Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 16, 2023 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 1 1 Turkey Vulture 61 2376 5942 Osprey 2 15 16 Bald Eagle 0 24 74 Northern Harrier 4 21 36 Sharp-shinned Hawk 204 879 927 Cooper's Hawk 6 53 87 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 1 52 373 Broad-winged Hawk 74 121 121 Red-tailed Hawk 14 393 968 Rough-legged Hawk 0 2 8 Golden Eagle 0 0 5 American Kestrel 4 27 36 Merlin 0 5 7 Peregrine Falcon 0 1 4 Unknown Accipiter 0 10 13 Unknown Buteo 3 8 20 Unknown Falcon 0 2 2 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 17 22 27 Short-eared Owl 0 0 1 Total: 390 4012 8668 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 8 hours Official Counter: Keith Dieroff Observers: Barry Cherriere, Gianpiero Tondina, Violet Dieroff Visitors: Few visitors for such a good day. Thanks to Violet and Gianpiero for their help on the tower. Thanks also to Barry for a couple of shout outs. One other gent stayed for a few hours - missed his name. Weather: Nice and warm with southerly and easterly breezes throughout the day. Mostly blue skies with a bit of cloud building in later in the day. Raptor Observations: Some peaks and valleys throughout the day. A good upflight of Turkey Vultures and Broad-wings early in the day with a couple of BW kettles of 10 or so birds. Soon after the Sharp-shinned Hawk gates opened with a fairly constant stream of Sharpies throughout the traditional peak time of day. A good mixture of other birds peppered in, including harriers, kestrels, a couple of Ospreys and a Red-shoulder. Non-raptor Observations: Lots of early spring birds, including five species of woodpecker (Northern Flicker, Downy, Hairy, Red-bellied and Yellow-bellied Sapsucker). Other high-lights were a raven, a couple of swans, a kingfisher right over the tower, plus the usual cast of sparrows, robins, blackbirds and juncos. Predictions: Not looking great for tomorrow and into the week. Cooler temperatures and variable winds. We'll see... ======================================================================== Report submitted by Keith Dieroff (kdieroff@yahoo.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!!!