Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 07, 2020 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 1 19 19 Osprey 0 0 0 Bald Eagle 0 8 8 Northern Harrier 0 0 0 Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 1 1 Cooper's Hawk 0 2 2 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 1 1 1 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 5 31 31 Rough-legged Hawk 1 2 2 Golden Eagle 0 1 1 American Kestrel 0 1 1 Merlin 0 0 0 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0 Unknown Buteo 0 1 1 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 0 Total: 8 67 67 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 8 hours Official Counter: Phil Waggett Observers: Bouwe Bergsma, Gianpieno Tondina, Lauren Booker, Liam & Joshua Thorne Visitors: Bouwe Bergsma, Lauren Booker, Liam & Joshua Thorne, and Gianpieno Tondina helped search the clear blue skies for birds. Chris Motherwell also visited the tower. A number of young families enjoyed the nice day to visit the park and tower. Weather: A beautiful early March day--clear and sunny all day. Winds light, originally out of the north and shifting to west near noon. Raptor Observations: Local red-tails and male cooper's hawk were active today. At 11.15 a light rough-leg flew over heading west. At 11.52, two adult bald eagles accompanied by a 3rd-year bird circled in front of the tower and then flew back east. Otherwise, a very light flight today. Non-raptor Observations: The highlight was a pair of pileated woodpeckers who flew past the tower several times (appeared territorial). Otherwise, no migratory activity of any note--several crows flew by and a couple of american robins. Predictions: Clear and warmer. My sense is that more birds will migrate tomorrow although the stronger SW winds may push the birds towards the lake. ======================================================================== 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!!!