Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 10, 2023 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 1 1 Turkey Vulture 139 1878 5444 Osprey 0 9 10 Bald Eagle 3 23 73 Northern Harrier 1 9 24 Sharp-shinned Hawk 26 296 344 Cooper's Hawk 1 31 65 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 1 44 365 Broad-winged Hawk 1 1 1 Red-tailed Hawk 13 343 918 Rough-legged Hawk 0 2 8 Golden Eagle 0 0 5 American Kestrel 1 12 21 Merlin 0 3 5 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 3 Unknown Accipiter 0 6 9 Unknown Buteo 0 3 15 Unknown Falcon 0 1 1 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 5 10 Short-eared Owl 0 0 1 Total: 186 2667 7323 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:00:00 Observation end time: 17:00:00 Total observation time: 10 hours Official Counter: Chris Escott Observers: Bouwe Bergsma, Gianpiero Tondina Visitors: Thanks to Spotters Bouwe Bergsma and Gianpiero Tondina. Other visitors included Phil Waggett, Tim the photographer, Marco, John, Joanne from Etobicoke, and beginner birders Frank & Christine. Weather: A largely cloudless day with a light and occasionally gusting SW breeze that got a bit stronger as the afternoon wore on. Zero Celsius to start but warmed to near 20 C by late afternoon. Raptor Observations: A slow trickle of birds for most of the day, a good variety of species dominated by TUVU, with a flurry of birds in the final hour of the official count. The SW breeze/wind seemed to push most migrants over the lakeside lowlands, distant from the tower, and many may have passed below the treeline and out of sight. A good number of TUVU observations were also of small groups of birds kettling over the mouth of the gorge before sailing south up the gorge and off to the south until out of sight. These were assumed to be non-migrant (local?) birds "making the rounds". Best bird of the day was a down-flight BWHA that sailed over the treetops and tower at 5:19 PM, first of this year's count. Non-raptor Observations: Passerine activity was still limited mainly to resident species although there were a few good birds: 2 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, an Eastern Phoebe, 2 Brown-headed Cowbird, and 3 Tree Swallows (singles). Predictions: SW winds are forecast again but notably stronger than today, with some cloud, and very warm. This suggests a decent count but, like today, the SW winds might push many birds north (closer to the lake), making viewing difficult. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Chris Escott (chris@escott.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!!!