Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 24, 2023 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 1 1 Turkey Vulture 23 2608 6174 Osprey 0 26 27 Bald Eagle 0 31 81 Northern Harrier 0 26 41 Sharp-shinned Hawk 4 1070 1118 Cooper's Hawk 0 62 96 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 53 374 Broad-winged Hawk 6 3032 3032 Red-tailed Hawk 2 442 1017 Rough-legged Hawk 0 2 8 Golden Eagle 0 1 6 American Kestrel 0 35 44 Merlin 0 5 7 Peregrine Falcon 0 1 4 Unknown Accipiter 0 11 14 Unknown Buteo 0 10 22 Unknown Falcon 0 3 3 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 23 28 Short-eared Owl 0 0 1 Swainson's Hawk 1 1 1 Total: 36 7443 12099 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:00:00 Observation end time: 14:15:00 Total observation time: 5.33 hours Official Counter: John Stevens Observers: Bouwe Bergsma, Gianpiero Tondina Weather: Cool for the date with light winds that were generally from the northwest but varied, sometimes coming from the north or west and even from the east for a short time. Mostly overcast but a few brief periods with sun. Rain and hail from 10:02 to 10:57, intense hail and rain from 11:29-11:57, rain and some hail from 1:26-1:42, drizzle from then til I left at 2:15 standard time. Raptor Observations: Tough to follow a 1,400+ day with 36 but we did have a bird that none of us called at the time aside from ruling out all our usual species. After consultation with a guide, we realized that we'd seen a juvenile Swainson's Hawk that didn't have the two-toned wing pattern with a dark trailing side, just buffy brown below. Non-raptor Observations: A large flock of unidentified medium-sized shorebirds, a flock of 9 ravens, a single loon, a phoebe and a flock of kinglets. Predictions: Should be much sunnier tomorrow and although the wind direction is not too good, it is not so strong that we can't get some flight since we are still in prime BW and SS time. ======================================================================== Report submitted by John Stevens (jrstevens@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!!!