Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 17, 2020 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 22 265 265 Osprey 0 0 0 Bald Eagle 1 21 21 Northern Harrier 0 5 5 Sharp-shinned Hawk 4 8 8 Cooper's Hawk 0 11 11 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 8 96 96 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 8 295 295 Rough-legged Hawk 0 4 4 Golden Eagle 0 2 2 American Kestrel 2 5 5 Merlin 0 3 3 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0 Unknown Buteo 0 6 6 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 0 Total: 45 721 721 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 8 hours Official Counter: Lauren Booker Observers: Gianpiero Tondina, Phil Waggett, Sandy Darling Visitors: A few families came out to walk in the woods with their dogs today, and a large hiking group passed through the park from east to west and carried on along the Bruce Trail. Carter Bertrim visited the tower for the first time today. Also Antti Tuomala, Gianpiero Tondina, Sandy Darling, and Phil Waggett came to help with spotting and identification. Weather: A generally overcast day with a few, very brief, glimpses of the sun. Light drizzle in the morning. Light to moderate winds from the southwest in the morning, then from the west later on in the afternoon. Raptor Observations: A very slow trickle of raptors from about 10:00 am onward. There weren't really clear or consistent flight lines today, as each bird seemed to have a different strategy for contending with the headwind. Non-raptor Observations: It was a fairly quiet day for birds today. A Carolina Wren was heard calling in the morning. A few Killdeer flew over. Blue Jays, Cardinals, American Robins, Dark-eyed Juncos, Common Grackles, American Crows, European Starlings, Downy Woodpeckers, and a Northern Flicker were seen. A Red-bellied Woodpecker was heard, but not seen. Predictions: Tomorrow should be a better day with a bit more sunshine and winds coming from the east. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Lauren Booker () Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area information may be found at: http://www.niagarapeninsulahawkwatch.org/ More site information at hawkcount.org: http://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!!!