Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 06, 2023 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 1 1 Turkey Vulture 264 1135 4701 Osprey 4 8 9 Bald Eagle 4 7 57 Northern Harrier 1 4 19 Sharp-shinned Hawk 88 159 207 Cooper's Hawk 8 22 56 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 5 19 340 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 22 140 715 Rough-legged Hawk 1 1 7 Golden Eagle 0 0 5 American Kestrel 3 8 17 Merlin 2 3 5 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 3 Unknown Accipiter 2 3 6 Unknown Buteo 0 3 15 Unknown Falcon 0 1 1 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 5 10 Total: 404 1519 6174 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 8 hours Official Counter: Sandy Darling Observers: Jackson Hudecki, John Black, John Niewiadomski, Kim Forbes, Marcie Jacklin, Matt Mills, Stuart Forbes Visitors: Outdoor recreation class from Westmount SS with their teacher and Bruce MacKenzie as guide, Marco, Noah Cole. One of the class, Stephen, found a Bald Eagle for us. Weather: Despite forecasts of sun, there was close to 100% cloud all day, which was good for spotting. Temperature rose to low double digits, although the SW wind was cold at times. Raptor Observations: Eleven-species day shows that April is here. For first four hours Sharp-shins exceeded TVs and then the wave overcame the number. Good variety and numbers were boosted by good spotters throughout the day. Two major flight lines - one along escarpment and the other south, but Sharp-shins especially could be anywhere. Non-raptor Observations: Common Loon, 16 Bonaparte Gulls in a flock, and Red-bellied Sapsuckers reported from the woods Predictions: Clear weather continues so birds should continue to come - look out for accipiters, falcons and Ospreys. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Sandy Darling (darlinga@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!!!