Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 09, 2021 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 154 184 184 Osprey 0 0 0 Bald Eagle 0 9 9 Northern Harrier 1 1 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 5 5 Cooper's Hawk 1 1 1 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 3 3 3 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 68 138 138 Rough-legged Hawk 0 3 3 Golden Eagle 1 1 1 American Kestrel 0 0 0 Merlin 0 1 1 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0 Unknown Buteo 0 0 0 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 0 Total: 229 346 346 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 16:15:00 Total observation time: 8.25 hours Official Counter: Simon Carter Observers: Matt Mills Visitors: In order to comply with COVID safety provisions we remind you that the size of gatherings is restricted and so we do not encourage visitors. Access to the tower is restricted to the official counter and one assigned spotter, whose names have been provided in advance to the appropriate authorities. Please cooperate by keeping yourself and others safe. Weather: A somewhat hazy start, gradually clearing through the morning. Winds shifted from NW to NE over the course of the morning, southerly in the afternoon, but were light to almost calm throughout the day. Raptor Observations: A good flight, as anticipated given the warm conditions. Flight started around 10:30, dominated by Turkey Vultures and Red-tailed Hawks, with a smattering of other species. The highlight was an adult Golden Eagle at 15:30 flying SW. A single Sharp-Shinned Hawk, Northern Harrier and Cooper's hawks, and three Red-shouldered Hawks were the other migrants seen. Birds were mostly high (2-3) for the main flight, taking advantage of thermals east of the tower and tracking E-W overhead, or slightly to the north or south. Non migrants: A single adult Bald Eagle flew East mid-morning. Local Red-tailed and Cooper's hawks were active, and at least two Turkey vultures have returned to the gorge area and were active east of the tower. Non-raptor Observations: In the first couple of hours we observed good numbers of blackbirds, a few Killdeer and Horned Larks, a single Sandhill Crane just after we arrived, and small flocks of Tundra swans, Canada geese and migrating crows. Three ravens were active around the CA. ======================================================================== 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. 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!!!