Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada 50TH SPRING MIGRATION COUNT IN 2024 Daily Raptor Counts: May 06, 2024 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 2 Turkey Vulture 23 203 8346 Osprey 0 0 23 Bald Eagle 2 8 124 Northern Harrier 0 1 58 Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 117 796 Cooper's Hawk 1 11 189 American Goshawk 0 0 2 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 1 242 Broad-winged Hawk 2 26 1188 Red-tailed Hawk 6 19 861 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: 35 394 12011 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:45:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 8.25 hours Official Counter: John Stevens Observers: Gianpiero Tondina Visitors: Glen Chretien and his wife Lori visited for a couple of hours in the morning. They were heading home to Massachusetts after a trip to the prairies where they found all the non-sea ducks and were visiting hawk watches on the return. We failed to provide them with any pleasures although Glen had found a Clay-coloured Sparrow near the B&B where they stayed in Grimsby. Glen is a major participant at the Pack Monadnock watch in New Hampshire. Weather: A beauty with light winds from the northeast, high, thin cirrus clouds and seasonal temperatures rising to about 20 in the late afternoon. Raptor Observations: Aside from local CHs, RTs, and about a dozen TVs, the raptors were missing. The TVs circled endlessly although there were a few migrants in the pm. Non-raptor Observations: Surprisingly, even frighteningly little around. No warblers, vireos, orioles, grosbeaks, tanagers, flycatchers, that might be expected for the date. One Catbird called and sang, a Great Crested Flycatcher called twice and there were lots of grackles and flickers on the grass around the tower. Predictions: Weatherwise it looks very similar to today with slightly stronger winds. Promising conditions for a good flight but we are past the prime migration period. A good day for a rarity to shake things up! ======================================================================== 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!!!