0 5 5 American Kestrel 1 6 6 Merlin 0 2 2 Peregrine Falcon 0 1 1 Unknown Accipiter 0 3 3 Unknown Buteo 0 6 6 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 0 Total: 800 3712 3712 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 8 hours Official Counter: Observers: Gianpiero Tondina, Peter Booker, Tim Foran Visitors: Lots of visitors, including, Doug Peters, Johnathan Harper, Nina S. and Big John and his nephew. Big Thanks to Peter Booker, Gianpiero Tondina, and Tim Foran for being a great help with todays count. Weather: winds from the north for most of the day, brisk at times. A mixed bag of weather early on with some light rain, followed by ice pellets. Mostly cloudy with sunny breaks, but there were some heavy dark clouds off and on. Raptor Observations: Turkey Vultures again were the impact bird, with several kettles appearing as the day wore on. A good showing of Red-shoulders and Red-tails, but they were a challenge to the counters as they were coming in at a great height. Four Bald Eagles, all adult, and an immature Bald Eagle headed East. Non-raptor Observations: Five Wood Ducks in a flock, Common Loon, several Common Ravens, the Pileated Woodpecker(s) are still flying around the tower area, 2 Sandhill Cranes, 1 Great Blue Heron. Predictions: It could be good? ======================================================================== Report submitted by Tom Thomas (tthomas@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. Only the counter and designated spotters can drive into and park in the conservation area; there is a parking lot outside for visitors. 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 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. 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!!!