Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: May 03, 2022 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 36 78 8096 Osprey 0 0 26 Bald Eagle 0 0 81 Northern Harrier 6 8 56 Sharp-shinned Hawk 24 40 936 Cooper's Hawk 3 3 141 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 413 Broad-winged Hawk 84 87 1409 Red-tailed Hawk 3 4 1089 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 22 Golden Eagle 0 0 11 American Kestrel 1 1 36 Merlin 0 0 23 Peregrine Falcon 2 2 5 Unknown Accipiter 0 0 7 Unknown Buteo 2 2 31 Unknown Falcon 0 0 2 Unknown Eagle 0 0 2 Unknown Raptor 0 0 12 Short-eared Owl 0 0 1 Total: 161 225 12399 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:00:00 Observation end time: 13:00:00 Total observation time: 6 hours Official Counter: Simon Carter Observers: Darren Smillie, Deena Errampolli Visitors: Visitors to the hawkwatch may enter the park on foot and must follow all public health guidelines. Only pre-approved counters and spotters may drive into the park and mount the tower. Washroom facilities are open. Deena Errampolli helped with spotting for an hour (our busiest!); 3 park visitors stopped in to ask questions about the day's flight. Weather: Cloudy but bright in the morning, with light southerly to no wind, and temperatures gradually warmed into the low teens. Wind changed mid-morning to easterly then NE, cooling down temperatures below ten. Light showers commenced after 11:00, and flight diminished and had stopped by 13:00. Raptor Observations: A better than anticipated flight mainly of BW and SS. Two flight lines were observed, one along the escarpment, the other overhead the tower and a little south. At least four NH, one female/juvenile flew east and probably returned. Two PF seen, N and S of the tower. Local CH and TV were active, and one of the local RT was seen south of the tower. Non-raptor Observations: 38 other species seen or heard; notable migrants were a female Rose-breasted grosbeak, Tufted titmouse, Northern waterthrush, Grey catbird, House wren, White-crowned sparrow. A large coyote was observed crossing the field to the south around 12:30 EST. Predictions: Likely to be a slow start, if the forecast is accurate for tomorrow morning. There should be more BW tomorrow once the rain stops. ======================================================================== 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. 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!!!