Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 21, 2020 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 24 362 362 Osprey 0 0 0 Bald Eagle 0 21 21 Northern Harrier 0 6 6 Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 9 9 Cooper's Hawk 1 13 13 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 5 112 112 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 16 341 341 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: 46 884 884 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 7 hours Official Counter: Phil Waggett Observers: Lauren Booker Visitors: Lauren Booker helped observe the flight as did Ron Depagter. Many families out in the park enjoying the clear crisp day. Weather: A cold day with wind chills on the tower as a cold wind from the north-east came off the lake most of the day. Skies started out in the first two hours with 50% cloud before clearing--the blue sky making spotting migrating hawks quite difficult. Raptor Observations: A light flight dominated by turkey vultures (24) and red-tails (16). Modest local activity from cooper's hawk, red-tails and TV's. A merlin was observed flying east but was not officially counted--a local resident was suspected. Non-raptor Observations: Very little migratory activity was noted today. The only notable bird was a common raven flying east. Predictions: Winds are predicted to again have an easterly component but the New York hawkwatches, especially Ripley, NY, had very light flights today so I expect that there are very few birds in the pipeline. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Phil Waggett (philipwaggett@hotmail.com) 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!!!