Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 08, 2023 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 1 1 Turkey Vulture 198 1333 4899 Osprey 0 8 9 Bald Eagle 7 14 64 Northern Harrier 2 6 21 Sharp-shinned Hawk 90 249 297 Cooper's Hawk 2 24 58 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 20 39 360 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 134 274 849 Rough-legged Hawk 1 2 8 Golden Eagle 0 0 5 American Kestrel 1 9 18 Merlin 0 3 5 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 3 Unknown Accipiter 0 3 6 Unknown Buteo 0 3 15 Unknown Falcon 0 1 1 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 5 10 Total: 455 1974 6629 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:00:00 Observation end time: 15:30:00 Total observation time: 8.5 hours Official Counter: Markus Legzdins, Phil Waggett Observers: Gianpiero Tondina, Ina Legzdins, Markus Legzdins, Tim Foran Visitors: A huge shout-out to Markus Ledzgins, without whom many of the birds would have been missed (gotta love those young eyes!); Markus also counted for the first hour before I arrived. Other key spotters today included Ina Ledzgins, Tim Foran and Gianpiero Tondina. Many visitors in the park including several birders who visited the tower. Weather: Clear blue sky, with some high misty cloud moving in at 1 pm. Moderate north-east wind all day which kept the hawkwatch site in a significant wind chill. Raptor Observations: A good flight with 9 species seen. The highlights included a dark form rough-legged hawk, 7 bald eagles, and 20 red-shoulders (one of which was an adult bird). As expected, turkey vultures were the dominant species with excellent counts of red-tails and sharp-shins. The local coop was very active today as were the local turkey vultures. Non-raptor Observations: A number of migrants were noted although in small numbers--common loon (4), yellow-rumped warbler (2), eastern phoebe (1), wood duck (1), ruby-crowned kinglet (2), tree swallows. Also seen along the escarpment was another common raven. Predictions: Another fine weather day with winds continuing from the north-east. Excellent conditions for a flight assuming there are birds in the pipeline. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Phillip Waggett (philip waggett <philipwaggett@hotmail.com>) 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. &copy;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!!!