Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 04, 2023 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 1 1 Turkey Vulture 367 853 4419 Osprey 0 4 5 Bald Eagle 0 3 53 Northern Harrier 0 3 18 Sharp-shinned Hawk 8 64 112 Cooper's Hawk 0 14 48 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 13 334 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 12 115 690 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 6 Golden Eagle 0 0 5 American Kestrel 0 5 14 Merlin 0 1 3 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 3 Unknown Accipiter 0 1 4 Unknown Buteo 0 3 15 Unknown Falcon 0 1 1 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 5 10 Total: 387 1086 5741 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 8 hours Official Counter: Chris Escott Observers: Gianpiero Tondina Visitors: Marco DeCarolis visited the tower for ten minutes in early afternoon, but no other visitors. Weather: Thick fog and light rain to start. Rain soon stopped but fog continued until 12:30 PM, and low cloud continuing until 2:30 PM. The sun came out briefly but soon disappeared and a blustery NE wind contributed to increased wind chill (but pushed through the bulk of the day's birds). Raptor Observations: Birds started going through after 12:30 PM but lingering low cloud made it difficult to spot the low flying migrants as they streaked along the edge of the escarpment. As a result, it was likely that a number of birds went through below line of sight. Numbers were OK but variety was poor with three hours of steady TUVU numbers, and just a trickle of RTHA and SSHA, until the flight shut down around 3:30 PM. One local COHA appeared briefly at 2:34 PM, and local TUVU were active all afternoon. Non-raptor Observations: Very slow for non-raptor species, although there was a single singing Eastern Phoebe. Predictions: Rather high probability of rain on and off all day, and variable winds, suggest a less than optimal day. ======================================================================== 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!!!