Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: May 14, 2023 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 3 4 Turkey Vulture 23 283 6554 Osprey 0 7 40 Bald Eagle 9 14 105 Northern Harrier 0 4 52 Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 120 1351 Cooper's Hawk 0 11 117 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 374 Broad-winged Hawk 1 318 3668 Red-tailed Hawk 17 54 1094 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 8 Golden Eagle 0 3 10 American Kestrel 1 1 46 Merlin 0 0 7 Peregrine Falcon 0 2 6 Unknown Accipiter 0 1 15 Unknown Buteo 0 4 27 Unknown Falcon 0 0 2 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 1 2 33 Short-eared Owl 0 0 1 Swainson's Hawk 0 0 1 Total: 53 827 13515 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 7.5 hours Official Counter: Keith Dieroff Observers: Gianpiero Tondina, John Stevens, Sarah Stover Visitors: Lots of families with children, dog walkers, etc. Thanks to Sarah Stover for being a very dedicated spotter. It was nice to see John Stevens looking hale and hearty. As always, Gianpiero Tondina is a pleasure to have on the tower. Weather: A lovely day with lots of sunshine and variable cloud cover, increasing throughout the day. Cloud was high and hazy. Raptor Observations: Lots of local birds around, including Turkey Vultures, hunting Red-tailed Hawks and displaying Cooper's Hawks. Migrants were sparse. A significant flight of Bald Eagles with most birds appearing to be migrants, using thermals, gaining altitude and moving through the area. In total, 4 adult Bald Eagles and 5 immatures were counted, including one 'kettle' of eagles made up of 2 adults and 2 immatures. Non-raptor Observations: Lots of other birds around. Species count for the day was about 40, with several species of warbler singing throughout the day. An Indigo Bunting made a couple of appearances and a number of Ravens were seen passing through. Predictions: More of the same? Things wrap up on the 15th, maybe with a rarity??? ======================================================================== 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!!!