Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 20, 2020 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 18 338 338 Osprey 0 0 0 Bald Eagle 0 21 21 Northern Harrier 1 6 6 Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 9 9 Cooper's Hawk 0 12 12 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 1 107 107 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 4 325 325 Rough-legged Hawk 0 4 4 Golden Eagle 0 2 2 American Kestrel 0 5 5 Merlin 0 3 3 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0 Unknown Buteo 0 6 6 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 0 Total: 24 838 838 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 6 hours Official Counter: Lauren Booker Observers: Eric Single, Gianpiero Tondina Visitors: Eric Single dropped by for a short visit just before the sky opened up for the final downpour of rain in the morning. Gianpiero Tondina and Shannon Hingston stopped by in the afternoon. Weather: Wild weather today! A very warm 20C in the morning with strong winds from the southwest, and intermittent heavy rain. By the afternoon the temperature had dropped to 7C, with the same strong winds coming in from more of a westerly direction. The sun made a few brief appearances throughout the day, with a few short glimpses of blue sky from between the clouds. Raptor Observations: The highlight of the day was an adult male Northern Harrier that flew directly over the tower in the morning. The local Cooper's Hawk made an appearance, and several (likely) local Turkey Vultures took to the sky in the afternoon. Non-raptor Observations: Despite the heavy winds today, several hundred Common Grackles and Red-winged Blackbirds were on the move today. They came through in flocks of 50-100 birds from about 8am until just before noon. Also seen were two Common Ravens getting mobbed by American Crows, a Great Blue Heron, Common Mergansers, Canada Geese, Gulls, Killdeer, American Robins, a Northern Flicker, Song Sparrows, Dark-eyed Juncos, Blue Jays, Northern Cardinals, Mourning Doves, Black-capped Chickadee, and European Starlings. The Carolina Wren was heard, but not seen. Predictions: Might see a few more birds than were seen today with the wind shifting to a more favourable direction. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Lauren Booker () Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area information may be found at: http://www.niagarapeninsulahawkwatch.org/ More site information at hawkcount.org: http://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. 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 park vehicles (along the road) and 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. Parking is normally available inside the park. 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!!!