Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 13, 2023 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 1 1 Turkey Vulture 95 2212 5778 Osprey 0 11 12 Bald Eagle 0 24 74 Northern Harrier 2 13 28 Sharp-shinned Hawk 193 625 673 Cooper's Hawk 5 39 73 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 6 50 371 Broad-winged Hawk 22 29 29 Red-tailed Hawk 15 367 942 Rough-legged Hawk 0 2 8 Golden Eagle 0 0 5 American Kestrel 3 22 31 Merlin 1 5 7 Peregrine Falcon 1 1 4 Unknown Accipiter 1 7 10 Unknown Buteo 1 4 16 Unknown Falcon 0 2 2 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 5 10 Short-eared Owl 0 0 1 Total: 345 3419 8075 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:30:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 8.5 hours Official Counter: Sandy Darling Observers: Clive Hodder, Dave Sked, Gianpiero Tondina, John Niewiadomski, Matt Mills Visitors: John Reynolds from High Park Hawkwatch, Diana Werdzak, and others whose name were not recorded. Visitors helped in finding raptors Weather: Zero cloud all day, temperatures in 20s to high 20s C, winds from southern quarters, gusty at time, high UV index. Tip for high UV days: I took an old COVID mask and cut nose and mouth holes for the hot part of the day. I had virtually no sun effect - TRY IT! Raptor Observations: 10 species with 7 in first half hour, with Sharp-shinned Hawks dominating. More than once we had a Broad-winged and Red-shouldered Hawk in the sky together - a most unusual combination resulting from late cold weather followed by abnormally hot weather. Birds all over the field so many eyes were most helpful. Non-raptor Observations: 25 non-raptor species including Eastern Meadowlark, Tree, Barn and Rough-wing Swallows, and heard Yellow-rumped Warbler. Predictions: Probably much like today, although sites to the south of us had low counts today ======================================================================== Report submitted by Sandy Darling (darlinga@cogeco.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!!!