Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 14, 2023 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 1 1 Turkey Vulture 86 2298 5864 Osprey 1 12 13 Bald Eagle 0 24 74 Northern Harrier 0 13 28 Sharp-shinned Hawk 27 652 700 Cooper's Hawk 5 44 78 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 1 51 372 Broad-winged Hawk 15 44 44 Red-tailed Hawk 12 379 954 Rough-legged Hawk 0 2 8 Golden Eagle 0 0 5 American Kestrel 0 22 31 Merlin 0 5 7 Peregrine Falcon 0 1 4 Unknown Accipiter 3 10 13 Unknown Buteo 1 5 17 Unknown Falcon 0 2 2 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 5 10 Short-eared Owl 0 0 1 Total: 151 3570 8226 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 18:00:00 Total observation time: 9 hours Official Counter: Kevin Empey Observers: Chris Escott, Gianpiero Tondina, Phil Waggett Visitors: our counter did not appear. So Kevin Empey became counter and Phil Waggett and Gianpiero Tondino were observers. We had 5 visitors. Dave Creelmar and Mark Lightenberg were there alot of the day. Ddave Archbell attended for two hours. Chris Ellicot and one unknown were there late afternoon for about an hour. Weather: it was a very hot and still day. wind was 12 Kph dropping to 9 and 5 kph. it was very hot and still. sky above us was clear blue sky, but was hazy mking bird locating difficult. Raptor Observations: we had a slow start and a slow finish. turkey Vultures circled and went back east constantly. We had two small kettles of broad-wings which were very hard to see given the haze. most birds were very high and small. Non-raptor Observations: Predictions: given the heat and the small numbers, tomorrow will have few birds. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Kevin Empey (kevinempey5@gmail.com) 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!!!