Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 02, 2023 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 1 1 1 Turkey Vulture 220 376 3942 Osprey 3 3 4 Bald Eagle 2 2 52 Northern Harrier 2 2 17 Sharp-shinned Hawk 17 28 76 Cooper's Hawk 2 7 41 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 11 12 333 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 91 95 670 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 6 Golden Eagle 0 0 5 American Kestrel 0 2 11 Merlin 0 0 2 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 3 Unknown Accipiter 0 0 3 Unknown Buteo 3 3 15 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 5 5 10 Total: 357 536 5191 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 8 hours Official Counter: Lauren Booker Observers: Andy Morgan, Gianpiero Tondina, Katherine Stoltz Visitors: We had a whole gaggle of visitors on the ground today, helping to spot raptors throughout the day. Andy Morgan, Gianpiero Tondina, and Kat Stoltz came up the tower to help with the count for a few hours in the middle of the day too. Thanks for all your help today everyone! Weather: Clear and sunny day, with a gentle breeze out of the NE. Raptor Observations: Turkey vultures were once again the bird of the day, with a slow but steady trickle of them coming through for most of the day. We also had a nice variety of other raptors in the mix as well. Non-raptor Observations: A fairly quiet day for non-raptors. We had a small flock of Bonaparte's gulls in the afternoon, and a few common mergansers and flew over as well. Predictions: Should be a nice day to be outside, even if the winds are predicted to shift from favourable today, to less favourable tomorrow. Hopefully there will be a continuation of today's flight. ======================================================================== 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!!!