Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: May 08, 2023 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 2 3 Turkey Vulture 31 194 6465 Osprey 0 5 38 Bald Eagle 2 4 95 Northern Harrier 0 3 51 Sharp-shinned Hawk 4 111 1342 Cooper's Hawk 2 10 116 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 374 Broad-winged Hawk 20 310 3660 Red-tailed Hawk 10 32 1072 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 8 Golden Eagle 2 2 9 American Kestrel 0 0 45 Merlin 0 0 7 Peregrine Falcon 0 2 6 Unknown Accipiter 0 1 15 Unknown Buteo 0 4 26 Unknown Falcon 0 0 3 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 1 32 Short-eared Owl 0 0 1 Swainson's Hawk 0 0 1 Total: 71 681 13369 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:00:00 Observation end time: 16:15:00 Total observation time: 9.25 hours Official Counter: John Stevens Observers: Bouwe Bergsma, Gianpiero Tondina, John Niewiadomski Visitors: Two young people from Czechia, a couple from Burlington who have nesting Merlins on their property, a family with eight children, and a group of nine young men from Toronto speaking a language we couldn't recognize, all visited the tower. Weather: Generally light winds mainly from just east of north and mostly sunny with cirrus clouds that increased through the day. Temperatures were slightly cool to begin but pleasantly warm during the afternoon. Many contrails and the variable clouds made for ideal viewing conditions. Raptor Observations: About a dozen TVs flew round and round with little time when at least one wasn't in view. The migration was pathetic for the favourable winds and viewing conditions. Non-raptor Observations: A couple of ravens, several grackles and Blue Jays, but few swallows and a total absence of any birds in the woods except for the resident Cardinals, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Flickers and Chickadees. No sign of any Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Orioles, Tanagers, warblers, flycatchers,etc. Predictions: We must be nearing the end when a day with perfect conditions gets only 70 birds so don't expect much. Weather similar to today, so a good day to visit in any event. ======================================================================== Report submitted by John Stevens (jrstevens@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!!!