Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: May 04, 2023 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 1 2 3 Turkey Vulture 13 93 6364 Osprey 0 0 33 Bald Eagle 0 0 91 Northern Harrier 0 0 48 Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 26 1257 Cooper's Hawk 0 2 108 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 374 Broad-winged Hawk 17 52 3402 Red-tailed Hawk 5 5 1045 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 8 Golden Eagle 0 0 7 American Kestrel 0 0 45 Merlin 0 0 7 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 4 Unknown Accipiter 0 0 14 Unknown Buteo 0 0 22 Unknown Falcon 0 0 3 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 1 1 32 Short-eared Owl 0 0 1 Swainson's Hawk 0 0 1 Total: 37 181 12869 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 7 hours Official Counter: Simon Carter Observers: John Niewiadomski, Phil Waggett Visitors: A few dog-walkers and hikers in the morning, numbers increased to the park as the temperature increased and the sky cleared. No visitors to the tower. Phil Waggett spotted for most of the day, Bob Grosse helped for three hours, and John Niewiadomski for the last half hour. Weather: Overcast but no precipitation, very light northerly wind, calm at times. Temperatures rose gradually, and the few birds moving through were getting lift from the escarpment and thermals. Raptor Observations: Black Vulture made four passes east to west north of the tower, between 08:30 and 08:53, then continued west. A trickle of Broad-winged Hawks during the morning hours, a few Turkey Vultures, and five Red-tailed Hawks in the midday hours. Flight line was north of the tower, occasionally overhead. Flight ended shortly after 14:00. Local TVs were very active, and local Cooper's hawks and Red-tailed Hawks were seen a number of times. Count stopped at 15:00. Non-raptor Observations: Three Common Ravens, many Common Grackles, Barn Swallows, three Purple Martins. Predictions: Forecast is more promising, with warmer weather and NE winds, which may push more birds west from Buffalo. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Simon Carter () 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!!!