Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: May 05, 2023 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 2 3 Turkey Vulture 8 101 6372 Osprey 4 4 37 Bald Eagle 1 1 92 Northern Harrier 0 0 48 Sharp-shinned Hawk 34 60 1291 Cooper's Hawk 4 6 112 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 374 Broad-winged Hawk 73 125 3475 Red-tailed Hawk 6 11 1051 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 8 Golden Eagle 0 0 7 American Kestrel 0 0 45 Merlin 0 0 7 Peregrine Falcon 2 2 6 Unknown Accipiter 1 1 15 Unknown Buteo 3 3 25 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: 136 317 13005 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:15:00 Observation end time: 15:30:00 Total observation time: 8.25 hours Official Counter: Katherine Stoltz Observers: John Niewiadomski, Lyn Hanna-Folkes Visitors: Very few Weather: The day began with light rain which put a damper on migration for the 1st 2 hours. Gradual clearing to 10% cloud cover by the end of the count. Increasing NE winds as the day progressed. Raptor Observations: Trickles of birds of 8 species but no large kettles. Very active local TUVU, COHA and RTHA. All flightpaths were used and by the end of the day, birds were seen only with binoculars. Non-raptor Observations: Nashville and Pine Warblers, 3 male Purple Finches, Warbling Vireo Predictions: The weather looks promising if there are birds in the pipeline ======================================================================== Report submitted by Katherine Stoltz (kstoltz5@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!!!