Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada 50TH SPRING MIGRATION COUNT IN 2024 Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 13, 2024 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 240 384 394 Osprey 0 0 0 Bald Eagle 7 35 35 Northern Harrier 3 16 17 Sharp-shinned Hawk 4 7 8 Cooper's Hawk 7 25 25 American Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 32 99 99 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 47 245 256 Rough-legged Hawk 0 1 1 Golden Eagle 0 2 2 American Kestrel 1 2 2 Merlin 1 1 1 Peregrine Falcon 1 1 1 Unknown Accipiter 0 1 1 Unknown Buteo 0 6 6 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 3 8 8 Total: 346 833 856 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 17:00:00 Total observation time: 9 hours Official Counter: Chris Escott, Katherine Stoltz Observers: Chris Escott, Markus Legzdins Visitors: Surprisingly few, considering the summer-like weather and March break. Larry Blight from Niagara-on-the Lake, Keith and Karen from Hamilton, John Hannah(also from the Hammer), Mike from Toronto who kept watch most of the day, including the doldrums of the early morning, and special thanks to Chris Escott, who stayed until 5 pm for the downflight, and Markus Legdzins, whose superb eyes and spotting scope inflated our count. Weather: Unbelievably warm for midMarch with a high of 19C. Mostly cloudless sky. Winds moderate from WSW for the bulk of the day. Raptor Observations: A sluggish start, but the day ended with a respectable 346 birds. Mostly TV, but a total of 10 species. The flightpath varied throughout the day. With the mostly clear skies, many birds were at the limit of binoculars, and some seen only with spotting scope. Non-raptor Observations: Slim pickings. 18 Pin-tailed ducks were a treat, as well as Purple Finch and Yellow-rumped Warbler. Predictions: It looks like there may still be birds in the pipeline, which may try to make a run for it before rain predicted for tomorrow evening. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Katherine Stoltz (Katherine Stoltzstoltz.katherine@gmail.com) 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!!!