Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 07, 2021 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 7 27 27 Osprey 0 0 0 Bald Eagle 4 9 9 Northern Harrier 0 0 0 Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 3 3 Cooper's Hawk 0 0 0 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 28 70 70 Rough-legged Hawk 1 3 3 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 0 0 0 Merlin 0 1 1 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0 Unknown Buteo 0 0 0 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 0 Total: 42 113 113 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 8 hours Official Counter: Rob Spaul Observers: Lauren Booker Visitors: In order to comply with COVID safety provisions we remind you that the size of gatherings is restricted, so we do not encourage visitors. Access to the tower is restricted to the day's official counter and one assigned spotter, whose names have been provided in advance to the appropriate authorities. Please cooperate by keeping yourself and others safe. Weather: Gorgeous late winter day. Partly cloudy and crisp with light NNW winds in the morning. The few clouds cleared by noon, and the winds shifted around to NE, and then E for the afternoon, affording the best flight conditions. Raptor Observations: Very quiet morning for raptors, with the first migrant Red-tailed hawk (RTHA) at 10:05. Modest RTHA flight in the afternoon, with one distant late-day Rough-legged Hawk. 1 local adult Bald Eagle, then 2 migrant duos later in day, with a juvenile and Sub-adult I giving nice looks right overhead. A few single Turkey Vultures trickled through, and a couple Sharp-shinned Hawks rounded out the 5 migrant species day. Local Cooper's Hawk only seen once, displaying high to the SE. Non-raptor Observations: Modest songbird movement in morning, with 4 horned larks, and one quite early American Pipit flying overhead; definitely the bird of the day! Single 2 Ravens, and a nice Cedar Waxwing flock of 45 were the only other notable birds, with just two blackbirds (Red-winged and Grackle) all day. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Rob Spaul () 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. 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!!!