Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada 50TH SPRING MIGRATION COUNT IN 2024 Daily Raptor Counts: May 05, 2024 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 2 Turkey Vulture 22 180 8323 Osprey 0 0 23 Bald Eagle 3 6 122 Northern Harrier 0 1 58 Sharp-shinned Hawk 71 116 795 Cooper's Hawk 4 10 188 American Goshawk 0 0 2 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 1 242 Broad-winged Hawk 2 24 1186 Red-tailed Hawk 0 13 855 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 4 Golden Eagle 0 0 10 American Kestrel 0 2 38 Merlin 0 1 13 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 4 Unknown Accipiter 0 0 9 Unknown Buteo 0 1 32 Unknown Falcon 0 0 1 Unknown Eagle 0 0 9 Unknown Raptor 0 4 60 Total: 102 359 11976 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 7 hours Official Counter: Keith Dieroff Observers: Visitors: Lots of dog walkers and families. Thanks to Carol Teed for stopping by and keeping me company on the tower for a while! Weather: Rain on and off throughout the day. Gusty winds from the southwest mid-day, tapering off in the afternoon. Overall, a less than ideal day. Raptor Observations: The count was dominated by Sharp-shinned Hawks today, with 70% of the total made up of Sharpies. A couple of Bald Eagles made things interesting. A number of other raptor species were seen heading west, so these were likely local birds: Merlin, American Kestrel, Northern Harrier and Red-tailed Hawk. Non-raptor Observations: Approximately 50 different species of birds seen during the count period. A nice Wood Thrush serenade in the early morning, plus a few warblers around (Pine and Black-throated Green). Firsts of the year for this observer included Great-crested Flycatcher and Ruby-throated Hummingbird. Predictions: Better than today. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Keith Dieroff (kdieroff@yahoo.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!!!